Tools of War Bonus: Build Your Own Sniper Rifle

How cool is this sniper rifle?



By: Brant

Danger Room: DoD "Action" Figures

On the heels of computer science Barbie, Danger Room is suggesting other DoD action figures.

That got us to thinking: What the nation needs is more action figures to get children interested in promising careers within the Pentagon.

How about “Defense Acquisition Executive Barbie,” for starters? This doll would feature a rugged pantsuit, holstered BlackBerry, plus a bound and printed copy of the Future Years Defense Progam Structure handbook.

Or “TDY Barbie”? The life of the Department of Defense civilian can be exciting, especially when you are collecting an extra pay differential and per diem. It comes with a pair of exercise shorts, designer lanyard for Barbie’s CAC card and a souvenir t-shirt from Balad Air Force Base (”It’s always happy hour at Mortaritaville!”).

Then there’s “PowerPoint Barbie.” She has mastered the “Afghanistan Stability/COIN Dynamics” slide, and she is armed with a devastatingly accurate laser pointer.

Of course, let’s not forget role models for boys. “Paperpusher Ken” comes with his own ergonomic office chair. Note: The “send” button on his plastic desktop computer does not work, and if you remove him from his chair, he turns into “Whistleblower Ken.”

And what young child wouldn’t want to have “Public Affairs Officer Ken” doll? That silly G.I. Joe may have kung-fu grip, but Public Affairs Officer Ken has a set of ground rules for you to sign. And he wants you to know that this post is a Good News Story for the Department.

By: Brant

Next Gen Boardgaming?

Futurists somehow manage to convince people they should be paid to predict our future. I don't know how you manage to land that kind of a job but it always struck me as something I'd enjoy. I don't follow how accurate professional futurist are but sometimes peering into a crystal ball is easy.

In this case we need only point our browsers to a Cnet blog to find the latest in boardgaming technology: a merger of boardgames and computers which is aimed at creating an immesive, electronic environment with face to face interactions. No more shouting over the cubicle wall when you frag a buddy in some FPS. No more side-by-side husband and wife MMORPG teams. If this latest piece of tech pans out (and doesn't break the bank in the process) it looks to be a huge win.

Also of interest is dual-use capability. Pouring troops out of a ship onto a battlefield might seem appropriate for Settlers of Catan, and is tantalizing to imagine the possibilities of weaving historical, fantasy, or sci-fi minis into such a system. But the real winner may be the military, who might find the interactive, face-to-face network of real world widgets powered by electronic processing just what the doctor ordered for the next level of immersive training tools. Or maybe I should just keep my day job and not worry about becoming a futurist...

Check out the video:



By: GladiusMagnus

Weapons of the Future of... Today?

WIRED's excellent Danger Room blog has a pretty cool countdown of 10 Sci-Fi Weapons That Actually Exist.
Go check it out!

By: Brant

Tools of War: The M1225 Arctic Sleigh

The best way to hide something is to put it in plain sight, and give it a harmless, even benevolent, identity. The first true application of Area 51 alien technology, the M1225 Arctic Sleigh was funded under the guise of the much-publicized "Star Wars" space defense program of the 1980's.

Combining stealth technology, animal genetic-engineering, along with alien-sourced anti-gravity fields, inertial dampers, trans-dimensional pockets, and anti-matter propulsion systems, the M1225 is a true marvel of xeno-hybrid design.

Primary powered by a Stardust Antimatter Reactor, the M1225 is capable of speeds previously thought to be in the realm of fairy tales, necessitating the use of Inertial Dampers to enable the pilot to survive and function during such rapid acceleration and deceleration. While incredibly powerful, the Stardust Propulsion Engine is anything but stealthy, leaving a bright streak behind it and announcing its presence for miles around.

To this end, in an absolutely stunning feat of genetic modification, a team of nine genome-enhanced reindeer are harnessed as a secondary power source for stealth operations. Each reindeer produces somewhere in the area of 300,000 hp, well in excess of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The fuel source for these reindeer is simple and plentiful - cow manure. However, the amounts consumed during a single hour's flight is astounding, and would not be possible without a trans-dimensional storage pocket incorporated into the M1225. As long as the bullshit is flowing, the Sleigh stays operational.

Another use of the trans-dimensional pocket technology is in the payload storage bay. Able to carry a virtually limitless amount of stores, the M1225 is literally able to put ordnance on every single structure on the planet is just one sortie. Truly, this is the flagship of the USAF's bomber fleet.

There is one drawback to the project. Only one pilot has ever been adequately trained to operate the M1225 (callsign: Santa Claus), and he has developed a vicious substance abuse problem (cookies and milk) since the inception of the program. When interventions have been attempted, he just laughs off the concerns of those who bring the matter up with a jolly "Ho Ho Ho." He is also a bit of a publicity whore, visiting shopping malls all over the nation during the annual preparations for the winter FTX. This pilot also has a disturbing penchant for having small children sit on his lap and whisper into his ear - psych evaluations are ongoing, though inconclusive at this time. However, he has remained consistently competent and capable despite these issues.

The Sleigh develops "lift" through two rail-shaped anti-gravity generators, upon which the titanium-fiber sleigh body is mounted. At this time, no air-to-air offensive capabilities have been incorporated into the design, as the performance capabilities of the M1225 preclude the need to such items. However, "Santa Claus" continues to request that a M2 .50cal machinegun be mounted to the vehicle, but his requests are repeatedly denied, as his justification on the request is listed as, "Ma-Dueces are just BAD-ASS!"

The M1225 is tested annually in an early winter field training exercise (Operation Christmas), during which the Sleigh marks civilian non-combatant households in its IFF system through the delivery of "presents". This operation takes place under the cover of darkness during a single night's flight. In a publicity coup, the NORAD track of the M1225's progress is broadcast to the world, warming the hearts of our allies and striking fear into those who would oppose us. In a word, stunning.


Merry Christmas!


By: Steve

Oh, what? Now you're outraged?

So apparently, BrickArms, who've been around for a few years, are suddenly attacting the ire of whiny adults with nothing better to focus their attention:
{numbers in brackets correspond to my comments below}

A Lego-style figurine resembling an Islamic terrorist strapped with explosives and made by a small American company has caused an uproar among Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
The controversial miniature figure, created by Seattle-based Will Chapman as part of his BrickArms military fighters line, is a bearded militant with a face-covering hood, a tiny toy assault rifle, a little grenade launcher and plastic bombs that can be attached to an explosives belt. {1}
The character is called "Bandit — Mr. White" and sells for $14.
The jarring toy has outraged the British Muslim organization known as the Ramadhan Foundation, which called the figurine "absolutely disgusting," according to Sky News.
The foundation's chief executive, Mohammed Shafiq, complained that the toy is "glorifying terrorism." {2}
"I don't think there's any difference between someone that shouts hatred through a megaphone and someone that creates a doll that glorifies terrorists," he told Sky. {3}
"As a parent myself, I'm going to teach my children respect for the law and respect for each and every community. These are the lessons parents should be giving to their children — not lessons about weapons and violence."
Chapman, a father of three who operates the company from the Seattle suburb of Redmond, Wash., bristles at the notion that he is celebrating terrorism.
"We do not sell an 'Osama bin Laden' miniature figure," he wrote in an e-mail to FOXNews.com. "We sell a generic bad guy minifigure with a Ninja scarf head wrap, the same minifigure that we have been selling for over a year now, {4} with no associated 'outrage.'

{1} Uh, those are grenades (see image below) and pretty much every soldier out there carries them, so why not the bad guys?
{2} Do the criminals in the LEGO police sets glorify crime? Why not have bad guys to chase around?
{3} Didn't realize LEGOs were dolls. Hmmm. And how is it 'glorifying' a terrorist if he's there to be a target dummy?
{4} What he said - it's been on the market for over a year. Why are you outraged now?




By: Brant