Beam Him Up, Lord...

Open hailing frequencies....

Hey everybody. I don't usually write about current events, but I saw this when I woke up this morning and I had to comment. Another of the "Magnificent Seven" has passed away. James "Scotty" Doohan died yesterday at age 85.

Since 1966 he delighted audiences, portraying the wise-cracking, Scottish enginner Montgomery Scott. Trademark phrases such as "Beam Me Up, Scotty" and "I just can't do it Captain... I'm givin' 'er all she's got!!" have become part of pop culture slang.

In his younger years, Doohan was chiseled and well-built, having served in the Canadian Army and being part of the D-Day invasion on Normandy. He survived quite a bit during the war. Losing part of his right middle finger and being shot six times, the most fatal chest shot being deflected by his silver cigarette case.

Being typecast as the surly Scotsman never bothered Doohan. "I never get tired of hearing it," he said, referring to "Beam Me Up, Scotty," his trademark order. He retired from public life in 2004, having been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. It's almost a blessing that he passed so soon after. Hopefully he didn't have to endure any of the horror of losing your memories, as Ronald Reagan had to endure.

I'm sure the rest of the Star Trek cast will make it to the funeral. William Shatner (James T. Kirk), Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov) and George Takei (Mr. Sulu) are all still alive. DeForest Kelley (Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy) passed away in 1999 and series creator, Gene Roddenberry died in 1991.

Live long and prosper, Scotty... we'll miss you.