What is a cable

[Fnaar]

In all the wikileaks palaver, the communications leaked are referred to as 'cables'. What is a 'cable'? Surely not a telegram or a fax.... are they emails? Are they secure emails? Are they pieces of string? Do all the participants wear cable-knit sweaters?
What is a cable, please, wise cyclists.

 

[asterix]

It's a secret.

 

[accountantpete]

Isn't he the guy that is against tuition fees

 

[Jezston]

Against?!?

Oh wait that was before he came to power.

 

[Night Train]

A cable is a stiff wire isn't it.

Could be intranet emails.

 

[yello]

I don't know but I just assumed it was the generic name for communications; be it email, telex, fax, etc etc - where the message was sent electronically. Further, or more specifically, I thought all diplomatic messages were generally known as cables. I just assumed the name was a hangover from the days of international telegrams (which were known as cables rather than telegrams) as they were sent via transatlantic cables.

 

[Fnaar]

That'll do for me, Yello. Thanks.
Move along now, there's nothing else to see here. Unless we can develop this thread into a discussion of all manner of other types of cable.

 

[asterix]

You mean the sort that have nipples?

 

[dellzeqq]

I rather like the cable thing. It comes to a large Bakelite device, is noted down on a piece of paper by a woman of humble mien (and therefore lacking the wit to be a spy) who hands it to a motorcyclist wearing a noddy helmet and white gloves. The motorcyclist then drives to an embassy, bounds up the steps, salutes, and is told 'wait here' before being shown in to a large room with huuuuge curtains. He clicks his heels, hands over the 'cable' and the person behind the desk reaches for a fountain pen, notepaper and blotter, writes the reply, hands it to the motorcyclist who salutes, turns, and goes down the stairs with the lightness of foot that betrays him as one of those extras puloined by the casting agent from the corps de ballet.

Sorry...........

How many of us remember Royal Mail motorcyclists bearing telegrams?

 

[buddha]

I've got a leaky hydraulic brake cable.

edit: And no, that isn't an euphemism for being incontinent

 

[slowmotion]

How many of us remember Royal Mail motorcyclists bearing telegrams?

I remember them. They use to ride BSA Bantams with red shin guards, I think.

 

[rich p]

Sorry...........

How many of us remember Royal Mail motorcyclists bearing telegrams?

One of my dearest friends was one, back in the day. He still bangs on about it's romance, esprit de corps and tales of derring do as he gunned his BSA 125 into life.

 

[slowmotion]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/welshharlequin/2122122145/

 

[Norm]

How many of us remember Royal Mail motorcyclists bearing telegrams?

Which is fine as long as they keep out of the bus lanes.

Well, we'd answered the original question, I thought I'd try a diversion of my own.

 

[bobg]

I rather like the cable thing. It comes to a large Bakelite device, is noted down on a piece of paper by a woman of humble mien (and therefore lacking the wit to be a spy) who hands it to a motorcyclist wearing a noddy helmet and white gloves. The motorcyclist then drives to an embassy, bounds up the steps, salutes, and is told 'wait here' before being shown in to a large room with huuuuge curtains. He clicks his heels, hands over the 'cable' and the person behind the desk reaches for a fountain pen, notepaper and blotter, writes the reply, hands it to the motorcyclist who salutes, turns, and goes down the stairs with the lightness of foot that betrays him as one of those extras puloined by the casting agent from the corps de ballet.

Sorry...........

How many of us remember Royal Mail motorcyclists bearing telegrams?

And AA men on bike and sidecar ( who saluted... )