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"Scotty" Gets Walk of Fame Star
linuxwrangler writes "Actor James Doohan, aka Scotty on the original Star Trek series received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. This is expected to be Doohan's last public appearance as he suffers from Parkinson's disease, diabetes and lung fibrosis as well as recently diagnosed Alzheimer's disease."
but I expect that to many of us on slashdot, Doohan represented an element in our lives that started many of us down the path of technology. I know for myself at least, it was watching Star Trek with my father (who's name is Scott, an engineer, and has was called Scotty by his coworkers) that started myself on the path of computers, science, and engineerning.
It is unfortunate that this all is happening to him, as he is a very nice person. After a star trek convention in the mid 90's, I was waiting around for an autograph, a small kid, and he was the only person to come over and say hello. Something I'll remember.
There's really no point to this post, just random museings from yet another Star Trek nerd.
'Truth' is linked in a circular relation with systems of power which produce and sustain it...
Indeed. Scotty is one personage who is worthy of posts on slashdot that contribute nothing more than a "me too." The character that he so vividly created is a part of every American geek's cultural heritage and even though he was an actor as opposed to a real engineer, I'll bet he inspired a great many of the older posters here in their formative years. The spirit of Scotty lives in every "can do" engineer, sysadmin, coder and rocket scientist out there.
Though his body may fail him, his personality, utter magnanimity and talent will live on forever. I salute him. He is truly a geek's geek.
"...all the labours of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness..." yada yada
I normally have no interest in celebrities in general, but my one meeting with James Doohan showed me that he was a class act.
A couple of friends of mine dragged me to a Star Trek convention in the early 90s. Doohan was the featured star. After the obligatory question and answer session, which he handled with more humor and patience than I would have, he went out into the hall to sign autographs. I probably slowed my friends down a bit as I have no interest in autographs, but I didn't want to be left alone in the middle of the convention, so I joined them at the very end of the line. After an eternity (much longer for Doohan, who I'm sure was getting writer's cramp and a migraine after hearing the same joke and quotes from everybody in line) he made a big deal about us being the very last people in line. He seemed genuinely flattered that we waited so long to meet him, and had us come around behind the table to have multiple pictures taken with him.
How many TV and movie stars would have simply been happy to get it over with? How few would have shown that kind of humor and good nature to just a few more of many, many fans?
Scotty, if you read this, you greatly impressed me, restored my faith in celebrity, and made a fan for life. A sincere "Live long and prosper."
Ignorance is the root of all evil.
Normally on slashdot when you post an opinion that 200 other people have already brought to light, you are scored as redundant. However, I think in this case the fact that you are still able to see all the praise shows just how much one man can affect more then he could ever imagine. In my childhood you were one of the people that taught me that the word can't doesn't exist. You helped affirm that ones best effort will always see them through. And so far, you've been right. May you live out the rest of your life free of pain and worry, and thank you for helping me become all I had hoped to be.
I can't believe the parent post is moderated +4, Insightful. That has got to be the most shallow and thoughtless sentiment I have ever encountered. The Alzheimers will make it more difficult for him to manage his diabetes and other illnesses. The increased burden on his family and his own sense of loss of identity (at least during the onset of the Alzheimers) will also makes things worse.
He certainly meant it to be "funny", but I've heard people say things like this before.
Alzheimers does not "make you forget" that you're sick. In the early to middle stages, it makes things worse as you forget to take medications and are unable to follow the directions of your doctors. Eventually, you need to be moved somewhere for round the clock treatment.
People with end-stage cancer and Alzheimers aren't "lucky" because they can forget about the cancer. Instead, they feel the terrible pain of dying, without understanding what is going on around them. Many times, they don't recognize their own families, so they die "alone" and in horrible pain. Its among the worst ways to die a "natural" death.
So, lets back off on the fucking alzheimers jokes.
Well this is slashdot. Nerds and kids.
:-)
Anyway, my Uncle is one of the friendliest, most caring people I've ever known. But he can't handle death.
When my brother was killed, my Uncle sat at the funeral telling jokes. Non stop. That's how he handles things. I was aghast at the time, and criticised him for this, but I now know he was heartbroken, and this is the only way he could handle it.
I like to think all the jokesters here have a little of this issue in them. They are trying to be upbeat jokers about terrible illnesses.
One grandmother had altzheimers. It was just the name of a disease to me until I witnessed it up close. But until you've seen a person go days not recognizing anyone, then suddenly wake up screaming "Where am I? What am I doing here?" uhmmmm...it's shocking, and not funny, and tragic. She was okay to deal with when she was not recognizing us, just a little afraid of us, and she was okay when she recognized us, too. It was the transistions--that was the most frightening.
It was very painful when she transistioned, very emotional, lots of screaming and crying, wondering who and where she was. It was tough to watch and deal with.
I'm a loner and lone wolf, so I know I will end badly with no one by my side. So I hope it's quick and with not much for anyone to clean up