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Science & Technology
Speed Bump From Hell Saves Lives
2006-06-21
June 21, 2006: The billions being spent to stop terrorists has brought to the market items that can be used in a combat zone. Case in point is the Temporary Roadblock Apparatus Pack (TRAP).
"OK, we want to call this device "TRAP". Now, get working on what words will fit into that acronym"
This is a portable system consisting of a battery operated gate and speed bump. The speed bump, which fits across one lane of traffic, can, on radio command, unmask tire shredding blades. It's all battery operated, and the rechargeable battery can lift the barrier about 10,000 times between charges. TRAP has been very useful in Iraq, where driving habits border on the manic, and a checkpoint is often regarded as a challenge to Iraqi drivers, not a reason to stop. But some of those cars are suicide bombers, trying to get to the U.S. troops guarding the checkpoint, or some target further on. TRAP allows U.S. troops to stop cars that try to dash through, without having to open fire. This saves the lives of reckless Iraqi drivers, and stops suicide bombers as well (who sometimes detonate their explosives once they realize their tires are toast.
Posted by:Steve

#5  Seeing "Arming Robots" below
Posted by: Captain America   2006-06-21 22:00  

#4  I like RF, call it Road Larry.
Posted by: 6   2006-06-21 20:40  

#3  I often think that some names/acronyms are far too obvious.
This doesn't matter in the civilian world where marketing and sales encourage it for economical reasons and ID purposes, ie, everyone knows what they're talking about, instantly recognisable, the world over.

But, having this sort of thing and other useful devices hitting the "combat-zone market" to surprise our rascally, ugly, soon-to-be-dead palominos with, I wouldn't want to let them know what we're talking about beforehand: like with TRAP. An international word.

If someone said to me, "There's a trap over there", I wouldn't go near it, I would go around it, or find another way.

So let's allow them to make up their own word for it, and waste some time trying to think of a word for a new experience, after they've been rinsed and repeated a few times and still don't know wtf we're talking about. Call it a lateral thinking exercise, new experience. (Lateral thinking probably not allowed by Allan, whereas imaginary thinking is).

Back to the competition! Instead of acronyms, perhaps try jargon. I say, "Forget TRAP".

Let's try the "Shred My Wheels-Pack", or perhaps the BJ, but they would know what that was, so it's the Sierra Mike Whiskey for me.

Posted by: rhodesiafever   2006-06-21 18:26  

#2  A car can run on rims, especially for the last 100 yards or so on a suicide run.
Posted by: gromky   2006-06-21 13:07  

#1  I'll take 2 for my neighborhood, please.
Posted by: Perfesser   2006-06-21 11:27  

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