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USS Ronald Reagan Commissioning Tomorrow

wessman writes "Being an employee at Northrop Grumman's Newport News shipyard, I cannot help but be proud to see one of our products commissioned by the U.S. Navy, especially considering how long it takes to build a $5 billion Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. And I'm sure the other 18,000 workers here feel the same way. The ship is being commissioned Saturday, July 12 at the Norfolk naval base. It is obviously the most technically advanced carrier in the fleet, taking the term "hardware" to new levels. Pick a local story. From the Hampton Roads Daily Press: Anchors Aweigh, Changes Abound Aboard Carrier, Some Wanted CVN-76 Named after Daredevil Flier, 20,000 Expected for Reagan's Rite, USS Constellation Retiring Too Soon?. From the Virginia Pilot: The Carrier Reagan - Ahead of Its Class, Carrier Construction is All in the Family, Former President's Son Michael Reagan Excited about Commissioning."

42 of 1,831 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wonder who is going to be skipper for the USS Gipper.

    1. Re:I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Maybe the ship will be involved in WWIII, quickly develop Alzheimer's, and not remember a thing.

    2. Re:I wonder by jhunsake · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm sorry, but Ronald Regan was the greatest president, and probably the greatest leader, of all time.

    3. Re:I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      > Regan

      Regan? So great, you can't even spell his name right!

      BTW he was a fuckwit president. But not the last, I see.

      I'm sure Al-Queda have a little motor boat packed full of explosives called the Hinkley just waiting for it to approach the gulf...

    4. Re:I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      I'm sorry, but Ronald Regan was the greatest president, and probably the greatest leader, of all time.
      I agree. And thank you for all the weapons and training.

      Sincerely,
      Osama

    5. Re:I wonder by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 2, Funny

      he he

      you spotted it!

      "HMS Quite Easy to Sink with an Exocet" doesn't really have the same ring to it though, does it?

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    6. Re:I wonder by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      With a name like the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan I bet it's going to get lost at see or forget what its role is. Or maybe the U.S.S. John Hinkley will fire on it to impress the U.S.S. Jodie Foster.

  2. One question. by teamhasnoi · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does the ship forget where it is?

    1. Re:One question. by hesiod · · Score: 2, Funny

      > You have no rhythm.

      OMG, you bastard! The rest of the post was fine, but this is UNFORGIVABLE!!!

      Seriously, though, the post is so uber-flamebait (like that?) that it surpasses flamebait and moves on to funny.

  3. Gerald Ford by Jack+Comics · · Score: 4, Funny

    Whew, at least it's not the U.S.S. Gerald Ford, or the U.S. Navy would be in big trouble. I mean, Gerald Ford tumbling while getting out of a helicopter is one thing, but I can only imagine what kind of manuever problems the U.S.S. Gerald Ford would have. It could potentially destroy half a sea port while attempting to dock.

    --
    "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
    1. Re:Gerald Ford by Eslyjah · · Score: 2, Funny

      The USS Jimmy Carter wouldn't even have weapons on it. It would be used to distribute leaflets with handy fuel-saving tips. Amy Carter would be constantly on hand to give advice to the Admiral.

    2. Re:Gerald Ford by hype7 · · Score: 4, Funny

      dammit, why stop there.

      USS Bill Clinton gets really close to some of the not-quite-commissioned submarines, and gets them to stick torpedoes in places where torpedoes shouldn't be stuck.

      Then there's the USS George W Bush, which comes with faulty radar that is always detecting incoming Weapons of Mass Destruction.

      -- james

    3. Re:Gerald Ford by ath0mic · · Score: 3, Funny

      Unfortunatley aboard the USS Bill Clinton, seamen always seem to go AWOL.

  4. Bah. by Surak · · Score: 4, Funny

    It'll just lose all the data stored in its memory systems after every mission. Particularly secret CIA ones.

  5. Makes sense, really by jvalenzu · · Score: 1, Funny

    Some of the (few) people who benefited from his destruction of the constitution, the defense industry, have decided to honor him. Expect to see his face on the $1,000,000 dollar bill when they make one so his other pals can have a wallet picture.

  6. Bad Name by CastrTroy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Does that make it the U.S.S.R. Regan? :)

    --

    Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  7. Ouch.. by grub · · Score: 3, Funny


    At $5 billion a pop, I can only imagine what a Beowulf cluster of these would be like..

    --
    Trolling is a art,
    1. Re:Ouch.. by longbottle · · Score: 2, Funny

      One Word: EXPENSIVE.

      --
      I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it!
  8. great... by painehope · · Score: 3, Funny

    let me guess, Microsoft designed the onboard software, and it lives up to it's namesake :
    the GPS forgets where it is, and the sensory equipment goes to sleep during long meetings.

    --
    PC moderators can suck my White pierced, tattooed dick. If you think pride == hate, s/dick/Aryan meat mallet/g.
    1. Re:great... by hesiod · · Score: 1, Funny

      > let me guess, Microsoft designed the onboard software,

      AAAAAH, so that's why it cost $5 billion.

  9. Re:WTF? by Aadain2001 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Why are we honoring a man who destroyed America by naming the most expensive carrier ever built after him?
    I think it's kind of fitting to name the most expensive carrier ever built after the man who increased our national debt more than all the previous presidents combined.
    --
    Space for rent, inquire within
  10. Re:WTF? by s20451 · · Score: 3, Funny

    'cause it's much more likely to strike fear into the hearts of America's enemies than the USS Jimmy Carter (motto: Malaise Forever).

    --
    Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
  11. Misnamed, I think by mblase · · Score: 4, Funny

    The list from "Changes Abound Aboard Carrier" includes:

    * More space for women
    * New island house
    * Bulbous bow
    * New arresting gear

    One can't help but think it should have been named the USS Bill Clinton instead....

    1. Re:Misnamed, I think by greysky · · Score: 4, Funny

      Features of the USS Clinton:

      *All female crewmembers return to port preagnant.
      *When conflict breaks out, it makes port in a non-involved country.
      *Has a suite of bedrooms for rent at $50,000/night.
      *Equiped with a double compliment of distress beacons and emergency signal flares.
      *Flight deck lined with astroturf.

  12. Nope by MAXOMENOS · · Score: 4, Funny

    It may, however, very well send weapons to Iran.

  13. No ship for Clinton, but.... by jdehnert · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...perhaps they will name a submarine after Monica Lewinski!

    --
    Eschew Obfuscation
  14. Re:Control systems by Shillo · · Score: 2, Funny

    Nah, this one only uses NT to manage the reactor control rods. :)

    --

    --
    I refuse to use .sig
  15. Re:WTF? by Lord_Slepnir · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm in favor of the USS Bill Clinton. Much more fearsome. When enemies see it, they know they're going to go down.... not to mention it will be deploying sea men into the enemy ship afterwards

  16. USS Bill Clinton by AntiOrganic · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm waiting for the USS Bill Clinton, with fully retractable onboard ramming penis.

  17. Re:Simply wrong by ndogg · · Score: 4, Funny
    It might sound morbid but they should have waited until he was dead.

    Oh, so you're one of those types who think he's still alive?
    --
    // file: mice.h
    #include "frickin_lasers.h"
  18. Re:Not exactly the best naming scheme by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 2, Funny

    What's wrong with that? Nimrod was reputedly the founder of Babylon and/or the architect of the Tower of Babel.

    A lot of RN ships have really dull names like HMS York or some other place name. I rather like things like "HMS Fantastic", "HMS Unstoppable" or even "HMS Comeandavaagoifyouthinkyourehardenuff".

    That sort of thing.

    --
    That was classic intercourse!
  19. Re:Star Wars by finkployd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Children are dying and you are sitting on your ass posting on slashdot??! Honestly what the hell is wrong with you, where are your priorities?

    Finkployd

  20. Re:Mod parent up! by kfx · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unfortunately for the Iranians, the missiles will have used up all their propellant getting there...

  21. Re:more than meets the eye by bbc22405 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Directed energy weapons! what does that mean? High powered lasers?

    Close, very close. Directed energy weapons means of course sharks with friggin' lasers.

  22. For that much... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    For that much money it should be called the U.S.S. Reagonomics.
    Where's my socialized health care again?

  23. Re:Ooh, yeah, you're so brave! by The+Dobber · · Score: 2, Funny


    True, but I only have so much Karma to give for my country.

  24. "Your Command?" by Norin+Radd · · Score: 3, Funny

    Carriers take forever to warp in. They should have gone with a couple of Scouts instead.

  25. DAMN RIGHT! by raehl · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is Slashdot, we only do MICROSOFT baiting stories here!

  26. USS Millard Fillmore by spun · · Score: 2, Funny

    Also known as the USS Know Nothing, is being sent to Liberia to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act.

    Or the USS Chester Arthur, which, uh...

    Never mind.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  27. He'd prefer a sub named USS Monica Lewinski by puckhead · · Score: 2, Funny

    Large, round, goes down.

    --
    Watching Cowboy Bebop in my jammies, eating a bowl of Shreddies.
  28. Re:My $.02 on this by cliveholloway · · Score: 2, Funny

    quoteth:

    "The only way to prevent being overrun by bullies is to be strong yourself"

    Nice to see you slip in some advice for Iraqi civilians there :)

    .02

    cLive ;-)

    --
    -- Trinity in high heels carrying a whip: The donimatrix - there is no spoonerism
  29. Re:Answers for Hippies by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 2, Funny
    You have a point, but you could have got the same benefit to the economy by building a $5 billion gigantic rotating barbie doll.

    Yeah, but would terrorists fear a gigantic rotating barbie doll?

    You know, come to think of it, they might...

    --
    --- Ban humanity.