Legendary actor Leonard Nimoy passed away on February 27 at the age of 83. When icons of that magnitude leave us, many fans (and, apparently, alt.obituaries Memorial Deadpool players) find it hard to appropriately mourn or honor them. How else to explain the nearly seven-month wait for a writeup on such a beloved man? The Star Trek icon brought so much joy and entertainment to the world, not just in the confines of a television screen, but also as a motion-picture actor, director, photographer, author, poet, and philosopher. Long after he took off Spock's ears, he was teaching us something important.

The assorted quotes that follow are from both Mr. Nimoy and his Vulcan alter ego, and represent everything he stood for: a profound passion for exploration and knowledge, a true desire to help others, and an individual who strove to live the best life possible.

"Logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end."

"I am not Spock. But given the choice, if I had to be someone else, I would be Spock. If someone said, 'You can have the choice of being any other TV character ever played,' I would choose Spock. I like him. I admire him. I respect him."

"The miracle is this: the more we share, the more we have."

"Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."

"I have been, and always shall be, your friend."

"Spock is definitely one of my best friends. When I put on those ears, it's not like just another day. When I become Spock, that day becomes something special."

"Art, if it is successful, needs no explanation. Star Trek and Spock, if they are works of art, can be discussed. But finally the response comes in individual terms. Each viewer sees what is there for him, depending on his frame of reference."

"When you let me take, I'm grateful. When you let me give, I'm blessed."

"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one."

"I had an embarrassing experience once, many years ago. I was invited to go to Caltech and was introduced to a number of very brilliant young people who were working on interesting projects. . . . And they'd say to me, 'What do you think?' (expecting me to have some very sound advice). And I would nod very quietly and very sagely I would say, 'You're on the right track.'"

Perhaps all these words and thoughts are best summed up in the last tweet sent by the man, five days before he left Earth to begin another search for the final frontier:

A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP
11:36 PM - 22 Feb 2015

Leonard Nimoy signed all his tweets "LLAP," or "Live Long and Prosper," Mr. Spock's catchphrase from the Star Trek series and films. He had announced via Twitter last year that he had been diagnosed with COPD, a chronic respiratory disease caused by smoking, which has no cure. He encouraged his followers to stop smoking.

I can't speak for Direcorbie, Ed V, and Jefferson Survives, but I would gladly give back the 5 points earned by his passing. Yet, from what I've read about the man, he'd probably give us a sly smile and a wink, along with a Vulcan salute, and be happy to know he assisted us in our somewhat morbid pursuit. LLAP.

--Happy No Year