[extropy-chat] Cool stuff for Newtonmas

Thu Dec 30 20:56:16 UTC 2004

Has anyone here seen the force FX light sabers? I know they aren't very
fancy technologically, but they are WAY cool!

http://www.thinkgeek.com/cubegoodies/toys/69de/

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Lorrey" <mlorrey at yahoo.com>
To: "ExI chat list" <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 2:50 PM
Subject: RE: [extropy-chat] Cool stuff for Newtonmas

> The issue is that while DoD has built megawatt lasers, they are
> typically not in any way transportable. The THEL and the ABL are the
> first deployable laser systems, but they are still huge, with the first
> needing two trailers and the other a 747. While the THEL is 100kw, and
> is close to deployability, it still requires quite a bit to set up and
> can only defend one location and a fixed area around it. The 747 ABL is
> mobile, but is itself a vulnerable target and is intended for strategic
> anti-missile use.
>
> Making a truly mobile version at 25-50kw capable of unit-level defense
> against tactical weapons is what is really needed to defend against
> mortars, katyusha type rockets, artillery, etc.. Installed on a
> fighting vehicle capable of firing in motion, while moving with its
> unit, is what is really needed. Then we just need IED/mine sniffer
> bots.
>
> --- spike <spike66 at comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > The way this was written in the popular press is a little
> > confusing.  See below:
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:  Mike Lorrey
> >  Subject: [extropy-chat] Cool stuff for Newtonmas
> >
> >
>
http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_Cool121604,,00.html?
> > ESRC=dod.nl
> >
> > COOL TECH THIS WEEK:
> > Ray Gun Plans, Robotic Fish, Powered Exoskeleton Suits
> > --------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >   A step closer to working ray guns, RoboPike and RoboTuna, and
> > Starship Troopers for real -- keep up with the cutting-edge military
> > tech news from the past week.
> >
> > By Noah Shachtman and Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, DefenseTech.org
> >
> > Industry Bigs Team Up on Ray Guns
> >
> > ... The modified 747
> > Airborne Laser, after a seemingly-endless slumber, is beginning to
> > make
> > progress...
> >
> >
> > Im not sure what that comment means.
> >
> >
> >
> > ...More importantly, electric-powered lasers are finally starting to
> > build
> > up the power they need to work as weapons. In a few months,
> > researchers
> > at the Lawrence Livermore national lab and elsewhere plan to test a
> > 25
> > kilowatt solid-state laser...
> >
> >
> > Starting to build up the power to work as weapons?  Were they joking?
> > The power of the laser is not the recent breakthru, but rather its
> > the
> > mirror control needed to concentrate that power at some intermediate
> > distance.  Check out the airborne laser mirror control.
> >
> >
> > ...If those trials work out as expected, the
> > Defense Department will then start handing out grants for a laser
> > with
> > a hundred kilowatts of power -- that's widely-considered the
> > threshold
> > for ray gun action to begin...
> >
> >
> > Hmmm, again this comment.  Its all about concentrating the power,
> > not about seeing how much power you can make.  All you need to
> > disable
> > a rocket is to burn a hole in it.  No need to actually blast it to
> > shards, which would endanger the local enemy troops unnecessarily.
> > Without the rockets and advanced weaponry, they are harmless as
> > kittens anyway, so there is no need to slay or injure them.
> >
> >
> >
> > ... One step forward, one step back. The Airborne Laser's
> > first flight test in two years was cut short this week, after some
> > "anomalous instrumentation readings." Space News says a cabin
> > pressure
> > problem was to blame...
> >
> >
> >
> > This comment was made many places, but most of the time they
> > were not careful to explain that it was not a problem with
> > the laser itself.  The flight crew cabin pressure is maintained
> > higher than the area where the laser is carried in case of a leak
> > of the highly toxic materials carried in the laser.  With
> > higher pressure in the cabin, the fumes would not get to
> > the flight crew.  Last I heard, it was a faulty pressure
> > gage, not an actual failure of the pressure differential
> > equipment.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Robo-Crappie, Anyone?
> >
> > ...A Japanese toy company has a whole line
> > of fish, jellyfish, turtles and an ammonite. An ammonite?...
> >
> >
> > If you purchase one of these toy ammonites, you may
> > not take it to church, for the Book of Deuteronomy
> > chapter 23 verse 3 saith:
> >
> > "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the
> > congregation of the lord, even to their tenth
> > generation shall they not enter into the congregation
> > of the lord forever...
> >
> > Well which is it, tenth generation, or forever?  I
> > think the latter, for Nehemiah chapter 13 verse 1 saith:
> >
> > "...the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into
> > the congregation of god forever..."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Real-Life Exoskeletons Emerge
> >
> > ... article in tomorrow's New York Times Magazine,
> > on real-life exoskeletons...
> >
> >
> > Cool, I want one.  I can fool with that in the parking
> > lot outside the church they wont let me enter because of
> > my ammonite.
> >
> > spike
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > extropy-chat mailing list
> > extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
> > http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo/extropy-chat
> >
>
>
> =====
> Mike Lorrey
> Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
> "Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
> It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
>                                       -William Pitt (1759-1806)
> Blog: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sadomikeyism
>
>
>
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