 |
Message Cylinder
A small metal object containing some form of message media and a mechanism for either playing or extruding the medium; secured communication device. (Read the full article)
| "We have had such things in real life since World War II. The British SOE used them, as we did alson in the cold war, and likely still do. They look like metal cigarette cases and contain microfilm. If you drop it or force it open, a flashbulb goes off. See reference in Tom Clancy's "The Cardinal of the Kremlin."
Asimov also included a message "cylinder" concept in the first of his Foundation novels (other than the new prequel). But this was plastic, ovoid, containing a spool of self-corroding paper similiar to a ticker-tape. I do not recall the page, but the reference can be found during one of first mentions of the character Hobber Malow, on the occasion when he is informed that he must go to the planet called Askone.
In Dune, further investigation would have revealed to the person who submitted this article that message cylinders definitely contain thin paper in all cases, and have anti-tamper acid capsules. See discussion of seized, fake message cylinder appearing to implicate the Lady Jessica (vivat! vivat! vivat!), later discovered to have been planted by the enemy." (Julian 4/11/2006 4:09:53 PM ) |
Leave a comment:
Tediously, spammers have returned. So, send me your comments to bill at the site name (be sure to mention the page) and I'll post them. Thanks!
Current News Articles
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.'
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
'Figments of his mind in one sense, of course, for he had shaped them...'
China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
'So the parent drone carries a spotter that it launches...'
Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
'...nurse drones that would cruise around dumping large amounts of power into randomly selected pods.'
Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
'It's done with a flip of the third joint of the tentacle on the down beat.'
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
'...for months Grantline bores had dug into the cliff.'
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
'I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously.
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
'It’s smart enough to go wrong in very complicated ways, but not smart enough to help us find out what’s wrong.'
Heat Waver - The First Ever Combo Solar Collector And Wind Turbine
'...like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Tesla 'Fleet Response Agents' Bolster FSD Autonomy
'You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life... in his hands.'
