Satellite Spotters Make Government Uneasy 439
An anonymous reader found an interesting little story about satellite spotters and how, not surprisingly, their painstakingly methodical hobby doesn't exactly make gazillion dollar government agencies all that excited. Of course the article raises the very obvious point that if a guy with a pair of binoculars in his back yard can spot a satellite, so can the Chinese government.
my 20x60 Russian binocs and strange lights (Score:0, Funny)
Based on my observations, I do not believe that UFO's are nuts-and-bolts physical craft. Often, they are polymorphic, sometimes they seem to be made only of light and they solidify before my eyes, they defy our physical laws. In short, I do not believe that they are fully "in" this universe. For this reason, I think they might be extradimensional rather than extraterrestrial.
Sort of like when the sphere appears to the square in Flatland.
Combining forces? (Score:5, Funny)
Of course the article raises the very obvious point that if a guy with a pair of binoculars in his back yard can spot a satellite, so can the Chinese government.
Just think what the Chinese government would be capable of if they were to stand in this guy's backyard with his binoculars!
Lay off the Chinese! (Score:5, Funny)
So what if they can see all the satellites the Yanks ever launched? It's not like they'd be developing some means to shoot them down. It's pretty obvious they're working on a weather control machine at the moment.
German scientists discovered... (Score:3, Funny)
The new method is called black, dull color.
Re:Sorry, governments... (Score:5, Funny)
2) People stop going outside.
3) Secrecy!
=Smidge=
Re:There's only so much to see... (Score:5, Funny)
WARNING: (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Dupe (Score:2, Funny)
OSS wins once again (Score:2, Funny)
Combine this with the difficulties in running Windows update on the satellites (let alone keeping the virus checking software up to date - which is often closed source, proprietary software itself, and therefore demonstrably inferior) and you end up with satellites running software that is months or even years out of date.
When governments start putting up satellites that run Open Source Software, they will be much more secure. The elegant, secure-from-the-ground-up design of OSS means that these satellites would be virtually unhackable. And the best part is, wether these are used for good or bad, is ultimately up to the users, as they can check the source code and fix any problems or malware that the government tries to slip in.
Re:well (Score:2, Funny)
Re:well (Score:5, Funny)
You Goddamn surrenderniks make me sick. Get rid of the blinkenlights? Blinkenlights are the only thing that separates us from the animals (or the "Chinamen", as we're apparently supposed to call them these days). More blinkenlights! I want those things lit up like Xebusmass trees. I want the commies to look up and have our superior technology slap them in the face like the dangling genitalia of an angry neon God. More blinkenlights!
I have a plan (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What's this new obsession with the Chinese... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:well (Score:5, Funny)
Seriously, you only need to paint the side that faces the earth, since that's where all the eyes are and the sun is not. You can "paint" the other side whatever color you want since there's not going to be anyone on the far side looking for it (for now anyway).
Re:Sorry, governments... (Score:5, Funny)
sarcasm
Re:well (Score:5, Funny)
Therein lies the irony... (Score:3, Funny)
In space nobody can hear you whine like a little girl.
Re:well (Score:5, Funny)
Walter, this is not a guy who built the railroads, here, this is a guy who spied on my satellites!
Re:well (Score:2, Funny)
Re:well (Score:2, Funny)
In Soviet Russia..... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:well (Score:4, Funny)
Re:well (Score:4, Funny)
I think you have to successfully invade China before you get to call them Asian-American.
Re:well (Score:5, Funny)
Er, </sarcasm>, you understand.
Amazing how neatly political correctness and racism slot together....
This is a rare (Score:3, Funny)
Re:well (Score:5, Funny)
Then there's always the hilarity that would ensue from an Anglo South African immigrant. Nothing like a white, British-accented person checking off the box "African-American" under race.
Wrong info =+5 informative, Correction=+1, Classic (Score:3, Funny)