Blogs

It's not often that I sink my teeth into something like a film, a book or in this case a comic book story and do a formal review.
Sure I have opinions...and I voice them all over the place about a variety of things...things in general, Battlestar Galactica in particular...but a formal, up & down, documented opinion of a particular work.
Meh...not.
But, but...the folks over at Dynamic Forces said "Hey, check this out" so I said "Why not?".
I am of course speaking of the Battlestar Galactica comic book line they are producing.
I just finished reading "The Adama Gambit Part Two"...and I came away impressed.
(Sometimes hard to do with me, I will admit).

Look, over the years...there have been a just a few Battlestar Galactica comics that have been put out, with varying degrees of success and THIS one looks like it's pushing all the right buttons.
It makes me want to read more...and if that's the case....then I'm willing to bet other people will too!
The creators obviously know the show...the original Battlestar Galactica that is...so the dialogue rings true and because of that and the interaction that you see...you know you are seeing those characters.
If any written (or drawn in this case) storyline, puts those characters in your head (yes, the magic mind movie that people get from reading a book)...then it's doing it's job.
In this this story you see the classic elements...Man vs. Cylon of course, which is always the basic premise of Battlestar Galactica (at least one of the basic premises I should say)...and it's straight forward.
At the same time, the dialogue flows along and the story moves with it...plus you see a Commander Adama who is shown to be perfectly human...with human doubt...but has an internal redemption because the warrior in him takes over.
(Showing a little bit a Commander Cain streak in him!).
Tie that all up with artwork that is is realistic (my biggest complaint against a lot of contemporary comic book art is that they have become in some cases TOO cartoony) is not realized here.
The people look like real people and thankfully like the actual characters.
On this one, I have to give it a solid thumbs up...it's good to see the classic crew taking the fight to the tinhead's once again....and The Adama Gambit does not disappoint!

This is a series of interviews that will be done with various actors & actresses exploring their thoughts about the convention scene and what is going on in the universe around them.
Our first interview is with Claudia Christian, who is probably best known for her role as Commander Susan Ivanova on Babylon 5.
Her first television role was a guest appearance on Dallas & then as series regular Melody Hughes on the drama Berrenger's, followed by appearances in The Hidden, Maniac Cop 2 & Hexed before finally appearing on Babylon 5.
She has also appeared in Freaks and Geeks & She Spies.
Claudia returned to her stage beginnings in the US premier of Michael Weller's What the Night is For in 2004.
She also appearances in the BBC comedy series Broken News as well as the Doctor Who audio drama "The Reaping" as well as Showtime's LOOK: The Series.
Claudia also has a music career, having released a solo CD called Once Upon a Time, a single called "Taboo" as well as a project with other Babylon 5 cast members on the album The Be Five. All told Claudia has appeared in over 40 films & 35 television series!

Shawn: What was the first convention that you attended?

Claudia: I don't recall, but I think it might have been the UK one with the whole cast of Babylon 5...

Shawn: So how did it go?

Claudia: If it WAS that event it was shocking, we had no idea that the show was that popular!

Shawn: What would say was probably the best Convention you've been to?

Claudia: I have had some fun DragonCon's and some great Cons overseas....I can't really choose one perfect event, but the Phoenix 20th anniversary reunion for Babylon 5 was darned near perfect!

Shawn: OK, how about the worst Convention?

Claudia: There was one a military base years ago...9 people showed up...I was with some Xena actors and it was just colossally awful...

Shawn: What would you say was the strangest or most unusual fan encounter you've had at an event?

Claudia: You can read about that in my book "Babylon Confidential" www.claudiachristian.net
It involves a man in a Tribble suit!

Shawn: How about an actual bad experience at a show?

Claudia: Check out the Tribble story...and in my own words:

Shawn: Scary

Claudia: It was a doozy!

Shawn: Well, in retrospect what would you do differently if you were running a Convention?

Claudia: I tried to to throw my own Con in London...the riots and a huge bicycle race happened to occur on the same day...it was a LOT of work for very little profit, but the fans had a decent enough time and so did I!
I think Cons should allow the friendly guests (like me) more access to the fans such as with breakfasts and casual photo ops...things are becoming too expensive for most fans...

Shawn: Have you ever wanted to get an autograph from someone?

Claudia: Well, I did ask Parker Stevenson of the The Hardy Boys for a photo when I was 13...

Shawn: So what are your current projects?

Claudia: A new novel released by Tor called "Wolf's Empire", a TV show called Runestone, selling my documentary "One Little Pill" and running my non-profit www.cthreefoundation.org counseling addicts and trying to save more lives.

Shawn; How about future projects then?

Claudia: Everything C3...my foundation is my reason to get up every morning...helping people who suffer from AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) is my life's work!

I want to thank Claudia for taking a few moments with me to answer those questions and shining some light on her thoughts and personal experiences. You can also find Babylon Confidential on Amazon.com
 

Colonials!

Hello to all & welcome to our newest members as always.

I'm a little overdue with last weeks Hero award, but better late than never!

So here it is...

Patrick Gilmore is the actor who portrays Rafferty in the Re-Imagined series episodes "Deadlock" and "Someone to Watch Over Me."

We salute this versatile Canadian actor!

So Say We All!

Shawn O'Donnell

President

Battlestar Galactica Fan Club

ATTENTION ALL DECKS: Operation Zoe Viper, 7242NC,  after an extended transit flight and several conferences with Cueball, has been inspected, fueled and armed. She is cocked and locked and ready to rock. Request and forms will go to CAG with a request that she be listed as "Mission Ready" for Houston appearance. Will advise. End of transmission.

Ravens,

It is never an easy thing to lose someone very close to you whether you are directly related to them or whether you are very good friends with them.  

Please keep in your prayers, the family of a very good friend of the Raven's very own Chief Engineering Officer Jeff "Gambit" Phillips and the Raven's very own Communications Officer Shane "Ogre" Coble. Gambit lost a very dear friend of his who was almost like a brother to him named Dan Moore, to brain cancer over the weekend.  Gambit and Ogre especially Gambit, I am here for you, along with the rest of your fellow Ravens ( all over 200 of them ) hailing from all parts of the world.  Like I said, WE ARE A FAMILY here on the Raven.  And when one goes down, WE ARE ALL HERE to support each other.  

Gambit, in honor of your very good friend Dan "Kazado" Moore, I AM ORDERING the Raven to dim her lights until he is laid to rest and run a missing man formation with all viper and raptor squadron participating.  Per Ogre's request, he will have the honor of flying in a multi squadron man formation.  And since Dan "Kazado" Moore was almost like a brother to you from what I was told, it is just befitting that he become a member of the Raven's Family and Friends Circle.  So I hereby announce, that for this day forward, the 18th of May 2014, effectively immediately, Dan "Kazado" Moore, is now an official HONORARY MEMBER of the Minotaur Viper Squadron.

"ATTENTION ALL RAVEN PERSONNEL THROUGHOUT THE SHIP, THE RAVEN IS NOW DIMMING ALL HER LIGHTS IN HONOR OF DAN MOORE!"

" ALL VIPER AND RAPTOR SQUADRONS, INITIATE MISSING MAN FORMATION"

"MAKE THIS HAPPEN EVERYONE!"

Colonials,

Two new convention Banners will be making its debut next week that will be representing not only Battlestar Raven, but the mother club ,  Battlestar Galactica Fan Club. These two new convention banners of course will be accompanied by the Raven's original banner as well.  The two banners will also become what I call "the Traveling Banners".  It means, where the Raven is being represented by other members of Battlestar Raven other than myself, these banners will be there.  The original Raven banner if far too important and precious to be shipped around as it contains signatures from cast members of both the TOS BSG Series and RDM Series.  Those signatures were obtained by those Raven Members who were with me at Galacticon 3, as a gift to me which I dedicate to my whole Staff and Crew.  Without them, there is NO Raven.  I am approaching my second year as her Commanding Officer this coming August 1, 2014. And I will say this, it has been such an honor and such a pleasure so far, leading a group that is full of class act and talented members.  The Raven has truely indeed evolve!  And as I stated early this year, it will be THE YEAR OF THE RAVEN!

So Say We All!

DragonLady

BFC Vice President

Commanding Officer-Battlestar Raven-BFC 002

Hello Colonials!
I bid you a good day or evening...depending on when you read this!
Though it took a little playing catch up, with these two Hero awards we are now currently up to date with them.
Without further ado, (and with all thanks to the Battlestar Wiki in this regard)...our TWO newest Hero's!).

Arlene Martel is an American actress whose TV career stretches as early as 1958, starring in many popular (now considered "classic") shows such as Death Valley Days,' The Twilight Zone, Bewitched, and Columbo.
Many science fiction fans may remember Ms. Martel best as the betrothed, scheming Vulcan wife of Mr. Spock, T'Pring, in the episode "Amok Time" from the original Star Trek series.
Ms. Martel guest-starred as Adulteress 58 in the Original Series episode, "The Long Patrol."

Larry Cedar is the actor who played Cadet Shields in the Original Series episode, "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I".

His work in the Star Trek franchise includes the roles of Nydrom in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "Armageddon Game", Jal Tersa in Star Trek: Voyager's "Alliances", and Tessic in Star Trek: Enterprise's "Marauders".
He has also appeared in Stargate SG-1 as Prior #2 in the Brad Turner-directed episode, "Origin".

Now you may wonder WHY I called this message "Dinner with a friend"...well, let me tell you (and from personal experience too!)...conventions are a GREAT way to bond and find fellowship while you break bread with someone...over the years I've had some very interesting dinner companions in the atmosphere of conventions...some famous, some not...but ALL were people I would sit down to dinner with again.

For instance, the aforementioned Arlene Martel....yup, I had lunch with T'Pring!

Last year as matter of fact...actually with Arlene, Richard Hatch, Kate Vernon & her Personal Assistant Lynda King...NOW don't get me wrong, I'm not personally boasting about who I have meals with, have had or will have...I AM trying to say that YOU all have (when you go to a Con) the opportunity to do the same...in this case share a table with fellow fans (and friends) & some of those people you see on television or film.

There is also Sci-Con in beautiful Tampa Florida...and I AM looking forward to spending some time in Florida for this one!

Something a little different...though not a Con but an acting workshop is Columbia Gorge Acting Intensive

later this year...

Of course the big Kahuna in all this is of course Galacticon IV

The biggest Battlestar Galactica event at any time....and while next years event will include guests from other shows...the overriding premise is based upon Battlestar Galactica and it's stars...and OF COURSE I will be at this one!

So get out there and have dinner!

Bon Appetit!

So Say We All!

Shawn O'Donnell

President

Battlestar Galactica Fan Club

"Hello,

 I'm Ernie Miller and as the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club Adminstrator of Colonial Affairs,    I welcome you on behalf of the leadership of the BFC.

 Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you on the site"

 Welcome   So Say We All !!!!!!

Fellow Colonials!
Hello to all & welcome as always to our newest members...we are always moving forward!
Finally able to get "caught up" from the whirlwind of activity that has been going on and as promised we are going to be catching up with our Hero's at last.
Without further ado, here we go:

Samuel Stewart "Sam" Witwer  is an American actor and musician. He has portrayed Lt. Crashdown in Battlestar Galactica, Davis Bloome in Smallville, and vampire Aidan Waite of the US/Canadian remake of BBC's supernatural drama series Being Human on Syfy in the US and Space in Canada. He also voiced main protagonist Galen Marek/Starkiller in the successful multimedia project Star Wars: The Force Unleashed as well as The Son & Darth Maul for Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series).

Kerry Norton is an English Actress & former gymnast.Kerry had a small part on the American TV series, Sabrina the Teenage Witch in 1996. The episode, entitled "A Girl and Her Cat", saw Norton putting her years of gymnast training to the test. Norton played the part of Lulu, a very flexible gymnastic witch, who was engaged to Sabrina's second cousin.
She has made several guest appearances on Battlestar Galactica as paramedic Layne Ishay (with her real-life husband as Major Lee 'Apollo' Adama). Ishay saves Commander Adama's life when shot by Sharon "Boomer" Valerii. She was in the first three episodes of season 2, "Scattered", "Valley of Darkness" and "Fragged", and a later episode entitled "Downloaded". She also appeared in the season 3 episode "Taking a Break from All Your Worries", and the season 4 episodes "A Disquiet Follows My Soul", "No Exit", "Islanded in a Stream of Stars" and "Daybreak, Parts 1 and 2".
She also played the leading role of Anne Alstein in The Screwfly Solution. She played the part of Maxi Purvis in Bad Girls' third and fourth series and was a member of the original cast of the touring play Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners.
She also appeared in a Fairy Liquid television advertisement in 2010.

Colm Feore is a Canadian-American actor born in Boston, Massachusetts. Within the Galactica universe, Feore appears on-screen as Richard Adar, the President of the Twelve Colonies at the time of the Cylon attack.
Feore graduated from Ridly College in St. Catherines, Ontario, and attended the National Theater School in Montreal, Quebec. He became a member of the Acting Company at the famous Stratford Festival of Canada, where he performed such roles as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew and the title characters in Richard III and Hamlet.
While not performing at Stratford, Feore appeared in minor roles in American and Canadian film and television productions. He shot to fame in Canada by portraying former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in a 2002 CBC miniseries. The actress portraying Trudeau's then-wife Margaret, Polly Shannon, is the real-life girlfriend of Callum Keith Rennie, better known in Battlestar Galactica as Leoben Conoy, a Humanoid Cylon.
Feore is perhaps best-known internationally for his intelligent portrayals of varying characters as diverse as pianist Glenn Gould and Marcus Andronicus in the 1999 remake of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. He also portrayed the Necromongers' Lord Marshal in The Chronicles of Riddick. He recently appeared in the film Bon Cop, Bad Cop, which has become one of the highest-grossing Canadian films of all time.

And there you have it!

Major thanks to the resources of both wikipedia & the battlestar wikipeidia on all that!

Tomorrow a major announcement from Galacticon IV so stay TUNED!

So Say We All!

Shawn O'Donnell

President

Battlestar Galactica Fan Club

Attention on deck!

Happy Birthday to the CAG of the Battlestar Raven, Leonidas!

Be sure to congratulate the old man personally when you can.

Also, any available, please assist in transporting the old man's newly arrived bulk shipments of Viagra and prunes to his quarters STAT!

That is all.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAMER

Tuesday, April 29 is Roger "Reamer" Barstow's Birthday. The hotshot Leader of the Battlestar Raven Flying Tigers Squadron is always there for his Club, his Friends and his Shipmates. For a tough leader, he is a dedicated and selfless man, and, I'm proud to say, my Friend. Here's to you Reamer, Happy Birthday and Thanks. SO SAY WE ALL! I believe some crew members are already celebrating.

Saturday Night’s CAP Mission

Hi Everyone,

Here’s what the Flying Tiger’s like to do on a Saturday night at the BFC. We perform a mock battle against the Cylons and have fun scrapping a few Toasters in the process. Some may say this is a crazy way to spend/waste your free time. All I can say is don’t knock it until you try it.

As always each mission starts off with a briefing explaining the mission. At the appointed time who ever wants to take part simply shows up in the Forum Chat room and the mission gets underway. Most missions last about an hour in length then we have a few imaginary drinks in the Ravens Lounge before we call it a night. Take a look and read what took place last night and feel free to make any comments you like.

Captain Reamer

Mission Briefing:

“Attention Tiger’s Attention”

We’re up for CAP after the Minotaur squadron. As always, we never know what we will encounter out there. It may be a boring CAP or we could be in for the fight of our lives. Stay alert!!! Live to fly and fight another day. Understood? OK!!!

Colonel Leonidas just informed me to be on the look out for Cylon Mk-IX’s. The Mk-IX was discontinued many Yahren’s ago, but the Cylons have reactivated them due to a shortage of their Heavy Raider known to us as the Turkey. The Mk-IX may be slower than our Mk-II’s, but they are deadly no matter how old or outdated they may be.

That’s all, skids up in fifteen on the port launch bay.

Good Hunting!!!!!

SO SAY WE ALL! ! ! ! !

The Mission begins:

• Col. Keith "Leonidas" Ranson

(Raven, This Is Storm Shadow; Minotaur CAP Requesting Landing Clearance, Over)

• 9:42 PM
• Col. Keith "Leonidas" Ranson

This Is Raven, Storm; You Are Clear For Port Flight Deck, Hands On; Call The Ball.

·         ( Speed 110, I Have The Ball)

• 9:44 PM
• Col. Keith "Leonidas" Ranson

ATTENTION FLIGHT DECK, THIS IS THE CAG- PILOTS, MAN YOUR PLANES! SHOOTERS ARE TO CLEAR FLYING TIGERS CAP FOR LAUNCH AS SOON AS THEY ARE READY; AS SOON AS TIGERS HAVE CLEARED TUBES, BLACKSTAR SQUADRON IS TO BE ON ALERT FIVE STATUS;SPARTAN SECTIONS TWO AND SIX ON ALERT TEN-----THAT IS ALL.

• 9:49 PM
• Me

Roger that CAG Sir!!! Flying Tiger's getting ready for launch!!!

• 9:59 PM
• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Flight two prepared to launch preflight is complete.

• Me

OK Tiger’s.....Remember to perform a complete pre-flight....lets not have any accidents while launching....

·         Good to see you Hitman!!! Bunny said she might be late.

·         I wonder if anyone is going to join us.

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

You know me. Always up for a night CAP.

• Me

I hear ya Hitman!!! How’s the weather in Vegas?

• 10:03 PM
• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

It was Franklin cold today 65 degrees!

·         Frak!

• Me

Wow, that's cold for you my friend!!! It rained all day in RI and it was cold as well.

• 10:05 PM
• Me

Deathstroke was excited to join us. I wonder what he's up to.

·         This isn't the best start for a mission.

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Yes. It will be 75 tomorrow. So that cold stuff is over.

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Well gentlemen. I finally got my horse out of the barn. Shall we?

• Me

OK, let’s launch this thing!!!!

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

I made it!

• Me

Alright!!! Let’s launch!!!!

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Let's Rock-n- Roll!

• Me

My Pre-flights good I'm in the tube and launching in 3, 2, 1......whoosh.....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Kick the tires & light the fires!

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Pre-flight completed, preparing to launch!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Or something like that. LoL

• Me

OK Tiger's lets get formed up after everyone launches....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Flight 2 is clear of the Raven!

• Me

We're packing standard ordinance for this mission....make every shot count.....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Pre-flight complete. Locked & loaded. Launching now

·         Copy that Cap

• Me

Ya never know what we're going to run into....

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Flight 5 is launched and forming up, ready to go!

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

We can only hope!

• Me

El Cid lets get it together....Over....

·         Roger that Cap....

·         Flight one is looking good....lets see what's out here....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Flight 2 let's tighten up! Mace get in here!

• Me

Reamer to Hitman....Over....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Flight 3 formed up & ready to rock

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Go ahead Captain

• Me

I forgot to mention, Hitman, your flight is packing two nukes a peace....I know you love Fireworks on your Birthday.....

·         Over...

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Happy Birthday to you both by the way!

• Me

Thanks Bunny!!!

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

I had noticed that I was a little heavy. Thanks for thinking of me Captain!

·         Thanks!!

• Me

Roger that Hitman......OK lets head for the perimeter and begin our CAP...

·         Watch out for any Mk-IX's....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

I would wish you a happy birthday, Reamer, but I'm pretty sure that you've already found that whoopee cushion I put in your cockpit

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Roger that.

• Me

Oooops....I just found it!!!!!LOL

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

lol

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Happy birthday guys

• Me

I still got some Bean-O from the last mission!!!!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

LoL

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Bean-o before lol

• Me

Here we go.....looks like the Cylons want to wish us a happy Birthday as well.....

·         My Dradis is lighting up all of a sudden....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Holy Frak!

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

I see!

• Me

YeeHaa....I love a good fight.....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Frakking hell my screen looks like a Christmas tree

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Time to get this party started!

• Me

Looks like the CAG was right on this one.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

This is amazing!

• Me

I've not seen anything like this on my dradus in a long time.....looks like some Mk-IX's for sure it’s sooo big.....

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Yeah, they're coming in heavy

• Me

They must be setting up a listening post against the Raven and the Fleet....

·         Let’s give it to em....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

I haven't seen these before! Be careful Tigers!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Flight 3: Let's plow the road!

• Me

They may require HD-70’s.....making every shot count....

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Flight 5 Keep it tight!

• Me

They're at 12 O'clock even....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Flight 2! Let's go in high!

• Me

Let’s climb and then dive on them and hit em hard....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Flight 3 is going right up the middle

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Flight 5 let's climb!

• Me

Flight 1 execute an Immelman turn....

·         Watch it....there are Raiders in escort as well....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Flight 2 we are going to mirror Flight 1! Execute Immelman. Now!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Roger that Cap

• Me

OK level off and let’s dive on that group of scrap....

·         Target the IX's first....then we'll get the Raiders.....on the next pass….

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Flight 5 let's do this!

• Me

·         Target acquired missiles locked on.....two away.....whooosh....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Deathstroke, you & Hawkwind break right & draw those 3 toasters. Achilles & I will mop them up.

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Firing solution acquired! Fire!!!!

• Me

Multiple missile launches.......

·         POW.....look at the Fireworks.....

·         Yeah....that's scrapping a few....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Splash!! All that Glitters is Gold!!!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

There you go boys..........served up like Thanksgiving dinner.....

• Me

Flight 1 over.....everyone with me....

·         Roger that Cap we got one each from the looks of it....

·         Great shooting Tiger's......watch out for their escort....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Scrap 3! Nice shooting Achilles

• Me

Let’s come around and see what we find....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Nice shooting Tigers!

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

I'm having comm issues; I'm going to restart my communications system

• Me

There's a bunch of toasters at 9 O'clock....Over....

Part 2: Saturday Night Cap with the Flying Tiger’s

·         Roger that Bunny....Over

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Flight 3 has got you covered Bunny while you sort out your bugs

• Me

Turning to port.....30mm ammo blazing.....

·         there goes another toaster to the scrap pile....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Splash another one! They are lighting up out here.

• Me

Dutchman...you have one trying to get on your six....

·         Copy that Cap...I see him....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Hawkwind: you got 2 toasters coming up on your 3 o clock

• Me

Let’s do a couple split Esses to get him off our tail....

·         Executing now.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

.Mace! 3oclock! Get it!

·         Roger that Lt.

• Me

That did the trick....Blast em.....Yeah....

·         Pow...splash another toaster.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Nice shooting Mace!

• Me

Let’s make another pass.....

·         Anymore IX's still out there....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Good shooting Deathstroke!

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Roger that! Captain!

• Me

I got a couple IX's trying to make a run for it....

·         They're at 2 O'clock high....

·         Punching the thrusters and climbing......

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Let's get em!

• Me

One missile away......

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Fire! ....

• Me

Pop goes the IX....Gold dust in the wind!!!!

·         Great shooting Hitman.....they didn't stand a chance....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Thanks! You know how much all this scrap gold is worth!

• Me

Looks like we got more Raiders coming in to play.....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Lining up a shot.......got it

• Me

I'm not sure Hitman.....we need to finish the fight before we can weight it!!!!!LOL

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Well let's fill the bins!!

• Me

Looks like a bunch of Raiders just jumped in on our 6.......

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

I'm back, what's the situation?

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

We got raiders on our 6

• Me

Let’s do a manual FireFox deployment.....

·         Whoosh.....multiple missile launches......

·         Multiple explosions......Yeah, I love that weapons system.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Woohoo!!

• Me

Quick lets come around and get any FireFox missed.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Roger that coming around

• Me

There's a few looks like they were hit....

·         Let’s go in for the Kill.....

·         Before they jump away...

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Let's play some Tag!

• Me

Wow.....what's that.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Guns blazing!!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

What you see Cap?

• Me

I've never seen anything like that except back at the academy......

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Scrap 2

·         Good shooting Achilles

• Me

Why it looks like an old fashioned Cylon Tanker or something....

·         It must have been ready to refuel the IX's.....

Look how big that thing is....watch out for the guns on top Hitman!!!!! If you hit it just right, it should make an amazing explosion...

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Yea! I think you're right.

• Me

Yeah......let’s make a run on it....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

I think I got something for them.

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Lords of Kobol, I've only read about them

• Me

I knew I armed Hitman's flight with nukes for a good reason.....

·         OK Hitman....get your flight above it and you know what to do....

·         Launch your nukes and bug out.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Alright Mace and you the rest of flight 2 stay back! And cover!

• 10:50 PM
• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Ooooooooo.....Fireworks.......nice! Flight 3: Let’s pick out some good seats!

• Me

There are some more Raiders trying to protect the Tanker....lets hit em so they don’t block Hitman’s shot.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Launching nukes now!!!!

• Me

Turning to starboard guns blazing.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Now get out of here!!!!!

• Me

There goes one....

·         I got one Cap...

·         Great shooting El Cid....

·         Let’s get out of here....

·         Roger that Cap....

·         The Raiders are toast....LOL

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Great shooting guys!

• Me

Great Fireworks show Hitman!!!!!

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

The candles are lit and the fireworks are starting....

• Me

Woohoo.....Yeah....that's what I'm talking about.....

·         Look at that thing burn....Scratch One Tanker.......Yeah!!!!!!!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Awesomeness!

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Now that's how you party Tigers style!

• Me

Hey we should have brought some marshmallows to toast on the fire.....

·         That's one for the books....

·         Any more Raiders out there.....

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

Cylon smores would taste pretty sweet!

• Me

Yeah make mine Golden....Please.....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Mmmmmm....Smores.......

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Well I guess we will have that Ambrosia instead.

• Me

Sounds great Hitman...Lead the way......

·         OK Tiger's lets get back in formation and head for the Raven.....

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

I'm bringing my Viper in for some maintenance, I'm having malfunctions

• Me

Copy that Bunny, Watch out for the scrap on the way....

·         I hope you don't have any dents....That CAG was saying the Chief isn't running a body shop!!!!!LOL

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Flight 2 let's go home!!

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Flight 3: form up

• LtJg Grace "Bunny" Nonemaker

I'll catch you guys later

• Me

It seems like we always meet up with the toasters....

·         I'm going to have our briefing room checked for Cylon Bugs again....after we have a few bottles of Ambrosia that is....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

They do seem to always show up don't they?

• Me

Yeah they do....the Minotaur never have fun like we do.....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Raven this is Hitman ... I am calling the Ball.

• Me

The Raven's in sight....call the ball everyone....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Roger that, Cap

• Me

This is El Cid...I have the ball.....coming in for a landing....

·         Slowing to 104....

·         Touching down....

·         I'm right behind you El Cid.....leave some room for me....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Reducing speed.....Skids down. ..... Contact.....maglock engaged!

• Me

Skids down....coming to a stop...maglock on...

·         Hey Chief....no scratches on your deck....

• Lt. Jg. Justin "HotWire" James

Skids down.....Mag locks on

• Me

I heard that Reamer.....my deck better not be damaged....or I'll get you pointy nosed college boys.....

• 11:07 PM
• Me

Dutchman...looks like you have a big dent on your starboard engine cover....

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Haha! That Chief is always on your rail Captain!!

• Me

Better not let the Chief see it tonight....

·         Roger that Cap....

·         I'll park it with the dent near the wall....

·         Sounds good Dutchman...lets head for the lounge.

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

Nice CAP Tigers!

• Me

The Chief loves to bang out dents....it releases his stress!!!! LOL

·         Great shooting Tiger's. Let’s tip a few in the lounge.

• LTJG Eric "Hitman" Morelli

See you in the lounge

• 11:10 PM
• Me

You got it Hitman!!!!

• 11:18 PM

Colonials!
I bid you all a fond hello & a welcome to all our newest members as always.
Bear with us a bit, I was planning on kicking of this week with a bunch of hero awards but as it sometimes happens things tend to intervene (in this case Cons, news & scheduling)...but I do promise that in the near future though we will resume the hero's in an expanded version.
Sooo...having said all that, I will give all of you a short report regards the Anaheim WonderCon that the BFC recently attended (with yours truly).

Firstly, it was actually Battlestar Galactica "heavy"...Richard Hatch, Herb Jefferson, Kate Vernon & Kandyse McClure were all in attendance and though there wasn't any big "news" per se (the proposed movie being the 800 pound gorilla in the room), Richard was talking about Axanar, the newest Trek project that he is working on (albeit as a KLINGON!)
My good buddy Noel Guglielmi was also in attendance (The Walking Dead, Fast & The Furious, Training Day).
Always good to visit with him..and other friends.

Alicia Hollinger was a guest at the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club table with me (check out her art!), having just been featured in Heavy Metal magazine & putting out her newest book...I would say she is an artist on the rise!
Fan Club....and what I like to call BFC Team L.A. members Cliff Gardner & Herb Brunner came down along with my good friend and photographer supreme Chris Loomis.
I think if you everyone recalls from both Chris' site and Luciana Carro's Facebook page a few months back Chris did a fantastic photo shoot with Luciana in Hollywood..anyway, check out his site and her FB page.
There is always a different kind of vibe at Cons, which you all get...those of you who have been to one knows what I mean, but always fun.

This year there are several events that the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club will be present at...notably in Tulsa OK, Houston TX & Tampa FL.
Especially looking forward to Sci-Con in Tampa...gives me a chance to not only to visit Florida, but again to see friends.
That's what it's all about.
If I can distill it down to one basic thing...that thing that serves as the glue to all of this...(and I'm talking here about the collective fan support for Battlestar Galactica specifically while also taking into account the whole spectrum of Cons, networking and mutual support), I would have to say it all boils down to friendship.
I have been involved with Battlestar Galactica for the past 15 years and over that time, I have made lifelong friends in and out of the (entertainment) business...fans of Battlestar Galactica & other shows (and mind you, some of THOSE fans are actors & writers etc.), while some just have an abiding love for the show(s)....and THEY too are talented people in whatever path they follow.
I'm blessed to know those fans and direct participants (people like Richard Hatch, Bear McCreary and of course, etc)...so while you might say I'm on both sides of the fence...I find there is NO fence...get to a Con & you will see how quickly that perceived "fence" disappears!
Having said that I'm going to give two special shout outs...one for next years Galacticon IV (can't help it, I'm one of the Executive Producers!) & Gene Haggerty & Co's Sci-Con...really how much fun can one person have...?
(Well, many people having fun, but it's a personal perspective!).
Before I close...two things...DO NOT FORGET THIS: To ALL Battlestar Galactica fans, your deep and abiding love & faith keeps the franchise alive, your determination, your belief and your support keeps it going...any day and everyday you move mountains...and once again you have moved that mountain, the talk of the upcoming film has proved that, don't for one minute forget that it was YOU who directly influenced that decision so keep on pushing...don't sit back, shout LOUDER!
The other is that over the next several weeks we will be featuring the special Galaction IV spotlight on the stars interview series featuring our upcoming guests next year in Seattle...so you may learn a thing or two you didn't know before...and you'll see that as much as you go to a Con to see them, they are there just as much to see you!
Always remember to:
Keep The Faith!
So Say We All!

Shawn O'Donnell
President
Battlestar Galactica Fan Club

Photo's of Kate Vernon & Noel Guglielmi by Chris Loomis

Photo of Yasu Tano (Na'vi) by Shawn O'Donnell

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEONIDASFriday, May 2 is Keith "Leonidas" Ranson's Birthday. The Battlestar Raven CAG is top notch pilot and leader. Now if we could just get him to come out of his shy shell and open up a little it would be great. The cake was delivered by Marines, but don't know if it came from his pilots or the Cylons. Either way, I'd have it checked by an EOD Tech. Happy BD! SO SAY WE ALL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HITMANWednesday, April 30 is Eric "Hitman" Morelli's Birthday. Here's wishing a feldercarb free week long celebration to one of Battlestar Raven's famous and infamous wild men and our Shipmate! SO SAY WE ALL!

I can't claim that I did this graphic here to the left. I saw it with a WKYT News (CBS) and thought that it was interesting that some graphical artist for WKYT News used the BSG font for the FDA.  

"Hello,

 I'm Ernie Miller and as the Battlestar Galactica Fan Club Adminstrator of Colonial Affairs,    I welcome you on behalf of the leadership of the BFC. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you on the site" Welcome  

So Say We All !!!!!!