The latest weapon against terror is...Silly String?

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

From boingboing.net (http://www.boingboing.net/2005/11/04/military_application.html):

Silly string has served me well in Combat especially in looking for I.A.Ds., simply put, booby traps. . . . When you spray the string it just spreads everywhere and when it sets it lays right on the wire. Even in a dark room the string stands out revealing the trip wire.
Never in a million years would I have come up with this, and I'm dying to know exactly how the soldiers in the field came up with this idea. Apparently, the insurgents aren't the only ones coming up with low-tech solutions to challenging problems.

I can hardly wait for the contract for 10,000 units of Compact Aerosol Lightweight Polymer Deployment Devices (CALiPoDDs) that will end up costing Uncle Sam $20 a can.

-- Ed/Ace

[Artimus Gigan]

Crap...my secret weapon has been found out!


Atleast I still have the Exo-Suits and the Gamma Selita Fleet

[Humble]

Now I want some silly string. :p

-Humble's very curious about how they figured that out too

[Artimus Gigan]

It also serves a use as a easy way to set things on fire, and it gets stuck in hair really bad.


it instantaniously ignites, perfect for setting entire rooms on fire if you cover the stuff with it...hell the can itself is a brightly colored sharpinel grenade if you use the string as a fuse.

I guess you could also use it to set the terrorists who have facial hair on fire easily as well....

[Kury Wagner]

Wooo! I can defend my country with my special Spider-Man silly string. *poses a la Superman*

[guinaevere]

You look awesome in that pose, Sam.

I don't actually understand silly string. I've seen departments in stores defaced by it, and it's gross. What is it, exactly? And is there a purpose to it?

[HumanoidTyphoon]

I don't actually understand silly string. I've seen departments in stores defaced by it, and it's gross. What is it, exactly? And is there a purpose to it?It's sticky foam stuff and you shoot people with it and it's hilarious, unless they have their own then you run.

[Kury Wagner]

And is there a purpose to it?I know I've already answered you, but the others need to know too. Silly String is the perfect Sam toy. It's so foolish, it's hilariously amusing. You can do anything with that stuff, and it'll be fun. But then, everything silly is fun to me. I'm easily amused.
why would spider-man pose like superman... I knew someone would ask that. Y'know the Superman pose with his chest puffed out and the wind blowing his cape? It's all hero-y and stuff, and I was being hero-y with my plan to save people... no? Okay, shutting up now.

[Space Chief]

Actually, I've heard Silly String is toxic if you shoot it up your nose.

And, they're deploying it from Reptilicus.

[guinaevere]

It's sticky foam stuff and you shoot people with it and it's hilarious, unless they have their own then you run. But if it's sticky and you shoot it at people, won't it stick to them? I guess it's not terrible, but you don't have long hair... long hair with sticky stuff being shot at you equals horrible. >__<

I know I've already answered you, but the others need to know too. Silly String is the perfect Sam toy. It's so foolish, it's hilariously amusing. You can do anything with that stuff, and it'll be fun. After talking with you about it, I can sorta see it. But I'm just... it's like foam right? That stuff doesn't breakdown so easily. I know I'm the evil conservative around here, but I just see it as being an incredibly lame way (or is it reason?) to pollute our planet.

Couldn't we just chop down some forests and throw confetti at each other? That breaks down/recycles a lot easier.

Actually, I've heard Silly String is toxic if you shoot it up your nose.This statement alone is hilarious. What put me into fits was seeing the avatar of Spike, and hearing the statement in his I'm all tough and cool voice.

Dalek, you may argue with me, but you have to admit Vicious would never say something so silly.

[randomguy]

I got sprayed with Silly String in the eye once. Good Lord, does it ever sting.

That said, like Sam said, it's just goofy fun. It's true that it doesn't break down terribly easily, but the idea is that you clean it up after using it and throw it away. Just leaving trees covered in it or whatever is bad Silly String etiquette.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

That said, like Sam said, it's just goofy fun. It's true that it doesn't break down terribly easily, but the idea is that you clean it up after using it and throw it away. Just leaving trees covered in it or whatever is bad Silly String etiquette. Unless you've left your Silly String on a tripwire while you're waiting for the EOD (Explosives Ordinance Disposal) guys to show up and take away the bomb the tripwire is attached to. Then it's pretty bad etiquette to take away the Silly String, not to mention actively dangerous.

And I've been looking for a place to quote this story for a while now (http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001801.html), even though it doesn't involve Silly String. The last paragraph is equally horrifying and really kinda funny:

I talked to several soldiers who had Buffalo-riding buddies injured by the handmade bombs -- and by their own thick skulls. These guys would dig up an explosive with the Buffalo's spindly claw. And then, they'd be so proud of what they found, they'd want to snap a quick picture of their prize. So they'd use the claw to bring the bomb right up to the Buffalo's cab. And then, the IED would go off.
-- Ed/Ace

[Space Chief]

This statement alone is hilarious. What put me into fits was seeing the avatar of Spike, and hearing the statement in his I'm all tough and cool voice.

Dalek, you may argue with me, but you have to admit Vicious would never say something so silly.
Well, I've found a new sig, then.

[Lord Dalek]

Wake me up when Super Soakers cure cancer.

[guinaevere]

I can't tell y'all how much I've missed this place over the past few months. :D

[Deadman]

woah in would never expect the military to use this. the fate of the american people, lies in the hands of silly string......

[HumanoidTyphoon]

But if it's sticky and you shoot it at people, won't it stick to them? I guess it's not terrible, but you don't have long hair... long hair with sticky stuff being shot at you equals horrible. >__<Well actually I do but it peels right off it's not sticky like glue. It's just enough that it doesn't hit someone and bounce right off.


After talking with you about it, I can sorta see it. But I'm just... it's like foam right? That stuff doesn't breakdown so easily. I'm not sure but it does kind squish down like it's deteriorating. Apparently not even the silly string people know what it's made of as It doesn't say on the canisters. I did a little searching and found something about Conan O'Brien and I'm not sure I want to know his involvement.

[Chris Wood]

Human rights groups today decried the rumored use of whoopee cushions by U.S. forces in Iraq.

[guinaevere]

It's true that it doesn't break down terribly easily, but the idea is that you clean it up after using it and throw it away. But then it sits in a landfill. And those cans...

Well, I've found a new sig, then. awesome!

Apparently not even the silly string people know what it's made of as It doesn't say on the canisters. I did a little searching and found something about Conan O'Brien and I'm not sure I want to know his involvement. *opens mouth to speak and has no idea what to say


Desslar, I'm not talking to you. Hello. Military secrets! Info leak!! Where's randomguy! He's going to win a Pulitzer after the investigative piece he does with all the offensive information just being tossed about here.

[EinBebop]

Do you know how many cities have banned silly string now? This is a safety issue! It's time for a Constitutional amendment.... the right to bear string.

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Human rights groups today decried the rumored use of whoopee cushions by U.S. forces in Iraq.
The Marine Corps General in charge of operations stated that the reports of whoopee cushion usage was false, and was in fact a platoon of Marines doing that hand thing with their armpits at the same time.

Said general requested to be anonymous after the reporter followed up with, "Why was a platoon of Marines doing that hand thing with their armpits at the same time?" and then refused to answer the question anyway.

It should be noted that super-hot gum, X-Ray Spex, and fake doggie doo are all allowed under the International Usage of Novelty Items Convention (IUNIC).

Do you know how many cities have banned silly string now? This is a safety issue! It's time for a Constitutional amendment.... the right to bear string.
It would seem that the right to keep and bear Silly String would be protected by at least one existing amendment to the Bill of Rights, and possibly several. Therefore, I think it best to challenge the local ordinances on the grounds that they are already un-Constitutional. Unfortunately, you know how rabid those anti-Silly String groups are trying to force their novelty gag agenda on America.

-- Ed/Ace

[Chris Wood]

Howdy,


The Marine Corps General in charge of operations stated that the reports of whoopee cushion usage was false, and was in fact a platoon of Marines doing that hand thing with their armpits at the same time.

Said general requested to be anonymous after the reporter followed up with, "Why was a platoon of Marines doing that hand thing with their armpits at the same time?" and then refused to answer the question anyway.

It should be noted that super-hot gum, X-Ray Spex, and fake doggie doo are all allowed under the International Usage of Novelty Items Convention (IUNIC).


It would seem that the right to keep and bear Silly String would be protected by at least one existing amendment to the Bill of Rights, and possibly several. Therefore, I think it best to challenge the local ordinances on the grounds that they are already un-Constitutional. Unfortunately, you know how rabid those anti-Silly String groups are trying to force their novelty gag agenda on America.

-- Ed/Ace

Ha!Ha! Classic!

[solarflere]

Yea, itf funny, but going a bit overboard there.:D