#FreeBabylon5 Campaign

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

^And it's responsive for mobile! w00t! But it's built on Bootstrap, not Foundation — j/k! [Full disclosure: I work for the company that makes Foundation, so guess which framework I prefer. ]

But it's great to see the new site, looks good and glad that I can view it on my mobile device too.

 

[beamMe]

Two quick news items. Sadly, despite many of you voting your fingers to the bone, Babylon 5 didn't make it onto the ballot for the People's Choice awards. Thanks to everybody who helped. Let's keep trying to find inventive ways to increase awareness of Babylon 5!

Also, those who get the B5 Books newsletter may already know this but B5 Books announced last night that for the month of November they're extending the debut discount period on the gorgeous B5-20 book AND for each B5-20 sold this month, they're donating $10 to #FreeBabylon5. Woo-Hoo!!

ORDER B5-20, HELP #FreeBabylon5

We are extending the $46 off debut discount of B5-20 for the month of November. For every Babylon 5 at Twenty sold during November, we will donate $10 to #FreeBabylon5.

Jan

I love B5, but the price for that book is ridiculously high.

 

[mrs.king]

I am new to the community, and one of those that worked my fingers to the bone on this campaign. I wish there were a way to know just how many votes we got....

 

[Jan]

I am new to the community, and one of those that worked my fingers to the bone on this campaign. I wish there were a way to know just how many votes we got....

That would have been cool. Or to see a small comment in an article someplace about a 'spirited write-in campaign by fans of Babylon 5'. Oh, well.

For those not following along on Facebook or Google+, I'm asking people to give some thought to clicking on the 'Donate' button over on the Free Babylon 5 website. Despite invaluable volunteer efforts by my wonderful webmaster and the wonderful art by our own Reverend, buttons and give-aways at conventions won't pay for themselves. In addition, if we ever do press releases or have a newsletter, those cost money, too.

I know there are lots of people pulling at your wallets these days but if you can give a bit, I'd appreciate it.

Jan
PS: And don't forget that the wonderful folks at B5Books.com are donating $10 for each B5-20 book sold in November. Thanks!

 

[Jan]

(We interrupt this thread for a brief commercial break)

Many thanks to the folks who've donated and/or ordered stuff (see items here). All packages have been shipped. Remember, this isn't for profit, it's to recoup money already spent on the campaign or to pay future expenses.

Don't forget that $10 of your purchase price of the Babylon 5 at Twenty book is only through the end of November.

And finally, these cool t-shirts and mug are also only available through the end of the month! There'll be other shirts, I'm sure but I adore the word cloud on these!

(We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread, already in progress)
Jan

(PS: have you visited the #FreeBabylon5 Facebook page lately? Great covers by our own Reverend are featured regularly! Thanks, Reverend!!

 

[Reverend]

Don't thank me too much, there's only two left and I'm out of ideas again!

 

[Neroon]

You've provided some beautiful graphics so far, and I bet you will do so again and soon

 

[MacLeod]

I like the series, and wish it would receive an upgrade to HD (which is probably the most damaging factor to its current and future fate in syndication)

That's a very good point. Even if it was picked up for syndication, would it gain a significant number of viewers in its dated state? This isn't about what we think of the show, but about the initial impression a first timer might have.

But an HD upgrade isn't happening, so I wonder if our efforts might be better focused on streaming sites like Netflix? That seems like the perfect venue for older shows, especially ones that lend themselves to binge viewing like B5.

Jan said this campaign is "only about getting Babylon 5 back on television in reruns for now...perhaps with a side order of getting it on streaming sites, later." I'd be much more inclined to support an effort that reversed those priorities.

Because lets face it, streaming is the future of television. As for cable and network, Kosh said it best: "they are a dying people. We should let them pass."

Streaming maybe the future but it's at least a decade or more off. You need a fairly decent internet connection to abel to stream. Some areas still don't have broadband, even some with interent can barely stream a SD programme never mind HD.

 

[Reverend]

^I can certainly attest to that. The place I'll be (probably) moving to in the new year has benchmarks around 1MB/s. Where I am now has fiber-optics so I can easily hit 10MB/s so naturally I'm not looking forward to the downgrade. It's not as if it's the back of beyond either. Only a few miles (like 3 or 4) outside of a city. I also know from my old job that there are areas of the UK that are still using the old copper wires laid in the 1940's and signal quality so bad it's not even funny.

The reason TV became so ubiquitous was that the only infrastructure required on the consumer's end was mains electricity. Now granted there are probably still some isolated spots even in Europe & North America that still aren't on the grid, but it's safe to say that by the 50's, coverage was more or less 90% and up.

The same cannot be said for broadband, so yeah, I think it'll be a good decade before streaming becomes totally dominant. That is unless they find a way to overcome the latency issues inherent with satellite internet access.

You've provided some beautiful graphics so far, and I bet you will do so again and soon

So far it's all been cut and paste from work I did for the wiki. I think I've exhausted the logos side of things and I'm hesitant to use screen grabs too much. I'm sure it'd be fine really, but I don't want the page getting in trouble over a copyright violation or unauthorized use of an actor's image.

Seriously, I'm open to suggestions!

 

[MacLeod]

I'm still stuck on ADSL so upto 8Mb, at I can attain close to that speed on speed tests at 02:00. Usually it drops to 1-2Mb. Fortunatly my exchange is planned for upgrade to FTTC/P sometime next year as part of BDUK.

But another issue these days gone are the days where people only used to have one internet enabled computer. Many homes have 2+ computers, smart phones, tablets, ismart TV's, game consoles etc...

 

[Sindatur]

^I can certainly attest to that. The place I'll be (probably) moving to in the new year has benchmarks around 1MB/s. Where I am now has fiber-optics so I can easily hit 10MB/s so naturally I'm not looking forward to the downgrade. It's not as if it's the back of beyond either. Only a few miles (like 3 or 4) outside of a city. I also know from my old job that there are areas of the UK that are still using the old copper wires laid in the 1940's and signal quality so bad it's not even funny.

The reason TV became so ubiquitous was that the only infrastructure required on the consumer's end was mains electricity. Now granted there are probably still some isolated spots even in Europe & North America that still aren't on the grid, but it's safe to say that by the 50's, coverage was more or less 90% and up.

The same cannot be said for broadband, so yeah, I think it'll be a good decade before streaming becomes totally dominant. That is unless they find a way to overcome the latency issues inherent with satellite internet access.

You've provided some beautiful graphics so far, and I bet you will do so again and soon

So far it's all been cut and paste from work I did for the wiki. I think I've exhausted the logos side of things and I'm hesitant to use screen grabs too much. I'm sure it'd be fine really, but I don't want the page getting in trouble over a copyright violation or unauthorized use of an actor's image.

Seriously, I'm open to suggestions!

I think it would be kinda neat to take the Ulkesh and Naranek Final battle out of their Encounter suits, and in some way brand Ulkesh as a network suit out to destroy the galaxy/The Show and Naranek as a B5 Fan trying to save it (Or something along that theme)

 

[Reverend]

^Yeah, I've intentionally steered away from that kind of antagonistic tone. I don't think it'd be a good idea to colour the campaign with what amounts to name calling, especially when we're trying to convince WB that B5 is a viable IP and that we're not just a bunch of gobshites with keyboards and a hashtag.

 

[Sindatur]

^Yeah, I've intentionally steered away from that kind of antagonistic tone. I don't think it'd be a good idea to colour the campaign with what amounts to name calling, especially when we're trying to convince WB that B5 is a viable IP and that we're not just a bunch of gobshites with keyboards and a hashtag.

Yea, that's true (though it would be fun if it could be done subtly enough )

 

[Reverend]

^The Peanuts metaphor is about as far as I plan to go.

 

[Jan]

If anybody can think of a design to help motivate folks to write letters, that's my request! Something along the lines of the old Uncle Sam "I want YOU to...." posters? Any ideas?

Just got the banner we'll be displaying at the Space City Con in January. Many thanks to the Reverend once again, it's gorgeous!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...8.384278431698375&type=1&theater&notif_t=like

Jan

 

[Sindatur]

Do You have any Morden "What do you Want" Memes?

 

[Reverend]

If anybody can think of a design to help motivate folks to write letters, that's my request! Something along the lines of the old Uncle Sam "I want YOU to...." posters? Any ideas?

I had toyed with a similar idea, but I had trouble figuring out who to use as Lord Kitchener. I've already ruled out using actor's images for obvious reasons, so that rules out most of the obvious candidates. I thought maybe doing two versions; one Shadow one Vorlon, but I'm having trouble working in the Vorlon question and have it make sense. "What do you want?" is a no brainer. Maybe have both of them with the poster split down the middle?

Just got the banner we'll be displaying at the Space City Con in January. Many thanks to the Reverend once again, it's gorgeous!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...8.384278431698375&type=1&theater&notif_t=like

Jan

Did it turn out OK? I just realised that my monitor is dying so my brightness and contrast settings are way off and what I'm doing may end up looking brighter than I'd intended.

 

[Jan]

Did it turn out OK? I just realised that my monitor is dying so my brightness and contrast settings are way off and what I'm doing may end up looking brighter than I'd intended.

It's *perfect*! Not too light, not too dark. I think it's going to help us catch a LOT of eyes in Galveston. Many thanks!

Jan

 

[Reverend]

OK, let's give this a try...

Just throwing it all at the wall and see what sticks!

 

[Jan]

Love these! Keeping your monitor issue in mind, the Shadow might be a little dark or need more contrast to show best. I'm thinking that if these were side-by side instead of lengthwise, they'd make good FB covers. Or each half, reduced would make popular avatars, too.

Jan