For Lo! we are back to considering how to avoid people being very very naughty with Replicator Technology, in a little more detail than last time.
For argument's sake, we will assume that the replicators we are dealing with are those made familiar by that obscure cult series "Star Trek: The Next Generation", with the capacity of a medium-sized microwave oven.
Sic |
Here an aside. Yes yes yes, it's an aside within an aside - get over it and move on! It really isn't a "Forbidden" planet at all, since Doctor Morbius only "strongly recommends" that the C57D stay away from it. Were he to shriek "MUCH HORROR AND MADNESS! Dogs and cats living together! Yog Sothoth! Keep away or face agonising torments and then gruesome death!" - then it'd be forbidden. Until then, Doctor, you need to work on projecting emotion a bit better.
The Doctor was crushed by the cruel criticism |
Right, back to replicators a la STTNG. Some things are going to be forbidden. Let us look at them in detail.
Guns: Not only guns but their component parts must be hard-wired into the "Forbidden" category, in that not only will your replicator not make it, an alarm will sound at the nearest Police Station. I say component parts, because the crafty might try to replicate the full set of separate bits that make up a handgun, and get around the embargo that way. Ammunition would also be forbidden, just to be certain.
Not so fast, matey - |
Drugs: Not permitted! Only licenced pharmacologists or medical staff can over-ride the embargo on these, and even then there will be an audit process to account for the amounts created, used and on hand.
Not going to happen |
Poisons: This would be a very long list, and it would need to be updated every so often as new and nastier toxic crud is discovered.
Pathogens: Bit of a niche one, this. But, just in case - no, you cannot replicate samples of Baccilus Pestis or anthrax. Mind you, if you were stupid enough to request them without also replicating an airtight container around them, then the problem would solve itself.
No path to pathogens |
I think that just about covers the issues for Replicator Abuse. Of course, I may be overthinking this ...
BOOJUM! Reviews Films
In our patent way, which is to just look at the title and make shizzle up about them, and we include television in there as well, so sue me if you feel like it.
"X-Men Dark Phoenix": Another X-Men film? Your Humble Scribe feels that they're churning this stuff out on a production line. I enjoyed "Logan" because that pretty much wrapped the whole thing up, except I bet they retconned it so that it didn't. Not interested. Go far away very quickly. "Dark Phoenix"? how about "Dull Turkey"?
Well plucked. |
Recall the first "Avatar" film, which ended with the military and science staff being kicked off Pandora by the natives, and the human
This forced eviction was a colossal mistake, as those very same leavers would have made excellent hostages, for the retaliatory strike that's going to come from Earth.
Make no mistake about it, Earth wants the Unobtanium found on Pandora, and now the hostile, violent, criminal natives have wickedly slaughtered and evicted the peaceful research operation (which is the story that's going to go out).
Let's take stock here: Pandoran natives' military inventory; big ass bows and arrows (I credit the departing military with having the wit to disable their own weaponry).
Earth: interstellar starships carrying multi-gigaton anti-matter warhead MARV'd missiles by the dozens and dozens.
I know whom I'd back in a fight.
Let the nuking begin ... |
What's that? You thought I was incredibly dismissive and <tunes out strident whinging>. Allow me - "Chick-flick. No big skirts." There. Sorted.***
Finally -
I have just finished watching Season Three of "Justified", which satisfyingly tied up a few loose ends, including the SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT
death of Dickie Bennett; it was surpassing quick, though, probably to the disgust of Boyd Crowder and Arlo Givens, who would both have liked to slowly torture him to a grisly end. Mind you, Boyd did wrap his head in a plastic bag and punch him bloody whilst he suffocated, so Dickie probably appreciated being given a quick exit.
Dickie: the poster boy for Po' White Trash |
* Although there's always one ...
** They went back to Imperial measures in the future. Trust me on this.
*** If this annoys you, or even makes you cry, then my work here is done.
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