About NaddyCat!

The real owner of NaddyCat? Why of course that would be her dog Bella!

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Hello everyone!

My name is Nadine, or Naddy (a childhood nickname which I still use and is the basis for my Twitter screen name “naddycat”). Nice to meet you!

I’m currently an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. I’m studying Cognitive Systems (COGS), which is an integrated program of Computer Science, Philosophy, Psychology, and Linguistics. You’re given a fair bit leeway in which fields you choose to focus, and I’ve ended up taking predominantly Psychology and Philosophy (no idea how that happened) classes.

I chose COGS because the more well-rounded approach appealed to me as I didn’t want to take a straight Sciences degree (i.e. Biology, Chemistry, etc.) but I still wanted to take Science courses, and COGS allowed me that freedom.

I’m also studying Latin – I have been for the past 3 years at UBC – and I love it. It’s like a puzzle that you have to solve. You’re given all the tools to solve it, and you have to translate and put the pieces together to come out with something that makes sense. And yes, I usually have fun with it (weird, I know).

My end-goal is Medical School (hopefully at UBC), and I hope to specialize in spinal surgery – at the moment I’m thinking I’ll take the route of Orthopaedics to accomplish that, as Vancouver has an incredible spine program.

I also play soccer on a local league team, and I love it. I also complain about it a lot (mostly because it rains buckets in Vancouver a lot and I loathe being cold) but don’t let that fool you.

I have 3 pets: an English Bulldog (Bella), a massive cat (Jazz), and a parrot (Lacey). They are some of the oddest pets ever, as the bird has both the dog and cat scared of her, and the cat refuses to go outside.

I am also the eldest in my family, with two younger siblings. At times they drive me up the wall, but I love them to bits, and wouldn’t change them for the world. I am convinced that my little sister will one day discover or create something amazing.

I never really thought I would ever get involved in anything resembling Journalism: I loved English in High School, but since switching to university – where there isn’t a lot of freedom in what you’re writing for projects – I had forgotten how much I enjoyed writing. So I’m so thankful that Kenn gave me the opportunity to work with these amazing people.

Seeing as I’ve been dubbed the “Fringe Recruiting Queen” (mostly because I can’t stop talking about the show and that seems to convince people to watch it) the bulk of my work here will focus on Fringe. But I’m also a big fan of all things Stargate, and I’m loving the newest installment in Universe.

I really only got into the world of sci fi shows in 2008, although I did see (and love) Firefly. So I’m coming a little late to the party, but better late than never!

Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter, if you’re there. I’d love to hear from you!

Nadine Ramsden

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Bio Questions and Answers

1. Handle/Screenname:

naddycat (on Twitter, as I’m not really on anywhere else)

2. Education/Awards/Etc:

Currently working on a Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Systems at the University of British Columbia. I have also attended GYLC (Europe 2006) and UPIC (2009 Inauguration) student conferences, so if you’ve ever been, drop me a line!

3. Favorite Fringe characters:

The core Fringe team: Olivia, Peter, and Walter.

4. Favorite Actor/Actress:

Anna Torv, Josh Jackson, John Noble, Martin Sheen, Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Claudia Black, Lexa Doig, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Grace Park, Alaina Huffman, Elyse Levesque, Brian Jacob Smith, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman… Seriously, this category is hard to pick…

5. Favorite Band/Performer/s:

Yo-Yo Ma, Nigel Kennedy, Bruce Springsteen, Renee Fleming, Sarah McLachlan.

6. Hobbies:

Playing soccer, horseback riding, playing soccer, reading, spending time with my family and friends.

7. Pets:

As I mentioned above, a cat, a dog, and a bird.

8. What's your theme song?:

Ummm… not sure that I really have one. I tend to go from song-to-song until I’ve exhausted it. I guess if I had to pick: “Cello Suite # 1 in G” (performed by Yo-Yo Ma), “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” (CCR), or “Better Days” (The Goo Goo Dolls) – simply because these are the songs which I’ve probably listened to the most over the last several years of my life.

9. If you could have a sidekick, who would it be?:

Already have one: our bulldog Bella is like a little shadow – hates to be by herself, so she follows us around. Or my little sister, but I think she’d argue which of us would be the side-kick.

10. Favorite foods:

Pretty much anything my mom cooks, but other than that, sushi and frozen yogurt (specifically, from a certain place in downtown Vancouver that has the best EVER)

11. What would you keep in a utility belt?:

Water, Earl Grey tea (because no-one would like me if I didn’t have my daily dose(s)!), a bar of chocolate, and my Blackberry and iPod touch (I’m a proud, card-carrying member of the tech generation – I hate being out of touch).

12a. Favorite Fringe Episodes:

How the heck am I supposed to pick just one? But if pressed: Grey Matters and Momentum Deferred. Although in Season 1, I really enjoyed Ability, The Road Not Taken, and There’s More Than One of Everything.

12b. Favorite Stargate SG-1 Episodes:

No way can I pick just ONE! I love them all, but probably – in no particular order – “Camelot”, “Crusade”, “Arthur’s Mantle”, “Prometheus Unbound”, “Pegasus Project”, “Window of Opportunity”, “The Fourth Horseman Part 1” (and Part 2), “Ripple Effect”… It occurs to me that this would go a lot faster if I just said “all of Seasons 9 and 10”!

12c. Favorite Stargate Atlantis Episodes:

Trio” (probably my absolute favourite), “Midway”, “First Contact”, “The Lost Tribe”, “The Storm”, “The Eye”, “Grace Under Pressure”

13. What was your sci-fi gateway?:

I grew up watching Star Wars (the original trilogy), but my first introductions to sci-fi were more through books than tv shows ormovies. The first sci-fi show I really got into was probably Firefly. I started watching SG-1 in summer of 2008, and was hooked. Right now my choice of sci-fi drug is Fringe, which is just about the most awesome show ever (although yes, I love Stargate).

14. What's under your bed?:

Nothing, really, because I have one of those beds with storage built-in so there’s no room between the bed and the floor.

15. Favorite TV show (not Fringe):

Fringe! Sorry, couldn’t resist…. And Stargate (all three), West Wing, Sanctuary, Firefly, Castle, Big Bang Theory, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Battlestar Galactica (recent)

16. What is your dream job?:

Working as an orthopaedic surgeon, specializing in the spine, at Vancouver General Hospital. Or as a neurosurgeon at VGH – I haven’t quite decided yet between neuro or ortho.

17. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?:

Right where I am now: Vancouver, B.C. Although I wouldn’t complain if we got a bit less rain and a LOT more sun.

18. If your life could be written by any author who would it be and what genre?:

Not really sure... I’d be happy with a mention in a scientific textbook years down the line because I discovered a way to cure spinal cord injuries. Or, a couple chapters in a biography of my little sister because if anyone is going to figure out a way to travel between universes (or build a Stargate) it will be her.

19. Favorite movie(s):

Lilo and Stitch is my all-time-absolutely-favourite movie. But I also loved Lord of the Rings (yes, I’m counting all 3 as one), Finding Nemo, Million Dollar Baby, Monster’s Inc., The Matrix… I could go on…

20. What are your goals/dreams/aspirations for WormholeRiders.Com?:

? I would love to see it draw even more “recruits” to the Fringe fan-base.