GROWING up, I always considered myself something of a Star Trek fan. But while I enjoyed watching the shows and discussing them with my friends, I was always wary of crossing the very blurry line between casual fan and hardcore addict. Fortunately, I had my aunt to keep me grounded.

My aunt used to - and presumably still does - collect any and all Star Trek paraphernalia. From photos, to toy figurines, to replicas of phaser guns, she had it all. One of the last times I spoke to her, years ago, she was midway through having every episode sent to her on videotape, and was working on her own scripts for the producers. Next to her, I remain a casual fan.

With the 10th, and, possibly, last Star Trek instalment slated for release in December, the film version of the franchise may finally be heading out on its last mission. Then again, people seem to say that every few years or so.

One of the things I've come to appreciate about Star Trek over the years is how it's always managed to maintain its relevance. Through its many incarnations, it's always succeeded in tapping into the human desire to explore not only the stars, but our own nature. There's always a lesson to be learned and a principle that can be applied to our daily lives.

Take business, for example. What better way to jumpstart the Bulgarian economy and usher in an era of prosperity then implementing a tried and true method of corporate success known as the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition? Found at http://www.sjtrek.com/trek/rules/, these simple guidelines can only ensure the country follows the fast track to the European Union and beyond. Take such universal truths as: "Trust is the biggest liability of all," "No good deed ever goes unpunished," and "A deal is a deal ... until a better one comes along."

Come to think of it, some of these rules are already in place.

Moving on to linguistics. Still struggling with the Bulgarian language? Give up. If you haven't learned it by now, you never will. Believe me, I know. Allow me to suggest something infinitely easier. Klingon. Have a look at http://www.kli.org/to learn some of the basics of this warrior tongue. Why learn how to say "How are you?" in Bulgarian, when you can just as easily learn "Today is a good day to die" in Klingon? And there's no greater insult to hurl at a cab driver who has just ripped you off then to spout out in perfect Klingon: "Your mother has a smooth forehead!" He won't soon forget that day.

But what of literature? While there is certainly a vast selection of Star Trek fiction available, you can simplify matters by looking into a very moving Dr. Seuss rendition of the show. Warp on over to http://www.uoguelph.ca/~rdavid02/seusstrek.htmlto find out what would happen if the good doctor wrote for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Observe this sample of dialogue from Worf, the ship's Klingon security officer:

"The saboteur is in the brig. He's very strong and very big.

I had my phaser set on stun - A zzzip! A zzzap! Another one!

He would not budge, he would not fall, He would not stun, no, not at all!

He changed into a stranger form, All soft and purple, round and warm."

I can think of no better night time story for the little ones.

The show also has religious roots, as can be seen over at http://www.brunching.com/metalortrek.html. A simple test requires you to view a list of names and determine if they are the name of a Star Trek episode, or a Christian Heavy Metal Band. With titles like "Divine Right, Redemption, Heart of Glory and Guardian," it's not only a tough test, it's another obvious indication of this show has become interwoven into the fabric of our lives.

If you're interested in finding out how else the new movie will touch your life and make you a better person, check out the official site at http://nemesis.startrek.com/.

As for my expectations? I think the film will be pretty good, but I'm only casual fan. I should give my aunt a call - she just may have written the script.