they're pretty much convinced life sucks more for the humans offworld (and the Asgard) if Tauri doesn't get a gate.

Good point. I was being parochial, but if the decision's being made by AU!Hammond, he's not going to take that into consideration, regardless of what the original Sam, Jack, and Daniel say.

Why was Sam in the AU with long hair not in the military, and Daniel in Africa? Choices.

Yes, but that was an AU -- this is... well, okay, obviously it is, but differently. It seems to me that what they showed us really (and intentionally) was... well not eight years ago, but 1929 + AU. Daniel's life wasn't influenced by Catherine Langford, but was unchanged up to that point. Kinsey still got into politics, Hammond still became an Air Force General. But I see no reason that the Stargate's absence from the Giza dig should have changed Sam's life to such an extent. I'm not saying it couldn't have. See below.

The handy thing about the ripple effect theory is that one change in the past can send out ripples that echo and cross each other out like pebbles in a pond.

This is a fine explanation for why the Stargate not being found could have affected Sam's entering the AF. But not, I think, for why other changes made 5000 years in the past could. The ripple effect, as a metaphor, would seem to dictate that the ripples, once they reach a shore so far away, would be broad. Maybe shallow, but broad.

Okay, I totally know I'm overthinking this. If pressed, I could come up with several possible explanations. I just wish they'd given one in passing, because it made me wonder. I'm totally good with handwaving most times, but... but... okay, I have no idea. I guess I just find time-travel stories like intricate puzzles, and I get irritated when there's a piece that doesn't go anywhere.

Brighid got the Starburst editions of the Farscape dvds. This is her response. t happy sigh

On thinking about Emily's issue: I suppose I agree with you, Emily, in that they really didn't think about what the likely repurcussions would be, and what Sam would be like without the Stargate.

It's more likely that without the Stargate Sam would be a bitter, frustrated, angry woman stuck in the Pentagon -- or, more interesting, she'd have left the military entirely and gone into private industry, where she'd be working for Alex Coulsen and making millions on patents. On the down side, she wouldn't have gotten to be a soldier in the field and would probably have a pretty bad attitude about the military. And wouldn't have reconciled with her dad, who would have died four years ago.

Just a theory.

It's more likely that without the Stargate Sam would be a bitter, frustrated, angry woman stuck in the Pentagon -- or, more interesting, she'd have left the military entirely and gone into private industry, where she'd be working for Alex Coulsen and making millions on patents. On the down side, she wouldn't have gotten to be a soldier in the field and would probably have a pretty bad attitude about the military. And wouldn't have reconciled with her dad, who would have died four years ago.

Yeah, I think either of those options would've made more sense and would've meant more to me than the version we got. Oh well.

(Six years! Six!)

As to their motivations--well, they live in the world in which fucking Kinsey is the president. Uncertain future at an alien planet or being stuck 5000 in the past probably didn't sound so bad.

Hmmm. Insert "Bush" instead of "Kinsey" and I can see where many people in the AU might think it beneficial to investigate.

I think the whole impetus of the AU government was more dependant on investigating if the things on the tape were true. From there, they could evaluate the results of their investigations.

At the very least, they will get a device that will let them travel to other worlds out of the deal. Plus? Time machine. From that standpoint, I can see the government being very enthusiastic.

Since we have not officially seen the second half until next week, I shall refrain from discussing the outcome of this week's decisions, of course.

As for Rodney, I think the AU Rodney was spot-on the annoying and arrogant Rodney we met the first couple of times on SG-1.

He didn't have the time in Russia that "our" Rodney had to endure. Plus he didn't have the experiences of the Atlantis mission to mold him to be a more sympathetic and self-reflective person. In the AU, nothing has changed.

Did anyone catch that in the AU Rodney said "They're serving Lemon Chicken, my favorite." In the "normal" universe he claimed to be allergic to citris. I always doubted that. This might be their way to make it an inside joke.

(Six years! Six!)

Oooops! Yes, of course.

And I loved that lemon chicken mention. Maybe he's not really allergic to citrus, or it's one of the butterfly-effect things.

I got a laugh out of how thick of a stereotypical "Minnesota" accent Jack got in the AU.

It was half Minnesotan/half Canadian.

if the decision's being made by AU!Hammond, he's not going to take that into consideration, regardless of what the original Sam, Jack, and Daniel say.

But our SG1 is holding all the information. If they want what they want, they can deliver data selectively.

Consider the effect that the episode 1969 not happening could have on Sam. That could account for her definite difference in path.