I agree, one of the writers actualy said they put the suicide bombes in in order to draw the Iraq parallel.

I think, in retrospect, that if they said that, they were trying to generate hype.

The fact is, pretty much all of the most "controversial" parts of Battlestar, Moore had in Star Trek episodes - religious fanatics, occupation, insurgency, suicide bombers, etc., as far back as over 10 years ago (well before 9/11, Iraq, etc.).

That either makes him some kind of genius that can forecast the future, or it makes him somebody who looked at past wars (including WWII, which they are very closely mirroring, especially with tomorrow's episode).

He's actually caught flak from some Star Trek fans over the suicide bombings/religious nuts/insurgency/etc., who felt that he took the those concepts that he had in other ST series over a decade ago, and just rehashed them for BSG.

No matter whether you think he's reusing old ideas from Star Trek, most of us agree that he makes it damn interesting to watch, and does things that he could never have done in Star Trek.

I think it's interesting that Paramount finally realized that they were really screwing up Star Trek - apparently the next ST movie will be done by the people who are doing 'Lost' on ABC.

"if the Spartans didn't hold, doesn't Salamis become moot."

That's the conventional wisdom but I think the historical record isn't sufficient to tell. At a minimum it was a symbolic event that united and rallied the Greeks together. A very small band of fierce and determined warriors held off overwhelming numbers and inflicted casualities well in excess of what they suffered. I would compare it to the role of the Alamo in the war of Texan independence.

Given that it all "came from" 1 ship the strongest parallel I see is 1960 Illinois and Texas. I suppose if one believes Ohio was stolen in 2004 then one could see a parallel there, but I don't believe it therefore I don't see it. That's the fun part with parallels like that, they rely on the viewer to filter it through their knowledge and beliefs.

"There's a great book on the battle by Stephen Presfield called "Gates of Fire"."

Yes, I read it and it was quite good historical fiction. Presfield also wrote a book involving Alexander the Great recently, have you read it? If so, is it good? I've never gotten around to picking it up.

I read the second one that dealt with the Pelopennisean (sp?) War. "Tides of War" if I rememeber correctly. It wasn't nearly as good. I can't believe they made a movie out of the Pressfield's golf book instead of Thermopylae. Their loss-Frank Miller's "300" is going to rock.

Secondhand Lions is absolutely one of the greatest movies of the last 20 years

Thanks Miss Marple. Just ordered it from EBAY. Will add it to my library of great movies.

That's worth a bump back, I think.

I'm Hub McCann. I've fought in two World Wars and countless smaller ones on three continents. I led thousands of men into battle with everything from horses and swords to artillery and tanks. I've seen the headwaters of the Nile, and tribes of natives no white man had ever seen before. I've won and lost a dozen fortunes, killed many men and loved only one woman with a passion a flea like you could never begin to understand. That's who I am. Now, go home, boy!

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