Babylon 5 episode "A Voice in the Wilderness, Part 2" airs 1994

The second part of one of my favorite Babylon 5 episodes A Voice in the Wilderness aired August 3, 1994. In the first part, Epsilon III, the planet below the space station, woke up and Babylon 5 officers go to investigate.  Soon, other races lay claim to Epsilon III and threaten to attack the station.  

I really miss this show!

Babylon 5: A Voice in the Wilderness, Part 2 clip 

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-59) launched 1994

STS-59 crew

Standing (L-R): Kevin Chilton, Sidney Gutierrez

Seated (L-R): Linda Godwin, Thomas Jones, Jay Apt, Michael Clifford

STS-59 mission patch

Space shuttle Endeavour (STS-59) was launched April 9, 1994. Its crew consisted of Commander Sidney Gutierrez, Kevin Chilton, Jay Apt, Michael Clifford, Linda Godwin, and Thomas Jones. The crew was divided into two groups,  Red and Blue, and the groups split tasks and research projects throughout the mission.  

They returned to Earth eleven days later, after 183 orbits.

Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Genesis" 1994

The nineteenth episode of the seventh season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Genesis, aired March 19, 1994.  I enjoyed this episode, even though it seems not many other people did.  Gates McFadden, who plays Dr. Beverly Crusher, directed the episode. 

Capt. Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) and Data (Brent Spiner) go chasing after a malfunctioning torpedo in an asteroid field.  Upon their return to the Enterprise, they discover that the crew has inexplicably mutated into strange creatures.

The episode won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.  It was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Editing for a Series and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series. 

"Jurassic Park" wins four Saturn Awards 1994

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films honored the best in science fiction, fantasy, and horror (sounds intuitive enough) in film, television for 1993 on October 20, 1994.   

Jurassic Park had a whopping 11 nominations and took home four awards. It won Best Science Fiction Film, Best Director for Steven Spielberg, Best Writing for Michael Crichton and David Koepp, and Best Special Effects.  Its nominations were for Best Actress for Laura Dern, Best Supporting Actor for Jeff Goldblum and Wayne Knight, Best Performance by a Younger Actor for Joseph Mazzello and Ariana Richards, and Best Music for John Williams.

The Nightmare Before Christmas won Best Fantasy Film and Best Music for Danny Elfman. It was nominated for Best Visual Effects, and Henry Selick was nominated for Best Director.

Babylon 5 episode "Babylon Squared" airs 1994

One of my favorite episodes of Babylon 5, Babylon Squared, first aired August 10, 1994.  Babylon 5's predecessor station, Babylon 4, reappears after it vanished mysteriously four years prior.  I've only seen it once, so I need to go back and re-watch it. I do remember that Babylon 4 and its disappearance figured prominently throughout the series.  

It was the twentieth episode of the first season of Babylon 5, so Michael O'Hare was still on cast as Commander Jeffrey Sinclair, and Andrea Thompson as Talia Winters, although she did not appear in this episode.  J. Michael Straczynski wrote the episode.

Darmstadtium (Element 110) discovered/created 1994

Darmstadtium was first created November 9, 1994 at the Institute for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany.  Researches bombarded a lead (Pb-208) target with nickel (Ni-62) and created a single atom of the isotope darmstatdium-269. Using heavier isotopes of nickel, they created 9 atoms of Ds-271, confirmed by its decay and the daughter elements.

So far, 10 isotopes of darmstadtium have been reported, with Ds-281 being the most stable, with a half-life of about 12.7 seconds.  Due to such a short life span, chemical characteristics have not been determined.  However, Ds is extremely radioactive.  It is named after the city Darmstadt, where it was discovered.

"Stargate" premieres 1994

I found this movie to be surprisingly good!  Stargate, released October 28, 1994, is a science fiction movie mixed with ancient Egypt overtones.  It starred Kurt Russell (swoon!), James Spader, who is actually tolerable in it, and Jaye Davidson.  French Stewart, from Third Rock from the Sun, made his movie debut as Lt. Ferretti. Roland Emmerich directed the blockbuster.  

For a while, it set the record for highest-grossing release in October, bringing in well over $71M.  Of course, the critics didn't like it. But they don't like anything.

Stargate won a Saturn Award (Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films) for Best Science Fiction Film.

Star Trek: The Next Generation episode 'All Good Things..." wins Primetime Emmy 1994

The final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, All Good Things..., won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Visual Effects at the 46th ceremony, held September 11, 1994.  It also won the Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Drama Series.

It had been nominated for another eight: Outstanding Drama Series (Picket Fences?  Seriously? Oh,  well.  Angela Lansbury and Helen Mirren got ripped off, too), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Editing for a Single Camera Production, Best Makeup, Best Music Composition, Best Sound Editing, and Best Hairstyling.

A fitting end for one of the best television series ever!

Japan's first gay pride parade 1994

Japan held its first gay pride parade August 28, 1994.  I can't find much information on it, but I found a clip from this year's Japan pride parade in Tokyo April 2022.

The X-Files episode "Darkness Falls" airs 1994

One of my favorite X-Files episodes, Darkness Falls, aired April 15, 1994, the twentieth episode of the first season.  Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) investigate the disappearance of a group of loggers in the remote Pacific Northwest, and find a swarm of deadly, prehistoric insects that come out only at night.  Cut off from the outside world, they have to manage to survive.

It was the first time I saw Titus Welliver. :)

Babylon 5 episode "Mind War" airs 1994

The sixth episode of the first season of Babylon 5 Mind War first aired March 2, 1994.  I loved this episode because of its portrayal of the Psi Corps.  Jason Ironheart (William Allen Young), Talia Winters' (Andrea Thompson) instructor and former lover, arrives on Babylon 5.  Right behind him are Psi Cops hot on his tail.  Walter Koenig appears for the first time in his recurring role as Alfred Bester.

Sting wins three Grammy Awards 1994

Sting took home the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for his recording of If I Ever Lose My Faith In You, at the 36th ceremony March 1, 1994.  It was the lead single from is album Ten Summoner's Tales, which won for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (Hugh Padgham) and Best Music Video, Long Form.

If I Ever Lose My Faith In You was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.  Ten Summoner's Tales was nominated for Album of the Year.

Sting was also nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo for Demolition Man.

Billy Joel was nominated for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male  for the River of Dreams.

Billy Joel receives Billboard Music Century Award 1994

At the Billboard Music Awards December 7, 1994, Billy Joel won the Century Award.  I can't find a description of the Century Award, but it was only awarded from 1992 to 2006.  I'm glad my man Billy and my man Sting (2003) won the award.

Babylon 5 episode "A Voice in the Wilderness" airs 1994

One of my favorite episodes of Babylon 5, A Voice in the Wilderness (Part 1) aired July 27, 1994.  The planet around which Babylon 5 is orbiting, has long been thought to be a lifeless rock.  All of a sudden, it comes alive and something under the surface awakens. 

Draal, an old friend of Delenn's, arrives on the station.  And a revolt on Mars breaks out, which has an effect on the crew.  Garibaldi asks Talia if she can find out about an old flame on Mars via her Psi-Corps connections.

The second part aired August 3.

I really miss that show!

Celebrating Pride Month: Gay Games IV Opening Ceremonies 1994

The Gay Games' fourth event opened in New York City, June 18, 1994.  It coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.  They lasted eight days, ending on June 25 with Sir Ian McKellen giving the closing address.  More than 15,000 people participated in the sporting events or in cultural cerremonies.  New event included flag football, figure skating and women's wrestling.

Janet Jackson wins Best Music Video for "If" 1994

Janet Jackson won Soul Train's Best Music Video for If March 15, 1994.  If is the second release (July 1993) from her album Janet.  The video depicts voyeurism, sexuality and lots of awesome choreography. 

The video also won Best Female Video and Best Dance Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.  It won a Billboard Award for Dance Clip of the Year.  And it was also voted best female video of the decade by Idolator.

Columbia (STS-62) launched 1994

STS-62 crew

Front row (L-R): Andrew Allen, John Casper

Back row (L-R): Charles Gemar, Marsha Ivins, Pierre Thuot

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-62), launched March 4, 1994, was a continuation of microgravity experiments.  Its crew consisted of Commander John Casper, Pilot Andrew Allen, Pierre J. Thuot, Charles Gemar, and Marsha Ivins.

They returned to Earth March 18.

"Star Trek Generations" released 1994

The movie that bridged the gap between the original Star Trek series and the Next Generation premiered November 18, 1994.  In Star Trek Generations, Captain Picard must join up with Captain Kirk to stop a madman (Malcolm McDowell) from destroying planets to gain immortality. 

Star Trek Generations got mixed reviews but it was a box-office success!

Spock, Bones, Uhura and Sulu did not appear in this movie.

Endeavour (STS-68) launched 1994

STS-68 crew

Front row (L-R): Thomas Jones, Peter Wisoff, Steven Smith, Daniel Bursch

Back row (L-R): Michael Baker, Terrence Willcutt

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-68), launched September 30, 1994, observed changes in Earth's climate and atmosphere during the eleven-day journey.   Its crew consisted of Commander Michael Baker, Pilot Terrence Wilcutt, Steven Smith, Daniel Bursch, Peter Wisoff, and Thomas Jones.

They returned to Earth October 11.

Discovery (STS-64) launched 1994

STS-64 crew

Front Row (L-R): Blaine Hammond, Richard Richards, Susan Helms

Back Row (L-R): Mark Lee, Jerry Linenger, Carl Meade

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-64) launched September 9, 1994. Its crew consisted of Commander Richard Richards, Pilot Blaine Hammond, Jerry Linenger, Susan Helms, Carl Meade, and Mark Lee.

Lee and Meade conducted an untethered EVA to test a new backpack called Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER), designed to be used in the event a crew member becomes untethered during a spacewalk.

They returned to Earth September 20.