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Presidential Inauguration Hardware and Other Challenges

holy_calamity writes "The FBI has released images of some of the kit that will be deployed to safeguard Obama's inauguration, including mine-proof armored trucks like those used in Iraq to protect against IEDs, and a large armored chamber that any bombs will be shoved inside to be transported away and perhaps detonated inside. Interesting, even though the really good stuff is presumably being kept under wraps." Relatedly, necro81 writes "The Inauguration of Barack Obama tomorrow is expected to put considerable stress on the cellphone network around Washington, DC. The expected crowd could top two million people, and many of them are expected to call, text, tweet, photo, and blog their way through the event. In response, the major wireless carriers in the area have spent millions of dollars upgrading their local networks and will bring in extra 'cells on wheels' (COWs) and 'cells on light trucks' (COLTs). They are also requesting that attendees limit their usage during the event, and avoid bandwidth-heavy activities — like uploading photos — until afterward."

6 of 176 comments (clear)

  1. COWs and COLTs by EmbeddedJanitor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Surely there is no need for two new buzzwords. The light trucks have wheels so they are also COWs. Or do COLTs only work for OMG Pink Pony calls.

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    Engineering is the art of compromise.
    1. Re:COWs and COLTs by halcyon1234 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Surely there is no need for two new buzzwords.

      And I gotta tell you: fellas.. you have got what appears to be a dynamite inauguration! I'll be honest.. fellas, it was communicating great. But.. I could've used a little more Bell COWs!

  2. I'm in DC and not going by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    But I'm going to try to use up some bandwidth anyway, you know, just to make visitors' lives a little less fun.

  3. Re:Twitter is screwed. by megamerican · · Score: 4, Funny

    Expect the service to be down most of the day imo.

    That's change I can believe in.

    Sadly, that's about all I can look forward too but that's another discussion alltogether. :)

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    If you have something that you dont want anyone to know, maybe you shouldnt be doing it in the first place -Eric Schmidt
  4. Care Bears? by TrebleJunkie · · Score: 3, Funny

    Note the Care Bears on the monitor in the mobile command center in photo 8. Gives me the chuckles. :)

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    Ed R.Zahurak

    You know, oblivion keeps looking better every day.

  5. Re:This "coronation" stuff is overdone by ColdWetDog · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is the first time an inauguration has shut down Washington, DC for two days. All the Potomac River bridges out to the Beltway are closed Monday and Tuesday.

    And nothing of value was lost....

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    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!