How could this happen?

Skybird · 01-23-10, 08:19 PM

How could it have happened that a dowsing rod worth some pennies gets sold to the military as an explosive detection device worth several tens of thousands per item...? how could it happen that nopbody realised how hilarious the explanation was that it was operated by static electricity, and how could it be that nobody cheked and found out that the primitive electric circuit has neither a memory that could hold software, nor has a processor that could analyse data?

This is one of the most hilarious stories I have heared since quite some time.

Hilarious it may be, but considering that thousands of these magical wands have been sold to Iraq, amongst other countries, and that statistically one must assume that numerous bombing attacks have been conducted becasue the preparation of the attack was not countered due to these rods being used and failed to detect explosives, one has to assume that dozens if not hundreds of people got killed due to this fraud.

Which makes it not a fraud, but assisting in mass murder. And that's what this bastard should be sued for. All authorities in the dfeense minsitry and military having participated in this deal, it's preparation and testing of the device, should be fired for incompetence. Whether they have to pay compensation, courts should examine.

This is dilletantism that stinks to heaven. And many heads should roll, as an example for others. Else next time there is a war troops get sent that are armed with marshmallow grenades and waterpistols.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ht/8471187.stm

Torplexed · 01-23-10, 08:38 PM

They should have at least gone with the eco-friendly wooden divining rods. When you realize they are worthless for detecting anything, they can still make handy kindling for a fire.

Platapus · 01-23-10, 08:55 PM

Ahh the joys of a "no-bid" contract.

This item could have its uses but hardly worth the $8K

01-23-10, 09:15 PM

Confiscate ALL revenues of the company, and jail the owner(s).

If it's a publicly traded company, jail the CEO, and confiscate ALL revenues.

After trial, and pending a guilty verdict, of course.

Next, bring all of those responsable for pissing away tax dollars, in purchasing these things, to trial for misappropriation of public funds.

Letum · 01-23-10, 10:33 PM

Glad to see he has been arrested and his website taken down.
Despicable.

01-23-10, 10:41 PM

That IS good news.

Blacklight · 01-24-10, 12:20 AM

Quote:

This item could have its uses....

Like being used as space taker-uppers in landfills like they should be.

Skybird · 01-24-10, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

Glad to see he has been arrested and his website taken down.
Despicable.

He's free again, on bail.

Acceptable, eventually, only if the bail is of the ammount of all profits he has made by selling these things, plus his private savings, so that he has no reserves to flee. Which would mean the bail must be several dozens of millions.

If I were him, I would use the opportunity he has been given now, take the money that is left, and run.

Letum · 01-24-10, 06:35 AM

He has bail because he is not convicted, has a known address, is not
likely to flee and is no threat to the public

We don't pay for bail in the UK.

Skybird · 01-24-10, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

He has bail because he is not convicted, has a known address, is not
likely to flee and is no threat to the public

We don't pay for bail in the UK.

A known adress means nothing if somebody decides to flee. Nobody can say or has an argument to claim that this fella is "unlikely to flee", and he already has proven that he is a threat to the public.

German papers reported yesterday that he was arrested, later freed on bail.

Letum · 01-24-10, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Nobody can say or has an argument to claim that this fella is "unlikely to flee"

I don't imagine it is all that difficult to get some accurate profiling for that.

Quote:

and he already has proven that he is a threat to the public.

Not when he is not trading. I imagine that a condition of his bail is the
cessation of business.

Quote:

German papers reported yesterday that he was arrested, later freed on bail.

No doubt this is the case, but all bail is free in the UK.

Skybird · 01-24-10, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

I don't imagine it is all that difficult to get some accurate profiling for that.

When you have a guy who has millions on his bank account or in his tresor and is expecting to get charged over massive fraud and who also has to take into account that he will be held respoinsible for the death of dozens if not hundreds of people, you do not need to profile him, for you have a first class motive for fleeing that is beyond any doubt.

Quote:

Not when he is not trading. I imagine that a condition of his bail is the
cessation of business.

He has committed fraud before, and now all of a sudden he will play by the rules in the future. What a relief to know.

Quote:

No doubt this is the case, but all bail is free in the UK.

??? If the bail is not to be payed, then it is no bail (Kaution). That is the meaning of the term, isn't it. "Released on bail" - getting freed but having to put a certain ammount of money as a bail.

Skybird · 01-24-10, 08:57 AM

According to this German wikipedia entry

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaution...land_und_Wales)

you have a bail system in England and Wales, and it means you have to pay money. It's just that according to the Bill of Rights of 1689 it is prohibited to fix the bail at too high levels that in practice often were used to prevent releases due to the bail being too high as if it could be payed.

SteamWake · 01-24-10, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letum

He has bail because he is not convicted, has a known address, is not
likely to flee and is no threat to the public

We don't pay for bail in the UK.

you dont pay for bail?

Letum · 01-24-10, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

you have a bail system in England and Wales, and it means you have to pay money. It's just that according to the Bill of Rights of 1689 it is prohibited to fix the bail at too high levels...

Forget the bill of rights 1689! Look at the Bail act 1976.

You may be asked to find someone to stand surety. This means that
someone else promises to pay the court if you don't turn up. this is
someone else paying and the only pay if you don't turn up; not
before.

Occasionally, when no one can be found to stand surety, the
defendant will be asked to sign his own surety as a security, which is
often frozen in the defendant's bank account or is a house.
In some cases the court does not require surety or security for bail.

01-23-10, 08:19 PM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	How could this happen? How could it have happened that a dowsing rod worth some pennies gets sold to the military as an explosive detection device worth several tens of thousands per item...? how could it happen that nopbody realised how hilarious the explanation was that it was operated by static electricity, and how could it be that nobody cheked and found out that the primitive electric circuit has neither a memory that could hold software, nor has a processor that could analyse data? This is one of the most hilarious stories I have heared since quite some time. Hilarious it may be, but considering that thousands of these magical wands have been sold to Iraq, amongst other countries, and that statistically one must assume that numerous bombing attacks have been conducted becasue the preparation of the attack was not countered due to these rods being used and failed to detect explosives, one has to assume that dozens if not hundreds of people got killed due to this fraud. Which makes it not a fraud, but assisting in mass murder. And that's what this bastard should be sued for. All authorities in the dfeense minsitry and military having participated in this deal, it's preparation and testing of the device, should be fired for incompetence. Whether they have to pay compensation, courts should examine. This is dilletantism that stinks to heaven. And many heads should roll, as an example for others. Else next time there is a war troops get sent that are armed with marshmallow grenades and waterpistols. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programme...ht/8471187.stm __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-23-10, 08:55 PM	#3
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Ahh the joys of a "no-bid" contract. This item could have its uses but hardly worth the $8K __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

01-23-10, 10:33 PM	#5
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Glad to see he has been arrested and his website taken down. Despicable. __________________

01-24-10, 06:35 AM	#9
Letum Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: York - UK Posts: 6,079 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	He has bail because he is not convicted, has a known address, is not likely to flee and is no threat to the public We don't pay for bail in the UK. __________________

01-24-10, 08:57 AM	#13
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,602 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	According to this German wikipedia entry http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaution...land_und_Wales) you have a bail system in England and Wales, and it means you have to pay money. It's just that according to the Bill of Rights of 1689 it is prohibited to fix the bail at too high levels that in practice often were used to prevent releases due to the bail being too high as if it could be payed. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

01-23-10, 08:38 PM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	They should have at least gone with the eco-friendly wooden divining rods. When you realize they are worthless for detecting anything, they can still make handy kindling for a fire.

01-23-10, 09:15 PM	#4
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Confiscate ALL revenues of the company, and jail the owner(s). If it's a publicly traded company, jail the CEO, and confiscate ALL revenues. After trial, and pending a guilty verdict, of course. Next, bring all of those responsable for pissing away tax dollars, in purchasing these things, to trial for misappropriation of public funds.

01-23-10, 10:41 PM	#6
Snestorm Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	That IS good news.