Archive for the ‘Linkzookery’ Category
Iran’s captured RQ-170: How bad is the damage?
Surprising that it’s in such good shape. Would have thought it would have a smithereens setting.
High-Rez Photos Fuel Debate Over Captured Stealth Drone
I keep hoping we’re playing them. We’ll see.
4,000 British Troops May Leave Afghanistan Early
All are scheduled to be out by the end of 2014.
Faster, Furiouser, and Fucked Uperer: Holder in the hot seat
Links links links.
Lessons From Libya
‘Forward basing is key, but the NATO allies are still too reliant on American airpower.‘ Gee, ya think?
Harriers Now Armed With AMRAAMs
This marks the first time that USMC Harriers have carried AMRAAMs on an operational deployment.
Lockheed unveils new, cheaper variant of C-130
The C-130XJ will be offered to foreign and US customers that do not need certain advanced features of the standard J-model, including its enhanced cargo handling system.
Wisconsin Castle Doctrine
Another big step forward for the Badger State.
India and Pakistan: Water War May Go Nuclear?
Always on the brink.
China Hits It Big With Shale Gas
Glenn Reynolds notes that he doubts they’ll let the Greens block development.
Much more Linkzookery below!
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Running a bit late today, but here’s the Linkzookery:
GE stops funding for F-35 alternative engine
GE and Rolls-Royce had been privately funding the F136, but they’re pulling the plug. Murdoc dislikes.
Report blames lapses on Stryker commander
532-page report finds colonel ignored doctrine, proper procedure in leading undisciplined 5th SBCT, 2nd ID.
Boeing may exceed aerial tanker cost ceiling by $500 Million
Shocker. Boeing is supposed to absorb any cost overrun. We’ll see.
Obama: My kids will succeed, even if USA doesn’t
Whew. USA was really frikkin worried about that.
New attack submarine to be christened Saturday
USS Mississippi (SSN 782).
S&W Pulls Out of the Carbine Competition
A number of biggies still in the running.
Royal Navy will be ‘too small for two carriers’
The UK will “certainly” not be able to operate both Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers in 2020 if the Royal Navy is reduced to 29,000 personnel in line with current planning
IDF upgrades Patriot missile defense battery
Upgrading to PAC-3 while they continue to develop their own David’s Sling system.
New helo squadron will fly Fire Scouts, too
Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 35 will be the first to support littoral combat ships and other Pacific Fleet ships with both the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and the MQ-8B Fire Scout.
Senator tries to take museum’s F-105
Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. has introduced an amendment ordering an Arizona museum to give up an F-105 “loaned” to it by the Air Force in 1984.
MARSOC deployment inspires energy drink
Currently sold out but offering a special back-order price on ruckpacks.com.
Djibouti Security
US boots on the ground and laying in the dirt.
On Balance, a Republican Election Cycle
The last time the GOP had this much legislative power in state capitals, most motion pictures were still being produced without sound.
Occupier Devolution
If you have ever wondered what would happen in a society consisting entirely of liberals, the Occupier movement is providing the answer: devolution.
Libya Ops Show Need For Lower-Cost Strike
Wow. No one’s ever noticed that before.
The Navy Down Under
Not a huge shift, practically speaking, but one in the right direction, Murdoc thinks. And it may end up with Marines based down there. Not everyone is thrilled.
Soldier gets life sentence in Afghan killings
Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs, of Billings, Mont., was accused of exhorting his bored underlings to slaughter three Afghan civilians for sport.
.300 Whisper M&P15
Nice.
Panetta: Iran strike may have unintended effect
Asked what will happen if sanctions don’t work, Panetta said, “I think our hope is that we don’t reach that point…”
Calif. rail project to cost $98B
Was approved in 2008 at a cost of $43 billion. Won’t be done until at least 2033. Cost has already gone up to $98 billion.
Michael Moore’s Massive Michigan Vacation Mansion Beyond 99 Percent’s Wildest Dreams
Tries to pretend to be a 99%er, but is still just a liar like usual.
U.S. Navy Ship Set for Alt Fuel Demo
Former USS Foster (DDG 964), last of the Spruance-class tin cans and now a test bed, will run on a 50-50 blend of hydro-processed algal oil and F-76 petroleum.
Army destroys Nazi stockpile of nerve agent
I wonder what the frikkin rush was. Take your time, guys.
US Marshals turned loose to collect $63,720.80 from Righthaven
Copyright trolls about to lose the contents of their drawers. Crying my eyes out over this one, for sure.
Are Pennsylvania hunters upset about the boom in natural gas drilling in the state?
Katharine Seelye deploys some purple prose to help NYT readers think that they are.
SEIU siphons ‘dues’ from Mich. Medicaid payments
The state government provides the family with insurance through Medicaid, but also treats them as caregivers. For the SEIU, this makes them public employees and thus members of the union, which receives $30 out of the family’s monthly Medicaid subsidy.
Remember the “borderless” Internet? It’s officially dead
Balancing chaos and order has always been a challenge; you want to curtail botnets and spam and phishing and other Internet ills without destroying the productive chaos that allowed a million websites and online businesses to launch without permission from any gatekeeper.
Photo of the Day: Artillery support in Vietnam, 1971
American artillerymen open fire in support of South Vietnamese infantrymen driving into Laos.
USS Iowa Begins Trek to Richmond for Transformation
To become a museum ship in San Pedro, CA.
Rick Perry’s Flat Tax Plan
Murdoc could buy into this. But Murdoc thinks there should be NO deductions whatsoever for anything. A decent-sized personal exemption. Period. And making it optional doesn’t do anything to eliminate the crap it’s supposed to eliminate.
Libyan Revolution by the Numbers
Before the war Libya produced 1.6 million barrels of oil per day (bpd). This level isn’t expected to be reached again before 2013 as it had fallen down to 60,000 bpd during the revolution.
Gov’t Regulations at Top of Small-Business Owners’ Problem List
Bigger problem than poor consumer confidence or lack of consumer demand.
The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
If this is anywhere near as good as The Star Wars one
Alberta’s Oil Sands Heat Up
The oil sands will generate over 1.5 million barrels of oil per day this year
Much more Linkzookery below!
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Musharraf: U.S.-Pakistan Relationship At New Low
Claims that “Pakistan is a victim and not a perpetrator of terrorism.”
U.S. Shuts North Iraq Division Ahead Of Pullout
See? The ‘Surge’ failed.
Subs may serve attack, guided-missile functions
Additional hull section added to Block V Virginia-class boats would contain four Virginia Payload Tubes.
The Navy’s next boomer
A class of 12 new-design SSBNs each with 16 SLBM tubes.
Navy sub adm: We need new weapons
Although everyone involved likes to tiptoe politely when this subject comes up, there may be a need someday for the Navy to attack large numbers of well-defended surface targets … somewhere … in the event of any unpleasantness.
Crew from 1914-46 ship New York visit new New York
Sailors who served on BB-34 visit USS New York (LPD 21).
Manufacturer says CROWS getting more updates
Common Remotely Operating Weapons System with 360-degree camera and escalation of force features, such as bright, white lights, an acoustic device and other non-lethal measures.
Aussies get last batch of Super Hornets. More to follow?
24 Purchased due to delays in the F-35 program.
RAAF fighter-bombers to become ‘Growlers’
12 of the 24 were ordered to allow conversion to EA-18s.
Iowa-Class Battleship Gun Tubes Up For Auction?
What’s the shipping on a 236,900 pound gun tube?
Turkish Troops, Planes Attack Kurds in Iraq
“A large-scale land operation, backed by air strikes, has begun in five separate spots inside Turkey and across the border with 22 battalions,” the Turkish military said in a statement posted on its website.
Colt Super-Stoc
Initially only available on new rifles, plans are to make it available separately at some point in the future.
Royal Navy in hot water as weapons point at Michelle Obama’s hotel
Asked to stop pointing ceremonial dummy Sea Darts at the Presidential Suite of the Table Bay Hotel.
How Military Operations Get Their Code Names
The trend toward PR-friendly names is stupid. Just an opinion.
Silence from Hill on film showcasing SEALs
Mum’s the word on Act of Valor.
War Dog Memorials 21: Bristol Township, PA
A good one.
Fishermen land a 400lb catch… and discover it is unexploded World War II Bomb
German naval mine off the coast of Margate, Kent.
Boeing boosts 737 output to 35 a month
I wouldn’t have guessed that there are over 2200 737s on order right now.
SpaceX Completes Key Milestone to Fly Astronauts to International Space Station
Lauch abort system for manned Dragon spacecraft moves ahead.
Current efforts to stop Asian carp not sustainable, experts say
Murdoc suspects that this is a battle that cannot be won.
Carnival of Homeschooling #303
At SmallWorld {at home}
Protesters want world to know they’re just like us
Except that they’re fucking crybabies who want me to pay for the shit they want.
Despite strong start to KC-46, delays possible
First 18 operational tankers are supposed to be delivered by August 2017. Any bets on that?
New, Bigger Japanese Navy Helicopter Carrier
Roughly a slightly lighter version of our Wasp-class LHDs.
Obama Tried to Apologize to Japan for the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
He is so far out of his depth it’s scary.
Egypt Sliding into Military Dictatorship
I had this conversation several times this past spring, warning that the new boss in Egypt could easily be worse than the old boss. As far as ruthless dictators go, Mubarak was a little ho-hum. Easy to say from over here, but it didn’t take much imagination to see things getting much worse instead of a little better. I worry about the same thing in Lybia.
Lessons of the Libya War
Despite the involvement of the world’s premier military alliance and the three most formidable militaries in the world, it took more than five months of NATO air strikes to assist the rebels to victory over a third-rate despot.
6.5mm Grendel now SAAMI cartridge. AK rifles chambered in 6.5mm coming soon.
I know there are a number of 6.5 Grendel fans here at MO. This is good to see.
New U.S. Navy LPD Damaged on Sea Trials
Overpressurized ballast tanks on USS San Diego (LPD 22). Constant issues with these ships, it seems like.
War drones keep flying despite computer virus
Control systems have been hit. What could possibly go wrong?
Neophyte hikers push their luck on Yosemite’s Half Dome
People are clueless when it comes to the outdoors. They watch something on TV and think they know it all, then get out their iPhone and cry for momma when the big bad wilderness scares them.
Couple lost in corn maze calls 911
Okay, this makes the idiots in the previous story look like Grizzly Adams…
Army to cancel contract for Ground Mobile Radio
4-channel Joint Tactical Radio System GMR, a leftover from FCS, gets chopped.
Military opposes MC-12 transfer
Both Army and Air Force are opposed to shifting the MC-12W Liberties to the Army.
Woman shoots, kills bow-and-arrow-armed intruder
Guy brought a bow to a gunfight.
Soyuz ready with Galileo satellites for milestone launch
Oct 20th launch of Europe’s GPS competitor will be first for Soyuz from French Guiana.
Lady Gaga’s Strange Tribute to Steve Jobs
Seriously, couldn’t every headline about this chick be “Lady Gaga’s strange [fill in the blank]“?
Occupy’s pass steams Tea Party
Boston doesn’t care that Occupy Boston crowd hasn’t bothered with permits or anything.
‘Time to kill the wealthy,’ says fan of Occupy Wall Street
A lot of people are trying to convince me that the Occupy crowds are simply American fed up with bad times. Many of them are. But the leadership and backers of the movement are not at all interested in the American way.
The Absurdity of the Anti-Corporation Movement
The problem isn’t corporations, the problem is that we have a government that has its fingers in nearly every aspect of the economy.
K-MAX Cargo UAS to deploy, keeping trucks off the road
The Navy and Marine Corps recently announced its plan to deploy the service’s first ever cargo unmanned aircraft system to Afghanistan next month.
Early Retirement for a Nimitz Carrier?
Thinking about not re-fueling the USS George Washington in a few years plus retiring an air wing at the same time. What a crock.
U.S. Army Europe Brigade Could Move Sooner
Possibly before the planned-2015 move.
Navy to base 4 warships in Spain
Four ballistic-missile defense warships will be forward-deployed to Naval Station Rota, Spain, by 2015.
U.S. troops increase aid to Mexico in war against drug cartels
Northern Command has quietly escalated its role in Mexico in the past two years, sending veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts to train the elite marines and providing Black Hawk helicopters and surveillance drones, according to NPR.
Lockheed to offer F-35 work to Japan firms to win bid
Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) said on Thursday it will offer final assembly of the F-35 fighter to Japanese firms in a bid for a defense contract from Tokyo.
3 held after trying to enter Minn. Guard base
Warrant for one from Texas. The other 2 are from Honduras.
Report: US should place its bets on Navy, Air Force
Suggests that cutting ground forces and eliminating capability overlap between the services is the best way to go.
France bans ketchup in cafeterias
That’ll show them! Wait. What?
What if the NFL Was Run Like the Government School System?
Well, it would really suck, for one thing. But Murdoc homeschools.
F-35B Set for Sea Trials Next Week
Up to six weeks on USS Wasp (LHD 1).
Sea trails of upgraded aircraft-carrier set for 2012
Former “Admiral Gorshkov,” now India’s “Vikramaditya,” won’t begin trials until next May. It had been scheduled for the end of 2011 at the latest.
Admiral Kuznetsov to leave for Mediterranean in November
Meanwhile, Tass reports the Russian carrier will embark on a three-month cruise of the Atlantic and Med in mid-November.
Are Moammar Gadhafi’s Missiles Really Missing?
There seems to be more than a little confusion about whether many of the 20,000 supposedly-missing man-portable SAMs really existed in the first place. Let’s hope not.
Lockheed lobbies anew for new Taiwan F-16s
Murdoc thinks we should be selling them the new ones.
Navy’s 2nd Fleet to undergo disestablishment
North Atlantic area will become the responsibility of the United States Fleet Forces Command (USFLTFORCOM), which 2nd Fleet was part of.
‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal Changes Announced
The Defense Department issued guidance saying decisions for use of DOD property should be made on a “sexual-orientation neutral” basis, and that military chaplains do not have to officiate at ceremonies that go against their religious tenets.
Next version of Fire-X tested at Yuma Proving Grounds
Based on a Bell 407, it’s bigger and faster than the MQ-8B Fire Scout.
Bears Hall of Famer Hampton refuses White House invite
One of his reasons is that he’s “not a fan of the guy in the White House.”
Deportation would force 19-year-old and mom to leave ‘everything I know’, including dad and siblings
Don’t know the details of the case, but the girl has been here since she was “a baby.” Seems like there should have been time to get citizenship straightened out.
Showdown in Berlin
At Checkpoint Charlie, US and Soviet tanks faced each other at point-blank range.
World’s largest renewable diesel refiner says cost of fuel is way more than anticipated
It’s almost like petroleum-based fossil fuels have some advantages.
Cartridges of the World
Richard Mann is helping with the newest edition of this classic book and wants your help.
USS Nevada bell back in state’s historic collection
61 years after Sen. Pat McCarran gave the bell to the Kiwanis Club of Las Vegas.
Mapping zombies
The results either provide a rough proxy for the amount of English-language content indexed over our planet, or offer an early warning into the geographies of the impending zombie apocalypse.
Army announces switch to 9-month deployments
Applies to Division-level and lower deployments everywhere.
Hobbyists’ toy truck saves 6 soldiers’ lives in Afghanistan
It would have cost DARPA 1.3 bazillion dollars to develop one that is half as good.
Royal Navy warship HMS Liverpool comes under heavy fire
Rockets from Lybia missed but earned a response from the ship’s 4.5″ gun.
France to withdraw Libya carrier by mid-August
French warplanes will fly from Sicily instead.
Ron Paul Introduced Pro-gun Legislation
To abolish Federal “gun free zones.”
Pilots lose currency as F-22 grounding drags on
They’ve been grounded since May 3rd.
US suspends F-35 ground, air tests after device failure
F-15s, F-16s, F-18s still flying though.
FBI: ‘Credible Lead’ Surfaces in D.B. Cooper Case
But cautioned that investigators were not on the verge of breaking the case.
UAV likely shot down by pro-Gadhafi forces
Fire Scout lost in June was brought down by enemy fire, not mechanical or operator errors, says Navy.
Common PTSD drug not effective, study finds
Works no better than a placebo.
Naked Eye Sunspots
Murdoc was just asking if the sunspot activity had flared up again.
Texas drought exposes debris from shuttle Columbia
Lake Nacogdoches’ waters recede, revealing spherical fuel tank linked to fallen spaceship
Hanging of ‘Truck Nuts’ Grows into a Free Speech Debate
Though not obscene, Murdoc thinks those things say something about the vehicle’s driver. And it ain’t what the driver thinks it is.
Swedish Man Builds Nuclear Reactor in His Kitchen
Police in the western town of Angelholm were alerted when he contacted Sweden’s nuclear authority and asked if it was permitted for an individual to build a nuclear reactor in his home.
The coming hazard you haven’t heard about
New EPA regulations might have meant a week of widespread blackouts and brownouts in Texas.
Not a lot of Linkzookery today. Add your own links in the comments section.
Hood suspect defiant in court appearance
Yelling out the name of the Army psychiatrist blamed in the 2009 deadly shooting rampage at the same Texas base is not going to help your cause.
Former Intel Chief: Call Off The Drone War (And Maybe the Whole War on Terror)
Retired admiral and former Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair
ATK awarded contract to develop Abrams Advanced Kinetic Energy Ammo
The next generation of 120mm Abrams tank Armor Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot ammunition, the M829E4 Advanced Kinetic Energy (AKE) which will become the M829A4 after acceptance.
U.S. Lawmakers Order New LCS Study
Wants the GAO to re-examine the program.
Corps will test jamming pod on Harrier jets
A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jump jet squadron is set to conduct trials on the service’s new Intrepid Tiger II communications intelligence and jamming pod next month.
“More Advanced” Sometimes Means “Simpler”
Revolver speed loaders.
Crash or Coincidence?
Did the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter find the impact crater from Lunar Orbiter 2 on the far side?
