Exam results!
Today I got my Leaving Cert results (big, huge, mad final exams in Ireland) and I couldn't be happier! I got 525 points (out of a maximum of 600)! Much much better than last year!
I wanted to do medicine at Trinity but, alas, it wasn't to be. But I have more than enough to do my second choice, Law in History at UCD (University College Dublin)! Hurray! Calloo-Callay!
My college experience begins in late September!
Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wanted to do medicine at Trinity but, alas, it wasn't to be. But I have more than enough to do my second choice, Law in History at UCD (University College Dublin)! Hurray! Calloo-Callay!
My college experience begins in late September!
Woo-hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Digg thisStargate SG-1: Ten years on
On Sunday July 27, 1997, the first episode of a new science fiction series called Stargate SG-1 was broadcast on Showtime. A spin-off of and sequel to the 1994 film Stargate starring Kurt Russell and James Spader, the series begins approximately one year after the events portrayed in the film. For ten seasons, it chronicled the adventures and misadventures of an intrepid team of explorers known as SG-1. Originally, the series starred Richard Dean Anderson as Colonel Jack O'Neill (two "l"s!), Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson, Amanda Tapping as Captain Samantha Carter, Christopher Judge as Teal'c and Don S. Davis as Major General George S. Hammond. For ten long years, we watched the team battle against the Goa'uld, the Replicators, the Ori and many other aggressors. At the same time, they forged alliances with the Asgard, the Tok'ra, the rebel Jaffa, the Nox and the Tollan. They saved the world no less than eight times over the years and never gave up, not until death claimed them. And sometimes not even then.
As with all long-running series, they were numerous cast changes. Michael Shanks left the series in January 2002 at the end of its fifth season in order to broaden his horizons as an actor. Daniel Jackson's successor as the team's resident archaeologist/geek was Jonas Quinn, an alien from a country called Kelowna on the planet Langara, played by Corin Nemec. However, Shanks returned at the beginning of the seventh season in June 2003 and Nemec left at the same time. Unfortunately, he made only one further guest appearance and his character was seldom mentioned afterwards. Don S. Davis left the series at the end of the seventh season in March 2004 as he felt that it was time for him to go. The show's original star and arguably its most popular actor, Richard Dean Anderson, starred in the series throughout its first eight seasons. His participation in the seventh and eight seasons was noticeably less than in the earlier seasons. He finally left SG-1 in March 2005 in order to spend more time with his then six-year-old daughter. Jack O'Neill was by far my favourite character in the series and, truth be told, I never enjoyed the last two seasons as much as I did the earlier episodes for that very reason.
The ninth season represented a new era for the programme. With the departure of its lead actor and the defeat of the Goa'uld and the Replicators in Season Eight, many fans felt the series should go out on a high. Regardless, the series carried on for a further two years with the Ori replacing the Goa'uld as the series' main adversaries. Three new characters were brought in to fill the gaps as it were and help usher in this re-invention. Ben Browder came in as the cocky Southern Air Force pilot Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, the new leader of SG-1. His Farscape co-star, the lovely Claudia Black, began to play a prominent role in the series as the vivacious, sexy, hilarious and certainly extroverted Vala Mal Doran, a former Goa'uld host and con artist from another planet. A recurring guest star during the eighth and ninth seasons, she joined the cast full time at the beginning of its tenth and final season. Rounding off the cast was the legendary Beau Bridges as Major General Hank Landry, the new commander of the SGC and an old friend of Jack O'Neill and General Hammond. For the last two years, they starred alongside the SG-1 faithful (Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping and Christopher Judge) and became valuable parts of and made equally valuable contributions to the Stargate franchise.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. During the initial broadcast of the first several episodes of Season Ten, ratings dropped considerably, resulting in cancellation in August 2006. After ten seasons and 214 episodes, the dream was finally over. On March 13, 2007, what began with "Children of the Gods" ended with "Unending". The series finale made its world premiere on Sky One in Britain and Ireland before being shown on the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States on June 22, 2007.
In the ten years that the series was on the air, it amassed legions of fans and even eclipsed the science fiction series, Star Trek, in terms of popularity in certain countries. It became the second-longest running sci-fi series in the world, second only to Doctor Who (1963-1989), and the longest-running American produced sci-fi series, having surpassed The X-Files only a few months before it ended.
Stargate SG-1 represents the cornerstone of the Stargate franchise. In 2004, its success and popularity led to the production of a spin-off series entitled Stargate Atlantis, the fourth season of which will begin on September 28, 2007. Although plans for another feature film fell through, two direct-to-DVD films, Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate Continuum, are due for release in 2008. A third live-action series, Stargate Universe, is also due to premiere at some point next year. (There was, unfortunately, an animated series, Stargate Infinity, which ran only from 2002 to 2003 but the less said about that the better). Despite the end of SG-1, the future of Stargate looks very bright indeed.
In conclusion, while Stargate has yet to gain the same degree of recognition as other major sci-fi television franchises such as Star Trek and Doctor Who, its still relatively new compared to those two sci-fi giants and I have every confidence that it will continue for many, many years to come.
Stargate SG-1 (July 27, 1997 - July 27, 2007).
Here's to another ten years of Stargate!
As with all long-running series, they were numerous cast changes. Michael Shanks left the series in January 2002 at the end of its fifth season in order to broaden his horizons as an actor. Daniel Jackson's successor as the team's resident archaeologist/geek was Jonas Quinn, an alien from a country called Kelowna on the planet Langara, played by Corin Nemec. However, Shanks returned at the beginning of the seventh season in June 2003 and Nemec left at the same time. Unfortunately, he made only one further guest appearance and his character was seldom mentioned afterwards. Don S. Davis left the series at the end of the seventh season in March 2004 as he felt that it was time for him to go. The show's original star and arguably its most popular actor, Richard Dean Anderson, starred in the series throughout its first eight seasons. His participation in the seventh and eight seasons was noticeably less than in the earlier seasons. He finally left SG-1 in March 2005 in order to spend more time with his then six-year-old daughter. Jack O'Neill was by far my favourite character in the series and, truth be told, I never enjoyed the last two seasons as much as I did the earlier episodes for that very reason.
The ninth season represented a new era for the programme. With the departure of its lead actor and the defeat of the Goa'uld and the Replicators in Season Eight, many fans felt the series should go out on a high. Regardless, the series carried on for a further two years with the Ori replacing the Goa'uld as the series' main adversaries. Three new characters were brought in to fill the gaps as it were and help usher in this re-invention. Ben Browder came in as the cocky Southern Air Force pilot Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell, the new leader of SG-1. His Farscape co-star, the lovely Claudia Black, began to play a prominent role in the series as the vivacious, sexy, hilarious and certainly extroverted Vala Mal Doran, a former Goa'uld host and con artist from another planet. A recurring guest star during the eighth and ninth seasons, she joined the cast full time at the beginning of its tenth and final season. Rounding off the cast was the legendary Beau Bridges as Major General Hank Landry, the new commander of the SGC and an old friend of Jack O'Neill and General Hammond. For the last two years, they starred alongside the SG-1 faithful (Michael Shanks, Amanda Tapping and Christopher Judge) and became valuable parts of and made equally valuable contributions to the Stargate franchise.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. During the initial broadcast of the first several episodes of Season Ten, ratings dropped considerably, resulting in cancellation in August 2006. After ten seasons and 214 episodes, the dream was finally over. On March 13, 2007, what began with "Children of the Gods" ended with "Unending". The series finale made its world premiere on Sky One in Britain and Ireland before being shown on the Sci-Fi Channel in the United States on June 22, 2007.
In the ten years that the series was on the air, it amassed legions of fans and even eclipsed the science fiction series, Star Trek, in terms of popularity in certain countries. It became the second-longest running sci-fi series in the world, second only to Doctor Who (1963-1989), and the longest-running American produced sci-fi series, having surpassed The X-Files only a few months before it ended.
Stargate SG-1 represents the cornerstone of the Stargate franchise. In 2004, its success and popularity led to the production of a spin-off series entitled Stargate Atlantis, the fourth season of which will begin on September 28, 2007. Although plans for another feature film fell through, two direct-to-DVD films, Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate Continuum, are due for release in 2008. A third live-action series, Stargate Universe, is also due to premiere at some point next year. (There was, unfortunately, an animated series, Stargate Infinity, which ran only from 2002 to 2003 but the less said about that the better). Despite the end of SG-1, the future of Stargate looks very bright indeed.
In conclusion, while Stargate has yet to gain the same degree of recognition as other major sci-fi television franchises such as Star Trek and Doctor Who, its still relatively new compared to those two sci-fi giants and I have every confidence that it will continue for many, many years to come.
Stargate SG-1 (July 27, 1997 - July 27, 2007).
Here's to another ten years of Stargate!
My 20th birthday!
On Sunday May 24, 1987, Aengus Patrick Fallon was born in Portlaoise Hospital, Laois, Ireland. Where are all the flowers gone? Long time passing...
Well, I've now entered my third decade of life, which is a little weird. My 26 year old sister, always one for a depressing thought couched as a joke, said it will be over soon enough. Anyway, I'm still trying to get used to the idea of not being a teenager anymore. But at the same time I'm delighted not to be!
I've no real plans for the day but I'm sure I'll find something to do. Hopefully, I'll be around for at least 20 more!
Well, I've now entered my third decade of life, which is a little weird. My 26 year old sister, always one for a depressing thought couched as a joke, said it will be over soon enough. Anyway, I'm still trying to get used to the idea of not being a teenager anymore. But at the same time I'm delighted not to be!
I've no real plans for the day but I'm sure I'll find something to do. Hopefully, I'll be around for at least 20 more!
What to do in an elevator (lift)
1) When there's only one other person in the elevator, tap them on the shoulder and then pretend it wasn't you.
2) Push the buttons and pretend they give you a shock. Smile, and go back for more.
3) Ask if you can push the button for other people, but push the wrong ones.
4) Call the Psychic Hotline from your cell phone and ask if they know what floor you're on.
5) Hold the doors open and say your waiting for a friend. After a
while, let the doors close, and say, "Hi Greg. How's your day been"
6) Drop a pen and wait until someone goes to pick it up,then scream, "That's mine!"
7) Bring a camera and take pictures of everyone in the elevator.
8 ) Move your desk into the elevator and whenever anyone gets on, ask if they have an appointment.
9) Lay down the twister mat and ask people if they would like to play.
10) Leave a box in the corner, and when someone gets on, ask them if they can hear ticking.
11) Pretend you are a flight attendant and review emergency procedures and exits with the passengers.
12) Ask, "Did you feel that?"
13) Stand really close to someone, sniffing them occasionally.
14) When the doors close, announce to the others, "It's okay, don't panic, they open again!"
15) Swat at flies that don't exist.
16) Call out, "Group Hug!" and then enforce it.
17) Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering,
18 ) Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside, ask, "Got enough air in there?"
19) Stand silently and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
20) Stare at another passenger for a while, then announce in horror, "You're one of THEM!" and back away slowly.
21) Wear a puppet on your hand and use it to talk to the other passengers.
22) Listen to the elevator walls with your stethoscope.
23) Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
24) Stare, grinning at another passenger for a while, then announce, "I have new socks on".
25) Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passnegers, "This is MY personal space".
2) Push the buttons and pretend they give you a shock. Smile, and go back for more.
3) Ask if you can push the button for other people, but push the wrong ones.
4) Call the Psychic Hotline from your cell phone and ask if they know what floor you're on.
5) Hold the doors open and say your waiting for a friend. After a
while, let the doors close, and say, "Hi Greg. How's your day been"
6) Drop a pen and wait until someone goes to pick it up,then scream, "That's mine!"
7) Bring a camera and take pictures of everyone in the elevator.
8 ) Move your desk into the elevator and whenever anyone gets on, ask if they have an appointment.
9) Lay down the twister mat and ask people if they would like to play.
10) Leave a box in the corner, and when someone gets on, ask them if they can hear ticking.
11) Pretend you are a flight attendant and review emergency procedures and exits with the passengers.
12) Ask, "Did you feel that?"
13) Stand really close to someone, sniffing them occasionally.
14) When the doors close, announce to the others, "It's okay, don't panic, they open again!"
15) Swat at flies that don't exist.
16) Call out, "Group Hug!" and then enforce it.
17) Grimace painfully while smacking your forehead and muttering,
18 ) Crack open your briefcase or purse, and while peering inside, ask, "Got enough air in there?"
19) Stand silently and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
20) Stare at another passenger for a while, then announce in horror, "You're one of THEM!" and back away slowly.
21) Wear a puppet on your hand and use it to talk to the other passengers.
22) Listen to the elevator walls with your stethoscope.
23) Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.
24) Stare, grinning at another passenger for a while, then announce, "I have new socks on".
25) Draw a little square on the floor with chalk and announce to the other passnegers, "This is MY personal space".
Star Trek's 40th anniversary!
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise. On September 8, 1966, the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, "The Man Trap" aired on NBC. 78 more followed before the series ended on June 3, 1969 with "Turnabout Intruder". Star Trek later spawned ten movies (with an eleventh on the way) and five more
series with continuous new episodes for 18 years, from 1987 to 2005.
Not bad for a show that was cancelled after being renewed by the skin
of its teeth twice before.
series with continuous new episodes for 18 years, from 1987 to 2005.
Not bad for a show that was cancelled after being renewed by the skin
of its teeth twice before.
