>There's probably a long-expired patent on file somewhere. Most likely >labeled THIS DOESN'T WORK, DON'T USE IT, but part of being an engineer >is being at least half-convinced that stuff that didn't work didn't >work because the other guy was Doing It Wrong. :)
Especially in this case, where the critical point of failure is OBVIOUSLY the original inventor and his well-documented (after the fact) mental problems. Whereas "I" am not only almost as brilliant (and a superior engineer, as Daystrom was more of a theoretician), but also Completely Sane and Rational. Yesss. This time, it will work. It MUST work.