Twistoffate That colony had moved to another planet with the specific goal of remaining traditional and seperated from technology. Their cargo manifest included things like looms, spinning wheels and livestock.
O’brien is very much Irish (The accent, naming his daughter Molly, his mom made traditional foods from real ingredients “You mean your mother actually handled real meat? Cut it and worked it with her bare hands?” “Like a master chef.”). Not only does he become transporter chief on the flagship of the Federation, he eventually becomes a teacher at Starfleet Academy.
In the gothic romance/ghost story episode of NextGen (The name escapes me at the moment), Crusher attends the funeral of her grandmother. The whole colony had been set up to emulate Ireland (or was it Scotland?) and the corner stone of each building had been brought from Ireland. Though distinctly Irish, the colony had the same technology and acceptance of aliens the rest of the Federation. The governor is actually an alien who moved there due to his love of Ireland.
Still, they didn’t have to make the leader of these people into such a drunken buffoon. “Tree wives, ya say? I tink I could get used to dat.” C’mon.
And there was also Capt. Maxwell, O’Brien’s Captain when they were both on the Rutledge. I’m pretty sure he was Irish - didn’t they sing some Irish folk tune together after O’Brien talked him out of using the Phoenix to attack the Cardassians?
I don’t remember whether he was Irish or had just learned a lot about Ireland from O’Brien.
He does say “But ye got that foine tongue by kissin’ the Stone!”
And OTTOMH
“The minstrel boy to the war has gone,
In the ranks of death you will find him.
His father’s sword he has girded on.
And his brave heart hung beside him.
(Bit I don’t remember)
One true heart shall grieve for you,
One faithful harp will praise thee.”
I’d like to point out that I have no cable, and no DVD sets.
*The minstrel boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you will find him
His father’s sword he hath girded on
And his wild harp slung behind him
“Land of Song!” said the warrior bard
“Though all the world betrays thee
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!”
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman’s chain
Could not bring that proud soul under
The harp he lov’d ne’er spoke again
For he tore its chords asunder
And said “No chains shall sully thee
Thou soul of love and bravery!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!”*
Wow. Nobody else in my hometown would have known what I was talking about, lol.
Anyway, I would argue that the implication is that most poker cards aren’t IR transparent and that is the only way he can see through them.
Admittedly, it’s a vague implication, but certainly arguable. Why else would he say that it wasn’t his fault they are IR transparent if he could see through them using a different spectrum?
BTW, if Geordi did in fact not reveal that he could read through the cards then he’s a big fat cheater and he would never be welcome at my poker table again.