Just What We've All Been Hoping For...

Scientists in Germany are reporting development of a new generation of explosives that is more powerful than TNT and other existing explosives, less apt to detonate accidentally, and produce fewer toxic byproducts. Their study of these more environmentally friendly explosives is scheduled for the June 24 issue of ACS’ Chemistry of Materials.

In addition to polluting the environment, these materials are also highly sensitive to physical shock, such as hard impacts and electric sparks, making their handling extremely dangerous. Greener, safer explosives are needed, the researchers say.

  Physorg

Home bomb builders are anxiously awaiting the supply for that one reason alone. But "environmentally friendly explosives"! I feel good about them already, don't you?

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

Upgrade Your Taser

No more risky close-up action.

New Weapons

US cops are testing an Israeli gun that fires around corners.

Presto Change-o

President Vladimir Putin dissolved Russia's government Wednesday in a major political shakeup ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections, the Kremlin said.

The dissolution is expected to result in a new prime minister, who will be seen as Putin's choice to succeed him after he steps down next spring.

[...]

Fradkov said he asked for the dissolution of the government because with elections approaching, Putin needed to have a free hand to make decisions, including those concerning appointments.

  NY Times

The Russian military has successfully tested what it described as the world's most powerful non-nuclear air-delivered bomb, Russia's state television reported Tuesday.

Channel One television said the new weapon, nicknamed the "dad of all bombs" is four times more powerful than the U.S. "mother of all bombs."

  CNN

Well, if you can't find sexism in military affairs, you just don't have your eyes open.

"The tests have shown that the new air-delivered ordnance is comparable to a nuclear weapon in its efficiency and capability," said Col.-Gen. Alexander Rukshin, a deputy chief of the Russian military's General Staff, said in televised remarks.

Unlike a nuclear weapon, the bomb doesn't hurt the environment, he added.

Except for the trees and critters at ground zero, the immediate environment, of course.

An environmentally friendly bomb.

And you might argue that if it doesn't hurt the environment, it really is not as efficient as a nuclear weapon.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

New Weapons, New Ways to Torture

A new 'super-weapon' being supplied to British soldiers in Afghanistan employs technology based on the "thermobaric" principle which uses heat and pressure to kill people targeted across a wide air by sucking the air out of lungs and rupturing internal organs.

[...]

According to [Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies] Campbell, the deployment of the weapons was not announced to Parliament.

[...]

Officials told the Guardian the new weapon was classified as a soldier launched "light anti-structure munition" and that the bombs would be more effective because "even when they hit the damage is limited to a confined area."

  RawStory

That's what they said about the smart bombs - they could be aimed to enter a specific window in a building. Yeah, right. And if it's true, I ask you, why then is the soldier launching the weapon dressed like this?

Often it does seem a pity that Noah and his party did not miss the boat. --Mark Twain