[BC] History re-write

[James Potter]

Richard: 

Thanks for that URL on Pop 'Tronics!  I remember many of those articles -- like Meet the Transistor (story of the CK722 available in the Allied catalog for $117).  My favorite Carl & Jerry was 'Trapped in a Chimney' wherein their R/C model airplane flew into a powerhouse chimney. They climbed up to the top, then down inside on a rusty ladder, and it broke off and they fell to the ground. They modified their R/C transmitter and keyed an SOS, and local hams copied the signal and called the cops.  I read that over-and-over as a kid. John T. Frye also wrote stores featured in Popular Mechanics about Gus, the mechanic and his problems with fuel pumps in the mayor's car in the middle of a July 4th parade. Wonderful, dear author.  Those stories in Pop Tronics launched my mis-spent career in ham radio and broadcast electronics (wouldn't change it if I could).

The most terrifying story in Pop Tronics was 'Future Tyranny' in which a school boy pictured seated at his homework desk had a cube attached to the top of his head with a 3-inch vertical antenna sprouting from it. The article talked about electronic mind control  That chilled me. Recently there was an article on NPR about doing exactly that -- reading minds and inserting thoughts using RF.  If that technology ever comes to fruition, that day will mark the end of human civilization.  And Pop Tronics sounded the warning 60 years ago.  

Regards/J