They are armed and on the way. Get ready!

The Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System, or SWORDS, will be joining Stryker Brigade soldiers in Iraq when it finishes final testing, said Staff Sgt. Santiago Tordillos, a bomb disposal test and evaluation noncommissioned officer in charge with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Directorate of the Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.

“We’re hoping to have them there by early 2005,” Tordillos said. “The soldiers I’ve talked to want them yesterday.”

The system consists of a weapons platform mounted on a Talon robot, a product of the engineering and technology development firm Foster-Miller.

Fortunately, all heat-packing droids will be programmed with Directive Four to prevent them from accidentally arresting the wrong people.

Other

Yes, you can compare apples to oranges.

Mmmm, Big EKitKat.

TImeWaster™

Play Panicball! It's like BrickOut. In fact, it's exactly like BrickOut. (TPCQ: "And the difference is ...?" "It's a much bigger pill.")

Today I'm listening to: The new Banco de Gaia. Irregular, but very nice in places.