I read two stories on this today. One said the plot could never have worked, and the other said they were arrested during final assembly of a device that “absolutely” would have worked. Apparently the guys were both engineers, so I’m going with the second story.
I thought you were allowed to build whatever you wanted in the USA…? As long as they didn’t plan on personally killing anyone what is the problem with this?
Robert Heinlein wrote a short story or novella around the concept of a race war, where a death ray that killed only Asiatics helped defeat the yellow menacing hordes.
“I read two stories on this today. One said the plot could never have worked, and the other said they were arrested during final assembly of a device that “absolutely” would have worked. Apparently the guys were both engineers, so I’m going with the second story.”
Here is how both can be true. The article I read basically stated that they had to get almost all of the important parts from the FBI. So the *device* could work once assembled, but the *plot* wouldn’t have worked on it’s own since they couldn’t obtain what they needed without the FBI.
Small potatoes. My high school science project killed plants, frogs and white mice four tables over while it was only idling. Ion propulsion engines rock, but generally should be shielded better than a 16 year old can do.
June 20th, 2013 at 9:19 pm
I read two stories on this today. One said the plot could never have worked, and the other said they were arrested during final assembly of a device that “absolutely” would have worked. Apparently the guys were both engineers, so I’m going with the second story.
June 20th, 2013 at 9:44 pm
I thought you were allowed to build whatever you wanted in the USA…? As long as they didn’t plan on personally killing anyone what is the problem with this?
June 20th, 2013 at 10:44 pm
Also, there’s a death ray in almost every kitchen in America. Get over it.
June 21st, 2013 at 12:43 am
I bet they were really arrested because the NSA was afraid it might be used to shoot down drones.
June 21st, 2013 at 1:51 am
“Where’s the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!”
June 21st, 2013 at 2:45 am
Robert Heinlein wrote a short story or novella around the concept of a race war, where a death ray that killed only Asiatics helped defeat the yellow menacing hordes.
It was crap then, and crap now.
June 21st, 2013 at 6:27 am
“I read two stories on this today. One said the plot could never have worked, and the other said they were arrested during final assembly of a device that “absolutely” would have worked. Apparently the guys were both engineers, so I’m going with the second story.”
Here is how both can be true. The article I read basically stated that they had to get almost all of the important parts from the FBI. So the *device* could work once assembled, but the *plot* wouldn’t have worked on it’s own since they couldn’t obtain what they needed without the FBI.
June 21st, 2013 at 7:52 am
We are all remiss in not quoting Charles Addams’ immortal caption.
http://www.rumormillnews.com/pix3/Death_Ray.jpg
June 21st, 2013 at 9:42 am
OMG!! Tea Party member!!
June 21st, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Death ray indeed. The complete plans need to be published on the internet for peer review. If it actually works, then we’ll let the FBI prosecute.
Maybe.
June 21st, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Oh yes, and someone tell Mr. Griswold to turn the small switch by the trigger to the “on” position.
June 21st, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Most homes have a death ray. It’s called a microwave oven. Just needs some fiddling around and it becomes a death ray, for real.
June 22nd, 2013 at 1:03 am
Small potatoes. My high school science project killed plants, frogs and white mice four tables over while it was only idling. Ion propulsion engines rock, but generally should be shielded better than a 16 year old can do.