Comment It's a typo (Score 1) 357
The company name is Rapiscan.
Comment Article is misleading on primary use (Score 3, Informative) 179
The article is misleading with regard to the primary use of this device. The device was developed for military use in urban combat situations.
EMMDAR: ElectroMagnetic Motion-Detection And Ranging
It was developed because infantry were holding up standard handheld mine detectors (AN/PSS-14) that use ground penetrating radar against walls trying to determine threat levels in neighbouring buildings or rooms. Troops would then interpret the audio tones to determine rooms contents.
This device simply makes that technology smaller and more accessible and includes DSP algorithms to display potential threats (i.e. movement) on a graphical display.
Other common uses for this device is search and rescue, both military and civilian. Of course the FBI and SWAT is going to want this technology. Any time law enforcement is going to assualt a building, this device is going to prove invaluable in saving lives.
Nobody is going to pratically use this device for random checking of homes.
Comment Re:Lizards? (Score 2, Informative) 309
Woosh!
Something just flew over your head.
Comment Re:Happy birthday to 180th meridian too ! (Score 3, Funny) 429
reminds me of the amusing line from the time travel film Primer
Aaron: Man, I'm starving. I haven't eaten since later this afternoon.
Comment Re:No cost cutting in manufacturing? (Score 1) 557
Charging a premium for a high quality product does not imply a disregard for cost-cutting. What you describe is a company who markets products with a variety of cost-quality trade offs. Every one of those product lines will try to reduce manufacturing cost. To claim otherwise is just rediculous.
Do you think BMW, who offer premium price, high quality products have not always tried to reduce manufacturing costs?
Nothing has changed in 16 years.
Comment No cost cutting in manufacturing? (Score 1) 557
First, it's sturdily built and hails from an era when every fraction of penny didn't have to be cost-cut out of manufacturing
That's BS. Are you suggesting that there was a time the manufacturers weren't trying to squeeze out cost? What planet are you from?
Comment Well we've eliminated Kelvin (Score 3, Funny) 465
since those aren't degrees.
Comment Re:Privateer, Syndicate and Dune 2000 pretty pleas (Score 1) 142
Privateer with modern internet multiplayer would be amazing
See Eve Online
Comment Also, when you don't find... (Score 3, Insightful) 103
... anything intellectually stimulating at work, you end up posting on Slashdot.
Comment Thinkgeek already sells these... (Score 1) 509
Comment Solar eclipse glasses (Score 1) 97
Queue jokes about solar eclipse sunglasses made in china
in 3... 2... 1...
Comment No (Score 3, Insightful) 151
I think the Apollo landing sites need to be preserved for posterity.
Comment MMMMmmm.... (Score 2, Funny) 58
Imagine a open/globular cluster of those....
College Police Think Using Linux Is Suspicious Behavior 1079
FutureDomain writes "The Boston College Campus Police have seized the electronics of a computer science student for allegedly sending an email outing another student. The probable cause? The search warrant application states that he is 'a computer science major' and he uses 'two different operating systems for hiding his illegal activity. One is the regular B.C. operating system and the other is a black screen with white font which he uses prompt commands on.' The EFF is currently representing him."
