If you imagine that this situation is going to be any better under a democrat administration, I have a bridge to sell you. Don't forget that it was Roosevelt who locked up US citizens without charges merely for being of Japanese descent.
Can this be defeated if the RAM has a shiny mirror-like finish?
Quite possibly. Of course, coming up with a finish that's reflective to all wavelengths that might be used, is a bit tricky. The beam could be anything from UV to microwave.
The idea occurred to me a while ago of using a laser as an anti-sniper countermeasure. Upon detecting an incoming bullet with mm-wave radar, you'd shine a laser at the bullet's probable point of origin, at an intensity such that you'd see a very uncomfortably bright flash if you're looking towards it, but if you're looking through a scope or a pair of binoculars, you lose an eye.
If you turn it into a blob of liquid, it's likely to turn into a spray of rapidly-cooling lead, which presents a lot more frontal area, and would be going a lot slower if it still hit you at all.
Gee, congratulations on being so happy with your treo. I guess Apple will somehow have to make do with the millions of iPhone customers they'll have by the end of this year.
Microsoft is an extremely wealthy company that should and probably does have many bright minds.
Oh, they do. Their incompetence is organizational. I've met several MS software developers who did know what they're doing, but they tend to be stymied by an excess of bureaucracy.
Perhaps that is part of why they were bought out by the military
They weren't bought out by the military. They were bought by a larger private company. If you want to own Scaled Composites yourself, then raise a mid-sized private equity fund and buy them out. They're only worth about $27 billion, which is about what Apple gained in market capitalization over the last couple of months.
That scenario is a silly fantasy, perpetuated by people who have no idea how to run a business. If you buy a competitor just to make it go away, you realize no benefit from the purchase. Grumman bought Scaled because they want Scaled's capabilities in their toolkit. Scaled was not in the business of building fighter jets for the Navy, or bidding against Grumman on massive defense contracts. Calling them a competitor at all is a bit of a stretch.
Slashdot Mirror
If you imagine that this situation is going to be any better under a democrat administration, I have a bridge to sell you. Don't forget that it was Roosevelt who locked up US citizens without charges merely for being of Japanese descent.
-jcr
The tenth amendment. If a power's not specifically delegated to the government by the constitution, then government's not entitled to that power.
-jcr
I had to purchase my license plates.
Actually, you rented them.
-jcr
The Prius has always been a hybrid. Your question makes no sense.
-jcr
Your side can still be in violation even if the other side is not a signatory.
If the other side is abiding by the terms.
-jcr
Against the Geneva Convention.
Which applies to troops in uniform, of nations who are signatories to the convention.
-jcr
Can this be defeated if the RAM has a shiny mirror-like finish?
Quite possibly. Of course, coming up with a finish that's reflective to all wavelengths that might be used, is a bit tricky. The beam could be anything from UV to microwave.
-jcr
How does a laser take out a mortar round?
By overheating it and detonating it in the air.
-jcr
The idea occurred to me a while ago of using a laser as an anti-sniper countermeasure. Upon detecting an incoming bullet with mm-wave radar, you'd shine a laser at the bullet's probable point of origin, at an intensity such that you'd see a very uncomfortably bright flash if you're looking towards it, but if you're looking through a scope or a pair of binoculars, you lose an eye.
-jcr
If you turn it into a blob of liquid, it's likely to turn into a spray of rapidly-cooling lead, which presents a lot more frontal area, and would be going a lot slower if it still hit you at all.
-jcr
It's when they get to the roach-mounted lasers that they'll really have a tactical advantage.
-jcr
Gee, congratulations on being so happy with your treo. I guess Apple will somehow have to make do with the millions of iPhone customers they'll have by the end of this year.
-jcr
My latest iPod has a large screen than the Zune. Of course, it's also my phone.
I'm sure the next model of iPod will have a 480x320 display, too.
-jcr
Toggle switches? Luxury!
REAL men write the bits on the drum with a bar magnet.
-jcr
Nope. The product was the book that came with the rock. It was a novel way to sell a moderately funny book.
-jcr
Microsoft is an extremely wealthy company that should and probably does have many bright minds.
Oh, they do. Their incompetence is organizational. I've met several MS software developers who did know what they're doing, but they tend to be stymied by an excess of bureaucracy.
-jcr
Kelly Johnson kept the bureaucrats at bay for a pretty long time. I wouldn't give up on Scaled just yet.
-jcr
I'm afraid the possibility that Grumman bought out Scaled Composites for this reason is very real.
Perhaps you should seek professional help to deal with your unfounded fears.
-jcr
Perhaps that is part of why they were bought out by the military
They weren't bought out by the military. They were bought by a larger private company. If you want to own Scaled Composites yourself, then raise a mid-sized private equity fund and buy them out. They're only worth about $27 billion, which is about what Apple gained in market capitalization over the last couple of months.
-jcr
it is truly saddening for the space industry
Nonsense. Scaled now gets access to the resources of a far larger company, which increases the scope of the projects they can attempt.
-jcr
That scenario is a silly fantasy, perpetuated by people who have no idea how to run a business. If you buy a competitor just to make it go away, you realize no benefit from the purchase. Grumman bought Scaled because they want Scaled's capabilities in their toolkit. Scaled was not in the business of building fighter jets for the Navy, or bidding against Grumman on massive defense contracts. Calling them a competitor at all is a bit of a stretch.
-jcr
I don't agree with your claim that they're lazy. I think the evidence points to incompetence.
-jcr
I think you're being far too optimistic. If it's scheduled to take three years, then I'd bet on it taking seven (hence, the name).
-jcr
I agree, it smells like BS to me. None of the claims have been substantiated, neither the alleged worm itself, nor the alleged threats.
-jcr
Fingers, schmingers. What I want to know, is when those Linux guys will come up with a table that can read Hollerith cards.
-jcr