From Newsgroup: alt.tv.star-trek.tos   
   From Address: jwsdisney@bellsouth.net   
   Subject: Re: how to make a Gorn cannon (video preview)   
      
   On Dec 27, 9:10aam, "Wouter Valentijn"  wrote:   
   > Frosty wrote:   
   > > Bamboo wont be strong enough   
   >   
   > Maybe it's Bamboo from Krypton. :-P   
   >   
   > --   
   Actually, you may not have been too far off.   
   -   
   The original script (or at least what James Blish wrote) indicated   
   that the bamboo should have been more alien than it actually appeared   
   at first.   
   -   
   Captain Kirk discovered that "it was as hard as iron".  Also that   
   "hitting it with a rock even produced a distinctly metallic clank".   
   The bamboo-like plant may have picked up some iron from the soil.   
   -   
   Also the Metrons had prepared the Arena planet in advance, leaving   
   clues in plain sight.  So the cards may have been stacked in the   
   Captain's favor, as long as he could think with his mind and not with   
   his fists.   
   -   
   I guess adding a metallic clank to the bamboo would have confused the   
   audience.  But it would have made the cannon seem more plausible.   
   -   
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