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Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

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Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#121
post #40
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's obviously propaganda but it is very interesting nonetheless. Sorry, how is this video obviously propaganda?

It's not. The guy lives and works in Huntsville. The primary revenue of the city is weapon and propulsion research for the government. I'd imagine that perspective is the norm in that area (even more than the South in general).

He works for the military. He’s more open about it recently. I used to watched his videos but now its just advertisement for the military. He seems very happy designing efficient killing machines. He mentioned works on rocket propelled munitions research.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#122
post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Red Cross still considers them to be dangerous. The human eye (depending on the person) magnifies light 100,000-500,000 times. The inverse square law means that only minor variations in distance can have large differences in effective light (laser irradiance conforms to this law). Rangefinders aren't perfect and the smaller they are, the harder it is to detect the range accurately (inverse square law again). Lase…

Not trying to nitpick but I had trouble following some of your wording. What would the international incident be over if it happened during a fight? I get that blinding civilians by accident during a training exercise could blow up but blinding targets with a high powered laser doesn't seem that different from using flash grenades when storming a building. I was also unsure because you mentioned it happening during a…

A grenade blinds temporarily, a laser blinds permanently. FTA:

> international law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_on_Blinding_Laser_Wea... prohibits the employment of any such system that is deliberately designed to cause permanent blindness.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#123
post #80

Wow, this explains it all! I currently live on the beach in Dakar Sénégal. About 2 weeks ago, I was up late on my balcony and saw these dazzling green lights coming from really far out in the ocean. For one I was wondering what it was, and two, I was surprised that the green lights seemed to be coming from so far out from the ocean, but yet they were lighting up the beach like someone was standing right there with a…

The only known countermeasure is a Bedazzler vest.

Retro(reflective) man!

https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=12...

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#124
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not trying to nitpick but I had trouble following some of your wording. What would the international incident be over if it happened during a fight? I get that blinding civilians by accident during a training exercise could blow up but blinding targets with a high powered laser doesn't seem that different from using flash grenades when storming a building. I was also unsure because you mentioned it happening during a…

A grenade blinds temporarily, a laser blinds permanently. FTA: > international law https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_on_Blinding_Laser_Wea... prohibits the employment of any such system that is deliberately designed to cause permanent blindness.

I didn't know! Thanks! But is permanent blindness actually a moral hazard if you're using that blindness to create an immediate opportunity to shoot the subject? I'm not a soldier so I might be way off but I'm assuming being totally blind for even a few seconds is a massive handicap in an engagement.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#125
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's obviously propaganda but it is very interesting nonetheless. Sorry, how is this video obviously propaganda?

Ok so destin works as a scientist for the us gov. He did a video a while ago where he interviewed a general about the cyber domain of warfare. In this interview they discussed that the interview itself was part of that cyber domain, and the access they provide to destin is a part of the US presence in the cyber domain. [0] The pentagon clearly sees smarter everyday as a channel to spread information to a certain audi…

I don't remember the video, but Destin talked about how this stuff is clearly propaganda related but he'd have no chance to do the videos otherwise. I think it was the rocket factory one.

I like Destin a lot, but he's no journalist holding feet to fire and I think he's clear enough about that. He's more 'pop-sci' YouTube like Veritasium or Tom Scott.

That said, yeah, the angle is pro US and very empathizing with people/warfighters. He's also very pro Alabama. State pride, I guess.

I'm glad I don't have to walk the line that he is and I am grateful for the look he gives. But as always, you'll need more info than just Destin to make informed decisions.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#126
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not. The guy lives and works in Huntsville. The primary revenue of the city is weapon and propulsion research for the government. I'd imagine that perspective is the norm in that area (even more than the South in general).

He works for the military. He’s more open about it recently. I used to watched his videos but now its just advertisement for the military. He seems very happy designing efficient killing machines. He mentioned works on rocket propelled munitions research.

I thought he went back to grad school?

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#127

The youtube channel smarter every day is doing a series about live aboard a nuclear attack sub (different class than the one in the article, Los Angeles class IIRC) during an exercise where they navigate under ice, called ICEX. which might be of interest if you like this article. It's obviously propaganda but it is very interesting nonetheless. actual submarine part: https://youtu.be/RXXMJAU6vY8 the leadup and contex…

I upvoted your child comment re: propaganda and I agree with it. I just also want to say to folks who might be turned off by that, his channel is super interesting!

Laminar flow, the physics of weed whackers and lawn mowers, rocket-powered golf clubs, eliminating poop splash, VR gloves and treadmills, touring a rocket factory and seeing a launch...he’s got a lot for geeks to like in there!

I’m not helping my case here, but he also has a good talk about being a science guy who is also a Christian in a field where that’s often dismissed reflexively as irrational. Probably only worth watching after you explore the channel and wonder about the Bible reference displayed briefly at the end of them.

https://youtu.be/WDu2ldAxHyc

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#128

I wonder if/when this device will make its way into responding to the recent civil unrest around the US? Especially given that Federal enforcement agents are now being utilized, and likely have access to this equipment.

The opposite actually, Lasers are being used against federal agents. https://nypost.com/2020/07/24/3-fed-agents-likely-blinded-by...

Yikes, sucks to get permanently blinded. I wonder whether citizens will just flee the cities and let them collapse into crime. It would be a repeat of pretty recent history.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#129
post #5

There's a reason this kind of thing is against the rules of war. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Certain_Conven... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_on_Blinding_Laser_W... These conventions don't matter unless they're actually enforced. For example, gas shells were banned 16 years before their use in WW1 by the very countries using them. Lots of victims lived horrible lives of suffering or killed…

Based on our more modern understandings of blindness, it would definitely not be worse than death.

They should make killing against the rules and only allow blindness-based weapons.

Re: Sailor pictured with laser rifle on board USS Minnesota nuclear sub

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The opposite actually, Lasers are being used against federal agents. https://nypost.com/2020/07/24/3-fed-agents-likely-blinded-by...

Yikes, sucks to get permanently blinded. I wonder whether citizens will just flee the cities and let them collapse into crime. It would be a repeat of pretty recent history.

The PDX protests have been relatively peaceful.

Despite that, federal agents were dispatched to quell them.

So "Moms" came out in support to protect the protestors.

Followed by "Dads."

And now US Military Veterans.

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