Archive for the ‘Linkzookery’ Category

Six Theories on the Loss of the Titanic
Besides the “iceberg theory.”

How the RAF drew up plans to attack Argentina over the Falklands in 1982
Vulcan crews trained to attack mainland Argentina to flatten its airfields in retaliation for any attempt to retake the Falklands.

CG monitors Japanese ship adrift near Alaska
Derelict fishing vessel Ryou-Un Maru has been adrift since the tsunami.

Kelly McParland: Canada has oil, the U.S. needs oil. You’d think it would be easy from there.
You’d think, but you’d have to be serious about really working the energy issue. It’s more about posturing, you know.

Air Force May Reopen Light Attack Contest
The contract battle is never over.

Fleet of Stryker vehicles marks new chapter at Fort Hood
3rd Cav gets wheels.

The Air Force’s newest B-52 turns 50
Wow.

SLUF Lovin’!
A-7 pics and stories from Instapinch.

The Insidious Nature of Student Loan Debt
In many (most?) cases, Murdoc thinks college these days is a scam as much as anything.

Canada Gets Rid Of Pennies
With video. Murdoc thinks ditching pennies and nickels would be a good move.

GAO calls tanker testing pace too aggressive
It’s like there’s any hurry. New tankers are ten years overdue. What’s another ten years?

USAF promotes 767-2C as civil freighter
FedEx 767-300F freighters will help mature the KC-46 production line.

Health department raids community picnic and destroys all food with bleach
Why on earth would people think they get to choose what they eat? Haven’t they been paying attention?

PETA kills more than 95 percent of pets in its care
$37 million annual budget but could only find homes for 24 cats and dogs. Killed 1,911.

Wyoming First, Pennsylvania Worst In Business Taxes
Shocking: IBD found that states imposing the lowest tax rates on both new and existing businesses produced more jobs during the economic recovery than those states with the highest tax burdens.

FAA Reconsiders Ban on Gadgets During Takeoff, Landing
Honest question: Is there ANY evidence that electronic gadgets might cause interference?

Olbermann Canned, Again
It’s almost like he’s an idiot, or something.

Man in Afghan army uniform kills 2 U.S. troops
Mohammad Hassan, an official in Nangarhar province where the shooting took place, said the two Americans were shot by an Afghan soldier after soldiers fired in the air to disperse protesters outside a U.S. base in the Khogyani district.

U.S. Army Plans Post-War Management of Stryker Fleet
Trying to decide about how to implement the double-V hull versions into the fleet and what to do about the MGS.

Senate Passes Payroll Tax Extension, Gas Price Increase Has Already Offset Benefits
Tax cuts do NOT “add to the deficit.” You can only add to the deficit by spending.

Radical Animal Rights Activist Arrested for Soliciting Undercover Hitman ‘Willing to Kill Someone Wearing Fur’
Meredith Lowell “offered him $730 in jewelry or cash for the killing of a victim of at least 12 years but “preferably 14 years old or older” outside a library near a playground in her hometown.”

Lockheed readies aggressive F-35 test schedule
Trying to hang on.

KC-130J Harvest HAWK gets pressurized launcher
Crews no longer have to depressurize the aircraft and lower the cargo ramp to fire Griffin missiles as a new pressurized, standoff precision precision-guided munitions launcher has been installed.

Stamp price hike part of Postal Service plan to cut losses
Murdoc yawns about the move to 50 cent postal rates…it will get them to go under just that much quicker.

Lugar: Earmarks a “Bogus Issue”
Congressman says congressional earmarks are not a problem. Go figure.

5 Biggest Whoppers In Obama’s Energy Speech
What he delivered was a grab bag of excuses and outright falsehoods.

Obama’s Double Talk on Sky-High Gas Prices
When gas prices hit $4 a gallon in 2008, candidate Barack Obama said it was due to previous failed energy policies. Now that prices are heading still higher, President Obama calls it progress.

More Linkzookery below!
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Disaster at Sea: The Story of the USS Truxton and USS Pollux
18 Feb 1942. Check out the photo gallery.

Italy scales back its F-35 order
Will buy 90 instead of 131.

A year after uprising, militias hold sway in Libya
Shocker.

First Re-Winged A-10 Delivered
233 wing sets to be delivered through 2018.

Spangdahlem A-10 squadron to shut down
A-10 squadron in Germany victim of budget cuts.

US intelligence officials offer grim words on Afghanistan
Operational commanders don’t agree.

Lockheed Unveils F-16 Viper Variant
F-16V includes AESA radar and other improvements.

USAF cancels AMRAAM replacement
Pulled the plug on the Next Generation Missile for budgetary reasons. No AMRAAM or HARM replacement is in sight.

Russia, Vietnam to Jointly Manufacture Anti-Ship Missiles
SS-N-25 Switchblades.

Navy announces destroyers to be based in Spain
USS Ross, USS Donald Cook, USS Porter and USS Carney will be forward-deployed to Rota in 2014 and 2015.

Navy plan to move carrier from Va. to Fla. on hold
No money in the budget.

‘If lost, the Falklands would be extremely difficult to re-take’
Andy Smith, CEO of the United Kingdom National Defence Association (UKNDA), argues that current UK force levels on the Falkland Islands are inadequate to defend against a determined invasion

LCS Diplomacy: A New, Old Option When Facing China
New Asiatic Fleet of Littoral Combat Ships?

A red flag for the ‘great green fleet’
It costs a lot to save money.

State Agent Tells Preschooler She Can’t Eat Home-packed Lunch
Because it didn’t meet USDA guidelines. Gave her chicken nuggets (?!?) instead of a turkey an cheese sandwich. The taxpayers of America are funding this stupidity.

Economical Target-1
Low-cost rail-launched ballistic missile target.

Detroit: The Triumph of Progressive Public Policy
In 1950, Detroit was the wealthiest city in America on a per capita income basis. Today, the Census Bureau reports that it is the nation’s 2nd poorest major city, just “edging out” Cleveland.

The Veil War
The Great American Goblin Invasion Novel.

It’s takers versus makers and these days the takers are winning
“After a while, people who pay their bills on time start to feel like suckers.”

Maybe there’s something to the idea that Eastwood’s Chrysler commercial was an Obama campaign ad?
Sounds made up.

P-8A makes debut in Bold Alligator exercise
Currently being tested.

Marine scout snipers used Nazi SS logo
This is utterly ridiculous. They’re saying that maybe the Marines didn’t realize it was an SS logo, but it apparently went on for several years.

The Navy faces reality
Everyone has always known the 313 ship goal was a joke. They’re just into the “start publicly admitting it to set up the next stage” phase.

The Himalayas and nearby peaks have lost no ice in past 10 years, study shows
Scientists thought that the area had lost 400,000,000,000 tons of water from 2003-2010. The actual loss looks like it was about 0.

Love the Constitution? Hate government regulations? New DHS “lexicon” brands you a “militia extremist.”
A recently published “lexicon” distributed to thousands of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) targets citizens concerned about their Second Amendment rights and the steady encroachment of the federal government, categorizing such as “militia extremists.”

Mileage Moment of Truth: We Put 40 Mpg Claims to the Test
Popular Mechanics looks at the numbers on some 40 MPG cars.

The Last Raptor
Will be delivered in May.

Aussies’ modest proposal: Sell us F-22s, mate
Not overly thrilled with the F-35, mate?

Supreme Court should limit Congress’ copyright power
Well, ALL of Congress’ power. But copyright power is a good one to curtail.

Ford pulls out of JLTV competition
Ford’s interest in the contract has defense analysts fascinated at what their manufacturing muscle could bring to the Army tactical wheeled strategy even if it means the car and truck company doesn’t compete to build the JLTV.

10 years in prison for Sudafed?
Seems crazy, but aren’t we all glad that the restrictions have put an end to the availability of meth?

Teacher pleads guilty to raping student
Life in Prison! Execution! Oh, wait, it’s a woman. Probation should do it. No sex offender list necessary.

Nuclear Reactor Approved in U.S. for First Time Since 1978
Appears that we’ll have fewer nuclear reactors (due to retirements) before we have more.

North Dakota produced 534884 barrels of oil per day in December 2011
Not a lot, big picture wise, but definitely good.

Frankfurt airport shooter gets life in prison
He decided to kill US troops after he saw a video of Americans raping a teenage Muslim girl…turns out the video was from Brian DePalma’s anti-war movie “Redacted.”

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 it’s a must-read for Star Wars fans.

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]“?