Re:Major downfall (no pun intended)
on
Fanwing Planes?
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· Score: 2, Insightful
Actually, ever since the jet age really got going in military aviation, very few military jets have the capability of gliding very well either (of course, we all know that being able to steer while falling is not the same as gliding, right?). Today's jets are so heavy that without engines they come down awfully fast. I would say, judging by some of the previous statements, the main reason the military might not consider using this craft is the slow speed, which would make it a rather easy target. However, I can't be sure about that since the page is completely/.ed and the google images don't give me much of an indication.
Hmm, a report from 1998 stating that China had ICBM's targeted on 5 US cities? Boy, you are right. I guess I was wrong. China has no capability of hitting the US, I was just being alarmist. Maybe you should use sources that are from this decade before you make an ass of yourself
What do you know, as stated in this article 3 or 4 times, China does have the capability of hitting the US, and by hitting the US they mean Los Angeles, not Alaska (though a hit on the pipeline would definitely hurt us a lot). Let me quote the article.
" According to the report, China has about 20 missiles capable of "targeting the United States" and is increasing the number to 30 by 2005 and possibly as many as 60 by 2010."
The flaw in your dangerously outdated argument against ABM is that you base your conclusion (which you have stated twice now)on the idea that the system would never be able to destroy a full launch by the former Soviet Union. I hate to burst your bubble, but the Soviet Union no longer exists and Russia is a bit more friendly to the US. The likely culprits in a nuclear launch against the US and its allies are China, North Korea, and assorted terrorists (the terrorists having had to seize control of a silo or two in Russia or the aforementioned states). So, max, right now, we are looking at having to deal with 20 to 30 ICBMs, and maybe as much again SLBMs. Well a decent ABM system should easily be able to deal with 30 incoming ICBMs, even if that means we have to launch 10 kill vehicles per warhead. Considering the cost of losing a city, we still come out ahead. The key to stopping SLBM's is a combination of ABM (perhaps like the new Arrow missile or newer laser systems) and a pro-active defense with newer, faster attack subs co-ordinating with satellite and air based observation. We are not dealing with MAD anymore, they cannot destroy us completely (though we can destroy them). The greatest threat is the rogue launch of a missile or two, or a submarine going off on its own. These are easily taken care of if we only develop the technology. Its idiots like you who are going to cost the US and its allies millions of lives due to your blind adherence to a policy that ceased being relevant in 1991.
I hate to burst your bubble of complete and utter ignorance, but China ALREADY HAS ICBMS THAT CAN HIT THE UNITED STATES. Moron. Besides, since the Soviet Union broke up there is plenty of technology for sale to the highest bidder. It is not that tough for a country to develop ICBM technology. The only reason that it is not more prolific is that most of the countries that have developed nuclear weapons have a specific target in mind (e.g. India and Pakistan toward each other, Israel toward the Arabs countries, etc etc), so they don't need to hit a target 10,000 miles away. Russia and the US on the other hand, did. Now China has developed weapon capable of hitting its potential enemy, the US. So, don't be suprised when countries like Iraq and North Korea start testing long range missile systems of thier own..oh that's right they already are.
That is a very interesting point and one that deserves due consideration.
One merely has to look at a crowded street in any first world nation to notice the huge amount of people wearing glasses (one of the most obvious genetic failings, though granted it isn't always genetic). If only people would stop to consider the benefit of genetic engineering for humans, instead of jumping to the immediate conclusion that someone would clone you for nefarious purposes (why would anyone want to clone you anyway?). Here at my university (PU), researches are working on using retro-viruses to correct genetic defects by literally going into each cell (by being infected) and replacing that bit of DNA with a better one. With this sort of technology and much greater understanding of the human genome, we won't even need much of the medicine we have now. We can simply make new generations of humans resistant to various illnesses and eliminate defects, all without becoming a race of clones or whatever delusion people have.
Oh well, maybe some year.
I'll be damned.
"Each Canadian Ranger is issued with a.303 calibre Lee Enfield no. 4 rifle, with 200 rounds of ammunition each year, along with a vibrant red Ranger sweatshirt, ball cap and a safety vest."
The Canadian government can't even spring for new military equipment (on the other hand, they do get that vibrant red Ranger sweatshirt). I mean, geez, if you are going to outfit them with rifles for non-military purposes (I guess like warding off Polar bears, which can be a big problem)at least give them purpose designed high-power hunting rifles. Heh, Canadians are just amusing.
Actually, it depends on how large your frame is. There are plenty of people who are 6' and weighing 220 that are in perfect shape (of course, they are are also built like linebackers). Don't believe those stupid little charts that tell you what weight you should be at what height. Most doctors will tell you that they are way off. As always, consult your physician before believing anything on/. related to your health.
You should tell your friends that if they don't like FLCL, well... they just suck. FLCL is one of the greatest OVA series period. Now maybe they don't get it, but that's not the shows fault. The music alone makes it worth it. But maybe it's just me (I noticed a lot of people didn't quite understand when the show becomes "manga" for parts of it).
The real problem with this is that the CN doesn't show a lot of good shows. DBZ, crap. Inu Yasha, boring. Tenchi, sucks and always will. Outlaw Star, good but not when it is edited and dubbed. Cowboy Bebop, great show, but dubbing hurts it, IMHO.
They need to show great shows like Noir, Berserk, Jungle wa itsumo Guu, Nadesico, etc etc. They also need to show them in Japanese with subtitles. I never could understand Americans' fear of reading, even while watching TV. You destroy a lot of the feeling of a show or movie when you dub it into another language (this goes for regular shows and movies as well as anime. I mean who wants to see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon dubbed? Not me).
The Personal Fabricator really just sounds like a jumped up 3-D printing device, of which there are many in use today (mainly in making molds and models in computer integrated manufacturing). Some use various polymers, making shapes, some older ones use hundreds of sheets of paper and glue (the excess paper is cut away as the sheets are glued together), and still others (my personal favorites) use cornstarch and glue. They are all really interesting to use. It is amazing to create an object in AutoCad, Solid Works, or whatever, and then "print" it off. Of course, the objects created really can't be used for anything except seeing how it would turn out or making molds.
What a whiny bitch. You say:
"I'm in a 40% tax bracket in the United States"
You do realize that, according to the 2001 Tax Rate Schedule (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040tt.pdf), you, according to your statement, are pulling in over $300,000 a year? Wow, I really do pity you. I mean, gee, I barely pull in $15,000, but man, I you're plight has touched me deeply. How about this. Shut the fuck up.
Now, on the other hand, if by 40% tax bracket, you are including all of the Social Security you are paying, you are incorrect in your assertion. Personally, I say lets get rid of Social Security, and let me put my money in my Roth IRA or under my fucking matress if I want to. Odds are SS will be bankrupt by the time I can collect it anyway. But, then of course, we would be doing away with another gem of a socialist program. Uh oh, wouldn't want to do that.
Re:Purely defensive??????? I dont think so....
on
Battlefield Lasers
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· Score: 1
Remember though, these lasers can make a small spot the temperature of the sun for a brief period (less than a second). Now, for a thin skinned missile, artillery shell, or mortar round, that will cause significant damage. However, even an old tank with equivalent of 17 inches of steel plate armor will easily withstand a shot by this laser for the brief amount of time that it is firing. Maybe if you could continuously cycle the laser for several minutes you could cut through, but no laser in existence (or any planned in the near future) could do this without being hooked to a nuke plant for all the power it would require. So, it's not really a possibility. Maybe with room temperature super-conducters used in large batteries, it may be possible to store that much energy, but then you still have to charge these weapons. So are you going to build a power plant for each mobile laser? No worries friends, your tanks are safe for now (well at least the main body of the tank, antennas and scopes are probably screwed).
You guys are all forgetting one major thing. This weapon system was developed in Israel, by Israeli's with some support and funding by the US. The Israeli's could give a rat's ass what Russia or China thinks about this weapon system. They will use it anyway, to knock down Syrian missiles and Palestinian mortar shells. Their recent actions clearly show they do not care what the international community thinks, which is as it should be. The US could learn a lesson from them.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, ever since the jet age really got going in military aviation, very few military jets have the capability of gliding very well either (of course, we all know that being able to steer while falling is not the same as gliding, right?). Today's jets are so heavy that without engines they come down awfully fast. I would say, judging by some of the previous statements, the main reason the military might not consider using this craft is the slow speed, which would make it a rather easy target. However, I can't be sure about that since the page is completely /.ed and the google images don't give me much of an indication.
Here is yet another link, the second from top on Google (wow that was hard to find)
A report from 1998
Hmm, a report from 1998 stating that China had ICBM's targeted on 5 US cities? Boy, you are right. I guess I was wrong. China has no capability of hitting the US, I was just being alarmist. Maybe you should use sources that are from this decade before you make an ass of yourself
You are right, a few minutes of web searching does turn up remarkable results.
Look right here
What do you know, as stated in this article 3 or 4 times, China does have the capability of hitting the US, and by hitting the US they mean Los Angeles, not Alaska (though a hit on the pipeline would definitely hurt us a lot). Let me quote the article.
" According to the report, China has about 20 missiles capable of "targeting the United States" and is increasing the number to 30 by 2005 and possibly as many as 60 by 2010."
The flaw in your dangerously outdated argument against ABM is that you base your conclusion (which you have stated twice now)on the idea that the system would never be able to destroy a full launch by the former Soviet Union. I hate to burst your bubble, but the Soviet Union no longer exists and Russia is a bit more friendly to the US. The likely culprits in a nuclear launch against the US and its allies are China, North Korea, and assorted terrorists (the terrorists having had to seize control of a silo or two in Russia or the aforementioned states). So, max, right now, we are looking at having to deal with 20 to 30 ICBMs, and maybe as much again SLBMs. Well a decent ABM system should easily be able to deal with 30 incoming ICBMs, even if that means we have to launch 10 kill vehicles per warhead. Considering the cost of losing a city, we still come out ahead. The key to stopping SLBM's is a combination of ABM (perhaps like the new Arrow missile or newer laser systems) and a pro-active defense with newer, faster attack subs co-ordinating with satellite and air based observation. We are not dealing with MAD anymore, they cannot destroy us completely (though we can destroy them). The greatest threat is the rogue launch of a missile or two, or a submarine going off on its own. These are easily taken care of if we only develop the technology. Its idiots like you who are going to cost the US and its allies millions of lives due to your blind adherence to a policy that ceased being relevant in 1991.
I hate to burst your bubble of complete and utter ignorance, but China ALREADY HAS ICBMS THAT CAN HIT THE UNITED STATES. Moron. Besides, since the Soviet Union broke up there is plenty of technology for sale to the highest bidder. It is not that tough for a country to develop ICBM technology. The only reason that it is not more prolific is that most of the countries that have developed nuclear weapons have a specific target in mind (e.g. India and Pakistan toward each other, Israel toward the Arabs countries, etc etc), so they don't need to hit a target 10,000 miles away. Russia and the US on the other hand, did. Now China has developed weapon capable of hitting its potential enemy, the US. So, don't be suprised when countries like Iraq and North Korea start testing long range missile systems of thier own..oh that's right they already are.
That is a very interesting point and one that deserves due consideration. One merely has to look at a crowded street in any first world nation to notice the huge amount of people wearing glasses (one of the most obvious genetic failings, though granted it isn't always genetic). If only people would stop to consider the benefit of genetic engineering for humans, instead of jumping to the immediate conclusion that someone would clone you for nefarious purposes (why would anyone want to clone you anyway?). Here at my university (PU), researches are working on using retro-viruses to correct genetic defects by literally going into each cell (by being infected) and replacing that bit of DNA with a better one. With this sort of technology and much greater understanding of the human genome, we won't even need much of the medicine we have now. We can simply make new generations of humans resistant to various illnesses and eliminate defects, all without becoming a race of clones or whatever delusion people have. Oh well, maybe some year.
I'll be damned. "Each Canadian Ranger is issued with a .303 calibre Lee Enfield no. 4 rifle, with 200 rounds of ammunition each year, along with a vibrant red Ranger sweatshirt, ball cap and a safety vest."
The Canadian government can't even spring for new military equipment (on the other hand, they do get that vibrant red Ranger sweatshirt). I mean, geez, if you are going to outfit them with rifles for non-military purposes (I guess like warding off Polar bears, which can be a big problem)at least give them purpose designed high-power hunting rifles. Heh, Canadians are just amusing.
Actually, it depends on how large your frame is. There are plenty of people who are 6' and weighing 220 that are in perfect shape (of course, they are are also built like linebackers). Don't believe those stupid little charts that tell you what weight you should be at what height. Most doctors will tell you that they are way off. As always, consult your physician before believing anything on /. related to your health.
You should tell your friends that if they don't like FLCL, well ... they just suck. FLCL is one of the greatest OVA series period. Now maybe they don't get it, but that's not the shows fault. The music alone makes it worth it. But maybe it's just me (I noticed a lot of people didn't quite understand when the show becomes "manga" for parts of it).
The real problem with this is that the CN doesn't show a lot of good shows. DBZ, crap. Inu Yasha, boring. Tenchi, sucks and always will. Outlaw Star, good but not when it is edited and dubbed. Cowboy Bebop, great show, but dubbing hurts it, IMHO.
They need to show great shows like Noir, Berserk, Jungle wa itsumo Guu, Nadesico, etc etc. They also need to show them in Japanese with subtitles. I never could understand Americans' fear of reading, even while watching TV. You destroy a lot of the feeling of a show or movie when you dub it into another language (this goes for regular shows and movies as well as anime. I mean who wants to see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon dubbed? Not me).
The Personal Fabricator really just sounds like a jumped up 3-D printing device, of which there are many in use today (mainly in making molds and models in computer integrated manufacturing). Some use various polymers, making shapes, some older ones use hundreds of sheets of paper and glue (the excess paper is cut away as the sheets are glued together), and still others (my personal favorites) use cornstarch and glue. They are all really interesting to use. It is amazing to create an object in AutoCad, Solid Works, or whatever, and then "print" it off. Of course, the objects created really can't be used for anything except seeing how it would turn out or making molds.
What a whiny bitch. You say: "I'm in a 40% tax bracket in the United States" You do realize that, according to the 2001 Tax Rate Schedule (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040tt.pdf), you, according to your statement, are pulling in over $300,000 a year? Wow, I really do pity you. I mean, gee, I barely pull in $15,000, but man, I you're plight has touched me deeply. How about this. Shut the fuck up. Now, on the other hand, if by 40% tax bracket, you are including all of the Social Security you are paying, you are incorrect in your assertion. Personally, I say lets get rid of Social Security, and let me put my money in my Roth IRA or under my fucking matress if I want to. Odds are SS will be bankrupt by the time I can collect it anyway. But, then of course, we would be doing away with another gem of a socialist program. Uh oh, wouldn't want to do that.
Remember though, these lasers can make a small spot the temperature of the sun for a brief period (less than a second). Now, for a thin skinned missile, artillery shell, or mortar round, that will cause significant damage. However, even an old tank with equivalent of 17 inches of steel plate armor will easily withstand a shot by this laser for the brief amount of time that it is firing. Maybe if you could continuously cycle the laser for several minutes you could cut through, but no laser in existence (or any planned in the near future) could do this without being hooked to a nuke plant for all the power it would require. So, it's not really a possibility. Maybe with room temperature super-conducters used in large batteries, it may be possible to store that much energy, but then you still have to charge these weapons. So are you going to build a power plant for each mobile laser? No worries friends, your tanks are safe for now (well at least the main body of the tank, antennas and scopes are probably screwed).
You guys are all forgetting one major thing. This weapon system was developed in Israel, by Israeli's with some support and funding by the US. The Israeli's could give a rat's ass what Russia or China thinks about this weapon system. They will use it anyway, to knock down Syrian missiles and Palestinian mortar shells. Their recent actions clearly show they do not care what the international community thinks, which is as it should be. The US could learn a lesson from them.