As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I was never really into Trek, save for those memorable 4th of July marathons that used to air locally on WPIX 11 in New York. Yet, in my later years, I came to appreciate Star Trek: The Original Series in a real way, especially in terms of its historical importance to the science-fiction genre. It also doesn't hurt that, even now, the show is a lot of fun.
Much of that fun can be attributed to Leonard Nimoy's Mr. Spock, the perfect logic-based foil to William Shatner's impetuous Captain Kirk. Spock's popularity has transcended the Star Trek franchise itself, and you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone, sci-fi fan or otherwise, who isn't familiar with the character's "Live long and prosper" phrase and accompanying hand gesture.
Today, Mr. Nimoy voyaged to the great beyond, at the age of 83, due to pulmonary disease. Instead of mourning, I choose to celebrate the life of one of the standard-bearers of geekdom. Enjoy Nimoy's "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins," a song that makes me smile a little bit wider right now.
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