Subscribe to RSS 2.0
Underworlds
posted by Rob on 30 Aug 2007
Like everyone else I've ever asked about this, I find the idea of hidden underground vaults, lost waterways, forgotten tunnels and concealed subterranean chambers fascinating. For instance, the Deep Level Shelters under London, each protecting 8000 people during the height of the Blitz, are still down there hidden 150 feet beneath familiar streets. I've passed their unimposing doors hundreds of times not recognising them for what they are. Similarly, the idea that the Fleet River courses beneath the foundations of the street that takes its name, but hasn't seen the light for two hundred years is strangely compelling. I wrote a little sliver of a short story a while back for Litro trying to capture something of that feeling. And this morning I was looking at these wonderful pictures when the title of the one below caught my eye. It's only funny if you're a particular kind of nerd.
Heisenberg Compensator Failure
Comments: 9
I've no idea what a Heisenberg Compensator is, failed or otherwise, but what a fabulous picture.
Dee
Posted by: Dee Weaver | August 30, 2007 10:34 AM
Oh dear, I knew immediately. I do have a habit of watching back to back Star Trek reruns on Saturday afternoons, though.
Posted by: Em | August 30, 2007 10:39 AM
Alas, Em is right. A Heisenberg Compensator is part of the Transporter on ST:TNG. See, to a nerd, that picture looks a bit like someone failing to materialise properly. I'd suspect a fault with the pattern buffer myself.
Posted by: Rob | August 30, 2007 01:00 PM
Here are a couple of websites you might like if you're intrigued by forgotten/abandoned places.
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/index.php
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kazil/ongew00.html
Cheers,
Andy
Posted by: Andy | August 30, 2007 01:37 PM
Could be nucleonic radiation, too. Power shortage from failing dilithium crystals? Imminent core breach draining power from the transporter room? Or one of those generic transporter malfunctions that provides the storyline for a whole episode, like when Riker gets duplicated down on the planet he's beaming up from and the two Rikers meet ten years later.
I know too much.
Posted by: Em | August 30, 2007 02:46 PM
Typical of all you nerds to find complicated explanations for simple physical events.
It's obviously a rift in the space-time continuum.
Posted by: dad of em | August 30, 2007 10:52 PM
Rob,
I bet you would like to know about the secret train line that runs from Buck Palace to a RAF base in West London? Well its secret so i cant tell you... D'oh.
Posted by: david | August 31, 2007 01:07 AM
Of course, you didn't hear it from me, but there's a secret nuclear bunker in the Cheshire Countryside. Purely on a 'need to know' basis, you understand.
http://www.hackgreen.co.uk/
This comment will, of course, self-destruct in 5 seconds.
Posted by: Secret Squirrel | August 31, 2007 01:22 PM
Secret underworlds.... a huge victorian tunnal has just been found in aldershot...no blue prints or records... a complete mystery...hmmmm
Posted by: Tina | September 5, 2007 11:57 AM