And here is the Physician and Surgeon’s Almanac
for January 20, 2014.
Today is the birthday of Leonard McCoy, M.D., born on this day in Georgia on the planet Earth, Stardate -95947.94, in the year 2227.
Son of David, McCoy graduated from the University of Mississippi then went on to Starfleet Academy School of Medicine.
A general physician, exobiologist and skilled
surgeon, in 2266, Lt. Commander “Bones” McCoy was assigned to the Federation
Starship USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, where he
served as chief medical officer on that historic ship’s deep space exploration
missions where he became famous for his signature catchphrases, "I'm a
doctor, (Jim) not a(n)..." when asked to perform duties outside his role
as medical officer, and declaring, matter of factly, when someone or something
is clearly deceased, "He's dead, Jim."
McCoy’s career and exploits are well known and have been widely documented on television, in print and in film. He created a cure for the life prolongation virus of the Onlines’ homeworld, transported himself into Earth's past, creating a history without a Federation or Enterprise; he was the first xenophysician to treat the Horta silicon-based lifeform, the first to describe and find the cure for flying neural parasites, discovered the source and cure to the plague on Dramia II and synthesized a vaccine for Aquans syndrome among other notable medical accomplishments.
After leaving Starfleet in 2270, McCoy rejoined the Enterprise crew in 2273 and again served with distinction, most notably during the V’ger encounter of Stardate 7410, the famous Battle of the Mutara Nebula and the Space Probe incident of Stardate 8390.
His greatest accomplishment,however, is likely the generation of young people who chose careers in medicine inspired by portrayals of his character in live-action and animated television series and in film by the actors DeForest Kelley and Karl Urban and in books of the Star Trek science fiction franchise.
Admiral McCoy remained active in Starfleet until his retirement in 2364 at the age of 137.
Here is Sonnet #18 by Shakespeare, Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day, in the original Klingon…
qaDelmeH bov tuj pem vIlo'choHQo'.
SoH 'IH 'ej belmoH law', 'oH belmoH puS.
jar vagh tIpuq DIHo'bogh Sang SuS ro'.
'ej ratlhtaHmeH bov tuj leSpoH luvuS.
rut tujqu' bochtaHvIS chal mIn Dun qu'.
rut DotlhDaj SuD wov HurghmoHmeH, HuvHa'.
'ej reH Hoch 'IHvo' Sab Hoch 'IH, net tu'.
'u' He choHmo', San jochmo' joq quvHa'.
'ach not wovHa'choH jubbogh bovlIj tuj,
'ej not ghomHa'choH Hochvetlh 'IH Daghajbogh,
'ej "QIbwIjDaq bIleng" not mIy Hegh nuj,
bovmey DaDontaHvIS, DojwI' nIHajbogh!
tlhuHlaH 'ej legh, wej 'e' lumevchugh nuv,
vaj yIntaH bomvam, 'ej DuyInmoH quv.
Translated by Nick Nedsetter, KLI, 1994
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