Better than paying some defense company a billion dollars to develop the same thing

Agreed. The Pentagon could have spent that in a lot worse ways, and the research has a lot of potential outside military uses too.

Exactly - I was thinking this gadget would make a nifty "rats nest cleaner" that would be cheaper than operating fighter aircraft or helicopters.

I mean, imagine, if you will, an automated system that could use its tiny computer brain to navigate the internet and interject the most ridiculous statements into unrelated discussions.

We could call it "tubino".

Sortelli, LOL!!!

I don't understand why it is bad for a journalist to inform readers where their tax money is going.

I support this use of taxpayer money, and I support journalists telling us where our tax money is going.

Last year no one made the finish line, I didn't think any would make it this year either (the course is very difficult). Technology is improving rapidly.

Well, DARPA goosed it by doubling the prize money at the same time it made the course harder.

We could call it "tubino".

Weapon of mass distortion.

How can we bitch about $2 million when
Smurfs are being slaughtered by the U.N.?

The $2 million reward was funded by taxpayers.

The DoD should send out a SpecOps team to systematically start robbing Starbucks around the country to get the cash for these kind of rewards.

Those UN bastards bombed the Smurfs?

I'm calling for massive retalitory strikes - now. First it was piglet and pooh, now this? Unacceptable, simply unacceptable.

It may be an overreaction; its definitely a good idea to talk about where the money comes from, if its done consistently when discussing government programs.

But the typical MSM thing is to say 'funded by the NEA,' or somesuch without invoking the primary source of the funds.

Which makes this look suspicious to me.
It almost looks like an editor threw it in there.

Hi all,

Saw my name come up. Nice to know I'm not forgotten.

The joke is that pretty much all the points I've made over the last few weeks -- Bush's fiscal irresponsibility, the Republican partisan cronyism over competence, the apparently criminal mismanagement of Iraq funds (the infamous $8.8B), the endless representations by the Bush admin about progress in Iraq -- are gradually being admitted by the rightwing bloggers, including some on this list.

Carry on.

But remember, I was there first.

Today's word: INDICTMENTS.

No threadjacking please.
The topic of this thread is 'smurfs.'

lauraw: "But the typical MSM thing is to say 'funded by the NEA,' or somesuch without invoking the primary source of the funds."

What does this mean? If something is said to be funded by Dept of Defense, or NIH, or NEA... that *is* the primary source of funds. At least in the world I live in (grants). The exception would be pass-throughs and block grants... or "black budget" programs, where they have to kill you if they tell you.

Honestly, I don't know what you mean, lauraw.

The technology is more promising every year. Before too long, I think we will see ground versions of the predator drone, maybe something like a scaled-down tank, robot-controlled, able to go into an enemy held villiage and seek out weapons caches by itself, able to defend itself, etc. It's not a Bolo, not yet, but we are getting there.

As for the cost, robots will be a lot cheaper than human lives (at least on our side).

Maybe in another decade or two the US army will look more like the imperial troops from Star Wars, with high-tech human troops reinforced by droid weapon systems. Which brings another question: When can we build a Death Star?

starve

BotP - "When can we build a Death Star?"

Comment: When are we going to get off this ball of rock so that we could actually use a Death Star? If we're all busy living on only one planet, a planet-destroying gizmo is just a fancy means of suicide.

Today's word: INDICTMENTS.

That's yesterday's word.

Tomorrow word: summary dissmissal

Don't we need to build a Darth Vader before we build a Death Star?

How about a Darth Nader?
Darth Nader could be a half-man half-machine consumer advocate/war tactician.

He would command the Death Star but condemn its use for obvious safety reasons.

I have to know -- were any of the entries a black Trans Am with a red oscillating Cylon-like eye and speak in a cultured yet exasperated tone to the wristwatch of the chest-hair-exposing human next to it?

If so, did anyone make sure the other black Trans Am in the race that was barely beat out get immediately smelted before it could turn to a life of evil?

I suppose Tubino's question indicates he is unable to read. Check the front page again: "The $2 million reward was funded by taxpayers" is the quote Laura to which Laura refers.

You know what is really funny, tubino? Everyone in the world agrees with me and you're wrong. That's pretty hilarious.

Just trying to speak your language here. YOU WERE THERE FIRST!

When you post, does your screen have a [POST] button or an [OBFUSCATE] button?

cthullu:

Well, of course I would want us to have the product-improved Death Star, which has proper shielding around its exhaust ports. Until we have hyperdrive, we could use it against asteroids or aliens. I am looking forward to our going back to the Moon as a first step to the conquest of Mars - just think of the prison space we will have:)

Mass prisoner deportations to the moon would be good.

Really no need to wait for any shelters.

Just let'em impact like lawn darts. All the suitable "lunar paradise" propaganda for the mushbrained public can be faked up just like in Capricorn One. Its not like anyone is going up there to check...and if they try, they can join the lawn darts too.

I wouldn't really mind the "funded by taxpayers" bit so much if, in the corner of my mind, I wasn't convinced that the reporter would be just fine if the taxpayers had funded a crucifix in a jar of piss.

Are they going to draft herbie the LOVE BUG?

Anonymous boldly stated in reply to me:

Today's word: INDICTMENTS.

That's yesterday's word.

Tomorrow word: summary dissmissal
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Wager?