Astromart

August 26, 2011 05:31 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Ford Joins Toyota

Interesting, a chance meeting at an airport lobby leads to a heavy hitter deal:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/life/autos/2011-08-25/ford-joins-toyota-hybrid-deal

September 5, 2011 08:07 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Saudi and Egyptian astronomers are under threat for stating Ramadan ended too early when millions of the devout thought they saw the moon during new moon and broke their fast and chowed-down. At first I thought this might be a case of "don't like the message, shoot the messenger" but then again how could millions of the faithful be so wrong?...
http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=236772

September 7, 2011 02:57 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

You Can't Even Go To An IHOP

Posted By Rod Kaufman

Without this kind of crap occurring:
http://news.yahoo.com/gunman-kills-3-nevada-ihop-including-guardsmen-004946980.html
"I wish I had shot him when he was going in the IHOP. But when he came at me...you can't believe the firepower, the kind of rounds coming out of that weapon."...

September 7, 2011 02:18 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Texas Goes To 85MPH Speed Limit

Posted By Rod Kaufman

Texas has raised its speed limit in some areas to 85MPH. That will increase road safety, increase gas mileage and decrease wear and tear on their cars as well as teach their young'uns a thing or two about the rules of the road, don't you think?
Not only that, but now they can have more buffalo burgers with all that livestock they're going to peel off the windshields. Beef, er ah I mean road kill, it's what's for dinner!

September 13, 2011 01:27 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

9/11 Marked On Mars

Posted By Rod Kaufman

Somebody was thinking...
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/911-anniversary-marked-by-a-tribute-on-mars.html

December 12, 2011 03:18 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

The Predator Drone in Iran

Posted By Rod Kaufman

The US reportedly considered a strike to remove the captured predator drone from Iranian hands:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2011/1207/US-considered-missions-to-destroy-RQ-170-Sentinel-drone-lost-in-Iran
A couple of things come into play:
1. What, they don't have a self-destruct mechanism built into the drone that could be activated by a satellite? I mean they've got to figure in a worst case scenario wherein a drone is lost and recovered by an enemy. It's hard to believe they don't have some kind of contingency if something like this happens.
2.The encrypted software is considered to be hack-proof and useless if recovered by an enemy.
3.The drone is a dummy loaded with computer viruses, faulty data and intell, meant to lead an enemy astray.
4. OOPS, we really screwed up and they got the real McCoy!

December 14, 2011 08:32 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions