GPS Coke Can X-Rayed

carbolic writes "WiFi-Toys.com and Engadget have posted a link to X-ray images of the GPS Coke can that has security people all up in arms. The GPS Coke can looks a little bit like an IED (improvised explosive device). The PDF file posted on security company Blackwater USA's site shows several views of the can and compares it to an IED. And for thoroughness, the PDF shows a regular can of Coke X-rayed, too."

Comments

dirty bomb

[crazyray]

it may be tinfoil-hat'ist, but couldnt a coke can be a miniture http://www.dirtybombdetector.com/ dirty coke bomb?

Re:dirty bomb

[orthogonal]

I'm not using an IUD. I never intend to, and I'm not going to live in fear of the consequences of IUD's. I for one refuse to live in fear of amenorrhea, irregular bleeding, cramping, partially expelled strings, and other side effects that can occur with progestin-releasing IUDs, which can be considered a frightening biological weapon. It's only frightening if you don't realize that you're a billion times more likely to die of a heart attack than an IUD.

I'm not usually one to feed the trolls, but yours was brilliantly subtle.

One question: did the article originally use the acronym "IUD" (intrauterine device), later corrected to "IED" (improvised explosive device) -- and thus your post was a satire on the Slashdot editors -- or did you just count on moderators not noticing the difference?

Until I read your last paragraph, I wasn't even quite sure you hadn't made the mistake and had merely coincidently written descriptions that could apply either to IUDs or IEDs (the best of course, "An actual encounter with something containing an IUD [for those who modded the parent "Interesting": IUDs are "contained" in vaginas, or, more generally, sexually active women, so this is a slam at the stereotypical Slashdot geek] might be shocking to most slashdotters, but think about why-you've [sic] never seen anything that could contain IUD."

Admittedly, you did throw in a pretty obvious clue "They can't even accept the existence of birth control. The IUD and other "dire threats" like it have become a political tool used to manipulate the masses"" but one that could be conceivably seen as a Lefty Slashdotter extending (legitimately, in my eyes) a critique of the Bush administration.

Again, most trolls are a waste of time and earn their down mods, but this construction definitely deserves +5 Funny -- but not +4 Interesting (2 "Interesting"s, one Funny), which it was when I read it.

Re:IED?

[Alcohol Fueled]

Yep, its actual demolition lingo. IED stands for Improvised Explosive Device. :)

Re:IED?

[Zorilla]

Well, being in the military, IED is just one of many acronyms that get thrown around. We always hear about UXOs, ECPs, MOPP levels, NBCCD, GVOs, JS-List suits, MXS, LRS, AMXS, 2PamCl, CMSAF, MCPON, AWACS, LMRs, LRMs, AFIs, MOS, AFSC, AOR, TRS, MTF, CJR, NCOIC, CGO, CWDE, BAH, BAS, CSC...

You ever see that piece Andy Rooney did?

(By the way, it stands for improvised explosive device)

Re:IED?

[volteface]

Well, here's the wiki entry for it. It's a real term. I don't know who it's used by (demolitions experts, etc.), but it wasn't made up on the spot. Whether or not it was recently coined, I don't know, but it wasn't just made up for people to "sound important".

Re:*Sigh*

[DerekLyons]

The cans come in a box, not your typical vending machine. So if companies are really security concious, they'll check employees with coke packs. Seriously though, how many people that work at those "high-level" (sic) facilities, bring 6/12 packs to work everyday.

Quite a few I'd imagine.

When I was on SSBN 655, many folks would take a box or two of their favorite soda's to sea with them. (All we had for soda was fountain machines with generic (cola, lemon-lime, etc.) syrups. It's nice to have a taste of home when you are [mumble] feet under the North Alantic.) When I worked at TTF-Bangor, those of us in the Weapons Training Dept kept a refrigerator stocked with soda because that was cheaper than buying from the machine.

Re:IED?

[SlashdotLemming]

the question was whether people who actually work in demolition/weapons/forensics use this acronym, or whether it's just been made up (recently, in the current war) for people to use to sound important

It's nothing new. Common use in the military (pre 9/11)

Re:Xrays?

[Anonymous Coward]

xrays can be shown as either color OR the standard black and white, depending on the machine. Bomb Disposal teams use color xray machines for greater safety to the member disarming the device. (you can see the circuits, connections, wires, etc better in color)

hope that helps!!

from ******

Re:Useful Information

[_archangel]

I have no idea what one actually looks like, but when I got the shipping box and modem, the shipping box was torn and wet, and the inside contents were wet. Thankfully, the inner box was no too damaged and the modem was wrapped in plastic. According to this web page http://www.emergency.com/CHBMBSQD.htm, "A disruptor can fire water or slugs at a package with pinpoint accuracy and is supposed to be able to break apart the circuitry of an explosive device." Thankfully, the modem was well packed and survived.

Re:*Sigh*

[Cerebus]

Seriously though, how many people that work at those "high-level" (sic) facilities, bring 6/12 packs to work everyday.


A lot.

Secure facilities are a pain in the butt to get in and out of, for obvious reasons. As a result, most facility personnel run snack bars inside the secured area. These snack bars buy supplies in bulk, usually from SAM's or Costco or similar big-box stores. Depending on size, these little co-ops can go through several hundred sodas per week.