Think blue, count two...

[mdlbear]

From Slashdot, Rat Brains Fly Planes :

According to The Age newspaper, scientists at the University of Florida have created neural cell cultures capable of flying an airplane using rat neurons. No actual planes are involved (yet), but the disassembled bits of rodent are already capable of level flight when hooked up to a simulator of an F-22.

Extra points to the first person who recognizes the source of the title and why I picked it.

Comments

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

Cordwainer Smith - and I suspect you're thinking of "The Game of Rat and Dragon", where pinlighters work with cats...

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

(shudders) Elron and Battlefield Earth?

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Cordwainer Smith, innit?

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Who is, BTW, my favoritest author EVER, and if you don't already have the NESFA press edition of "The Rediscovery of Man" than run, do not walk, to get it.

[mdlbear]

NESFA Press has two volumes: the second is Norstrillia. You need both.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have it, but you won't find "Think Blue, Count Two" in it ;)

I read the story long ago

[capplor.livejournal.com]

but don't remember title or author.

What I do remember is
"Veesy Koosy, or 5,6". That's a cute name.
(Around 1977 I learned that this was in a Scandanavian language Ok, so that's why I can't remember it too well. )

"Lady if a man//tries to bother you you can//think blue, count two// and look for a red shoe"

This activated some protecting computer program, that probably (deducing from YOUR post) included some live rat cells.

Re: I read the story long ago

[mdlbear]

A "laminated mouse brain", but it was close enough for me to make the association instantly.

Re: I read the story long ago

[weofodthignen]

Finnish.

Re: I read the story long ago

[capplor.livejournal.com]

Which isn't really Scandanavian, but I didn't know the difference at the time, may my Vikking husband forgive me ;-)

Re: I read the story long ago

[mdlbear]

Very good. The title is, in fact, "Think Blue, Count Two" and (as several posters have correctly remembered) it's by Cordwainer Smith.

I'm blown away that you remembered the rhyme after all this time.

Re: I read the story long ago

[capplor.livejournal.com]

Ask Fred about "The Cat in the Hat". I didn't get the whole thing memorized, but pages were letter-perfect, with an estimated 30 year gap since reading it last (My cousins are younger than I).

[mdlbear]

The story is, indeed, "Think Blue, Count Two" by Cordwainer Smith. I picked it because of the laminated mouse brain. There are actually several laminated-mouse-brain-powered robots in Smith's stories, notably in "The Dead Lady of Clown Town".

I'll give extra points for naming the story "mdlbear" comes from; as my user profile says, it's derived from "Middle Sized Bear" as well as from the obvious fractal.