A Thimble full of Talent/Wishes

[Weird Harold]

Hopefully this thread will kill this annoying plot-bunny that keeps plaguing me.

I'm fond of mind-control, psychic talent, magic wish stories, but far too many authors get carried away with their character's powers and make them invincible/indestructable, which destroys any suspense or conflict.

So I've got this plot bunny about a "super-power" that is severely limited -- specifically to the volume of a thimble -- about one cubic centimeter. The range is essentially unlimited, but the area-of-affect can't be more than one CC. The possible effects within that one CC are virtually limitless, but it can't be made into a cornucopia to produce an endless stream of gold or oil -- gold or oil can be created, but not instantaneously and the space has to be emptied before it can be repeated.

So, how would you use such a power to enrich your bank account and/or love life?

My first thought was that a thimble sized low-pressure zone could do a lot to control the path of a golf ball or baseball -- maybe even something as big as a soccer ball or basketball, so "fixing" a sporting event would be a source of income if used wisely.

 

[JRaven]

I'm guessing then that this super power needs time to "recharge". Otherwise, a thousand chunks of gold the size of a thimble is still a lot of gold. What about diamonds? More valuable then gold based on volume, not weight.

Other random thoughts:

A thimble of aphrodisiac (sp?) slipped into a drink.
(oops, wrong drink!)

Rather than a low pressure to divert a ball, would a sudden high pressure that would then shoot out of the thimble work better scientifically?

In light of Iran's work enriching uranium, maybe enriched uranium would be one of the most valuable items to produce and sell on the black market.
(of course, now they'll hunt you down looking to find the thimble that inspired your story)

Don't forget the minor things that could make life easier. A little bit of ink when your ink cartridge runs out. A few staples when the stapler is empty. A pinch of spice for that dish you're making to impress him/her.

A mass of electrons. Instant lightning bolt. They're gonna wanna go somewhere!

DNA Drop it anywhere, incriminate anyone.

Hey! Guess what fits in a thimble?

The Dancing Nana!

Okay, I've done racked my brain too hard for this. It's all you're getting.
For now...

Jenny

 

[Weird Harold]

Rather than a low pressure to divert a ball, would a sudden high pressure that would then shoot out of the thimble work better scientifically?

All good ideas.

A low pressure to pull or a high pressure to push, either would work; its the pressure differential that causes a ball to curve in flight. I'd be wary of causing a sudden change in direction too often though -- the idea is to avoid being noticed.

I'm guessing then that this super power needs time to "recharge". Otherwise, a thousand chunks of gold the size of a thimble is still a lot of gold. What about diamonds? More valuable then gold based on volume, not weight.

In light of Iran's work enriching uranium, maybe enriched uranium would be one of the most valuable items to produce and sell on the black market.

Not so much a recharge time as continued concentration.

One of the "problems" such a power would face is explaining the source of a few thousand thimble-shaped nuggets of pure gold, flawless diamonds, or excessively pure Uranium. Risking the attention of authorities and/or organized crime is probably something to be avoided if you can't explain how you obtained what attracted their attention.

 

[672]

Thimbles full of common sense and rationality, in a manifested, liquid form, served to racists and streetside evangelists.

No offense, though, to the racists and streetside evangelists.

 

[JRaven]

How about something that you'd really only have to do once and would get you fame, fortune, and be set for your life of crime fighting?
A small piece of paper with next week's winning lottery numbers.
Or would future information be over the top?

 

[R. Richard]

One of the "problems" such a power would face is explaining the source of a few thousand thimble-shaped nuggets of pure gold, flawless diamonds, or excessively pure Uranium. Risking the attention of authorities and/or organized crime is probably something to be avoided if you can't explain how you obtained what attracted their attention.

A single thimble sized, flawless diamond would be a very expensive item all by itself. If a single thimble sized, flawless diamond proved to be not enough, a very few of them could be created and sold in wiodely separated areas. Actually, diamond would not be the best choice. Emeralds are more expensive than diamonds, carat for carat. In addition a thimble sized, flawless ruby would probably be more expensive than a similar sized diasmond, although a smaller sized ruby would likely not be more expensive.

 

[Weird Harold]

Thimbles full of common sense and rationality, in a manifested, liquid form, served to racists and streetside evangelists.

If only there were such a thing. <sigh>

Although that idea does suggest the possibility of creating hormones, pheremones, and other chemicals -- possibly directly into a target's stomach or bloodstream -- as a way of controlling people.

How about something that you'd really only have to do once and would get you fame, fortune, and be set for your life of crime fighting?
A small piece of paper with next week's winning lottery numbers.
Or would future information be over the top?

I think future information would probably be "too much." Although I'd probably go with stock tips instead of lottery winings to minimize publicity if I went that route.

Emeralds are more expensive than diamonds, carat for carat. In addition a thimble sized, flawless ruby would probably be more expensive than a similar sized diasmond, although a smaller sized ruby would likely not be more expensive.

I'd have to contrive some way to create gems that wouln't be tagged as "artificial" -- natural gems aren't as pure and flawless as created gems would be.

Also, the problem of publicity enters into the equation; even a very few "perfect" large gems appearing on the market would make news -- at least among those who follow the gem market.