FALCON HTV-2 Update

DARPA, the U.S. corps of mad scientists, launched a hypersonic test vehicle a while back.  We commented on that story briefly and mentioned that the first time we sent one of these up (and the only other time) the test vehicle imploded.  Or so the government told us.  Then came HTV-2 which was essentially a slightly tweaked version of HTV-1.  It too managed to fly at hypersonic speeds (Mach 20 in fact!) and like HTV-1, it proceeded to suffer structural anomalies after roughly nine (9) minutes of flight.  The vehicle then pitched over and presumably turned into a flaming ball of dust.  Allegedly.  In reality, I'm pretty confident the Falcon actually went back in time.  It seems Mach 20 is the real speed you need to reach.  Not 88 mph.


Video:

http://youtu.be/uVFNLdTuN-s 

Strange World

ABROAD:

Saudi Arabia promised a while back that they would increase oil production, if necessary, to allay concerns over production cuts by other countries (thereby keeping the price of gas within bounds of reason). Thankfully, they held true to their word over the last several months. However, Iran has been being Iran, and stated they will not provide oil to the U.K. or France and very well may close the Strait of Hormuz (in addition to going nuclear). That has people worried. To top it off, the remainder of OPEC countries and refineries are cutting production for their annual spring cleaning.

"Well what does that mean?!" you cry. It means, oil prices are at an all time high-- as in the most expensive ever in the United States. So, thank goodness for Saudi Arabia right? Well, no. They've decided to cut production also.

We need more crude oil production here in North America. Some sort of oil-related "pipeline" from Canada might be a good idea, no? Too bad that didn't happen...

IN SCIENCE:

Quantum computing. Scientists have established a repeatable proof-of-concept indicating we can build computers at the atomic level (which means they could be extremely fast). These sub-nano micro processors would be created by stringing single atoms together by magic. And yes, this advancement will inevitably lead to this.

Naturally, the next step will be robots forcing us to live on lab grown hamburgers.

Around The World

AT HOME:

Researchers out West are developing devices which could potentially decode your thoughts via implanted censors which detect electrical signals across the human brain. Our brains process sound in a similar fashion and it has been demonstrated that it is possible to decode the sound signals, inside our heads, and essentially play them back... outside of our heads. That's nuts.

Now, researches believe they can reproduce thoughts using a similar method. Essentially, they are trying to learn the wave patterns of thoughts, decode them and, whaaa-la, automatically know that you're thinking about stealing some stuff.

In Washington, POTUS' Supreme Legal Eagle, Attorney General Eric Holder, could find himself subject to contempt and jail time if he doesn't clarify what he knew about the deadly gun running operation executed by BATFE and the Department of Justice.

ABROAD:

Down south, or I guess across the pond, if you're an Anglophile, there is a minor dispute about the Malvinas / Falkland Islands between Argentina and the United Kingdom. It seems the world's greatest colonialists since the Romans are accusing one-time colonialists of being naughty for trying to colonize a colony. That's kind of amusing in a way but you can't really blame the U.K. for wanting to keep this awesome little set of islands.

IN THE LAND OF THE INSANE:

Where else but in the land of reasonless logic and good common senselessness could you get threats about attacking the United States, on American soil, and expect to get away with it? Yes, boys and girls, according to U.S. reports it now appears that dictators in Iran believe they should execute attacks within the United States. I would recommend to them that they do not. We tend to react rather nastily to those situations. Iran's leaders, being the idiots they are, will obviously ignore this advice and continue developing "peaceful nuclear programs" which will likely produce a bomb within one (1) year and a delivery system within two (2) or three (3) years. Hopefully, POTUS has his big-boy pants on this year and will stop apologizing for the West and start placing blame where it actually belongs.

* Also, not that TCD is saying we told you so, but, we told you (see the difference) that Iran would probably have a nuke by 2013 if things don't change significantly. It seems like that timeline is still accurate.