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US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

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Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#11

As usual, I find the music in all of the linked videos delusional, as if this high-tech killing machine was created to astonish patriotic five-year-olds. For the sake of analogy, someone should overlay the same music to the engineering of a-bombs and gas chambers.

One day history will likely show the whole project amounted to nothing more than propaganda meant to impress teenage boys so they enlist. I anticipate this supposed weapon system seeing very little if any use in battle, but receiving extensive media and promotional coverage.

Some people are hoping for a return of the battleship era, with nuclear powered ships slinging shells at each other across the horizon with electric cannons. But I'm pretty sure that is wishful thinking.

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#12

As usual, I find the music in all of the linked videos delusional, as if this high-tech killing machine was created to astonish patriotic five-year-olds. For the sake of analogy, someone should overlay the same music to the engineering of a-bombs and gas chambers.

I agree on at least the first half of your statement. Although I'm not sure I'd say 'delusional' as much as - I don't know? - Jingoistic? Bombastic? I feel like I should be playing Command and Conquer to that sound track. At the end of the day, these are killing machines that are being designed to take human lives, and it does feel more than a bit inappropriate. I think that's what you're getting at with the latter half.

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, are you drawing a parallel between a rail gun and gas chambers?

Sorry, are you implying that a rail gun is that much more humane?

One of the big differences is that gas chambers are only useful for killing prisoners while there is no indication whatsoever that railguns will be used to kill prisoners.

(That said, if it were my execution and the choice were given to me, I would of course chose the railgun! Suffocating on cyanide gas doesn't seem like much fun, I'd rather be vaporized by a hypersonic artillery shell, if it's all the same to you...)

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#15

As usual, I find the music in all of the linked videos delusional, as if this high-tech killing machine was created to astonish patriotic five-year-olds. For the sake of analogy, someone should overlay the same music to the engineering of a-bombs and gas chambers.

Sounds like they paid a highschool student to play a muted version of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRh-dzrI4Z4

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#16

Am I supposed to celebrate the spending of untold billions on an unnecessary weapon of death while my Bridges and roads crumble, my health care system sucks and absolutely nothing is being done about, or to prepare for, climate change?? I'm not impressed

Is there a widespread lack of funding for bridges and roads infrastructure in the US?

The bridges and roads around me in middle TN are well maintained. These are funded by local government resources, right?

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#17

As usual, I find the music in all of the linked videos delusional, as if this high-tech killing machine was created to astonish patriotic five-year-olds. For the sake of analogy, someone should overlay the same music to the engineering of a-bombs and gas chambers.

DIY videos by armed service members often use over-the-top soundtracks. I bet the intent of that video wasn't to be PR or marketing, just a fun recap of work done.

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, are you drawing a parallel between a rail gun and gas chambers?

Sorry, are you implying that a rail gun is that much more humane?

It sure is. Are you implying that a railgun is equally or less humane as chemical weapons?

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#19

As usual, I find the music in all of the linked videos delusional, as if this high-tech killing machine was created to astonish patriotic five-year-olds. For the sake of analogy, someone should overlay the same music to the engineering of a-bombs and gas chambers.

> created to astonish patriotic five-year-olds

In other words, the current POTUS?

Re: US Navy's Railgun Now Undergoing Tests in New Mexico

#20

Am I supposed to celebrate the spending of untold billions on an unnecessary weapon of death while my Bridges and roads crumble, my health care system sucks and absolutely nothing is being done about, or to prepare for, climate change?? I'm not impressed

Is there a widespread lack of funding for bridges and roads infrastructure in the US? The bridges and roads around me in middle TN are well maintained. These are funded by local government resources, right?

Yep, this has been pretty widely reported, in fact when I was looking for an article that covered this the first one I found (from April this year) talked about a bridge in TN which collapsed: https://www.npr.org/2019/04/05/710364158/report-finds-more-t...
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