Everyone I know remembers where they first witnessed the first episode “Children of the Gods” premiered on July 27, 1997 in the United States. Do you remember the science fiction wonder and amazement as the phenomena spread across the world shortly thereafter? I do!
It’s been a long wait since the last episode of Stargate Atlantis aired on January 09, 2009 and Stargate Universe on May 09, 2011. There have been many hiccups along the way, but Stargate fans are loyal and have always been interested in whatever new developments are happening with Stargate including the hopeful fandom yearning for a new series when Stargate Origins was brought forth to great acclaim in 2018.
Since then, many times fans have complained. Some said it seemed as if MGM Studios (the owner of the Stargate franchise) was yanking their chains by offering something new only to pull it away again.
Then, out of the mists and darkness rode our knight in shining armor, ready to offer MGM Studios a new path forward for more Stargate by pitching ideas, hoping that one idea would take hold and we would get another Stargate series.
As the owners of The Companion state, “The Companion is a membership science fiction news, commentary and analysis website that serves up premium content on everything from the biggest blockbusters to cult TV shows we grew up with. Proudly ad-free and clickbait-free, The Companion works with actors, creators, and showrunners to break untold stories. Find out more at TheCompanion.app.”
“Brad Wright’s Conversations in Sci-Fi is an ongoing series in which Wright catches up with some of the actors, writers and creators he’s worked with over his long career in science fiction.
This is the second podcast from The Companion, following the recent launch of Gaters Gonna Gate with Joseph Mallozzi. Hosted by Stargate writer/producer and Dark Matter showrunner Joseph Mallozzi, the Gaters Gonna Gate group also featured a guest segment with Arrow director and Stargate Atlantis stunt coordinator James ‘Bam Bam’ Bamford.”
Image courtesy Twitter
Wright’s podcasts will not only give us access to insider information about Stargate’s many forms but the actors and production crews as well.
I and the Stargate fandom are looking forward to hearing more podcasts from Brad Wright in the future that hopefully result in a new Stargate television series and feature movies as we celebrate the 24th anniversary of Stargate SG-1 today!
Last but not least, many thanks to Jenny Stiven for the heads up about the Brad Wright interview with The Companion, and her ongoing support of the Stargate franchise for the past 15 years which includes her time at MGM Studios and conventions.
The Atlantis Crew Get Together Again at Comic-Con at Home!
Image courtesy MGM Studios
Don’t you just love it when a group of people that you love and admire come together for a visit? There should be canapes and drinks!
I enjoyed the wonderful interaction with everyone. It was simply wonderful to see several friends who love and respect each other chatting again. They take over and leave the host, David Read, struggling to take control back for a few moments, which was hilarious.
David Hewlett, Robert Picardo and David Nykl still have it. Robert Picardo shared that being on Atlantis cracked him up, especially when David Hewlett had something witty to say. Then Robert Picardo said as everyone said goodbye, “Enjoy the pandemic.”
All of the gang admit to really missing the conventions as a result of the shutdown of Covid -19. They also shared with us the projects they are working on and the hopes that some form of Stargate will return to television in the near future. Amazon Prime will now have a lot of pressure on it to bring us more of the series we love.
Unfortunately, other main cast members including Joe Flanigan, Jason Momoa, Amanda Tapping, and Jewel Staite were not available to participate in the Comic-Con At Home Stargate Atlantis reunion panel. The rest of the cast was happy to keep us entertained and it was fun. We include the nice Comic-Con at Home 2021 panel below for your enjoyment.
Thanks to Kenn for staging images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!
Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.
Debris creator J.H. (Joel) Wyman certainly deserves an A PLUS for this two part episode in specific, and the series in general, for producing an extremely high quality science fiction series being televised weekly on our screens in 2021.
Thank you Mr. Wyman and NBC Universe Entertainment Television for bringing Debris to science fiction admirers for our mutual viewing pleasure in the United States, and hopefully around the world in the very near future!
“I Am Icarus” is the second part of a terrific two part episode that began with “Do You Know Icarus?”, where the fabric of the universe is unwinding or is inadvertently being ripped apart by a young man named Shelby (Keenan Tracey) and his sister Kathleen (Jessica McLeod) who witnessed the alien object land in the ocean near their home. Shelby and Kathleen unwisely elected to investigate the Debris, setting in motion a series of unintended consequences with potentially devastating results.
The damage is becoming manifest in “I Am Icarus” from a phenomena referred to in the episode as “Bilateral Deviation” that could cause fracturing to, or even the complete destruction of various realities residing within the Multi-Verse.
Click to purchase The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov at Amazon!
Regarding Multi-Verse theory, the term was coined in 1895 by the American philosopher and psychologist William James. Since that time there have been many scientists, famous authors, movies and television series have postulated what it is all about.
The question for science to discover and prove, is it real, what versions are there of it, and could the Multi-Verse be impacting all of us even is we are not aware of the causes and implications thereof?
Respected scientist and author Isaac Asimov wrote a best-selling science fiction book in 1955 called “The End of Eternity” which featured time travel to go back in history and make changes to obtain a future desired reality change ordained by the ruling class.
Click to read our feature articles about Fringe. Image courtesy Warner Brothers
Before Debris, other great science fiction series, Fringe produced at Warner Brothers Television, created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and J.H. (Joel) Wyman who served as executive producer and writer, (and is the Debris creator as mentioned above), also dealt with alternate realities and the so-called desired outcomes sought by some of the nefarious “Observers” as they were known in the series.
During a successful five year run on FOX television in the United States, ”Fringe” trimmed all the branches that featured the evil “Observers” at the end, and each team member went on to live happy lives.
Prior to that, another beloved science fiction series, Stargate, specifically In the Stargate SG-1 series, produced by MGM Studios, featured episodes over a twelve year television run, that dealt with alternate realities using a “Quantum Mirror”, or even the Stargate itself.
In Stargate SG-1, the hero characters travel to, observe, and in some cases alter reality that caused people to be erased or changed as if they never existed in the eyes of the person(s) from the reality they originally came from.
The 2008 movie Stargate Continuum, in effect, the final episode of the series, featured an erasure of former Stargate Command events caused by a super villain name Ba’al (Cliff Simon) in his quest for dominance across all realities that utilized a Stargate.
However, using one aspect of the Multi-Verse theory, the original timeline would still exist, so that who and what the heroes fought was a villain in a separate reality within a different Multi-Verse timeline.
A more contemporary example is The Avengers movies infinity War and the sequel Avengers Endgame, where the villain Thanos, used the “Infinity Stones” to change reality by erasing fifty percent of all living beings with devastating consequences for those who were erased.
Thanos, thinking it was the best thing for everybody, did so in order that the remaining living beings would be grateful and happy to live in a universe that was not as crowded before he wiped out half of everybody in existence. Thanks Thanos! NOT!
Image courtesy J.H. (Joel) Wyman on Twitter
In this iteration of a different Multi-Verse theory, somewhat similar to “I Am Icarus”, Captain America trimmed all the alternate reality branches save one; he stayed in the past and lived a happy life marrying his fiancé at the time, Peggy Carter and all was still well in the present reality with the deafeat of Thanos.
In this outstanding two part episode conclusion, written by Kyle Lierman and directed by Padraic McKinley, the Multi-Verse story arc follows the branch trimming theory to restore reality to what it was before Shelby and Kathleen triggered the reality changes.
Things really get dicey in “I Am Icarus”, but end up successful, avoiding permanent damage to the space time continuum.
Subsequent to reaching a crisis point of no return, reality appears to have been restored by our heroes before it could destroy everything in all adjacent realities! To reiterate, Team WHR is hoping that NBC will renew this superb science fiction series by J.H. (Joel) Wyman for several more seasons!
Keenan Tracey as Shelby, Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi/ Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
The episode begins with Bryan (Jonathan Tucker) and Shelby having just been reality shifted again when Bryan jumped in the ocean to try and stop Shelby during his own quest to be rejoined with his partner Finola Jones (Riann Steele) who was no longer in their reality.
As the story arc unfolds, it becomes obvious that Shelby and Kathleen found, and together subsequently used, a large hollow circular piece of alien Debris in the ocean near their home just off the coast of a city called Oceanside, located in Washington State. After their first use of this very large piece of Debris, Shelby’s and Kathleen became separated from each other’s alternate realities!
This particular piece of Debris is the perhaps the most insidious and dangerous of all that we have witnessed to date. The alien object, having the capability to shift people across realities, to nearby parallel universes, or other realities in the Multi-Verses, can send them back in time to a starting point where many things may be, or are the same, but many things may be, or are different.
Bryan is trapped in an alternate reality and Grace becomes Finola’s partner. Image courtesy NBC
Bryan, in various realities is sometimes with a partner named Grace (Aliyah O’Brien) who has been with Bryan for five years in this reality. Grace plays it by the book, trusts her partner Bryan, but is loyal to Craig Maddox, who ordered her to stop Bryan at all costs, shooting and injuring him just before the last reality jump took place..
The Team WHR theory is that the Aliens may have used the “Multi-Verse Pod” to go back and correct their mistakes made during their travels to Earth in the past. We assume that the aliens had been properly trained to avoid the situation that became manifest in the exciting two part episode with Shelby and Kathleen.
Just as people on Earth make decisions in their lives that affect their future, now Shelby and Kathleen, but without the proper alien Debris training, are making decisions that have disastrous consequences for not only their reality, but potentially for all the adjacent realities!
Kathleen appears in an alternate reality. Image courtesy NBC
In this case, Shelby’s sister Kathleen was not really erased. More accurately, she was trapped in another parallel or alternate reality when Shelby was thinking about how his life would have been had Kathleen not been born when he was inside the Debris under ocean near his home.
POOF! No more Kathleen in Shelby’s reality and visa versa!
Enter Finola Jones of MI6 and Bryan Beneventi of the CIA who now work together as a close knit team in an organization named Orbital. Orbital is tasked with finding and neutralizing Debris from the crashed alien spacecraft which broke up in orbit sending alien objects all over the United States and perhaps elsewhere on the planet too.
After a rocky start due to their superiors Craig Maddox (Norbert Leo Butz) and Priya Ferris (Anjali Jay) who were keeping secrets from each other while each working their own agendas, Finola and Bryan developed a professional trust. Things seemed to be wonderful…
Until Shelby tries multiple times to correct his mistake. He visits the Debris again and again to return to the reality where his sister is. Panicked that he never had a sister in each new reality he ended up in, he keeps trying, but things get worse with each attempt, including changing realities, never finding Kathleen, and a dozen new partners for Bryan who keep showing up at his house!
In an alternate reality, George Jones is working at Orbital. Image courtesy NBC
Shelby, who recognizes Bryan in each new reality seen so far, failed each time because he withheld information from Finola, Bryan and Finola’s Orbital founder and scientist father George Jones (Tyrone Benskin), about exactly what transpired the first instance, that both he and his sister had been messing with the Debris that caused what George referred to as Bilateral Deviation.
Depending on the realities visited during the two part episodes, George is either dead, having been killed by Bryan in the “Influx” raid, or is alive and is working at Orbital. The “George factor” may have an influence on future events in episodes leading up to the season one finale.
Use of the Debris causes the participants to move back in time and relive portions of their lives that may not be the same reality they were in depending on what they were thinking and feeling when the Debris activated in each instance of shifting realities, thereby changes the reality for the person(s) who activated it.
Jonathan Tucker as Bryan Beneventi. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
As a result of not telling the truth out of a fear that Orbital will confiscate the alien artifact, Shelby actions may result in him never being able to rejoin his sister Kathleen again because they are now in separate realities.
Each instance of using the Debris, without knowing exactly how to operate it, is causing the fabric of the space time continuum to rip apart. The situation becomes desperate when people in the nearby realities are actually able to see the others within the parallel universe realities.
Bryan, fully aware of what is happening since he was with Shelby during the last reality jump, returns with Grace to Shelby’s home. While Grace works on setting up measurements of the Debris near their SUV, when the door opens, no Shelby!
In this reality, Kathleen has appeared at the front door in near tears. When Bryan asks for Shelby who is no longer in Bryan’s reality, Kathleen breaks down and tells Bryan the truth!
Kathleen takes Bryan to the front room where the fabric between the realities is nearly nonexistent. Exterior views of the house depict a glowing reflection from the various realities materializing. Grace, his new partner comes into the house and sees the disaster unfolding and wants immediate extraction of the Debris.
Garfield Wilson as Gibson, Riann Steele as Finaola Jones. Image by James Dittiger, courtesy NBC
Bryan and Kathleen cannot allow this to happen. They need more time to figure out what is going on, so they jump almost together into the alien artifact, resetting the timeline again. This time around, Finola returns with a new partner named Wilson (Garfield Wilson) and Bryan becomes trapped with Shelby in the same alternate reality.
In the meantime, Kathleen convinces Finola to listen because she knows Finola’s fathers name whom she contacts for guidance since he is the head of Orbital in this reality. This time around, the windows between the realities are so transparent that the four can write notes to each other while George figures out, and tells Finola about Bilateral Deviation. George explains that the problem was caused by Shelby and Kathleen jumping individually and that all four of them must reality jump at the same exact time to return things to normal to cancel out the Bilateral Deviation.
The four do so with Shelby and Kathleen able to get back together in the original reality. It seems that Bryan and Finola have returned back to working together in a reality that appears to be the same before the first time they went to the house. When Finola and Bryan come to the house, they do not remember anything that has happened.
With reality fixed Shelby and Kathleen are back together. Image courtesy NBC
Why? Because it never happened! Got that? This is because Shelby and Kathleen, who remember everything, are back together BEFORE they ever visited the alien reality time changing artifact. Shelby and Kathleen invite them in the house to tell them what has been happening with the Debris.
As the outstanding two part episode concludes, interesting things happen that setup the next three episodes leading to a season one finale.
First, we are with Craig Maddox who answers the phone in his office. Unlike the previous episode where Craig went to see his wife Julia (Jennifer Copping) after receiving the same phone call to try and save their marriage subsequent to the devastating accident Jullia had that crippled their son Dario (Christian Rose), Craig does not do so this time around.
Only a subtle reality change, but a change nonetheless. Craig arrives home and he finds their divorce papers on the kitchen table. Jennifer Copping is set to reprise her role in the season one final, so we will have to wait and see if our theory about any impact from the subtle changes to the reality we witnessed become relevant or not?
Anson Ash is planning his escape. Image courtesy NBC
Second, danged Anson Ash (Scroobius Pip), the captured “Influx” operative is observed in his cell in a dungeon of some sort at Orbital when the guard comes to collect his food tray. Anson makes a fuss and deliberately grabs the arm of the guard on purpose for an extended period of time as he did with Finola is an earlier episode to establish a mental link or bond.
When the guard goes to activate the combination lock on the area where Anson is imprisoned, Anson is somehow able to either read the guards mind or can see through his eyes as he keys in the code for the combination lock. No doubt this factor will be used by Anson to escape and return to his “Influx” organization members.
All of this will certainly play a part in the season one finale with Anson back on the loose, and subtle reality changes in the timeline which this reviewer has a theory about; that George Jones never died in the subtly changed reality, is still the head of Orbital, and Craig Maddox works for him!
We shall see!
We are certain to learn more next week! Make sure to watch Debris on NBC or you can watch the next day on Peacock TV. See you then!
As we proceed to the future with Debris in our thoughts, Team WHR will return with more analysis of our favorite series including select science fiction book and television reviews. We look forward to you visiting our dedicated review and analysis web site here in the future!
Or as many of our readers and visitors often do, visit WHR on Twitter, or visit me on Twitter by clicking the text links or images avatars in this news story. I and TeamWHR look forward to Seeing You on The Other Side!“
It is with great sadness that I write about my dear friend, Cliff Simon.
When I first met Cliff Simon in 2008, he struck me as the kind of man who would grab life by the fistful! When an opportunity presented itself, he took advantage of it, eagerly following in whatever direction it took him. Although he seemed open to many things, I never expected that one of them would be me and my ideas.
So, when he agreed to work with me on the creation of two audio C.D.s, I was quite surprised. I was a nobody with a vision. He was interested in my ideas and made himself available whenever I needed him to be there.
Image courtesy Cliff Simon
Cliff found time to talk with as many of his fans as he could. I would watch him work. He never seemed to get tired, interacting with people from all over the world. There were times when a fan would approach him with apprehension, thinking he was like his Ba’al character in the MGM Studios famous franchise, Stargate SG1. Cliff would be patient with that person and encourage them.
Nobody was unhappy when Cliff was in the room!
Cliff loved animals. He usually had a dog as a pet and would often volunteer for rescue organizations that would find homes for the various “Bully Dog Breeds” in the Los Angeles area. He spoke of how Karma Rescue, his favorite charity, would enter dangerous areas of Los Angeles to save dogs from fighting rings. Cliff looked for the organization that would have the greatest difficulty finding homes for their dogs, and he gave them his voice. That’s just who Cliff Simon was.
Image courtesy Travel Channel
Cliff Simon was also a bit of an adrenaline junky. He loved to test his limits to see how much he could do.
It was as if he was born in the ocean. Cliff took to the water with more enthusiasm than anyone I have ever known. Surfing, swimming, boating, were all his passions based on his young life as a competitive athlete since he was trained and qualified as a swimmer for 1984 Olympic’s for the British International team.
A highlight of his life while kite-surfing was when he accidentally flew over a whale. Cliff told me afterwards that he was just at the right height where he could reach down and slide his hand over the animal’s back as it rose over the surface of the water before the whale then headed back down into the deep!
Image courtesy Cliff Simon
It was a shock to me and many of his friends, as well as his many fans when we learned that he had been killed in a kite-surfing accident at Topanga Beach, California on Tuesday, March 9th.
I spoke with Cliff for the last time on Monday, March the 8th. We were working on the early stages of another project to share his Stargate Ba’al memories with his fans.
That evening, on March 08, 2021, I had asked Cliff to create a brand new “shout-out” video for WormholeRiders News Agency. Cliff, as always, was happy to comply and let us know what was going on in his life.
Sadly, this is probably the very last recording that Cliff Simon has ever done or will ever do on Earth.
Rest in Peace, Cliff. We grieve with your loving wife Colette and the rest of your family.
Where ever you are Cliff, enjoy your next adventure As The Wormhole Turns!
Thanks to Kenn for staging additional images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!
Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.
WormholeRiders News Agency welcomes Cliff Simon, the Big Bad Ba’al of Stargate SG-1 as our next Stargate Shout Out through the Wormhole series of feature articles about what our favorite actors are doing now. Team WHR includes an exclusive video below courtesy of Cliff Simon about what he is up to these days for your enjoyment.
Cliff has a reputation for getting things done. Throughout his life, when he has decided to achieve a goal, he has been able to find a way to make it happen.
As a young man, Cliff won many swimming competitions and was seriously considered for tryouts in the Olympic Games Swimming Competition on behalf of the United Kingdom. Later, he became Principal Dancer at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. Recently, Cliff wrote a book chronicling his experiences in Paris called Paris Nights: My Year at the Moulin Rouge.
In 1992, Cliff was offered an audition on a hugely successful television series, called Egoli – Place of Gold. After guest-starring on the show for 3 months, he was offered a permanent contract as a regular cast member in a lead role and would go on to become a household name for his 6-year run.
After being personally affected and sick and tired of the violent crime in Johannesburg, South Africa, Cliff decided it was now or never and he immigrated to the USA with his wife, with the hope of having a better quality of life.
This also gave him the opportunity to realize a long time dream of further pursuing his acting career in the United States of America.
Cliff Simon as Ba’al in Stargate Continuum. Image courtesy MGM
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Cliff soon landed a guest star role with Don Johnson on the hit TV series, ‘Nash Bridges‘. A short time after that, he acquired the guest star recurring role of Ba’al on ‘Stargate SG1‘.
Cliff’s combination of charming bad guy charisma and wicked sense of humor made him a viewer favorite antagonist, keeping his character recurring for five seasons!
Cliff was nominated for BEST GUEST STAR at Best of TV Awards Canada 2014 for his role in ‘Castle’. Cliff has also been involved in projects ‘Almythea 2 Rise of the Astra’ and ‘Land of the Free’.
Cliff’s most recent film release, ‘Project Eden Vol 1′( Best Vision Award at the Boston Film Festival ) had a USA theatrical release in January 2018.
Brown Mountain Lights: California Orb-like lights mystery
Cliff is now working on an awesome investigative paranormal show called, Uncharted Mysteries, on the History Channel in the U.K., and Into The Unknown, on the Travel Channel in the United States and Canada.
Cliff Simon has completed Season One. Great job Cliff! We all hope for many more seasons.
Thanks to Kenn for staging additional images, the featured videos, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!
Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.
I am writing to share a story I am concerned about regarding the important human rights issue of Cyber Bullying.
WormholeRiders News Agency has been gracious in allowing me to share my observations with you on their official Stargate web site since it concerns a science fiction series that I cherish regarding recent incidents of Cyber Bullying at the worlds largest Stargate fan site, Gateworld.
I spoke with the Managing Editor of WormholeRiders, Kenn Weeks to confirm the news agency’s official position on such matters.
The Team WHR position has not changed since it’s inception, including fully supporting the NO HATE Campaign on Twitter subsequent to an attack on one of the firms Lesbian reporters in 2009 shortly after WormholeRiders websites were opened.
All images for news purposes only courtesy of their copyright owners are linked back to each official website
This article is about a Stargate admirer who I reached out to after learning his story. I contacted him to ascertain the facts. I have given him the handle “SciFi Fan” (not his real name) to protect his identity. SciFi Fan identifies as an LGBTQ person. He also has a love of a television show called Stargate. Because of the welcoming nature and tolerance to differences that the series of television shows offered viewers for a decade of seasons and four movies, SciFi Fan felt that Gateworld web site would also be a welcoming and tolerant environment.
That is not what happened according to SciFi Fan who said; “What happened with Gateworld isn’t just my experience. The entire LGBTQ community was forced out. Gateworld has had a blanket ban on LGBTQ content since the beginning. And we’re not the only target. Basically anyone not straight white and Christian is a target”.
Several other individuals who also faced bullying and abuse for their differing views came forward but did not want to be identified. They voiced the same or similar concerns for the reason why they stopped using the Gateworld Forum.`
Gateworld calls itself a family-friendly source for news for the SYFY show, Stargate. They provide a list of do’s and don’ts in their Forum Rules such as, “refrain from personal attacks and name-calling, and from disparaging individuals or groups with crude nicknames they are likely to find offensive.”
Gateworld continues; “Disagreements and debates are fine, but negative personal comments are not welcome. We want our forum to stay friendly! Stick to the issues and the arguments, and when the debate has concluded, agree to disagree. Respecting other members means that they have as much right as you to post their opinion, within the boundaries of the forum topic. Do not tell another member that they should leave. Do not request that the moderators intervene and discipline a member merely because you disagree with a controversial value or opinion”.
According to SciFi Fan, “For the LGBTQ members of the forum, Gateworld allowed one thread where they could talk as long as there were no mentions of gay stuff. No talk about relationships or pictures of gay couples kissing. It was basically just a regular off-topic discussion thread with the occasional link to an LGBTQ news story. But it was under constant attack from other members from the religious and political threads.”
SciFi Fan continues; “For a while, the Mods did their job and removed the offensive posts. They even told one member to not post in there if he’s only doing it to attack other members. But he didn’t receive any kind of punishment. No infraction points, no suspensions. But I guess the Mods got bored of watching the thread because they eventually stopped deleting posts. And the LGBT Q members started leaving.”
SciFi Fan says that he then approached the owner of Gateworld, Darren Sumner, to complain;
Click to visit and follow Darren Sumner on Twitter!
“I asked him about Gateworld’s official position on LGBTQ people. If offensive comments about and if he (Darren) world act on them (and) would the offensive comments be removed. He assured me that they would indeed remove posts if they thought they were offensive, and if I could send him some examples of posts I thought broke the rules. I sent examples of dehumanizing language. Referring to trans people as “It” or “That” – like small children do when they’re mad at their siblings. But these are adults. Several of them are over 60. I sent all the examples of slurs I could find. That wasn’t fun to search for. And I tried to explain why doing that made me uncomfortable”.
Sumner’s response, according to SciFi Fan, was less than what he had hoped for, “He suggested I just leave those threads, which doesn’t solve the problem. It creates safe places for hate and intolerance to thrive. And how could I keep posting on Gateworld knowing what was going on in at least three threads? How could I go play in another area knowing the people I’m talking to are debating all the reasons I shouldn’t be allowed to live in another part of the forum”?
Eventually, SciFi Fan says, after many reports of abusive posts to the moderators (trusted members of a forum tasked with moderating the discussion and also keeping the forum clean. Moderators also answer users’ concerns about the forum, general questions, as well as respond to specific complaints) the moderators determined that “there’s nothing wrong with them. The Mods will not get involved with whatever issue I have with the members of the politics threads”.
Further, SciFi Fan stated, “I kept going. Maybe I could convince them. I started posting a link to articles about trans abuse that were relevant to the posts I was reporting. Skydiver, head admin, finally replied to me. She told me if I kept reporting posts she would do to me what I clearly wanted her to do to the members I was reporting. That’s how she said it. “we will do to you what you want us to do to them” It became obvious, SciFi Fan said, “I was never going to get through to them why it was wrong. Why it hurt so much to visit Gateworld. I thought I could change their minds. Now I knew I couldn’t. It was pointless. The community I was a part of was gone. They didn’t want me. I would never be welcome there. So I left”.
It should be pointed out those social media platforms that are not inclusive of all people run the risk of becoming online headquarters to extremist movements that use online chat rooms, including the infamous ” Discord ” to encourage like-minded users to protest Charlottesville, North Carolina’s efforts to remove long-standing Confederate statues – particularly one of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Discord originally was a chat space for the online gaming community, but some participants used the platform to discuss weapons they might brandish at the Charlottesville rally. Some discussed guns and shields, and one suggested putting a “6-8 inch double-threaded screw” into an ax handle. Multiple posts discussed the logistics of running a vehicle into the expected crowds of counter-protesters.
Prof. Yuval Noah Harari is a historian, philosopher and the bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century.
Philosopher and historian Yuval Noah Harari, bestselling author of Sapiens noted that social media can be an essential lifeline for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people who live outside of liberal communities. “All of the online world has done some wonderful things, like enabling people who have no immediate community to be part of something.
When I grew up there was nowhere I could go, no one I could meet,” said Harari. Harari, met his husband of 17 years on one of the first gay online dating websites, called CheckMeOut, a long-defunct website that predated the popular gay meet-up app Grindr. “Social media and the internet also means that LGBT people are extremely vulnerable to surveillance and abuse,” Harari said.
SciFi Fan says that he would like to see some changes at Gateworld. “I would like them to delete all the offensive and abusive posts I reported and add homophobic and transphobic slurs to the word filter. Darren has been ‘looking into it’ since 2017. So I don’t think it’s going to happen. At the very least I want them to admit there is a problem at Gateworld. I want them to admit they handled it in the worst possible way by banning the target of hate and abuse to protect the people posting it”.
Gateworld’s response to WormholeRiders is as follows: “GateWorld has provided fans an open space to gather and discuss for nearly 20 years, and some members have taken advantage of our choice to allow for a maximum of free speech. That’s led to some bitter fights and even bullying, and that grieves us. We take all reports of bullying very seriously. And so in 2020 GateWorld will roll out new rules and restrictions to curtail this, and to make the forum a welcoming home for all Stargate fans once again.”
Enhancements in Progress at Gateworld:
I recently have reached out to Gateworld Management. They are making positive changes. Gateworld has since implemented its new version of their Terms Of Service and has eliminated the threads that they believe caused all the trouble.
It appears that Gateworld has not entirely removed the problem, however. They have not banned the bullies from the site and continue to permit inflammatory language. Gateworld has also not improved the filters that would delete hurtful language from posts. It is a pity that individuals are forced to take their complaints public in order to be heard and to get any reaction from some Social Media platforms.
However, we have confidence that Gateworld, the world’s leading Stargate fansite, will make further enhancements in the future.
Thanks to Kenn for staging additional images, the featured videos, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!
Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.
It takes a certain kind of adventurous spirit to jump from one career to another while also doing the same with the country of employment. Cliff Simon’s itinerant nature has taken him from South Africa to the United Kingdom, to France, Sweden and then to the United States to live and work.
Cliff has written a book about his adventures called, “Paris Nights – My Year At The Moulin Rouge”. The title is a bit deceptive because the book is about more than that one year. There is bonus material about his experience as a child in South Africa and his successes as a competitive swimmer.
During GateCon 2016 we had the privilege to interview Cliff about his new book. We include cliffs interview below for your enjoyment where we learn that as a young adult we learn that Cliff Simon, in his boundless spirit of adventure, sells everything that he owns, leaving Johannesburg, South Africa for Paris, the City of Lights where he wrote his now famous book! Click here to purchase your own copy of Paris Nights – My Year at the Moulin Rouge!
Cliff learns that his spot at the Moulin is not guaranteed, and is forced to audition. Making the grade, “he is put into can can” school before he is allowed into the company. His adrenaline is pumping from excitement and fear, both of which he has faced before during his very busy goal driven life.
The most exciting part of the book is his brush with organised crime because of his South African connections. With his acting history as the evil Ba’al of Stargate, it is very easy to see him in the role of young gangster in Paris.
Cliff has wisely chosen author Lauren Stephens to co-write his memoir with him. She has done a phenomenal job of bringing Cliff Simon’s, ‘out of the movies life’, almost into main stream.
Simon’s life is so far removed from most of us that it truly is hard to believe what shenanigans he and his fellow dancers were involved in. From regular fights to casual love affairs, Cliff has had an extraordinary life so far.
Paris Nights is available in hard or soft cover where-ever books are sold.
Thanks to Kenn for staging the featured interview video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!
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I recently covered an exciting event in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Gatecon 2016 The Homecoming!
We will begin our coverage of this outstanding event here at our web site dedicated to Stargate. You will also find this interview and article posted soon at other WormholeRiders News Agency web sites.
An American, an Australian, a German and a Canadian walk into a bar. No, it is not a joke. It is just a few of the Stargate fans at Gatecon, The Homecoming convention in Vancouver September 8 to 12, 2016.
Almost 500 fans arrived from 26 countries to laugh, get reacquainted with old friends, and enjoy their favorite actors from one of the longest running science fiction shows in television history.
Of course, Mr. Richard Dean Anderson headlined the guest list. He was in Vancouver to welcome the Sea Shepherd Research Vessel the R/V Martin Sheen as it returned to Vancouver at the end of its mission to investigate Atlantic salmon farming on the Pacific Coast off British Columbia.
While raising awareness of illegal whaling in the South Pacific Ocean by Japanese Whalers, the damage caused by illegal drift nets, the destruction of ocean habitat around the world as well as the farming of Atlantic Salmon in the Pacific, Gatecon managed to raise over $41,000 dollars for Sea Shepherd during the convention.
Richard Dean Anderson has been involved with Sea Shepherd for over 10 years and currently sits on the Board of Advisors. As well as lending his name in support of Sea Shepherd and its campaigns, he also took part in the protest against seal hunting alongside Captain Paul Watson on the Canadian ice floes in 2005.
Richard’s involvement with Sea Shepherd is born from his concern over the destruction of ocean life and the efforts made by this group to help bring awareness to the world of the rapid decline in ocean ecology.
Richard Dean Anderson was on stage all three days of the convention, enjoying his time visiting with and joking with old Stargate friends and meeting new fans. He took the time to also enjoy a harbour cruise with Sea Shepherd deck hands and crew, Simon Ager, photographer, Canada, Jeff Hansen, Managing Director, Sea Shepherd Australia and Rod Marining, Quartermaster, Canada. Fans attending Gatecon also attended these fantastic events for a small fee.
We hope you have enjoyed our interview with the respected and talented Richard Dean Anderson. We will be back soon with more exclusive interviews conducted at Gatecon!
Thanks to Kenn for staging additional images, the featured interview video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!
Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.
Welcome back to WHR You Decide for our special Stargate Summit 3!
The Goa’uld are at it again Stargate fans! This time, they have teamed up with the Wraith, or, more specifically, one Wraith, who has plans of her own! Join us for the latest installment of the System Lord’s Stargate Summit on WormholeRiders.
Andee Frizzell has many diverse talents. Andee’s mediums are teaching yoga, modeling, acting and writing. Andee has been teaching a unique style of yoga in Vancouver for many years, creating quite a following.
She combines many different styles and philosophies of yoga together with her martial arts training as well as strength training routines to challenge, strengthen and reshape the practices of her many students. Thus allowing her to experience the art of creating, teaching and healing.
Last year she moved to Toronto to continue her passion for acting. In 2003 Andee booked the role of a lifetime, The Wraith Queen in the hit Science fiction spin-off series Stargate Atlantis by MGM Studios. Appearing in several episodes she has continued to wreak havoc in the Pegasus Galaxy for the five seasons of the show.
Currently under non-disclosure, Andee is currently working on a new project, to be announced in the near future. We appreciate her being able to record “The Wraith Queen” just before heading to an undisclosed location for an exciting night shooting on location her new work!
Jacqueline Samuda is an actress, director, voiceover performer who has worked in the major entertainment industry centres of North America – Los Angeles , Toronto , Vancouver and New York City.
Currently, Jacqueline makes Vancouver, British Columbia Canada her home. She has appeared in a recurring role in The L Word and reprises her role as the evil alien Nirrti in the Stargate-SG1 movie Stargate Continuum.
Her busy career has also included instructing screenwriting at Vancouver Film School and University of British Columbia, and story editing and script consulting for many production companies and government funding bodies.
Jacqueline regularly sits on juries for film and television awards, and is a frequent guest and moderator on entertainment industry panels, live and in various media. Her latest role is “Mrs. Waverly” in a new project is Spooksville, a new television series based on 24 children’s fantasy, science fiction, horror fiction books by American writer Christopher Pike scheduled to premiere on The Hub Network.
The plots of the Spooksville books often revolve around inter-dimensional travel, extraterrestrial life, interstellar travel, time travel, and the fictional histories of the lost continents of Mu/Lemuria and Atlantis. We are excited to see her in this new role!
Cliff Simon has had an interesting life. He began a career training to compete in the 1984 Olympic Games.
However, after scraping ice off his car windshield at 5am every morning in England, for 3 years before heading off to swimming training, he decided the Olympics were not for him and headed back to sunny South Africa. Cliff performed all over the world in various stage productions as a dancer/acrobat, culminating in his dream role as a performer at the world famous Moulin Rouge, Paris in 1989.
On his return to South Africa, Cliff pursued his stage career as an actor. Cliff received major recognition as a model in South Africa and was asked to enter The Mr. South Africa talent and action man competition. On winning this competition in 1992, Cliff was offered an audition on a television series, called Egoli – Place of Gold.
After guest starring on the show for 3 months, he was offered a permanent contract as a regular cast member in a lead role and would go on to become a household name for his 6 year run.
Cliff later chose to immigrate to the USA with the hope of having a better quality of life. In 2000, Cliff secured an agent and soon landed a guest star role with Don Johnson on the hit TV series, Nash Bridges.
A short time after that, he acquired the guest star role of Ba’al on Stargate SG1. Cliff’s combination of charming bad guy charisma and wicked sense of humor made him a viewer favorite antagonist, keeping his character recurring for 5 seasons. In 2007, Cliff was brought back to play Ba’al in the Stargate SG1 movie called Stargate Continuum, which will be released in 2008. He has since appeared on NCIS, NCIS Los Angeles and 24.
Peter Williams is a Jamaican-born actor currently residing in Canada.
The majority of his work has been in television, including the role of the primary villain Apophis in the first eight seasons of Stargate SG-1.
Later, Peter took a life defining trip back to the Caribbean to become more familiar with his roots which he discussed in detail in an exclusive interview here at WHR You Decide.
Peter is also under non disclosure, currently involved with new series production and officially writing on a secret project to be announced in the near future in addition to writing for his own blog .
Thanks to Kenn for final staging of the audio stage play “All My Ba’al” in this then third in our Stargate Summit series, and many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency!
We look forward to seeing you next time for Stargate Summit 4 coming in the future!
Please feel free to leave a comment here, click an icon below to share this interview with your friends, or you can visit and follow me on Twitter by clicking on my avatar to the right.
Falling Skies actor, Colin Cunningham very kindly consented to join two of the staff of WormholeRiders News Agency recently for an exclusive telephone interview from his Los Angeles home.
Our exciting interview with Colin Cunningham occurred on September 15, 2011 and was a real insight into the famed character actor who has has enchanted us in many television series including Falling Skies, Stargate, DaVinci’s Inquest, Eureka, Sanctuary, and movies such as The 6th Day and Stargate Continuum!
Despite being very busy Mr. Cunningham over the past few years guest staring on a variety of science fiction shows and dramas as well as producing his own project, Centegrade with Yellow Crow Films (trailer included below), Colin graciously granted us over an hour of his time.
However his biggest project, and the one he is the most excited about is his character, John Pope, on TNT’s Falling Skies.
Produced by Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks Television, the show premièred June 19, 2011. Falling Skies tells the story of the aftermath of a global invasion by several races of extraterrestrials (including the bug-like beings know as Skitters; a race of seemingly humanoid grey-skinned beings that seem to be their commanders; and mechanical Attack Drones called mechs) that neutralizes the world’s power grid and technology, quickly destroys the combined militaries of all the world’s countries, and apparently kills over 90% of the human population within a few days.
The invasion and the objectives of the Aliens is not explained, though the aliens try to round up children between 8 and 16 and attach a metallic obedience device onto (and into) their spines. Forcibly removing the device instantly kills the child. The story picks up six months after the invasion and follows a group of survivors who band together to fight back. The group, known as the Second Massachusetts (an allusion to a historical regiment from the Continental Army), is led by the retired Captain Weaver (Will Patton) and Boston University history professor Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) against the alien invaders!
John Pope (Colin Cunningham) is the leader of a post-apocalyptic criminal gang who captured Tom Mason (Noah Wyle), Hal (Drew Roy), Karen (Jessy Schram), Anthony (Mpho Koaho), Margaret (Sarah Sanguin Carter) and Dai (Peter Shinkoda) and intended to trade them back to the 2nd Mass in exchange for an M2 Browning, food and one of their Pontiac GTO. However, the plan backfired when Margaret helped Tom and the rest escape, and Pope was captured and the rest of his gang killed. Pope earns his keep with the Second Mass. by acting as a cook for the group when he isn’t trying to kill aliens.
In our exclusive interview, Colin Cunningham shares his perspective on acting, his work on Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis, his opinion on nudity and love scenes in film and his thoughts on reality television.
Of course, everyone is excited about his role on the highly rated science fiction drama, Falling Skies. He has become a much beloved character on the show that will be entering its second season in the summer of 2012! Principle production for the second season begins in October in Vancouver. Do not be surprised to see “Centigrade” on your screens in the near future by this talented writer, producer and director.
Thank you Colin Cunningham for a wonderful interview, thanks to Kenn for embedding the interview and many thanks to you for reading and stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency
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My first day at VanCon Stargate 2010 morning began with preregistration at the Hilton Metrotown Vancouver located in Burnaby, British Columbia. It is a beautiful facility that Creation Entertainment selected for the convention .
I received my convention pass and Press Credentials for WHR from the wonderful team of Convention Masters at Creation Entertainment. I also purchased many Fan Photo Opportunity tickets, simply a must do at any convention.
I think I may have to go back for a few more photo tickets, though. There are some that I just can’t pass up – such as Michael Shanks and Joe Flanigan in a combined photo op. I do have the individuals, though, so I’m not sure yet. Since I purchased have a gold pass also, I also received a coolStargate Universe shot glass. I think I know what I’ll be using from now on – even for just normal drinks.
Almost immediately after getting my ticket, it was time for Peter Williams’ (Apophis,Stargate SG-1) panel to begin. He was wearing dark glasses and joked that it was just in case his Goa’uld eyes were to act up. He did take them off after a couple minutes, though.
Peter looks very different – but then, he was not wearing gold lipstick, so I suppose that is to be expected. Just as an interesting tidbit, on the topic of wardrobe, he said he actually kind of liked the leather skirt he had to wear as Apophis. Peter also mentioned that underneath he wore tights, which he needed help getting in and out of each day.
Peter said that the only practical joke played on him was when Apophis was in a straight jacket and once they called cut, he was left alone on stage and all the lights were turned off.
They left him there for twenty minutes until finally he heard a giggle from off-stage and the joke was done. He joked his revenge would be the asteroid Apophis – which he owns and controls – comes to destroy Earth in 2029.
When asked what he has been up to lately, he replied that he has been living in Antigua. He joked that when you live on a beach for two years, you have to be in good shape – and believe me, he was. As for work, he mentioned that he has an audition coming up for a guest spot on Sanctuary. He said his character is evil and, though he hasn’t read the end, he would put money on it that his character dies in the end. Peter also added that anyone in the audience who knows Amanda Tapping should put in a good word for him.
Next up were Dan Shea, Sgt. Siler of Stargate SG-1 and Dan Payne, “Kull Warrior” in Stargate SG-1, and “Big Wraith” in Stargate Atlantis and recently in the episode ‘Corner Man’ in Human Target. Sadly, I missed the beginning due to business, which means I missed the fact that they started off the panel by taking off their shirts. They were just re-dressing as I got back into the room. These two Stargate legends were hilarious!
Most of their panel was focused on the two of them discussing different stories of stunt anecdotes from the careers. Dan Payne mentioned that he was glad he could not be seen from behind his costume because he said he was chasing Amanda Tapping while giggling – which would not have been very scary. I was busting a gut laughing at their stories.
If you ever get a chance to see them in a panel together, I definitely recommend you do so!
My last panel of the day was for Cliff Simon(Ba’al, Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Continuum). Cliff’s panel was quite funny as well. At one point, he answered a bunch of questions (from a script) in character as Ba’al.
When it was pointed out by Patricia Stewart-Bertrand that he had changed the line in the script, Cliff stated that they always changed up lines on Stargateand no one would say anything because then they would have to re-shoot the whole scene! The audience burst out in laughter!
Cliff was asked about his experiences working with Claudia Black (Vala Mal Doran) – more specifically if it was awkward during scenes where he was flirting with her. He replied that they had hit it off right away because she loves South Africa (where he is from) and found it easy to get along. Someone later called out from the audience asking who is a better kisser: Amanda Tapping or Claudia Black?
Cliff replied that he hadn’t kissed either of them, though not for lack of trying. He said Amanda punched him and Claudia slapped him. He said they’re so vastly different, but he’d happily kiss either, or both, or both at the same time. Someone else asked whether he preferred the slap or the punch and he answered that he really liked the punch at which point the audience howled.
Cliff also gave his thoughts on the movie District 9, as it’s a South African movie. He mentioned as well that if he were to play any other SG-1 character, it would be General Jack O’Neill, but he would play him the same way he does Ba’al.
As for upcoming projects, Cliff mentioned that he has been doing some writing and producing, which is exciting because he gets to do the work he wants. He has a project in the pitch phase, which he would like to see turn into a television show, or, alternatively, a miniseries. Cliff is also interested in making a documentary on the Moulin Rouge, which he is currently in negotiations for, and a movie about a swimmer. An interesting tidbit is that Cliff actually qualified for the Olympics in swimming when he was younger.
I did a little bit of shopping while waiting for Cliff’s autograph session to begin. I bought a couple of t-shirts, which I’m excited to wear. Geeky attire always brightens my mood. Then, while waiting for my section to be called, I chatted with a few people around me. Seems there are a lot of newbies at this con, which is exciting. By the way, I love that I’m not the newbie this time around.
Cliff’s autograph session was fairly standard. We didn’t get much time to talk, but I gave him my card and he recognized Wormhole Riders. He was very nice, but we had to keep the line moving, so I didn’t dally.
Thus concludes the first day of my experience at the Vancouver Stargate 2010 convention. With the fabled Creation Entertainment Karaoke Party and the Cabaret tomorrow night, I’m expecting VanCon day two to be a lot more hectic than day one. I can’t wait!
Thanks to Kenn for staging images, the featured video, and, many thanks to you for stopping by WormholeRiders News Agency! 
