Slashdot Mirror
The Story Behind National Reconnaissance Office's Octopus Logo (muckrock.com)
v3rgEz writes: When the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) announced the upcoming launch of their NROL-39 mission back in December 2013, they didn't get quite the response they hoped. That might have had something to do with the mission logo being a gigantic octopus devouring the Earth. Researcher Runa Sandvik wanted to know who approved this and why, so she filed a Freedom of Information Act with the NRO for the development materials that went into the logo. A few months later, the NRO delivered.
opps, did we let the logo go public?
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
Hydra!
It's something you can really wrap your arms around.
I'd love to have that on a sticker on my laptop or a patch on my punk rock hoodie.
If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
Good. It always helps to put some good, healthy fear into the enemy.
"I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
Only one thing could have made it better than it already is, http://vignette3.wikia.nocooki...
I'm sure we'll get to this soon: http://theswca.com/duncan-images/Buttons,Badges/BADG-369.JPG
:T:R:A:N:S:
SO, perhaps there is a person, or small clique, who feels that things are out of control. They may have obligations which prevent them from quiting or believe in their mission but not the execution of it. So they create these images, or acronyms, codenames (Carnivore?) etc., to sound the alarm bell but to stay innocuous.
That's just a thought.
putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
This?
It's not like this news is new anyways. It took me about a whole minute to find these.
It's not like I should expect much better.
Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
The two paragraph statement written by some drone to justify the selection of the octopus as a logo is priceless. It reads like something a Grade 6 kid would put down when they get their first hundred-word research assignment.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
Maybe it's a conspiracy! Perhaps the NRO is a cover for the Illuminati. Or is it something far far worse?
Why is Snark Required?
showing planes coming back from having DROPPED AN ATOMIC BOMB ON THE PLANET!!! (Caption: "we own the night")
Pretty sure that's a sunrise, but it's still badass. This is a reconnaissance organization, remember.
Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
"over a *burning planet* "
That is a phoenix arising from it's own ashes (possibly disturbing, but in a different way).
"effectively the emblem of the Klingon Empire."
That is an eagle's foot, with 4 talons pointed in. The Klingon Empire's emblem has three knife blades facing out. The only thing in common is that there are some points.
"planes coming back from having DROPPED AN ATOMIC BOMB ON THE PLANET!!! "
That is the sun just visible over the horizon as the planes are crossing the night face of the earth, which they claim to own the in the motto which you cite.
There is a new King of U.S. govt logos.
It has no spine, is full of suckers, and is best when it's deep-fried.
I think they're just mad they don't have as cool a logo.
Coming up with new logos and slogans and other stuff is important for group morale at any job.
Yes, they're launching a spy satellite to spy on other people in the world. An Octopus grappling with the planet is apt. Plus it looks slick.
...While destroying the whole meaning behind the constitution.
Their vision of the future is a boot on a face; forever.
They want it to be their Boot, but that's not how it usually ends up.
Truth isn't Truth - Guliani
http://thatmitchellandwebb.wik...
It was intended to represent exactly what you think it does.
Seriously, it might be a bit sinister, but it really says what nro does. They do get everywhere and sees what is happening.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
The NRO has come out as criminal like the rest of the US alphabet soup.
What is even remotely surprising about them being criminals like the CIA, NSA, and every other TLA you can think of?
Impressive that this rather cool badge actually admits it though...
I'll see your Constitution and raise you a Queen.
Never mind how you feel about the mission itself, just think of all the man-hours wasted doing the paperwork for a logo on the side of a rocket that is going to burn up in the atmosphere.
And the cost of the design and execution of the artwork, the paint or decal or whatever it is.
Then add more time for someone to redact a bunch of stuff to comply with the FIA request.
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
One, as it notes in the article, it's also the logo of SPECTRE.
The other... there's an attitude among folks of a certain, ahh, bent. They want to be the BADDEST DUDES.
The earliest example that I read about was during 'Nam. Lord of the Rings had, by the late sixties, been translated into 27? 57? languages... including Vietnamese. So, one division, I think it was, of the "South Vietnamese" army took as its logo... the Lidless Eye of Sauron.
Right, and against them, little guys in black pj's, with furry feet, no doubt....
mark
From the article: "The NROL-39 Octopus symbolizes the resourcefulness, adaptability, and perseverance of this mission". Just like the old saying: "Resourceful as an octopus".
for scandalous and funny nose art (on bombers especially). And outrageous military patches.
This one is great, and I think the whole issue is funnier than hell. I'm glad the background information has been released.