Showing posts with label De Forest Kelly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label De Forest Kelly. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Xenopolycythemia

X is for Xenopolycythemia but what is it? Star Trek's classic "For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky" stars the cranky Chief Medical Officer (played by Deforest Kelley) who ventures aboard a spaceship world in this funny love story. I remember Dr McCoy getting sick but really did any of us have a clue what Xenopolycythemia was? I had to look this one up online.

To begin with is Xenopolycythemia a real disease?

Online Medical Databases say no, Memory Alpha and Wikipedia say yes. Further investigation reveals "Polycythaemia" is a type of blood disorder characterised by too many red blood cells. So now we know. The plot thickens when we find out "Bones" is suffering from this rare incurable disease but lucky for him Natira (high Priestess to the Oracle) eases the pain. Rick Vollaerts wrote the script giving the good doctor about a year to live. Murderer!!! LOL.

It was a neat trick Vollaerts slapping "xeno" on the front of "Polycythaemia" but what purpose did it serve? It sure confused the heck out of me!

Xeno Long and Prosper,  Trekkers!



Saturday, February 28, 2015

Leonard Nimoy




Leonard Nimoy passed away on Friday the 27th February at the age of 83. All over the world tributes have poured in from NASA, Celebrities to Barack Obama.

I never really expected this day to really come. Leonard was universally loved for playing the pointy eared Mr Spock devoted to logic and so much more. He was remarkable and will be sorely missed.

Deforest Kelly's Dr McCoy captured Mr Spock's passing best in Star Trek's Wrath of Khan as you'll remember heres what he said,

McCoy: He's not really dead. As long as we remember him.




Saturday, May 19, 2012

He's Dead Jim.

In Star Trek's 'The Enemy Within' its always fun warping back to that awesome moment when the chief Medical Officer Dr Leonard H. McCoy utters 'HE'S DEAD JIM' for the very first time. The good doctors emotional catchphrases have inevitably infected the timeline.

"I'm a doctor not a bricklayer,"
"Do something, Spock!"
"He's dead Jim."
I'm a doctor not a moonshuttle conductor!
'I'm a Doctor not an escalator!'
I'm a Doctor not a magician Spock...

The doctor always says whats on his mind especially when the cool calm Mr Spock is playing pointy eared games on him, lol.

The green blooded second in command knows McCoy can't help himself but I suspect Spock secretly enjoys winding him up or is it the other way around?

"I am a Scientist doctor, emotions are alien to me." - States Spock quite logically followed by the good doctors snappy quip,

"In a pigs eye!"

"Really doctor, you must learn to govern your passions. they will be your undoing" - replies Spock. The clever vulchie is so darn good at keeping his cool in an emergency except when Dr McCoy yanks his chain. Four decades later fans still can't get enough of these 'McCoyisms' because McCoys rave scenes are pure fun to watch.



What was Dr McCoy referring to when he said 'HE'S DEAD JIM' for the very first time in Star Trek's 'The Enemy Within?'

1. A Flying Pig?

2. Scotty?

3. A Squealing Tribble?

4. An alien four legged horndog?

5. Sulu?

Can you remember why the lifeform died?

1. Lightening?

2. Vaporised?

3. Killed during the line of duty?

4. Transporter malfunction?

5. Poisoned?

Trek long and Prosper, Trekinators! LOL.

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

D is for DeForest

D is for DeForest Kelly but who is he? DeForest is the lovable, cranky, argumentative Chief Medical Officer from Star Trek's classic series who hates using transporters! Sadly D is no longer with us but his spirit lives on as the emotional country doctor Dr Leonard H. McCoy also played by Karl Urban in Star Trek's 2009 movie.

We know from Starfleet's Medical that Dr McCoy donned the uniform in 1966 and cared about patients welfare between sips of saurian brandy, which he only used for medicinal purposes! You can't help but miss the ol' coot who had the heart of a poet and frailties which fans could identify with.

DeForest wrote a wonderful long poem called The Big Bird's Dream as a tribute to Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek delighting fans at Star Trek conventions.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Top Five Star Trek Favorites

Here's my top 5 Star Trek favorites so I'd better stick to Science Officer Garratt's starship rules and regulations. Actually I may have steered off course a little, phaser me! I just had to mention Khan. Now to begin.

1. Spock our pointy eared vulchie speaks for himself. "I am an accomplished Scientist devoted to logic..." says Spock to Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy. So what does that make Dr McCoy? He's a man of science too, highly respected and as of 2267, earning the Legion of Honour duly decorated by Starfleet surgeons. Spock is well known for his statements of logic and analytical prowess which he shamelessly preaches in front of Dr McCoy. Is Mr Spock having fun at the doctors expense? Or maybe Spock's human/half is having an emotional outburst?

2. Dr Leonard H. McCoy is USS Enterprise NCC 1701 chief medical officer. McCoy is a country doctor from Georgia, called 'Bones" by his friends who enjoys the odd sip of Saurian brandy between patients and hates using transporters! You can't help but like the old coot and identify with the good doctors frailties. "In a pigs eye!" stirs McCoy, hoping for an emotional outburst from Spock's human half which he usually gets. When these two are at each others throats, with Kirk as referee, its usually highly amusing to see whos going to win which is why I'm giving them the top two slots.

"That is a human emotion " replies Spock cleverly.
"You bet your pointed ears, it is!" wisecracks Bones.

The camera swings around to Spock and we see his famous arched eyebrow raised and a look of pure astonishment etched all over his face.

Spock, you haven't changed a bit. You're just as warm and sociable as ever.

Nor have you, doctor, as your continued predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates.

3. Captain Kathryn Janeway has an iron will and loves her black coffee. She's Star Treks first female Starfleet captain to command a starship who's thrilled us with her adventures. We all know about the intrepid USS Voyager NCC-74656 which got lost 70,000 light years into the Delta quadrant. Why do I like Janeway so much? Well, maybe its because we've both caffeine addicts but no, seriously, consider for a moment and reflect. Tons of Trekkie's rooted for Voyager during her heyday.(Ooopps there I go again, sorry I don't mean to be unflattering.)


Your a lost space explorer...Your aboard the starship Voyager.Heres a crew severed from Starfleet, from family and friends feeling their own loneliness and lost in space. When you look out a porthole and see the stars whizzing by you feel a weird hungering sickness calling you home.

Its because these Delta quadrant stars are alien to you. One person keeps your dreams intact with the hope of ever getting back to planet earth in one piece. Good old captain Janeway. You believe in her effective leadership to see things through to the end.

In Voyager's two-part 'Year of hell' Janeway becomes entangled in a sinister time-altering plot. A Krenim temporal timeship commander, Annorax has gone quietly insane over the death of his lost love. Giving up just isn't an option for Janeway who propels her battered ship into the face of certain death. Kate Mulgrew is great at Star Trek Conventions.

"Captain Kathryn Janeway: How do you plan to implement this protocol, Doctor? Mr. Tuvok doesn't have a security team, both the brigs have been destroyed, and with the internal force fields offline, you'll have a hell of a time keeping me confined. You'd better grab a phaser; because before I give up command, you'll have to shoot me."

My 4th Star Trek favorite is Commander Data of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-D who plays the chief operations officer in Star Trek TNG. Our metal friend is a sentient android comprised of sophisticated neural nets and heuristic algorithms which makes him really special. In other words hes more than just a walking, talking machine, Data is a brilliant cybernetic creation with only one flaw, hes devoid of emotions... lets hear it now, awww.

What do I love about this character? Data keeps trying to emulate humans and their behaviour despite countless setbacks.. "I will never exceed the sum of my programming, will you help me Geordi?" This tough android has amazing diagnostic abilities and can beat Klingons and Borg in a hands down scrap any place, any where. Oh yeah baby and its a hoot to hear Data's precise calculations annoying Picard, who more or less tells him to shut up.


Last but not least is 5. Klingon warrior Worf the real dark horse and tough guy. (Lwaxana Troi - Majel Barrett teased him once by calling him Mr Wolf. She had a happy talent for making people smile with her lovely light hearted humor). Worf enjoys reading Kahless the Unforgettable and drinking prune juice which he called a warriors drink!!! The klingon is tolerant of humans, honour bound to Klingon tradition, easily aggravated by Datas questions and loves engaging worthy opponents and battering them blue with his bat'leth.

On stardate 47653.2 (2370) in the episode "Genesis" TNG (7th season) Mr Worf devolved into a merciless lower lifeform with a very bad temper and intense dislike for doors. Worfs the man to have on your side if you've got spooks to chase up. Remember how Worf gave our brave captain, Jean Luc Picard the worst shock of his life turning him into a scaredy cat. My guess is the captain wasn't the only one terrorized out of his wits. Right? Gates Mc Fadden (Dr Beverly Crusher) did a brilliant job directing.



The City on the edge of Forever.
Genesis
Year of Hell.
Star Trek Wrath of Khan
Best of Both Worlds

Live Long and prosper, trekkies.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Encounter at Farpoint TNG

Encounter at Farpoint is the two hour premiere of Star Trek The Next Generation written by Gene Roddenberry and Dorothy Fontana. The U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-D swings by Deneb IV to collect reinforcements on its way to the mysterious Farpoint Station. But all is not what it seems when humanity is placed on trial by the Omnipotent Q entity who baits Captain Picard to answer for the multiple and grievous savagery of humanity. The bridge crew find themselves fighting for their lives in a chamber of horrors with Q as Judge, Jury and Executioner! Picard challenges Q to test the Enterprise crew and judge how far humans have evolved.

Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and/or CBS Studios.

Picard's mission is twofold. Satisfy Q humans are no longer savages and establish what is behind the mystery of Farpoint. The mind twister here is where did the undisciplined leader "Groppler" get the technological tools and skill to build such a fascinating station? Captain Picard orders Riker to investigate the Bandi on the planet below who are negotiating admission to the Federation. The Farpoint's enigma deepens when counsellor Troi senses deep emotional distress within the walls of the new city with intense anger from a strange spaceship creature in outerspace.

Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and/or CBS Studios.



Picard and Troi realise just in the nick of time whats happening. The Enterprise places itself between the spaceship creature to quell its angry emotional outbursts directed at the old Bandi city. But why is this interstellar alien so cheesed off? We soon learn that the outerspace lifeform was in fact rushing to the aid of the "Farpoint Station" making Riker suspicious. Meanwhile Q is strutting around taunting Picard, doing his level best to bait him into making mistakes with ambitions of exposing the savage impulses of humans, except Q's masterplan backfires. The captain doesn't buckle under pressure who instead tells Security Chief Tasha Yar to direct an energy beam at the "Farpoint Station."

Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and/or CBS Studios.

All is revealed when viewers witness the Farpoint Station transforming itself into an alien creature capable of spaceflight. The thing lifts off! Freed from captivity and re-energized, the creature achieves higher orbit and reunites with its twin reducing the lovely Counsellor Troi to weepy tears of joy!

Its fun watching Q swallow his Omnipotent pride and admit defeat in the face of a victorious Picard, who secretly must have enjoyed having the final word.  "Get off my bridge". yells Picard triumphantly.
"I do so only because it pleases it me, Picard" admits a deeply wounded Q who gets his butt kicked off the bridge.

Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and/or CBS Studios.

The space creatures are extremely grateful and wave goodbye to the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC 1701-D and their crew. You've got to admit, Troi and Riker communicating telepathically is a bit weird but this is vintage Star Trek TNG. Its hilarious seeing Counsellor "Commander" Deana Troi in her cheerleader's costume but doesn't she look great?

Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and/or CBS Studios.


Star Trek's TNG pilot has its moments with Deanna changing many times later on in the series and the Crusher boy taking a dip into a stream on the Holodeck and surviving. It must be strangely satisfying for "Wesley Haters" seeing him looking like a drowned rat.... To be fair the geekster has his moments.




Image Owner/Creator: Paramount Pictures and/or CBS Studios.

Dr Leonard "Bones" McCoy cameo appearance from Star Trek TOS was kept a really big secret during the shoot as a special treat for trek fans. His characters name isn't even mentioned in the script or dialogue! Good ol' Bones, The Admiral makes a special trip out to the middle of the sticks aboard the U.S.S. Hood but for a very good reason. He chats briefly with Data giving fans a nostalgic "McCoy flashback" with our good ol' Enterprise Chief Medical Officer, putting the brand new USS Enterprise-D through her paces obviously for personal reasons. Admiral "Bones" gives the Enterprise his best and official send off expediting the starship into the great unexplored mass of the galaxy.




"Well it's a new ship - but she's got the right name. Now you remember that, you hear?"

Live Long and Prosper, Trekkies, Niners and Trekkers.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Dr McCoy's Emotional Outbursts.

In Star Trek The Original Series, Dr Leonard H. McCoy Chief Medical Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise 1701 earned the legion of honour in 2267 and was decorated by Starfleet surgeons. Here was a man of science, affectionately called "Bones" by captain James T. Kirk, who took pride in his work.
De Forest Kelley aka Dr Leonard H. McCoy IMDB

Image Copyright Belongs to Paramount Pictures or CBS Paramout Television.

Whenever Kirk or Spock asked Bones to perform a task outside his field of medical expertise, (like cementing up an injured Horta - Devil in the Dark) the good country doctor would explode into a fit of verbal emotionalism. McCoy vented his frustrations by having cranky emotional outbursts.


But he made his point and delighted the Star Trek fans every time! These famous "McCoyisms" make McCoy's "passionate rave scenes" really fun to watch with "Bones" on the verge of a temper Tantrum.

Mr Spock the Enterprise's Science Officer and Second in Command has learned to grow tolerant of humans and their earthling behaviour. The green blooded, pointy eared vulcan knows the doctor just can't help himself but sometimes McCoy goes too far. Spock has actually tried using pure reason to calm the Chief Medical Officer which is a remarkable feat for the vulcan considering he has emotional torments of his own. Behold the logic of Spock. Heres what he said to his beloved nemesis Dr McCoy.

"Really doctor, you must learn to govern your passions. they will be your undoing" - Spock

Left alone Spock and McCoy would love to torment each other to bits using humiliating jibes and tear downs. When these two are at each other throats it makes for great laughs!

" Why you inhuman, pointy eared, green-blooded Vulcan!" - McCoy

Image Copyright Belongs to Paramount Pictures or CBS Paramout Television.

Here's a list of McCoyism's:
"I'm a Doctor, not a Bricklayer!"
The Devil In The Dark.

"I'm a Doctor, not a escalator!"
Friday's Child.

"I'm a Doctor, not a magician!"
The Deadly Years.

"I'm a Doctor, not a coal miner!"
The Empath.

"I'm a Doctor, not a flesh Peddler!"
Return of the Archons.

"I'm a Doctor, not a mechanic!"
The Doomsday Machine and The Empath.

"I'm a Doctor, not a miracle worker!"
The Deadly Years.

"I'm a Doctor, not a psychiatrist!"
The City on The Edge of Forever.

"I'm not a scientist or a physicist, Mr Spock."
Metamorphosis.

What am I, a Doctor or a moon shuttle conductor?
The Corbomite Maneuver.

I'm a Doctor, not an engineer!
Mirror, Mirror.

I'm not a magician Spock.... I'm just an old country doctor.
The Deadly Years.

Live Long and Prosper Trekkers! Enjoy your Star Trekking!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Bring Back Captain Kirk!

Bring Back Captain Kirk has an awesome mix of dynamic characters
who fight the great cause of saving the Federation. The United
Federation of 150 planets now face a warring doomslayer. Who will
save them? The answer has been here all along! Will they succeed?


 


 This video has exciting imagery and special effects with a story to tell that'll bring you back in time. The movie is about to start. Enjoy the journeys which was never meant to end, so sit back and get strapped in for the thrill!



James T. Kirk hero worship burns in the blood of Star Trek Fans. The fans follow their stars. William Shatner's star is alive and Burning Bright waiting for Paramount to say All Right! You're in the Movie!!!

Live Long and Prosper.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Dr McCoy's Medical Miracles


Dr Leonard H. McCoy is the chief medical officer of the USS Enterprise 1701. He is an emotional, illogical, country doctor who doesn't mind having the odd sip of Saurian brandy between patients. Sorry about the illogical bit, blame Spock. Dr Mc Coy also called "Bones" affectionately by Kirk, is highly respected and as of 2267, had earned the Legion of Honour, and was decorated by Starfleet surgeons. Spock, however would invariably antagonise McCoy, refering to the good doctors concoctions, magic potions and latest victims.

" I am an accomplished Scientist devoted to logic..." Spock has declared to Kirk and McCoy
So what did that make Dr McCoy? he's a man of science too, highly qualified and decorated.
Spock is well known for his statements of logic and analyical prowess like the one above. Which he has unashamedly announced in front of Dr McCoy. Was Spock having fun at the doctors expense? How much of the human is speaking out? Was Spock actually enjoying himself? McCoy has countered Spocks own brilliant attestments of logic with a healthy dose of scepticism.

"In a pigs eye!" stirs McCoy, hoping for an emotional outburst from Spocks human half.
"That is a human emotion " is Spocks clever response.
"You bet your pointed ears, it is!" Comes the warm human reply from Bones. The camera focuses and we see a look of astonishment on Spocks face and the famous arched eyebrow is raised.



The copyright of the these images
belongs to Paramount Pictures.
Source: Star Trek T.O.S.
Memory Alpha


Left alone Spock and Mc Coy would love to torment each other to bits using humiliating jibes and tear downs. When these two are at each others throats, with Kirk as referee, it makes for great laughs. I wonder does Spock ever breathe a deep sigh of relief and say "Great" (to himself)when DrMcCoy leaves the Bridge to go back to his Sickbay. But that would be so human and illogical.

Personally, I think Spock knows that Dr McCoy is on to him. Poor Spock is half human and half vulcan and our good 'ole Dr Sea Bones doesn't let up on this. The cool calm exterior of our first Officer, doesn't fool the ship's Chief Medical Officer. Deep inside, McCoy knows Spock is struggling with the stern discipline of Vulcan Logic and the emotionalism of his human side, which Bones has played around with occasionally, much to the vulcans embarassment.



Some of Dr McCoys Medical Miracles included the well known handheld
1)medical scanners. These were used to take readings of a persons vital lifesigns. The device itself is cylindrical in shape. In the image opposite is a pair of hands and a medical tricorder. The right index finger is resting on the silver scanner, which is then taken out and used to diagnose.


Image copyright belongs to Paramount Pictures
Star Trek T.O.S. Memory Alpha


2)Medical Diagnostic Bed with the overhead scanner. Its been rumoured that NASA were facinated with the orange bed covers in The Uss Enterprise 1701 Sickbay and at the time had a good look at them. Here you have 24th century biobeds .


Image copyright belongs to Paramount Pictures.
Star Trek T.O.S. Memory Alpha.


3) A Surgical support frame is equipped with a sterilization field, cardiostimulator and other inbuilt support functions for surgical procedures which assist the surgeon when operating. Here you can see a 23rd century biobed with overhead scanner also. Usually there is a cute nurse on standby also to help in the surgical procedures. It looks like the patient is ambassador Sarek, another of the good doctors victims. We all know whose words those are!


Image copyright belongs to Paramount Pictures.
Star Trek T.O.S. Memory Alpha.


4) Dr McCoys Hypospray! Never beams down without it. This medical instrument was used by Mc Coy to administer "stimulants" such as cordrazine to Lt Sulu, who suffered serious electrical burns on the Enterprise Bridge in 2267 This device later became an inspiration to "real world engineers" who have since invented medical devices based on these designs.

5) Cordrazine. Lifesaving medical wonder drug treatment, used to treat life threatening illnesses, burns etc. Beverly crusher administered 25ml of this drug to Worf in a last ditch effort to save his life when , (as Q has put it- entertainingly) under the inept ministrations of the Doctor Crusher - everything else failed.




6) Psychotricorder-This is an instrument used to record past memories. Kirk ordered a 24 hour regressive memory test on Chief Engineer Scott, to help clear him of murder on Argelius II in 2267. Chief Engineer Scotty. Wolf in the fold has an especially humourous aspect to it. Scotty is always not far from the crime scene and that "voice" just cracks me up.


Image copyright belongs to Paramount pictures.
Star Trek T.O.S. Memory Alpha.


7)Dr McCoy's Biocomputer was an independant piece of computer technology capable of analysing and isolating complex medical problems/viruses etc and obtaining a vaccine using totally logical means. The computer doesn't have an interface with the Enterprises computer, so the results have to be fed via the communicator to the sickbay labs above where a formula is processed.

Wow you read this far! Thanks for stopping by. Live Long and Prosper Trekkers!!












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