So you're all astronauts on some sort of... star trek?

Surely there’s some significance in the fact that Leonard Nimoy’s death intersected precisely with the death of the Internet as we know it. And even if not, it might serve as a good opportunity to review another timeless intergalactic morality play about an Emperor who ruled the universe by fiat. Spoiler Alert: that one didn’t end well, for the Emperor.

Death Star, proceeding according to plan 

Butt enough about Star Wars. Today, in memory of Spock’s departure from these earthly bounds, I thought I’d dedicate the post to quotes from him and other characters in Star Trek – a science fiction series dedicated to depicting the ultimate triumph of good over evil. So hold that thought: Good Will Out. Eventually. 

“She canna take any more, captain.  She’s gonna blow!” – Scotty

“Without followers, evil cannot spread.” — Spock

“We must acknowledge once and for all that the purpose of diplomacy is to prolong a crisis.” – Spock

“They invade our space and we fall back. They assimilate entire worlds and we fall back. The line must be drawn here, this far, no farther.” – Picard

“Believing oneself to be perfect is often the sign of a delusional mind.” Data

“‘With the first link the chain is forged; the first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.’ Those words were uttered…as wisdom and warning. The first time any man’s freedom is trodden on, we’re all damaged.” – Captain Picard, quoting Judge Aaron Satie 

  “Truth is an excuse for a lack of imagination.” Garak

“Insufficient facts always invite danger.” — Spock,

Fascinating is a word I use for the unexpected, in this case I would think interesting would suffice.” — Spock

“Humans do have an amazing capacity for believing what they choose – and excluding that which is painful.” – Spock

“Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” — Spock

Chang: “To be or not to be. That is the question that preoccupies our people, Captain Kirk. We need breathing room.”

Kirk: “Earth. Hitler. 1938.”

And although this quote is from Star Wars, the other science fiction franchise depicting the seemingly endless fight between good and evil, I thought I should wrap up with a quote from Ajit Pai, one of the minority Republican FCC Commissioners, after the FCC passed broadband rules regulating the internet:

“Young fool … Only now, at the end, do you understand.” - Ajit Pai quoting Emperor Palpatine

21st century technology with 20th century bureaucratic rules and red tape: what could go wrong?

So even as it becomes increasingly difficult, remember always: