April 08, 2005

Belgravia's Guest

Thanks to Greg for that introduction. I hope I can live up to his very generous description of me, and also not crash this site. Though no technophobe, I do have in the back of my mind the Python sketch that begins with a visitor accidentally breaking a teacup and ends with him fleeing the house as it collapses around him.

I am better known by most people as Joseph Britt than as Zathras. "Zathras" was the product of whim, a cybernym adopted mostly because I was pretty sure no one else would use it -- and, secondarily, because making oneself understood is sometimes a problem in cyberspace. The original Zathras was a minor character in the old Babylon 5 science fiction television series, who doubled as comic relief and expositor of all the major points in a key storyline. His tag line, "no one listen to poor Zathras," can be heard as the plaint of a frustrated prophet, a wry comment on the obtuseness of his audience, or a self-conscious acknowledgement that the storyline he is trying to explain (on Babylon 5 this involved time travel and some quasi-millenial stuff too complicated to go into here) is a little outside conventional frames of reference.

But so much for that. In the real cyberworld (and there's an interesting concept), the chronically misunderstood writer has only himself to blame. So Joseph Britt it will be here. I'll write mostly about the same kinds of topics Greg has: current affairs with a heavy emphasis on foreign policy. There may be more frequent posts having to do with Congress, my place of employment in a former life, and topics that I will never, ever write about include the Michael Jackson trial, Jane Fonda and the British royal family. Life is just too short.

"Zathras understand. No, Zathras not understand. But Zathras do. Zathras good at doings, not understandings."

"Zathras is used to being beast of burden to other peoples needs. Very sad live. Probably have very sad death. But, at least there is symmetry."

Welcome! Anybody who starts his blogging here as my favorite guest star on Babylon 5 already has one lurker firmly in his camp.

Posted by: Doc Manbot at April 8, 2005 06:05 PM | Permalink to this comment

What did you do in Congress?

Posted by: Dundare at April 8, 2005 08:15 PM | Permalink to this comment

Add Terri Schiavo to that 'do not discuss' list.

Posted by: Hunter McDaniel at April 8, 2005 10:10 PM | Permalink to this comment

Just wanted to let you know I'm keeping up with you. I'm looking forward to some good reading.

Posted by: Buckster at April 8, 2005 10:25 PM | Permalink to this comment

Yeah, Hunter, I think I can do that, as long as that Martinez fellow doesn't hand out any more memos. :-)

Posted by: JEB at April 8, 2005 11:25 PM | Permalink to this comment

So now the lights are shining in your eyes, the mike's working, and you're up. Don't blow it.

Posted by: thibaud at April 9, 2005 05:22 AM | Permalink to this comment

Welcome, welcome,

l knew as soon as Greg mentioned he was getting married that the old BD's days were numbered, but perhaps this format can evolve to a great guestblog. Keep up the great work, I really appreciate this site.

Posted by: wayne at April 9, 2005 07:10 AM | Permalink to this comment

A gentle request: if the focus is to remain on foreign policy, then please, please, much less attention to the Friedmans, Dowds, and other NY/DC myopics.

And more attention to arguments and interesting voices from the greater blogosphere, including Europe and Asia. For starters, prospect.co.uk, normblog, Tom Wretchard, the military/security types in the US (Austin Bay, StrategyPage etc).

Posted by: thibaud at April 9, 2005 05:08 PM | Permalink to this comment

Heh, I always wondered whether the name came from B5. I'm very glad to see you blogging here. BTW, how do you prefer being addressed?

Posted by: fling93 at April 11, 2005 07:36 PM | Permalink to this comment