The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Page twenty six
"The Everything Machine: The Ultimate Theoretical Device of
Infinite Possibilities"
**Entry: Everything Machine**
The Everything Machine, a concept so bewildering and so astonishingly
vast in its capabilities, that it makes the Infinite Improbability
Drive look rather like a child's toy in comparison. Coined by the
enigmatic ultra-genius philosopher, Vroomfondel the Obscure (no
relation to the Vroomfondel known for his stark raving sane comments
on the nature of existence), the Everything Machine represents the
pinnacle of not only engineering and computational prowess but also of
sheer, unadulterated optimism.
**Description:**
The Everything Machine, according to its few proponents, is a device
capable of producing absolutely anything, from a cup of perfectly
brewed tea to a fully operational battlecruiser, complete with a
manual written in perfectly understandable Swahili. As the name
suggests, the Everything Machine can theoretically generate everything
(yes, this includes another Everything Machine, a fact that has caused
several existential crises among the more thoughtful scientists and at
least two minor deities).
**Origin:**
Its origin is as mysterious as its creator, primarily because
Vroomfondel the Obscure made it his life's mission only to work in the
most bewildering and untraceable manner possible. It is said that the
idea came to him during a particularly intense meditation session
within the Total Perspective Vortex, where he was promptly and
entirely ignored.
**Functionality:**
The rumored operational principle of the Everything Machine lies in its
unparalleled mastery over space, time, matter, energy, and
particularly, bureaucratic loopholes. It is believed to possess an
advanced form of intelligence that enables it to understand and
fulfill any desire, wish, or need, expressed, implied, or otherwise
sighed about in frustration.
However, despite its supposed capabilities, no completed Everything
Machine exists. This is mostly due to the fact that every attempt at
gathering the necessary components resulted in the researchers getting
distracted by a device capable of making the perfect sandwich, thus
forgetting what they were originally working on.
**Location:**
The blueprint of the Everything Machine is rumored to be scattered
across the known universe, coded in the DNA of a particularly
unassuming species of space-faring shrimp. Why Vroomfondel the Obscure
chose this method of data storage remains one of the galaxy's most
perplexing mysteries although it has significantly increased the
culinary value of said shrimp at intergalactic auctions.
**Warning:**
Experts warn that even if the Everything Machine were to be
constructed, using it might be highly discouraged. This is largely due
to the fundamental law of the universe that states, "If something
can go wrong, it will," and with the Everything Machine, it could
go wrong in an infinite number of ways, simultaneously. There is also
a serious concern regarding the machine's ability to produce entities
capable of questioning the ethical implications of their own existence.
In conclusion, while the Everything Machine remains a fascinating piece
of theoretical technology, it is advised to approach anything
resembling such a device with extreme caution, if not outright
skepticism. That, or prepare a good cup of tea; the universe, as
always, is profoundly indifferent.
Remember, should you ever come across a potential Everything Machine,
the first object you request it to make should always be a towel for
reasons that should be abundantly clear to any seasoned hitchhiker.
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