JF Ptak Science Books LLC Post 141
How could one argue with the simplex simplicity of this slightly mechanical reader's aids, "The Mental Chart, How Your Mind Works"? It continues "The Original and Only Chart of its Kind Ever Published to Simplify the Study of Psychology and Mental Phenomenon". Indeed. It was issued to simplify the ideas contained in the 1936 pamphlet entitled “Psychology Simplified”, by Dr. Matthew Ranoe, itself a pretty uncomplicated and unpaginated affair of 18 pages. I bought it and 94,000 other or so pamphlets from the Library of Congress some years ago, which explains why I have this table-top production copy sent by Dr. Ranoe to secure and protect his copyright; and it also explains why any copy of this exists at all, as the pamphlet/screed/contemplation never did get published.
Somehow it was Dr. Ranoe’s idea that since the brain was a mysterious formulation of ethery-directional electrical cells not necessarily connected to intelligence that it somehow was associated with the photo-electric cell—Ranoe claims that this is the first use of the photoelectric cell to explain the organization of human brain cells, and was not the last. (I'm not sure how this works given the "photo-" aspect of the thing, and it doesn't really fit with what I know of the hisory of photo-voltaic cells and the effect, and that stretching back to Antoine Becquerel in 1839...1) It is also associated in an odd, Dr. Strangeloveian, General Jack (“precious bodily fluids”) Ripperian way, discussing the dissipation of our vitality during our conscious state” as it was affected by “tissue fatigue” and low-running “vibratory force”. And so on runs Dr. Ranoe into the distant night.
[In Stanley Kubrick’s brilliant 1964 film Dr. Strangelove, actor and squealer (he did badly with HUAC) Sterling Hayden’s insane character General Jack D. Ripper seeks to protect his “purity of essence”, his “precious bodily fluids” from Soviet fluoridation attack by ingesting only distilled water and grain alcohol. This diet does not serve him in a sprightly way, as he winds up starting WWIII, destroying all humankind.]
[Everyone must know this by now but I'd still like to point out that most of the characters in this movie have sexual, excretory or depraved names. For example: Jack D. Ripper, Mandrake, Buck Turgidson, Merkin Muffley, Col. 'Bat' Guano, Dmitri Kissof Desadeski (De Sade ski), Maj. T.J. "King" Kong (who rides the hydrogen device named “Dear John” that would ignite the war) are all pretty clear. This is a picture of Hayden's General Ripper.]]
The “calculator” included with the pamphlet doesn’t calculate anything, so far as I can see. It does have a great pointer though—made of metal, and labeled “WILL ATTENTION” on the top with "I" on the bottom, it makes pointerly exaltations tosixteen different types of emotions, and that’s about it.
The device is “patent pending”.
Notes:
1. That said there are things like this to consider: "Thought waves remotely affect the performance (output voltage) of photoelectric cells" , Cao, Dayong; Cao, Daqing, American Physical Society, APS March Meeting 2012, February 27-March 2, 2012, http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012APS..MARP33014C
This is a bit of conversation from the movie between General Ripper (Hayden) and Col. Mandrake (Peter Sellers), and pretty much sums up the connection between the Kubrick film and this pamphlet:
MANDRAKE
Excuse me sir, something rather interesting's just cropped up. Listen to that. Music. Civilian broadcasting. I think those fellows in the Pentagon have given us some sort of exercise to test our readiness. Personally, I think it's taking it a bit too far; our fellows will be inside Russian radar cover in about twenty minutes. You listen to that. Traffic block full of stations all churning it out.
RIPPER
Mandrake.
MANDRAKE
Yes, sir?
RIPPER
I thought I issued instructions for all radios on this base to be impounded.
MANDRAKE
(follows Ripper as he rises from his chair to lock his office door)
Well you did indeed sir and I was in the process of impounding this very one when I happened to switch it on. I thought to myself our fellows hitting Russian radar cover in twenty minutes, dropping all their stuff, I'd better tell you, because if they do, it'll cause a bit of a stink, won't it?
RIPPER
Group Captain, the officer exchange program does not give you any special prerogatives to question my orders.
MANDRAKE
Well I realize that sir, but I thought you'd be rather pleased to hear the news. I mean after all, well let's face it we...we don't want to start a nuclear war unless we really have to, do we?
RIPPER
Please sit down. And turn that thing off.
MANDRAKE
Yes sir. Ah, what about the planes, sir? Surely you must issue the recall code immediately.
RIPPER
Group Captain, the planes are not going to be recalled. My attack orders have been issued and the orders stand.
MANDRAKE
Well, if you'll excuse me saying so, sir. That would be, to my way of thinking, rather... well rather an odd way of looking at it. You see, if a Russian attack was in progress we would certainly not be hearing civilian broadcasting.
RIPPER
Are you certain of that, Mandrake?
MANDRAKE
I'm absolutely positive about that, sir, yes.
RIPPER
And what if it is true?
MANDRAKE
Well I'm afraid I'm still not with you, sir. Because, I mean, if a Russian attack was not in progress then your use of plan R, in fact your orders to the entire wing... oh. Well I would say, sir, that there was something dreadfully wrong somewhere.
RIPPER
Now, why don't you just take it easy Group Captain. And please make me a drink of grain alcohol and rain water, and help yourself to whatever you'd like.
MANDRAKE
(salutes)
General Ripper, sir, as an officer in Her Majesty's Air Force, it is my clear duty, under the present circumstances, to issue the recall code, upon my own authority, and bring back the wing. If you'll excuse me sir. (Mandrake tries all exits and finds them locked) I'm afraid sir, I must ask you for the key and the recall code. Have you got them handy sir?
RIPPER
I told you to take it easy, Group Captain. There's nothing anybody can do about this thing now. I'm the only person who knows the three letter code group.
MANDRAKE
(voice cracking)
Then I must insist, sir, that you give them to me.
Ripper lifts a folder off of his desk and tosses it aside, revealing a blued, pearl handled .45 automatic.
MANDRAKE
Do I take it, sir, that you are threatening a brother officer with a gun?
RIPPER
Mandrake, I suppose it never occurred to you that while we're chatting here so enjoyably, a decision is being made by the President and the Joint Chiefs in the war room at the Pentagon. And when they realize there is no possibility of recalling the wing, there will be only one course of action open: total committment. Mandrake, do you recall what Clemenzo once said about war?
MANDRAKE
No. I don't think I do sir, no.
RIPPER
He said war was to important to be left to the Generals. When he said that, fifty years ago, he might have been right. But today, war is too important to be left to politicians. They have neither the time, the training, nor the inclination for strategic thought. I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, communist subversion, and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.
Just a quick note on that "calculator". I think it says "I" at the bottom, "WILL" at the centre and "ATTENTION" at the arm. This might help to make sense of the pamphlet as "I" guides "WILL" which points "ATTENTION" at something on the dial. It would also fit to the "un-, sub- and concious" markings at the side. :)
Posted by: Rakel | 24 June 2008 at 03:32 PM