On December 18, 2008, fans of Star Trek lost one of the most important people that made a man's dream come true in several ways.

Majel Barret Roddenberry was the widow of Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and got her start playing the First Officer of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701...no bloody A, B, C, or D) under Captain Christopher Pike in the pilot episode.  After NBC asked for a second pilot, she became Nurse Chapel, the head nurse under Dr. McCoy...and someone who loved Spock deeply.

After the series ended, and in 1985 she rejoined Star Trek, this time as the voice of the computer on Picard's Enterprise and actually the computer voice on every Starfleet vessel in Picard's timeline.  Also, she played Deanna Troi's mother in several episodes on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space 9.

She also had the honor of having a part in all of the Star Trek films and series.  She was the only one that had that privilege.  I do not know if she had a part in the upcoming film of Kirk and Spock's early days, though.

In one episode of Star Trek, Mr. Spock, when informed that "Flint" would eventually pass away due to leaving Earth's influence said, "On that day, I shall mourn."  That day, in a way, has come again.  We've already said farewell to Gene Roddenberry, DeForrest Kelley and James Doohan from the original series, as well as several who had smaller roles.  Now, we bid Majel Barret Roddenberry a sad farewell and lay her to rest.  Her memory, though, will "Live Long and Prosper".

We will miss her but, her legacy will live on in the hearts of Trek fans worldwide.  She has rejoined Gene, DeForrest, and Jimmy in the afterlife.  We will miss her voicing the computer of Starfleet vessels on the small screen, in movies, and, even several computer games where she lent her talents.  We will look fondly on her as Nurse Chapel and even Luxana Troi.

Rest in Peace...(Bagpipes start playing a mournful "Amazing Grace" here)

Dear readers,

Maybe I'm mistaken here, but, aren't we in a recession?  Haven't we been in a recession in the USA for a year?

How is it then that sports fans are seeing athletes asking for and getting these saleries that are beyond orbital?  The Yankees announced that they acquired Sabathia for a whopping $161 million recently.  This is, in a time of economic woes, as big of a scandal as the Governor of Illionis being accused of trying to sell President-elect Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.

We're tightening our financial belts partially due to high gas prices for the last several years.  We're seeing banks getting $700 billion and it looks like the "Big 3" automakers are in line for a $14 billion bailout, as well.  Houses are being foreclosed on all over the country.  Yet, the Yankees and possibly other baseball teams are thinking of handing athletes more money than most of us will ever see and, in order to pay for these salaries, ticket prices will continue to climb as well as prices at concession stands, which will further pinch the wallets of even the most die-hard fans.

What the fans need to do is simple...do not visit the ballpark, do not buy overpriced concession stand food, and, don't buy the sponsors products.  In doing so, it will send a clear message to the owners that even they must consider the tough times that the common man is facing and adjust accordingly to allow fans to enjoy the sports that they love.  If the fans bolt away from the stadiums, the owners will have to tell the players that, for a while, they will have to live on less money (ever hear of living on the interest of the millions that they've already earned and hopefully have not frittered away?)  We will no longer accept it when a player cries "poverty" because they only get $500,000 a year instead of $37 million.  Real poverty is living month to month on a government benefit package or working our rear ends off at a telemarketing job just to maintain an apartment that eats up so much of your paycheck that you have to decide on eating or trying to keep the lights on.

When I was living in Phoenix, I had not only to somehow keep the lights on from paycheck to paycheck, but, keeping food in the apartment for my original roommate, but, then, a gal I stupidly took in who eventually screwed me in more ways than one.  That's poverty, people.  I had to work in a field I detested to make ends meet and keep a "girlfriend" happy.

So, I really do not need to hear it when an overpaid and underworked athlete starts crying that they deserve all that blasted cash when the economy is this bad and, even Barack Obama says that it's gonna get worse before it improves, which means that the country might be heading into a depression for a while.  Will the players donate their surplus funds to the poor?  Probably when the Titanic is raised in one piece.  Will they volunteer to play for a fraction of what the teams would likely offer?  Probably when the Hindenburg flies again.

Translated...it's not happening.  The Titanic broke apart on the surface.  The Hindenberg exploded prior to landing in a big ball of flame.

Until next time...

Dear friends,

Well, the Juice of O.J. Simpson has finally run out.  In the late hours of Friday evening/Early Saturday morning, the jury hearing the armed robbery and kidnapping case returned a verdict of guilty on all 12 charges against the former NFL player and actor.  Under Nevada law, Simpson faces life in prison on the most serious charges against him, as well as his co-defendant, CJ Stewart.

This verdict comes 13 years to the day when Simpson was found not guilty by a Los Angeles jury of Murder 1 in the deaths of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman.  Had there been a guilty verdict, OJ would have received the death penalty.  However, he was found liable in a civil trial for wrongful death and was ordered to pay (with interest included), approxmately $33 million.

OJ made a name for himself in avoiding having to pay that money, and, as a result, lost a lot of his personal possessions to try to satisify that debt.  That led to OJ and his friend trying to regain "personal belongings" that were supposedly stolen by force of arms.

OJ skated the last time he was on trial for a criminal act and was freed because the glove "doesn't fit".  Sadly, that was the turning point of the murder case.  The problem was that Simpson had to wear rubber/latex gloves to "protect the chain of evidence" that increased the friction to the point that it was very hard to put the gloves on.

That gave enough reasonable doubt to acquit (actually, it was, IMHO, a case of jury nullification) OJ and set him free after one of the longest trials in recent history.  Most other murder trials last a fraction of the time that the murder case did.  In fact, OJ's robbery trial was a little longer than average, but, not really notable because of that.

However, OJ played with fire again, and, this time, got burned.  I've felt that since his acquital 13 years ago, that he was on borrowed time and at some point, he'd make a mistake and end up in prison.  Now, it's happened and "The Jiuce", has run dry.  He only has himself to blame, because if he could have gone through the right order, he might have been allowed to get that stuff back legally.  Instead, OJ, is going to be in prison for the rest of his life.

Those that remember his Hertz commercials from 25-30 years ago will recall him running to catch a flight, only to trip up on the Hertz baggage.  He should have applied that to his real life and watched out for things that would trip him up.  A little late now, because, he's tripped on the luggage and fallen flat on his face.

The thing to remember here, and, it's a good thing to remember that pride does go before a fall.  OJ's pride in being able to flaunt the law has finally brough judgment on himself.  Don't let pride and ego get in the way of doing the right thing, friends, and, you'll prosper greatly.  It's far better than being OJ cellmate, right?

Until next time...Peace out!