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One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

nytimes.com

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Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#61

Post by ars »

Ididntdothis wrote: post #36

I always wonder what they will do if there is a big war (maybe one that affects the homeland which is something the US is not used to) and the contractors decide fighting in this war is not good for business or they just want more money? Are they going to suspend IP laws and other contracts? It seems really weird that to have a military that’s dependent on other parties they can’t control. This structure works ok if…

> Are they going to suspend IP laws and other contracts?

You don't need a war to do that, that's already the law.

The government (not just the military) can force you to license them your patent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_patent_use_(United_...

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#62

Post by chmod775 »

gambler wrote: post #59

In the 60s science fiction we had all those advanced aliens who had artifacts that were nearly indestructible, worked forever and could output tons of energy. That was our vision of "high-tech". In the 80s we got the idea that maybe advanced aliens would have "smart" devices that could adapt to their environment, repair themselves and be incredibly versatile. In those decades SF technology has one thing in common, re…

"I was watching Disney movies on my HUD yesterday and now the right arm of my nanotech exoskeleton is stuck in a boot loop. I knew installing the Disney+ application was a bad idea."

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#63

Post by chmod775 »

merpnderp wrote: post #60
gambler wrote: post #59

In the 60s science fiction we had all those advanced aliens who had artifacts that were nearly indestructible, worked forever and could output tons of energy. That was our vision of "high-tech". In the 80s we got the idea that maybe advanced aliens would have "smart" devices that could adapt to their environment, repair themselves and be incredibly versatile. In those decades SF technology has one thing in common, re…

Nothing stopping you from making your own brickish phone thingy that connects to lte, runs a powerful processor and has a huge battery. You could do it from commodity parts and it would be trivially reparable by slapping in bits you cheaply order off Amazon/New Egg. And compared to 1980, it would still be mind bogglingly sci-fi - it just wouldn't be as sleek and svelte as your new iPhone. But I do get your point. I d…

That (kind of) phone already exists: https://www.fairphone.com/en/

It's pretty "brickish", but you can order replacement parts easily and service it yourself: https://shop.fairphone.com/en/spare-parts/

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#64

Post by tehjoker »

ProAm wrote: post #4
bitlax wrote: post #3

What is the workaround for the New York Times paywall?

Paying for content you want to read. Good journalism isn't cheap, this is one of those things you shouldnt pirate.

I already pay for state department and Pentagon talking points with my tax dollars.

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#65

Post by DrAwdeOccarim »

gambler wrote: post #59

In the 60s science fiction we had all those advanced aliens who had artifacts that were nearly indestructible, worked forever and could output tons of energy. That was our vision of "high-tech". In the 80s we got the idea that maybe advanced aliens would have "smart" devices that could adapt to their environment, repair themselves and be incredibly versatile. In those decades SF technology has one thing in common, re…

I'd read the comic. That sounds hilarious!

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#66

Post by lostgame »

ISL wrote: post #27
rb808 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you create an account you get 5 free articles a month so that should suit you fine.

I'd do it (and indeed have done it, but don't use the account), if I didn't have to be tracked in order to read....

Yup. This. No, I don’t need yet another company having my info - I’m demanded to sign up on a brand new computer I just set up - I don’t even get a free article anymore.

Tested it on a VPN to make sure, even.

I think ‘quality journalism’ can do without stopping to this level.

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#67

Post by lostgame »

Aloha wrote: post #56
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dutch startup Blendle tried to do this, working with national newspapers to sell articles on a per-article basis. NY Times was one of their investors.

https://launch.blendle.com They still are doing it - the issue of course is blendle wants me to be the portal from which I read all my news - and I want to read it from wherever, my account bring debited when I read a blendled page.

>> the issue of course is blendle wants me to be the portal from which I read all my news

Bahaha, yeah, no. That’s not what I’m talking about.

Imagine we could also pay a generic monthly fee for e.g. access to Netflix, Disney+, etc, and the profits go to the services we are watching at the time.

All this celebration of Disney+ is honestly sad af, and shows just how out of touch people are.

We are in days worse than cable television, except that it’s on demand.

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#68

Post by lostgame »

merpnderp wrote: post #60
gambler wrote: post #59

In the 60s science fiction we had all those advanced aliens who had artifacts that were nearly indestructible, worked forever and could output tons of energy. That was our vision of "high-tech". In the 80s we got the idea that maybe advanced aliens would have "smart" devices that could adapt to their environment, repair themselves and be incredibly versatile. In those decades SF technology has one thing in common, re…

Nothing stopping you from making your own brickish phone thingy that connects to lte, runs a powerful processor and has a huge battery. You could do it from commodity parts and it would be trivially reparable by slapping in bits you cheaply order off Amazon/New Egg. And compared to 1980, it would still be mind bogglingly sci-fi - it just wouldn't be as sleek and svelte as your new iPhone. But I do get your point. I d…

>> Nothing stopping you from making your own brickish phone thingy that connects to lte, runs a powerful processor and has a huge battery

But the real issue is what does it run? Android? Seems contrary to the point of building your own device.

There has yet to be a serious Mobile OS in the FOSS world that’s not tied in to the evils of Google, and still has e.g. baseband or phone call support.

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#69

Post by marcoseliziario »

jlawson wrote: post #37
Ididntdothis wrote: post #36

I always wonder what they will do if there is a big war (maybe one that affects the homeland which is something the US is not used to) and the contractors decide fighting in this war is not good for business or they just want more money? Are they going to suspend IP laws and other contracts? It seems really weird that to have a military that’s dependent on other parties they can’t control. This structure works ok if…

They'll just nationalize the factories. Not just existing military factories - civilian infrastructure will be converted where possible. E.g. a car factory changes to making military vehicles. If necessary, guys with guns will arrive to ensure that production continues. Lots of historical references on this sort of thing from the WW2 era.

Exactly. That's what happened in the WWII. This nice tesla factory? Well, we need some nice silent patrol vehicles mr Musk, but we need you to come out with some kind of composite armor for it in 60 days. If you can't do it, don't worry, we will take care of your factory for the duration, and when this is over you can have it again.

Re: One Reason the U.S. Military Can’t Fix Its Own Equipment

#70

Post by Aloha »

lostgame wrote: post #67
Aloha wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://launch.blendle.com They still are doing it - the issue of course is blendle wants me to be the portal from which I read all my news - and I want to read it from wherever, my account bring debited when I read a blendled page.

>> the issue of course is blendle wants me to be the portal from which I read all my news Bahaha, yeah, no. That’s not what I’m talking about. Imagine we could also pay a generic monthly fee for e.g. access to Netflix, Disney+, etc, and the profits go to the services we are watching at the time. All this celebration of Disney+ is honestly sad af, and shows just how out of touch people are. We are in days worse than c…

I want the digital equivalent of a coin slot I insert money into when I'm on the nyt's website I can insert money into to read.

I think we want the same thing.

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