|
Acme n.
The canonical supplier of bizarre, elaborate,
and non-functional gadgetry - where Rube Goldberg and Heath
Robinson (two cartoonists who specialized in elaborate
contraptions) shop. The name has been humorously expanded as A
Company Making Everything. Describing some X as an "Acme X"
either means "This is insanely great", or, more likely,
"This looks insanely great on paper, but in practice it's
really easy to shoot yourself in the foot with it." Compare
pistol.
This term, specially cherished by American hackers and explained
here for the benefit of our overseas brethren, comes from the
Warner Brothers' series of "Roadrunner" cartoons. In these
cartoons, the famished Wile E. Coyote was forever attempting to
catch up with, trap, and eat the Roadrunner. His attempts usually
involved one or more high-technology Rube Goldberg devices -
rocket jetpacks, catapults, magnetic traps, high-powered
slingshots, etc. These were usually delivered in large cardboard
boxes, labeled prominently with the Acme name. These devices
invariably malfunctioned in improbable and violent ways.
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:54 PM.
|
