BangBang Cinema: Iron Man 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siQgD9qOhRs

Back in 2008, Marvel’s Iron Clad Playboy Tony Stark got a chance to rock and roll on the big screen. Despite a kick-ass rock and roll trailer, there was plenty of reasons to be hesitant. A ton of comic book movies had been bad up to this point. Also, Marvel took charge of their own films, putting a lot on the line. When ol’ Shellhead finally burst onto the screen, his repulsor rays blasted away any lingering doubts. Iron Man was one of the highlights of the year. Fast forward two years and the red and gold soldier carries an even heavier weight upon his shoulders: a highly anticipated sequel.

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Kopin Wins $27m Contract For TWS-11B Thermal Eyepiece

mae.pennnet.com reports that the U.S. Army has awarded a $27 million contract to Taunton Mass military contractor Kopin (“The Nanosemiconductor Company”) for their latest gen thermal eyepiece. In case you were wondering. Kopin’s TWS-IIB eyepiece is based on the company’s low-power CyberDisplay 640M LVR display designed to operate at temperatures as low as -40 degrees … Read more

AK-47 v. M16

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfCWjriIN6w Considering this last night’s news that the U.S. Army is sending 5000 M14 Enhanced to Afghanistan, I thought it a good time to post this look at the weapon’s rival: ye olde AK-47. The M14’s not the M16, but still.

Army’s Quick Fix for Afghanistan Range Deficit: 5000 M14 Enchanced Battle Rifles

TTAG has reported the U.S. Army’s ongoing sloth re: equipping troops in Afghanistan with rifles capable of effective range. And now, finally, they’re doing something about it. allvoices.com reports that the Army is sending M14 Enhanced Battle Rifles to forces in Afghanistan. The new weapons are supposed to be accurate to 800 yards (731.52 meters). That’s around 530 meters greater than the non-enhanced M14 rifle (200 meters). The M14 Enhanced is designed to eliminate the “range gap” detailed in Major Thomas Ehrhart’s widely-read 2009 study Increasing Arms Lethality in Afghanistan.

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U.S. Army Drops Bayonet Practice

According to the AP [via KTUU], the U.S. Army has dropped bayonet practice from basic training. “Adapting to battlefield experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Army is revamping its basic training regimen for the first time in three decades by nixing five-mile runs and bayonet drills in favor of zigzag sprints and honing core muscles … Read more