Today's lunch time conversation

[pensnest]

Beast: I was reading in Scientific American about some bizarre US military research projects. There's a nuclear hand-grenade. A one kilo-ton yield you can throw...

Pen: Wow. (pause) You'd need a pretty good arm.

Beast: I don't think they're worried about the practicalities. There's also a Star Trek-style transporter project.

Both: Bwahaha.

Comments

[chrismm.livejournal.com]

Dude. The bomb? Bad idea, as bombs always are, in my opinion. However, I've been saying we need the scientists to quit fucking around with bombs and build some kind of transporter system for years. That has practical applications--plus I wanna be able to dash down to have dinner with my mom in Eugene, or visit my out-of-state nieces and nephews, and be home in time to watch CSI.

[pensnest]

I think someone has managed to transport an atom... but I dunno, I'm going to have to lose *so* much weight before that becomes anywhere near practical for me!

[sidra]

I think they should figure out a way to build the transport so it does that for you. "Step inside and we'll take you where you want to go. And leave your fat behind!" *grin*

[pensnest]

Now that's the kind of research we could use!

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

That's out miliatry for you. Most countries would attempt to get the transporter thing fixed first, but I'll bet you we're more worried about making sure we can blow people up and already has an extensive cover up plan written out.

Sigh.

[pensnest]

Transporters would be cool indeed. But I have a feeling the nuclear hand grenade is more doable. You gotta wonder, though, how this stuff *gets* onto the research list!

[zillahseye.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD I totally think they need to get on that hand grenade. If you if they phased out bombs and shot the wad on hand grenades, that would end all nuclear war.

...well, except for suicide bombers.

Dammit.

[pensnest]

"*You* throw it."
"No, *you* throw it."
"No, *you* fucking throw it. I'm outta here..."
"All right, I'll throw it. Hey, where'd everybody go?"


Hee. Perhaps we could give one each to our world leaders.

[xoverau.livejournal.com]

Seriously, dude. Could be peace on earth if those were the only weapons. You become a world leader so other people can get their asses blown off, not you.

[pensnest]

It'd be quite a leveller. wistfulness

[hegemony.livejournal.com]

It's really funny, actually. The transporter project is handled by DARPA, which is this cracky assed sci-thinktank in DC, that's trying to make up shit to see through walls with plain vision and everything, but the reason why the transporter isn't up and running yet is because all the funding's going to the bombs, and while it's a big honor to get into darpa, because they only accept and fund the best, youngest, and brightest (or crackiest) of scientists, all the scientists use it as a resume filler to get into the army/navy research labs or some other private lab to develop, you guessed it, bombs.

It's a bit of a vicious cycle, after you start thinking about it, long enough.

[pensnest]

Isn't it sad, though, that most of the money and prestige is going to the creators of death. Anyone would think our societies didn't have the means to kill people already...

I bet it's more *fun* to work on a transporter!