I often rant here about the need for better universal power supply technology. And there is some progress. On a recent trip to Europe, I was astounded how much we took in the way of power supply gear. I am curious at what the record is for readers here. I suggested we have a contest at a recent gathering. I had six supplies, and did not win.

Here’s what the two of us had on the German trip in terms of devices. There were slightly fewer supplies, due to the fact several devices charged from USB, which could be generated by laptops or dedicated wall-warts.

• My laptop, with power supply. (Universal, able to run from plane, car or any voltage)
• Her laptop, with power supply.
• My unlocked GSM phone, which though mini-USB needs its dedicated charger, so that was brought
• My CDMA phone, functioning has a PDA, charges from mini-USB
• Her unlocked GSM phone, plus motorola charger
• Her CDMA Treo, as a PDA, with dedicated charger
• My Logger GPS, charges from mini-USB
• My old bluetooth GPS, because I had just bought the logger, charges from mini-USB
• My Canon EOS 40D, with plug in battery charger. 4 batteries.
• Her Canon mini camera, with different plug in battery charger. 2 batteries.
• Canon flash units, with NiMH AA batteries, with charger and power supply for charger.
• Special device, with 12v power supply.
• MP3 player and charger
• Bluetooth headset, charges from same Motorola charger. Today we would have two!
• External laptop battery for 12 hour flight, charges from laptop charger
• Electric shaver — did not bring charger as battery will last trip.
• 4 adapters for Euro plugs, and one 3-way extension cord. One adapter has USB power out!
• An additional USB wall-wart, for a total of 3 USB wall-warts, plus the computers.
• Cigarette lighter to USB adapter to power devices in car.

That’s the gear that will plug into a wall. There was more electronic gear, including USB memory sticks, flash cards, external wi-fi antennal, headsets and I’ve probably forgotten a few things.  read more »

With so many candidates eliminated by various clues and pronouncements, one that has percolated to the top is the dead Ellen Tigh. She’s not a very popular choice, since she was not a likable character, and not that major of one either.

Ellen appeared, though many won’t remember it, in the pilot miniseries. Just before the attack, Colonel Tigh pulls out a photo of Ellen (played by a different actress) and uses his cigar to burn a hole in it. In this photograph, you see he burns her a bright red, glowing eye. Well, especially to miniseries viewers, a red glowing eye has a special meaning.

When she does arrive, everybody wonders if she’s a Cylon. She says she was unconscious on a fleet ship for 3 weeks, having escaped from Picon. She’s immediately all over everybody, wants to get back with Tigh, is flirting with Apollo and very, very curious about the hunt for Earth. She is the first to be tested in the Cylon tester.

So let’s consider an interesting possible plot for Ellen as the final Cylon.

The Final Five, as I view it, are not strictly Cylons. They are former human beings who transferred their minds into AI form. They were, I think, the people who programmed and created the Cylon AIs and the first Cylons themselves, back on Earth.

As I also surmise, in order to maintain their humanity, they regularly incarnate themselves in human form, unaware of who they are. They are born, grow up and then later die or become aware, and merge themselves with the more advanced AI mind, keeping that mind more human.

So let’s imagine that two of the five are lovers. They were lovers as humans, and have had a tumultuous, 4,000 year long on-again off-again love affair. Sometimes, as is the case this time, they find each other in human form, and marry. But it’s not a fully stable relationship, in spite of, or perhaps because of its longevity.

This time, Ellen goes particularly far, and starts screwing Cavil and eventually betrays the resistance while trying to help Saul. And he has to execute her for doing this.

After he does, Ellen wakes up in a tank. Now her mind is merged with her old self, and she remembers the 4,000 year history. And sees the horrible thing done to Saul, and that he did to her. She is hungry for redemption, but it will only come with suffering.

Boy, talk about a marital spat coming up. I only suggest details here. It’s possible that if this is the real plot, Moore could develop it more. Even show flashbacks, once things are revealed, of their beginnings on Earth, and their 4,000 year long love affair and battle. Give it some real meat. Strengthen the love and betrayals. And then show how it all comes together.

To sum up, Ellen:

• Has many dramatic clues pointing her out as a Cylon.
• Has been around since the miniseries and season one.
• Is a guest star, but not a brand new one. She’s well known to audiences, unless they just joined.
• Is not in the fleet, and D’Anna may well know she’s dead.
• Is not in the Last Supper photo
• Is not likely to be the one D’Anna apologized to (I guess that would be Anders.)
• Would be hungering for redemption, and gain it only in suffering.
• At the time of Razor, she was still alive and in shadow.
• Has been back in the show, in Tigh’s mind.

My main issue with her, aside from her non-likability, is I don’t think she’s developed enough, and she’s been out of the show since early in Season 3, except for her hallucination appearances. They would need to develop this story more to make it satisfying, but I think they could do that.

It can of course be very deep. Perhaps this isn’t the first time they have betrayed one another, or even the first time one of them has killed the other. Could the war on Kobol have been a result of their marital spat?