Big Brother Blimp

[segovius]

The government has hired defense subcontractor Lockheed Martin to design and develop an enormous blimp that will be used to spy on Americans, according to the Athens News. Government agencies such as the NSA are anticipating that as early as 2009 the blimp will be operational and begin supporting new ways of monitoring everything that happens in the country.

Original content: this is a very bad sign isn't?

Can we get an apologist in here to tell us why it's ok? We're worried.

Full scary details.... (http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=15095)

[ronaldo]

Originally posted by segovius
Original content: this is a very bad sign isn't?

Can we get an apologist in here to tell us why it's ok? We're worried.

Full scary details.... (http://www.freemarketnews.com/WorldNews.asp?nid=15095)

If anyone thinks this is ok, it will be the conservative Repblicans. It will be another way for them to say, Oh we are only spying on terrorists.

[SDW2001]

I agree it's creepy, but I'm not sure it's different than any capability we currently have. Ever hear of [Dr. Evil Voice] "Satellites" : ;)

[Aquatic]

Err yeah but this brings creepy to a whole new level. This past few months the NSA/CIA/Neocon thing has ballooned in my mind out of control. It's friggin J Edgar Hoover Pt. 2. Seriously, how LONG can this go ON before Americans get with the fucking program!? Hell, Hollywood & Will Smith have Enemy of the State II cut out for them! :wow: I'm sure it'd be sweet too. That was such a fun movie. The sequel will be scary because it's "based on a true story..."

[midwinter]

Originally posted by Aquatic
Seriously, how LONG can this go ON before Americans get with the fucking program!?

It depends on how many gay marriage, abortion, and intelligent design initiatives get on state ballots in '08.

[Placebo]

IT'S A FUCKING BLIMP

Scan the skies for its hulkingly enormous presence and if it's there, don't do anything illegal.

[segovius]

Originally posted by Placebo
IT'S A FUCKING BLIMP

Scan the skies for its hulkingly enormous presence and if it's there, don't do anything illegal.

Won't work - although 17 times the size of the Goodyear it's also 12 miles up and invisible to the naked eye.

It's also a Stealth Blimp so there's no way of knowing if it's there and besides - soon pretty much anything you do will be illegal....

[iPoster]

Pay no attention to the men behind the curtain!!

:mad:

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally posted by segovius
It's also a Stealth Blimp so there's no way of knowing if it's there and besides - soon pretty much anything you do will be illegal....

Well the "stealth" part is about radar-detection...not visibility to the human eye (but, yes, the 12-miles up will solve that problem).

BTW...not that this makes it OK or anything...but this is really just a variation on what already exists in the form of satellite technology. You've seen (I'm sure) what kind of satellite imagery is available to the public (minimum of 3-meter resolution)...can you imagine what is available to the government?

[segovius]

Originally posted by Chris Cuilla
Well the "stealth" part is about radar-detection...not visibility to the human eye (but, yes, the 12-miles up will solve that problem).

BTW...not that this makes it OK or anything...but this is really just a variation on what already exists in the form of satellite technology. You've seen (I'm sure) what kind of satellite imagery is available to the public (minimum of 3-meter resolution)...can you imagine what is available to the government?

Yes, I was wondering about that - I mean why spend $40M on a blimp if the tech already exists in a more sophisticated fashion?

40M isn't that much I guess but why bother? Maybe it can do other things they aren't mentioning like zap offenders it tracks Judge Dread style or something?

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally posted by segovius
Yes, I was wondering about that - I mean why spend $40M on a blimp if the tech already exists in a more sophisticated fashion?

40M isn't that much I guess but why bother? Maybe it can do other things they aren't mentioning like zap offenders it tracks Judge Dread style or something?

Biggest possibility is ability to move the cameras around more quickly than you can with satellites. Possibly also resolution improvements at the lower altitude. Just guessing here.

[Frank777]

Toronto police are always going on about needing a fleet of helicopters.

I was wondering when someone would raise the idea of using blimps and those remote-controlled drones (used in Afghanistan) for domestic purposes.

It is definitely a concern. Privacy is not being invaded though, it is rapidly becoming extinct. Every financial transaction made is tracked by government and the financial sector, and I know people who now do their gardening fully clothed, since they think Google is watching them.

[Chris Cuilla]

Originally posted by Frank777
I was wondering when someone would raise the idea of using blimps and those remote-controlled drones (used in Afghanistan) for domestic purposes.

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/emergingtech/index.php?p=267

Originally posted by Frank777
I know people who now do their gardening fully clothed, since they think Google is watching them.

Well I do it fully clothed because I expect my neighbors might be watching. ;)

[rufusswan]

I have to admit that STATIONARY types of aircraft, designed to view every darned inch of US soil does have does have a sinister feel to it, but I'm not the type to search for conspiracy under every rock in the creek.

Unfortunately, the blimp got a serious bad rep back in the 30's???? when the Nazi ship blew up on landing in New Jersey {I think, and startling journalism I you'ver ever heard it}. I think it was the first disaster to broadcast live on national radio. Later actions by the Nazi's also gen'ed some bad press, which also reflected on blimps as a technology.

You'all can Google and search out the folks who are currently promoting blimps as viable tech other than photo'ing football games, such as assistance in firefighting, heavy hauling, or to restore civil communications during natural disasters. Had we been able to restore police communications within hours after Katrina, some good might have been served.

Surely we have to get used to the idea that tech can be used for good and bad. The internet, for example, seems no different.

Should you have the inclination, Google "fan wing aircraft" or "space elevator", and don't get me started on the space elevator 'cause .... well, just don't.

Paz

[segovius]

I knew this blimp was doing something else than just spying - as I said above, it is probably exerting some influence on the hapless citizens below.

Well, coincidentally, the UK has unleashed a whole f**ing flotilla of blimps (http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/features/article1091330.ece) with the express purpose of - wait for it - influencing people's dreams.......

Right.......an experiment on how to make people 'feel good'....right.....ok :err:

Sheep #1: "ooh, ooh, this is great tech...think of all the uses....please put a whole batallion of these right over my house .....please.....and while you're at it could you plese hardwire what remains of my brain to the government thinktank......"

:no:

[southside grabowski]

This is one reason why it might be a good idea.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060623/ap_on_re_us/terrorism_investigation

[segovius]

Originally posted by southside grabowski
This is one reason why it might be a good idea.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060623/ap_on_re_us/terrorism_investigation

What I don't understand is this - why bother? I mean why not just say: "I will support the government period regardless of what they do. No reasons, no links, no justifications - nada. I don't need to justify it and I don't need to think about it: I just do because I do"

Not only would it be more honest it would save time all round: no-one here who adheres to reason would ever need to bother replying, the Government themselves could save time and money by not needing to construct fake propaganda and BS stories, the totalitarian utopia you crave moves a step nearer and people like me get to plan/join an armed resistance because the agenda and enemy becomes concrete.

Everyone's a winner.

:D

Oh and best of all we get to finally be rid of the vacuous witterings of Allah fucking pundit and his fanboys.

Let's make it happen.....

[Chucker]

Originally posted by ronaldo
If anyone thinks this is ok, it will be the conservative Repblicans. It will be another way for them to say, Oh we are only spying on terrorists.

Evidently and not surprisingly, you were right:

Originally posted by southside grabowski
This is one reason why it might be a good idea.

[article regarding terrorism threat]

[segovius]

Found a pic of the blimp in action:

http://www.defensetech.org/images/isis_overlook.JPG

[shetline]

Originally posted by segovius
Found a pic of the blimp in action:

http://www.defensetech.org/images/isis_overlook.JPG
Looks like cheesy 70s album artwork to me.

http://www.shetline.com/img/only_the_guilty.jpg