We were the first with nuclear bombs, now, even a third world nation like North Korea has them. We were the first with computers, but now we are constantly having to defend our gov’t and corporate computers from the cyber attacks from other nations. We were the first to use drones, but now other nations are advancing in that field. We are the first to use lasers.^It is only by educating our children and instilling in them and the adults running American based companies a love or country and a sense of duty to their neighbors, that we can stay ahead of the technologies escaping our borders.In our international culture, we educate children who sell their skills to the highest bidder and in our national behavior, we divide peoples based on race, class, income, and culture. The key word is we are being divided against one another. ^Why should the children of conservatives care what happens to the liberal moochers? Better to take their skills to a country that will let them keep their money and appreciate their skill sets. Why should the children of liberals care what happens to selfish power brokers who are stripping the land of resources for their own betterment? Best to go to a European country and use their education and skills in a place where they’ll be appreciated.^Those are the extreme examples, but the truth, as with most things, is closer to the center. If we do not Unite and work together against self interested politicians, they will continue to turn us against each other. ^We need to educate ourselves, not only to help our children perform better and learn to love America, but to help us learn to be more civil and respectful to one another.Respectfully,C.
Nice, except these new laser weapons don’t work in a sandy environment. That couldn’t be a problem in the Middle-East, now could it? Your military-industrial complex at work again.
@ Dr. Canuck – The Chinese still remember the Boxer Rebellion and while the US gov’t was not key to creating the strife between the West and China, our military and ships caused embarrassment to the Chinese they still recall. The actions of the US from 1846 on in Latin America are taught in the classrooms of our enemies as lessons to be learned from our democracy. The 1953 removal of the democratically elected leader of Iran led to the leadership of the Shah whose brutal leadership under US patronage led to the conflicts we have with them today. I can continue.^My point is not unpatriotic. Americans are good people, with good hearts, and we have been a true benefit to the majority of peoples and nations. Sadly, our politicians and the monied interests to whom they cater have always felt it was alright to behave differently in other nations, as long as the means were justified by the ends. The fact that their means rarely resulted in the ends they sought is a lesson politicians are unable to learn. I do not consider many of our politicians to be patriots. Except for a minuscule number of our US international corporations, it seems none have loyalty to ANY thing but money. ^Consider that while other nations may use the USA as an excuse to “defend themselves”, at the foundation, you will find a small group of people who want to be the next wave of rich and powerful rulers of “something or everything”.I wish I could disagree with you, Dr. but history tells me I can’t, and present day behaviors of politicians don’t give me any immediate hope. thank you for the reply tho.^@ Robert – It’s not as hard as you make it sound, but thank you. I read Mr. Hawking’s article and my only disagreement is the length of time he gives us. I don’t think we have that long.^You are right that it requires a world wide Uniting of peoples. You are also right about why we are not doing the kind of things we need to in order to better our selves and our planet. People have placed money and independent comforts over the welfare and needs of a planet full of interdependent lifeforms. ^We no longer have a “world”, it is too small to be considered that anymore. We are more like a great starship with finite supplies and too many sections of the ship becoming inhabitable or dangerous. There are no lifeboats from this ship. People talk about colonies “out in space”, but if we don’t take care of Colony Earth, nothing we do on the Moon, or Mars will survive.Thank you for you compliments and for your own well presented comments.Sincerely,C.
Bill Maher did an excellent job of pointing out all the “field conditions” under which this laser weapon, WILL NOT WORK! These are “problems” long known with laser weapons, and haven’t changed any, another expensive toy when considering the limitations. Same problems arose with the airborne ‘star wars" laser system mounted on a 747. Which “Star Wars” weapons were used in space, where there’s NO ATMOSPHERE, something our defense contractors didn’t want Congressional funders to recognize.
Yes a laser sight on a handgun or rifle is a “handy” device, but even in this short range use, fog or smoke, or dust in the air, can make them useless.
Hello MichaelWME. Too many mikes in this forum. I may just refer to you as WME in the future, what do those letters stand for? Weapons of Mass Enlightenment?Anyway, the info I’ve read seems to support that it requires perfect weather conditions in order for this weapon to work. One report indicates it is more likely to be used on small boats than aircraft or missiles. Gov’t rigging a test? Disappointing but it wouldnt’ be the first time.^That said…. this is first generation, beta, if you will. My post was more of a warning to our failure to lead in education and innovation as we once did. A military officer I knew gave me a magazine that predicted a pulse weapon that would one day be mounted on ships. It was not a laser, but the energy fired created a “vacuum” through which the next pulse fired, and a thousand or ten thousand pulses would result in the target being struck in about the same time it takes for the energy of a lightning bold to reach from the ground to the sky. ^No matter what form our next superweapon takes, our enemies will be close on our heels with their own version. Mr. Landers post offers the only real solution, for man to make peace with man and for that species to decide to work to make the world a better place. Education is a great start. As long as our national anoesis continues, we will never bridge the divide our politicians have wedged between us.^Thank you for your very kind compliment, but I find your comments to be much more useful and informative. Sincerely,C.
My brother the engineer was working on chemical lasers, intended to be deployed in space (orbit) a long time ago. At about the same time, a friend in the Air Force working with highly focused microwave beams reported blowing birds out of the sky many, many, miles away. Particle beam weapons, lots of alternatives to talk about, but a bullet still works best, and at best economy. (A Hellfire is $68,000. EACH missile in the “Iron Dome” is supposed to cost $88,000, and they launch five to intercept each $500 “rocket” that might be launched from Gaza if it looks like it might NOT land in an agricultural field, which 99% do)
You repeat one of my most oft repeated complaints. The division of America and its citizens.How would you suggest that we address that dividing of Americans?curiously,C.
chazandru about 11 years ago
We were the first with nuclear bombs, now, even a third world nation like North Korea has them. We were the first with computers, but now we are constantly having to defend our gov’t and corporate computers from the cyber attacks from other nations. We were the first to use drones, but now other nations are advancing in that field. We are the first to use lasers.^It is only by educating our children and instilling in them and the adults running American based companies a love or country and a sense of duty to their neighbors, that we can stay ahead of the technologies escaping our borders.In our international culture, we educate children who sell their skills to the highest bidder and in our national behavior, we divide peoples based on race, class, income, and culture. The key word is we are being divided against one another. ^Why should the children of conservatives care what happens to the liberal moochers? Better to take their skills to a country that will let them keep their money and appreciate their skill sets. Why should the children of liberals care what happens to selfish power brokers who are stripping the land of resources for their own betterment? Best to go to a European country and use their education and skills in a place where they’ll be appreciated.^Those are the extreme examples, but the truth, as with most things, is closer to the center. If we do not Unite and work together against self interested politicians, they will continue to turn us against each other. ^We need to educate ourselves, not only to help our children perform better and learn to love America, but to help us learn to be more civil and respectful to one another.Respectfully,C.
WaitingMan about 11 years ago
Nice, except these new laser weapons don’t work in a sandy environment. That couldn’t be a problem in the Middle-East, now could it? Your military-industrial complex at work again.
chazandru about 11 years ago
@ Dr. Canuck – The Chinese still remember the Boxer Rebellion and while the US gov’t was not key to creating the strife between the West and China, our military and ships caused embarrassment to the Chinese they still recall. The actions of the US from 1846 on in Latin America are taught in the classrooms of our enemies as lessons to be learned from our democracy. The 1953 removal of the democratically elected leader of Iran led to the leadership of the Shah whose brutal leadership under US patronage led to the conflicts we have with them today. I can continue.^My point is not unpatriotic. Americans are good people, with good hearts, and we have been a true benefit to the majority of peoples and nations. Sadly, our politicians and the monied interests to whom they cater have always felt it was alright to behave differently in other nations, as long as the means were justified by the ends. The fact that their means rarely resulted in the ends they sought is a lesson politicians are unable to learn. I do not consider many of our politicians to be patriots. Except for a minuscule number of our US international corporations, it seems none have loyalty to ANY thing but money. ^Consider that while other nations may use the USA as an excuse to “defend themselves”, at the foundation, you will find a small group of people who want to be the next wave of rich and powerful rulers of “something or everything”.I wish I could disagree with you, Dr. but history tells me I can’t, and present day behaviors of politicians don’t give me any immediate hope. thank you for the reply tho.^@ Robert – It’s not as hard as you make it sound, but thank you. I read Mr. Hawking’s article and my only disagreement is the length of time he gives us. I don’t think we have that long.^You are right that it requires a world wide Uniting of peoples. You are also right about why we are not doing the kind of things we need to in order to better our selves and our planet. People have placed money and independent comforts over the welfare and needs of a planet full of interdependent lifeforms. ^We no longer have a “world”, it is too small to be considered that anymore. We are more like a great starship with finite supplies and too many sections of the ship becoming inhabitable or dangerous. There are no lifeboats from this ship. People talk about colonies “out in space”, but if we don’t take care of Colony Earth, nothing we do on the Moon, or Mars will survive.Thank you for you compliments and for your own well presented comments.Sincerely,C.
Dtroutma about 11 years ago
Bill Maher did an excellent job of pointing out all the “field conditions” under which this laser weapon, WILL NOT WORK! These are “problems” long known with laser weapons, and haven’t changed any, another expensive toy when considering the limitations. Same problems arose with the airborne ‘star wars" laser system mounted on a 747. Which “Star Wars” weapons were used in space, where there’s NO ATMOSPHERE, something our defense contractors didn’t want Congressional funders to recognize.
Yes a laser sight on a handgun or rifle is a “handy” device, but even in this short range use, fog or smoke, or dust in the air, can make them useless.
OmqR-IV.0 about 11 years ago
It’s just a bloody wall-chart laser pointer, ffs!
chazandru about 11 years ago
Hello MichaelWME. Too many mikes in this forum. I may just refer to you as WME in the future, what do those letters stand for? Weapons of Mass Enlightenment?Anyway, the info I’ve read seems to support that it requires perfect weather conditions in order for this weapon to work. One report indicates it is more likely to be used on small boats than aircraft or missiles. Gov’t rigging a test? Disappointing but it wouldnt’ be the first time.^That said…. this is first generation, beta, if you will. My post was more of a warning to our failure to lead in education and innovation as we once did. A military officer I knew gave me a magazine that predicted a pulse weapon that would one day be mounted on ships. It was not a laser, but the energy fired created a “vacuum” through which the next pulse fired, and a thousand or ten thousand pulses would result in the target being struck in about the same time it takes for the energy of a lightning bold to reach from the ground to the sky. ^No matter what form our next superweapon takes, our enemies will be close on our heels with their own version. Mr. Landers post offers the only real solution, for man to make peace with man and for that species to decide to work to make the world a better place. Education is a great start. As long as our national anoesis continues, we will never bridge the divide our politicians have wedged between us.^Thank you for your very kind compliment, but I find your comments to be much more useful and informative. Sincerely,C.
rockngolfer about 11 years ago
I saw the demonstration of the laser setting a drone on fire.But dust, clouds, smoke, and rain can cause poor performance.
Dtroutma about 11 years ago
My brother the engineer was working on chemical lasers, intended to be deployed in space (orbit) a long time ago. At about the same time, a friend in the Air Force working with highly focused microwave beams reported blowing birds out of the sky many, many, miles away. Particle beam weapons, lots of alternatives to talk about, but a bullet still works best, and at best economy. (A Hellfire is $68,000. EACH missile in the “Iron Dome” is supposed to cost $88,000, and they launch five to intercept each $500 “rocket” that might be launched from Gaza if it looks like it might NOT land in an agricultural field, which 99% do)
Michael Peterson Premium Member about 11 years ago
Yeah, it’ll be this easy! And they’ll greet us as liberators, throwing flowers and candy! Just like the last time you rightwingers drew us into a war!
chazandru about 11 years ago
You repeat one of my most oft repeated complaints. The division of America and its citizens.How would you suggest that we address that dividing of Americans?curiously,C.