Month: November 2006
Debunking the polygraph
Debunking the whole polygraph test method
The Daily WTF?
When you wonder “What were they thinking?”
I am right – again – current airport security is garbage
Another day, another fine fine airport security idiocy to report. This time, the danger is a rubber-band ball – probably about the size of a soccer ball. The end result is jail time with no actual charges.
I was departing a small commuter airport in Southern California last week and I found myself in jail! Here’s the story with the facts, and without any “emotional hype.”
About two years ago I made a big, rubber band ball. It’s bigger than a softball, but not as big as a basketball. It’s made of 100% rubber bands, and the core is nothing but knotted rubber bands. It’s been in the trunk of a car that I own and keep down there for most of that time.
I decided to bring it home to Anchorage to work on more, and that proved to be a bad decision.
Continue reading “I am right – again – current airport security is garbage”
More on the coming robot uprising
The robots are learning humor. Perhaps in an effort to catch us all off-guard? Regardless – don’t be fooled by friendly utterances from robots!
How do you stop a robot from destroying you and the rest of civilization?
You don’t.Little Susie tosses a clock out the window. A robot inquires, “Why did you do that?” She replies, “I wanted to see time fly!” The robot says, “Ah … A perfect subject for elimination,” and shoots her with a laser beam through the face.
(via boingboing)
[tags]Robot humor, Signs of the coming robot uprising[/tags]
The voices
Lightning tube
This is going on the Give me gifts page when I can access the site to update it. Sure, this is pricey, but for $80, you can get constant lightning in a tall glass tube. What’s not to love about that?
[tags]Lightning in a tube, Stuff I want, Give me gifts[/tags]
Frigits – marble structures for your refrigerator
Refrigerator marble tracks? How could that not be considered cool? Get your own set at Firebox.com for only $30.
And if that doesn’t quite catch your fancy but you like the marble theme, try out Marble Racer instead, for just $30-$40 (depending on which set you buy).
(via shinyshiny)
[tags]Marble gadgetry, Marble racing, Refrigerator marble toys[/tags]
Why would you celebrate this?
I’m not sure I’d actually celebrate on mass circumsion day – would you?
Hussein death sentence political cartoon
I just snagged this from Neatorama. This is a political cartoon from Steve Sack (of the Star Tribune) characterizing Saddam Hussein’s death sentence. I like it.
[tags]Hussein political cartoon, Saddam’s death sentence – reaping what he sowed[/tags]
Halloween papercraft
This is another “I know I’m late posting” post, but I didn’t want this to get away without at least making mention of it. If you are in to papercraft at all, be sure to check out this MAKEzine story with link to Halloween papercraft where you can learn to make, among other things, these coffins.
[tags]Papercraft, Halloween, papercraft coffins[/tags]
1999 war games under Clinton indicate potential Iraq invasion issues
After some talks by Marine General Anthony Zinni (ret.) about these, the folks at George Washington University’s National Security Archive have gotten their hands on post Iraqi invasion war game documents from 1999 via a Freedom of Information Act request. If I’m reading things correctly, these war games performed under President Clinton detail some possibilities of what would be required for a successful Iraqi invasion and post-invasion rebuilding program.
A series of secret U.S. war games in 1999 showed that an invasion and post-war administration of Iraq would require 400,000 troops, nearly three times the number there now.
And even then, the games showed, the country still had a chance of dissolving into chaos.
In the simulation, called Desert Crossing, 70 military, diplomatic and intelligence participants concluded the high troop levels would be needed to keep order, seal borders and take care of other security needs.
Continue reading “1999 war games under Clinton indicate potential Iraq invasion issues”