Comments for H&I* Fires, 5 JUL 2007

H&I* Fires, 5 JUL 2007

2007-07-06T04:07:44Z

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

***************************
Heh. Who knew the Prius Hybrid could go 100mph? Clever way to get the younger crowd out of gas-only-burners. That's some outside-the-box thinking. -the Armorer

***************************

Isn't it enough to know the bombs failed? Why give out the weak link that caused the failure? What public interest is served? I know what terrorist interest is served... Just askin'... -the Armorer

***************************

Heh. This will *not* happen at the Castle. Everything contained therein is safely inert. I even have a binder for the local EOD guys that ID's everything, and lays out the signs of inerting. Why? Because EOD guys don't fiddle around with things, much. They tend to blow it up first and ask questions later. I'd hate to have that happen.

My kinda Beauty Queen. Warning, if you explore Theo's site - it's full of a lot of, um, well, for most of you NSFW pics. Nothing explicit, but Miss Thang would feel oppressed. H/t, CAPT H. -the Armorer

********************************

Captain Ed, on Canada's problem controlling interesting devices with nuclear components (We may have a similar problem, just unreported, lest anyone think I'm picking on Canada). Captain Ed makes the same observation about media assistance to terrrorists I make above - but I do have a quibble with the story that Captain Ed links to (not what Captain Ed said).

One hopes that Mr. Bell knows better than the journalist writing the piece, and that he didn't actually say:

Some of the devices could be used in a "dirty bomb," where conventional explosives are used to detonate nuclear material, spreading the contamination over a wide area, said Alan Bell, a security and international terrorism expert from Globe Risk Security Holdings.

Dirty bombs aren't detonating nuclear material... they're using conventional or improvised explosive to *spread* nuclear material via the effects of the explosion. Important distinction, if only because of the radiation pulse (absent from a "dirty bomb") that accompanies the detonation of a nuclear explosive. Just sayin'. -the Armorer

********************************
Redstate with a fascinating discussion of the MRAP, politics, and industrial capacity, and Senator Bidens deep understanding of the issue.

My favorite bit in the piece? Where Streiff writes...

"Unfortunately, Joe. The V-shaped things have to be actually manufactured by real people, in real factories, with real materials. They aren't created by the Legislative FairyWand™ issued to senior senators."

Now that's good eatin'! -the Armorer

*********************************

]]> *A term of art from the artillery. Harassment and Interdiction Fires.

Back in the day, when you could just kill people and break things without a note from a lawyer, they were pre-planned, but to the enemy, random, fires at known gathering points, road junctions, Main Supply Routes, assembly areas, etc - to keep the bad guy nervous that the world around him might start exploding at any minute.

*Not really relevant to today's operating environment, right? But, it *is*

The UAVs (oops, can't call 'em UAVs anymore - they're now Unmanned Aerial Systems... some Colonel got his Legion of Merit for that change...), er, um UAS's we fly over Afghanistan and Pakistan looking for targets of opportunity are a form of H&I fires, if you really want to parse it finely. We just have better sensors and fire control now.

I call the post that because it's random things posted by me and people I've given posting privileges to. It's also an open trackback, so if someone has a post they're proud of, but it really isn't either Castle kind of stuff, or topical to a particular post, I've basically given blanket permission to use that post for that purpose. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone".

Comment from Oldloadr on 2007-07-06

2007-07-06T15:00:45Z

3" mortars are the smallest part of our show. We have 4, 5, 6 & 8 inch shells, as well. But that is like saying 20mm is the smallest cannon. It's plenty big enough to kill mere mortals. That's why we have ATF (er, ATF&E) license.

Comment from Cricket on 2007-07-06

2007-07-06T14:07:34Z

Miss Utah is definately going to boost morale I'm sure. And she competed from the very bestest place in Utah; Cedar City, home of Southern Utah University. No, I didn't explore the site; your warning was sufficient.

Comment from BillT on 2007-07-06

2007-07-06T12:12:29Z

But fireworks can be tricky, and those sound like commercial ones... A 3" mortar's not only commercial, it's for major displays -- that's the starburst-of-sparklers type with a guaranteed bursting radius of 15 meters. NJSP confiscated a truckload of 'em in 1972 and brought the whole rig to Mag 2 at Dix for storage. When the mortars were no longer needed for evidence, the EOD guys and the Post Ammo Officer (moi) disposed of them. Took us allllll night...

Comment from Maggie on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T23:55:36Z

I understand that the Prius can go that fast. But you have to press the gas pedal. Considering what he had (MJ, vicodin, valium, etc.) I am impressed he had the energy to get the pedal to the metal, so to speak. Does this mean he has a reduced carbon leadfoot?

Comment from Andrew on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T20:19:28Z

I have a 2004 Prius and yes it will get up to that speed. I have driven a 2002 Prius with 3 people and luggage from LA to San Fran and was able to get it up to 96 MPH. It will be interesting to see who's custody the kid remains in. If the LA Sheriff, he'll be let out because he was whimpering in jail. Rich, powerful, popular or those connected to the former get special treatment.

Comment from NevadaDailySteve on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T18:57:28Z

According to nonclassified documents reviewed by ABC News, and confirmed by multiple sources, both mobile telephones initiated firing mechanisms rigged inside a Mercedes E 300 parked several yards from the front door of Tiger Tiger nightclub failed despite multiple calls to the cell phones designed to remotely trigger the devices.

I talk to the Highway Patrol, the Sheriff and the Police Chief, excuse me, Director of Public Safety, all the time. When something comes up that would be best not to print all they have to do is to say "Please don't print that." and I don't. I think a lot of information would be left unsaid if there were a better rapport between reporters and those they write about. It also wouldn't hurt if the officials requested the information be omitted without bluster or threats. I think I have a pretty good rapport with the LEOs I write about. It doesn't hurt that my nephew is on the force here in town, but it doesn't mean I get any special favors either. For something completely different when I heard about Al Bore III I flashed on an image of the Indy 500 as it would be run with electric cars. Can you imagine the pit stop if they had to recharge the batteries every 100 laps or so?

Comment from Cricket on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T16:36:51Z

Well, we at least now know that the Prius is environmentally friendly. I wonder how many carbon offsets he will have to buy to reduce that electric/gas footprint.

Comment from J.M. Heinrichs on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T16:30:11Z

I think the "stolen nuclear materials" story is a bit of a sham. From the descriptions in the news article, the material is probably existing in very small quanitities; it refers to measuring devices used in geological work. Remember the excitement when it was announced that one could acquire Polonium via mail order? That it would cost about $1Million to purchase enough for a lethal dose? Cheers

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T15:49:45Z

AFSis - I certainly hope not. We're pretty savvy about not crossing in *front* of the gunline. But fireworks can be tricky, and those sound like commercial ones, where some real training and experience is needed to set them up, and off, safely. And even then, a little overwatch from Saint Barbara is a good idea.

Comment from afsister on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T15:34:09Z

John, I'm guessing you won't have this sort of accident happen on the new Castle Grounds either. dip$hit.

Comment from Eric Wilner on 2007-07-05

2007-07-05T14:52:36Z

I thought everybody knew the Prius could go 100 MPH! I've never personally tried to go that fast, but (on the older (2000-2003) model, at least), the power train is rated 100 MPH, though the stock tires are only rated 85. Apparently exceeding 100 MPH would risk damaging some component of the hybrid system, and so, according to those who have tried to go fast, at 101 MPH the computer says, "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that," and refuses to go any faster. Durn robot puts the Third Law ahead of the Second!