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Remains of James Doohan Lost in New Mexico

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the red-shirts-all-around dept.

caffiend666 writes "According to a Space.com news article the cremated remains of 200 people were lost in the mountains after their trip to space. 'The search for the UP Aerospace payload of experiments and the cremated remains of some 200 people — including "Scotty" of Star Trek fame, as well as pioneeering NASA Mercury astronaut, Gordon Cooper — continues within rugged New Mexico mountain landscape.' Is it just me, or does it seem appropriate that they lost the landing party? Here's to a safe recovery!"

38 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. No problem. by ScrewMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    Spock will figure out the only logical place it could be.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
    1. Re:No problem. by srmalloy · · Score: 4, Funny

      I guess the engines really couldn't take it...

    2. Re:No problem. by novus+ordo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Keith Richards' nose?

      --
      "You're everywhere. You're omnivorous."
    3. Re:No problem. by Miseph · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Not to be an ass about your dead friend... but seriously, relax. Suck as it may, he's gone, and there's no sense in worrying he might have been injured, or that he's offended.

      Besides, I'd expect that if your buddy wanted to be launched into space, he'd have a sense of humor about this sort of thing.

      --
      Try not to take me more seriously than I take myself.
    4. Re:No problem. by lordmatthias215 · · Score: 4, Funny

      If I had to be lost somewhere, it'd be the land of Latinas and tequila.

      Sounds a whole heck of a lot like the New Mexico I know...

    5. Re:No problem. by McFadden · · Score: 4, Funny

      And in that vein...

      I wouldn't worry about looking for Doohan. Just wait a few weeks and he'll show up on eBay.

  2. Poor Gordo Cooper... by Blackbrain · · Score: 3, Funny

    As Gordo would have said: "Looks like someone screwed the pooch on this one".

    --
    Where would we be if Wheel had hid her round rock in a cave instead of showing everyone how it rolls?
  3. Clever... by DoofusOfDeath · · Score: 4, Funny

    He *knew* the Nexus was going to go through that exact point.

  4. Obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    He was always wearing a red shirt. It was inevitable that he would be lost.

    1. Re:Obvious by Infoport · · Score: 4, Funny

      no, it is only the new crewmen in red shirts who are doomed. If you have a nickname, you are pretty much safe.

      and being Ensign something, well you might as well leave your good boots at home for someone else.

    2. Re:Obvious by solitas · · Score: 5, Funny

      http://echosphere.net/star_trek_insp/insp_expendab ility.jpg

      --
      "It's time to take life by the cans." ~ Bender ("Bendin' in the Wind", ep. 3-13)
  5. Raise your hands by suv4x4 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Who else thinks the whole idea is kinda retarded? I mean, in the beginning I thought the ashes of those people will be dispersed in space, which was very strong as a symbol and a ceremony, of sorts.

    But carry them in space and land them (and now .. to lose them)? What the hell was the effin point of this whole thing?

    1. Re:Raise your hands by BlargIAmDead · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think the point was to see how the remains of several cremated people reacted to zero g conditions. We now now that when subjected to these certain conditions they gain enough intelligence to outsmart NASA :)

    2. Re:Raise your hands by Saeger · · Score: 4, Insightful

      *shrug* Most cultures are still obsessed with the mind's dead vessel; that's not going to change overnight.

      IMO, both cremation & cemeteries are a huge waste of resources. When I finally get around to writing my Will, it'll include something to the effect: "If my pattern of mind is beyond repair, drop my naked nutrient-rich matter into a vertical hole and plant a tree. I forbid energy-wastful cremation, and burial in a rip-off casket in a drab cemetery surrounded by giant obelisk phallic symbols..." Of course, there's probably some business-friendly laws which says that's illegal.

      --
      Power to the Peaceful
    3. Re:Raise your hands by Ignis+Flatus · · Score: 3, Funny

      What the hell was the effin point of this whole thing?
      to make money, of course. it was a private enterprise.
    4. Re:Raise your hands by prelelat · · Score: 4, Funny

      to make money, of course. it was a private enterprise. I can't tell if that was a pun or not.

      Either way good call.
    5. Re:Raise your hands by value_added · · Score: 4, Interesting

      "If my pattern of mind is beyond repair, drop my naked nutrient-rich matter into a vertical hole and plant a tree. I forbid energy-wastful cremation, and burial in a rip-off casket in a drab cemetery surrounded by giant obelisk phallic symbols..." Of course, there's probably some business-friendly laws which says that's illegal.

      I had this in mind when I chose to bury two of my dogs in the backyard. Looking back on the experience (I ended up with two small plaques and planting some flowers and shrubs), I don't regret my decision. I could write an essay on the subject, but it should suffice to say it just seemed like the right thing to do. From every point of view.

      Whether the above is legal, I don't know. My guess is that it isn't. Once upon a time people (at least those who owned land) had family cemeteries. Maybe someone here who knows more about such traditions could enlighten us. At any rate, today, at least here in California, burying someone on private land, irrespective of whether you own one acre of land or 1000 acres, was made illegal sometime in the 1920s (?).

      It's kind of shame, really. Obviously, we can't all just around burying people just anywhere (broadband deployment is complicated enough), but there's something to be said for being buried in the dirt, and having someone come along and plant some grass or a tree where you were laid to rest.

      Recyling at its best.

    6. Re:Raise your hands by Mr2cents · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well spoken. It's an industry. The one thing I remember when my grandfather died (it was an insanely emotional period - my other grandfather had just died a week earlier, both unexpected), the undertakers were there in no time and asked my grandmother: "do you want him to be buried in first class or second class ground?" (literally). What is she supposed to say at such a time? Of course she chose "first class", thinking she would honour him that way. In reality, she just paid a lot of money.. for what? I was quite disgusted.

      --
      "It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful." - Anton LaVey
    7. Re:Raise your hands by freaker_TuC · · Score: 3, Informative

      My grandma has died 2 months ago, the government already closes the bank account at first knowledge of death. This to pay the expenses of the undertakers, the church service, the after service (in Belgium with coffee cakes and sandwiches, because it's a tradition to eat and talk with the relatives around in a room/tables) and some other expenses...

      These expenses start with the "cheapest" which is not really "cheap" anymore but rather expensive and if you want to be buried with some decency (which won't change anything for you anymore anyways), the bill will be -very- expensive/uncatholic ... It seems to be a profitable business, maybe some idea through the web *shrug*

      --
      --- I am known for the ones who want to find me on the net. Is that a privacy risk or a privilege? One might wonder..
    8. Re:Raise your hands by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      I had this in mind when I chose to bury two of my dogs in the backyard.

      How did you get them to stay there? Mine always dig themselves out.

    9. Re:Raise your hands by camperdave · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Very few people can pull off "intimidating" when stuffed and left on a couch. "Creepy", on the other hand...

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  6. clear throat, cue theremin by circletimessquare · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rural New Mexico, the final frontier. These are the remains of James Doohan. Its five-minute mission: to explore cactus and scrub mesas; to not burn up and burst its canister; to boldly go where no cremated remains have gone before.

    oooooo waaaahhh, wah wah wah wah wah....

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  7. Sent into space? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Man, if I was, like, "Send my ashes into space when I die" and they were like, "OK, we can send you in a suborbital trajectory", I'd be all like, "Fuck that bitches, I said SPACE".

  8. Not again, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is the second time he's put himself into a transporter loop waiting for rescue.
    Clevernickname better get off his blog and go get him.

  9. Re:Sad :( by DumbSwede · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In the game of life we are ALL wearing red shirts

    --
    Letter To Iran
  10. Damn it Jim! by nihilistcanada · · Score: 4, Funny

    I am a doctor not an orbital scientist!

  11. Re:what by wizardforce · · Score: 5, Informative

    If the rocket did what it was supposed to why would the remains and other crap have come back to earth?
    because it was never meant to leave Earth completely, it was SUPPOSED to come back down
    --
    Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
  12. His Last Words by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Yah c'nt bury me, yoo got na ashes!"

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
  13. Wow, they weren't retarded. by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 4, Informative

    They did use a tracking becon. As far as they can tell, it is still working, to a couple km (diameter) circle. Unfortunately it landed in mountainous terrain, and "go[ing] towards the signal" is a physical impossiblity. (Okay, not impossible, but quite difficult). Also, the terrain is messing with the signals.

    Next week (no hurry I suppose), the manufacturers of the tracking device are bringing more sensitive equipment and more experienced searchers to search for it.

    --
    Your ad here. Ask me how!
  14. Searching in the wrong place... by ChangeOnInstall · · Score: 4, Funny

    Has anyone checked ebay yet?

    --
    What has *science* done?!? -- Dr. Weird (ATHF)
  15. Breaking news... by fireman+sam · · Score: 4, Funny

    The ship has been found, but unfortunately everyone on board have been confirmed dead. :(

    --
    it is only after a long journey that you know the strength of the horse.
  16. Obligatory Bones Quote: by rts008 · · Score: 4, Funny

    He's dead, Jim!

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  17. Send in the red shirts! by WheelDweller · · Score: 3, Informative

    In these crazy days, doesn't it seem like there's a lawyer somewhere just WAITING for the first time a journalist writes the headline, "Lost in Space" so they can get copyright infringement?

    Maybe I'm too cynical. :>

    Seriously though; "Scotty" was a huge hero even before Star Trek. One of his previous roles was on June 6th, 1944: he was one of them attacking Fortress Europa. His efforts, and the efforts of thousands of other guys wasting their childhood fighting Nazi Germany is why we're free. Why the show could air; why the benefits of freedom are so available. I liked'em before, but upon learning that, I'm his biggest fan.

    My dad came behind the push at Anzio, he got a late start. Dad is why I know this was such a huge accomplishment. Thanks so much, "Scotty".

    --
    --- For a good time mail uce@ftc.gov
  18. Not exactly by kahrytan · · Score: 4, Insightful


      They should launched Doohan and Cooper into deep space. They deserve better then to be shoved back to this stinkin planet.

    --
    \
  19. They'll be found eventually.. by sprior · · Score: 3, Funny

    On Ebay...

  20. He's not really dead by Rix · · Score: 3, Funny

    He just stored himself in the transporter buffer.

  21. Re:Someone failed grade 5 math by afaik_ianal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... and somebody failed physics.

    If they followed your suggestion, they probably wouldn't find it. The signals in mountainous terrain bounce all over the place.

    Even if it were that simple to locate, you've still got to get in there to pick it up.

  22. That's not the real reason by Rix · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's to keep them in the ground when the zombie apocalypse comes.