Glowing glass rods typically represent some kind of sci-fi power. The diffusion of light and color just looks filled with energy. In The Day the Earth Stood Still, the alien Klaatu arrives with a crystal rod that can hold the knowledge of the universe, and is promptly shot by the Army. In 2001: A Space Odyssey, the core of the HAL-9000's brain is an array of glass modules that Dave slowly lobotomizes to shut the murderous AI down. In Superman, Jor-El's memory crystals were a central Kryptonian technology and the means for Kal-El to construct the Fortress of Solitude on Earth. So, what mysteries might be contained in this Round sign down at the mall?

01.19.23