Leonard Nimoy…
Although I wasn’t surprised, a part of me was still taken aback when I heard he died today at ’83’…
This man was a legend.
He was the coolest…
He was an inspiration to many. He had such a huge impact upon the science fiction community.
He was THE Spock…. Both the man and the character has shaped many aspects of science fiction in many mediums (books, film, television, and otherwise). Hell, he even shaped the character of Spock, he was responsible for coming up with the “Vulcan Nerve Pinch” (amongst a few other Vulcan-esque things). The man appeared in many films and television shows (i.e. – Fringe) that I had watched and enjoyed throughout various stages and points of my life. This is a person who has been an inspiration and captured my imagination for as long as I could remember.
How many children who grew up watching Star Trek tried to use the Vulcan nerve pinch upon one another?
How many of us remember the iconic image of Spock quirking a single eyebrow?
-and how many of us have come to do the same?
When I say that I am saddened at his passing, I think a part of it comes from the fact that there will not be anymore future works for me to enjoy. Please don’t think me callous, my condolences to his family. I do know that his health has been on the decline for a while, and he was hospitalized last week.
I am more interested in celebrating this man’s life and accomplishments.
This man was AMAZING. I just found out that he was a sergeant in the United States Army. He was not only an actor who played perhaps one of the most Iconic-Science-Fiction-Characters-of-All-Time… He was also a writer, a poet, a director, a songwriter, a teacher… I mean the list goes on.
Leonard Nimoy has had such an influence and has been a source of inspiration for many. After reading more about his life, one may find him to be even more inspirational.
Monthly Archives: February 2015
The Legend that is Leonard Nimoy
Beginnings
In the darkness, where the gloom resides,
thoughts, unbidden and unchallenged,
begin to rise.
Cast aside, on the fringe,
forgotten by a world moving on,
a harrowing heralds a storm.
At that precipice, that crucial crucible,
where mettle is tested,
an uneasiness threatens to take hold.
Take a step forward and let the day begin.
Another Bout of Insomnia
Another night gone by
Another day arrives
Another blurring of
the border between the two
into a stream of consciousness…
Little Raven
A gentle rap-tap-tapping at his door drew him from his slumber. Lifting his head, he rubs the sleep out of his eyes as he sits up. A persistent metered knocking resumes. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, he espies a cigarette. Closing a book, he snatches up the cigarette as he removes himself from the desk.
Ambling down the hallway, his first thought is to shout, “Go away!”
Nearing the door, he fumbles with his lighter. Clearing away the fog in his mind, he ponders the time. Reaching the door and just to spite the rap-tap-tapping, he takes a moment to light his cigarette before opening.
Sighing, he takes another drag. His eyes drop to the lit cigarette in his hand, noting the burning ember. He then redirects his gaze to her. Slowly he begins to shake his head as he exhales the smoke through his nose.
“It’s been too long, cher…” he reaches for the tumbler on the stand by the door and looks with disappointment at its emptiness.
“I know… I wouldn’t be here if it could be helped.”
Looking back at her, he quirks a brow, “Is dat so, ti corbeau?” with a resigned look, he languidly turns from the door and begins to make his way to the kitchen, “C’mon in.”
She fidgets, hesitating a moment before crossing the threshold. She takes note of the state of the place as she hears him sifting through the pantry. She moves to the couch with his patchwork jacket draped over the back. Picking up a book from the coffee table, she slides down onto the couch.
“Still drink coffee, you?” he calls to her from the kitchen.
“Of course, not THAT much has changed.” She looks down at the book and notes its age as she traces her fingers along its spine. There is strange iconography adorning the cover. Obscure symbols that hit upon a subconscious recognition. “Where did you find this?” she muses as she begins to open the book. She examines the book, trying to identify the alien language. She notices the letters seemingly appear to vibrate. Perhaps it was a trick of her eyes.
“What have you dere?” his voice alarms her. She immediately slams shut the book and sets it back where she found it.
“Oh… nothing,” she takes a moment to clear her mind, “just being nosy.”
“Ha!” He joins her in the room, sitting on the chair, “Mais, jes don’t be nosy ‘round dat book, you.” He gestures at the book, “No good’ll come from even touching it.” He leans back in the chair, takes a long drag from the cigarette, “So…” he lets the word linger a moment, he can feel an angry energy rising within, he takes another drag to stifle it.
“First I want to apologize-“
“Oh dis’ll be good-” his reply came on the heels of her words.
“I’ve let you down-“
“Dat don’t even begin t’cover it.”
“Look-” her eyes narrow.
“I am” he smirks.
“The last time you saw me was a really shitty situation and-”
“You abandoned me!” he said, perhaps a little too angrily. He quickly collects himself and sighs, “When I needed you most-”
“Oh c’mon…” she leans forward, “you never needed anybody!”
“Says you-“
“Says everyone else.” she reaches towards him and snatches the cigarette from his hand and takes a drag before returning it to him, “I have a question though-“
“Shoot” he takes a drag.
“Why did you keep things from us?”
a brief thought on humanity’s progress…
It still astounds me at how short-sighted and close-minded people can be at times. That, coupled with examples of current events in different parts of the world, I feel a great concern with how things are for humanity. Are we progressing or are we regressing?
Consider how easy it is for some to get so caught up on one single facet of something said, that the probability of misinterpreting the message increases dramatically. Of which, can result in poorly thought-out reactions, that can cause poor reactions in others as they respond. Case in point, the President, during one of his recent speeches… Attempted to convey that a group’s use of “viciously brutal actions, under the mantle of religious authority,” was not unique to that area and drew parallels with both the Crusades and the Inquisition.
And many people flipped out (I made the mistake of reading some of the comments). Some took it personally. Some, who already had a negative bias towards the man, took it in a left-field direction. Some took it as an attack upon their beliefs. While some took the opportunity to lash out at the beliefs of others who took offense. The only commonality that some of the people who took offense, and the people of the past being referenced, is similarities in their chosen system of belief. He wasn’t attacking anyone’s beliefs. No, he was drawing up a parallel in an attempt to add weight to his message.
A concern here is that people are reacting on a sliver of what was said, and it would seem to be for all the wrong reasons. Perhaps it is a lasting consequence of sensationalism in action. Rather than getting upset and flying off the handle, would it not behoove one to attempt to acquire a deeper understanding of what was said? Perhaps this is an example of insecurities in action. Rather than attacking another’s beliefs, should we not attempt to inform those people that it was an attempt at drawing a parallel? Perhaps this is an example of hubris in action. Should we be concerned at how easy it is for others to simply close off their minds? Especially when it seems so commonplace?
Some would be inclined to think or say that we, as in humanity, have progressed. I am inclined to disagree. I think there is an increased “awareness” of others (and events) gained through technological developments (i.e. Internet). This “awareness” may give us an impression of progress… However, I think this is not the case. Rather, I am of the opinion that we have not progressed as far as we would like to believe.
Outrage
What is this world coming to? When we speak of progress, are we really just trying to make ourselves feel better about the state of things? Are we just distracting ourselves with a new shiny bit of technology? Put a stamp on it and pat ourselves on the head? Yes… good little monkey, here’s a cookie.
Can we really call ourselves progressive when we cannot seem to get past our differences? Can we expect to move forward when we so readily resort to vile and violent acts towards one another?
I am mostly pissed off about these reports of such acts by groups and organizations that think it is perfectly alright to kill, behead, mutilate another person and broadcast it. Only small-minded cowards would resort to such tactics. This can also apply to those who succumb to the mob mentality and rove around in a small group and assault and beat up (or worse) those who are different. Yeah, real tough… five on one. Pathetic really.
In order to deal with these people, is violence the answer? Perhaps in many cases, yes. If all other avenues had been exhausted? Yes. But, should we, as a people, allow ourselves to be influenced and behave similarly, thereby creating a cycle of violence? No…
Does this view make me a pacifist? No, it does not… I just cannot condone senseless violence.
It bothers me when I see humanity begin to take real steps forward towards progress, and becoming more forward-thinking, only to take two or three steps back. I think a part of it is a matter of conditioning. Whether it is beliefs (or lack thereof), sexuality, appearances… humanity tends to treat each other rather poorly. Whether physically or psychological… we lash out at those who dare to defy our paradigms, those who dare to differ from us.
What Happened, America?
What happened to your ideals?