Upsetting the public

 blather, dumbassery, I'm from the government, politics, weapons  15 Responses »
Nov 062010
 

There’s justifiable outrage at “child soldiers,” then there’s the sort of hysterical whining on display here:

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Cadets-parade-hit-rifle-ban/article-2842270-detail/article.html

ARMY cadets in Plymouth have been banned from carrying rifles in public just days before they were due to take part in a Remembrance festival.

The children had spent weeks practising rifle drill for a display at the Plymouth Pavilions tonight.

But this week they were told by their top brass that the rifles had to go.

Devon Cadet Executive Officer Major David Waterworth told The Herald yesterday that the Plymouth cadets had been ignoring a national ruling.

“It isn’t a new regulation. It’s been in force for about ten years, ever since the UK signed the agreement against using child soldiers.

“There is no need for children to appear in public with weapons. It does upset some members of the public.

“There is no need for it. It doesn’t reflect our aims and ethos in the Army Cadet Force.”

Note that the article doesn’t seem to give the ages of these “children.” Could be 17, for all I know. But even if the cadets are 8… so what? Training with firearms is something that should begin early. Your average gun shop in Utah has a section devoted specifically for kids, typically bolt-action .22 rifles, scaled down appropriately. If there are some members of the public who are upset at the sight of cadets carrying rifles… man the hell up, Nancy, and get yourself some insensitivity training.

 Posted by at 8:36 am

B-58 Launcher

 aircraft, drawings, projects, rockets  5 Responses »
Nov 062010
 

From the SDAM via Mark Nankivil, a pencil sketch of unknown origin showing a B-58 launching a large rocket. Evidence seems to suggest that this rocket is a space launcher of some type… maybe a satellite launcher, maybe an ASAT. But evidence also suggests that this artwork may not have been  professionally produced. It might be just doodling by someone unrelated to Convair.

 Posted by at 7:50 am

Eating Their Own

 blather, politics  30 Responses »
Nov 052010
 

Political correctness has been a weapon of the Left weilded as a club against the Right for many years. But recently it seems to have become a weapon of the Left wielded as a club against… those on the Left. For a political movement that makes incessant noise about freedom of speech, they sure seem really sensitive about offending anyone.

Helen Thomas got herself retired for essentially calling for genocide against the Jews of Israel. Not overly surprising there.

Rick Sanchez got himself fired for saying that the Jews run CNN. That’s sorta old-school anti-semitism, and kinda surprising for him to whip that out.

Juan Williams got himself fired from NPR for stating that those who dress as radical Muslims at airports make him nervous. This statement was likely not even factually arguable, yet it lost him a long-term gig (but opened the door to a better one). The most likely explanation for Williams’ termination was not the actual statement, but that he has had the gall to appear on Fox News, which the leftist leadership fo NPR finds unforgivable. So much for freedom of speech.

And now Keith Olbermann has been canned by MSNBC for donating the legal amount to Democratic Senatorial and Congressional candidates. NBC has regulations in its employee contracts to prohibit such things, in order to prevent the appearance of political partisanship… but it hardly seems likely that anyone would ever mistake Olbermann for a non-partisan. So, why now? On emight be tempted to think that the batcrap insanity displayed by Olbermann might have persuaded NBC management that he’s more of a liability than an asset, and used his contributions as a convenient excuse to be rid of him.

 Posted by at 6:30 pm

Modified XF-92

 aircraft, projects  2 Responses »
Nov 042010
 

From the SDAM comes an image of an XF-92 with a pointed nose and cheek inlets, similar to those used on the F-102. This appears to be an altered photograph, with the changes airbrushed in. The unmodified XF-92 inlet configuration is visible in the background.

It’s unclear if this was part of a serious proposal to modify the XF-92 configuration, but clearly the changes were instituted with the F-102 and F-106.

 Posted by at 3:04 pm

Tilt Wing

 aircraft, projects  4 Responses »
Nov 032010
 

Early 1960’s Boeing Vertol design for a VTOL tilt-wing military tactical transport, similar in concept to the V-22. *Probably* a design for the Tri-Service competition. No further info.

 Posted by at 9:29 am
 Older Entries  Newer Entries