1920s style death ray

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I don’t get it! :frowning:

I know what thread it originated in, but…why 1920s style death ray? Is this some witty allusion that I’m missing?

2

Well, depending on the size of your 1920s style death ray, it could be a phallic symbol.

3

It’s not always a 1920s style death ray, either. Depending on the model, and how many options it offers, sometimes it’s a 1920s dial death ray.

4

When he said “1920’s style death ray” he was refering to the work of Nikola Tesla.

5

It’s not the size of the 1920s style “Death Ray”, it’s how you use it.

6

OK, could someone please direct me to the damn thread were all this nonsense began. This is driving me batty.

Happy

7

Here it is:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=202225&highlight=scalar

8

The thread is this one. The reference to “1920s style death rays” was just a way of dismissing scalar weapons as sci-fi-level kookiness. But the whole craziness began because dogface accidentally triple-posted his quip, prompting everyone else to start repeating the phrase over and over.

9

Damn, Biffy, your 1920s style death ray has way more power than mine. I’m so… diminished to a mere beam. :frowning:

10

I got the impression Dogface didn’t mean to dismiss scalar weapons. He was just comparing the ‘scalar weapons’ the OP asked about to something which he himself was familiar with. What he actually refered to is still a mystery, maybe some old comics or movies? Maybe he can be enticed to speak up?

11

The concept of “death rays” pretty much originated with H. G. Welles War of the Worlds. In the 1920’s when Hugo Gernsback began publishing Amazing Stories (an anthology magazine of science fiction stories), he started out reprinting the works of Welles and Verne, these inspired folks to write their own stories and submit them. A common theme in the stories(many of which were pretty crappy) that was prominantly featured on the covers was an alien or supervillian with a powerful beam weapon (AKA a death ray). You can see some examples of them here.

12

Ah, they’re 1990’s style “Scalar Weapons”.

13

Uh, no. “Death rays” are vaguely described weapons which are more akin to a laser. The typical bad guy would point a “death ray” at the hero, or something the hero held dear (say Washington DC), push a button, and zap! no more city, hero or whatever.

As I said in the scalar weapon thread:

You can read the “experts” thoughts on scalar weapons here.