Is it possible to make a setup that would boot Windows off of a prom or CD/DVD (something with no possibility of writing to from the kernel even if it is exploited), and mount a read/write, no execute permission volume for the 'My Documents' folder? ( or equivalent?)

This would be trivial in a modern *nix, but for some reason most of the UAS companies prefer to use windows. Some even use Windows CE on the actual bird. I can't fathom why personally, but they do.

On my G1, with either the stock firmware or cyanogen mod, I have to turn on mobile storage before the sd card and such are mountable through the USB. So, at least in my case, the pattern lock is effective for blocking USB access also (at least as effective as is it at locking anything else). Is this different for other firmware/models?

On the other hand, If I had the physical access, I could just yank the battery and plug the SD card into my laptop. So for that reason, I wouldn't rely on the pattern lock to secure anything sensitive anyways, regardless of how strong/weak it is. It's really only good for keeping somewhat honest people from digging through your text message history and such.

You're pretty much right on the dot with the problem with UAVs these days. It doesn't take all that much technical expertise (nor much sophisticated technology) to be a UAV operator. It does, however take a lot of trust and responsibility.

Honestly, outside the military, I could see how this makes sense to you. But in practicality, there are other, more pertinent missions that this UAV would be more suited for. For example, I work on UAVs for the Marine Corps. We're are far more interested in the smaller, more field expedient UAVs that we can operate in theater and provide direct intel to our riflemen brethren. If we need a large, hard target taken out we call other support (cobras, arty, our jets, air force jets etc...). But on the level I work at, we already have motivated Marine grunts nearby and don't need the heavy shit. We just have to keep eyes on the situation to aid them in tracking the enemy, they to the work. So while there is a place for UAVs to make the kill (and honestly i'm surprised that Osama wasn't taken out by an Air Force Reaper), most situations still require boots on the ground, and the smaller more local UAVs are more suited to that goal.

Trust me, either they're dropping ordinance within the hour, or not at all.

I'm still holding out on Toshiba's still unnamed offering. That thing is going to be the IPad killer if anything will be. But what's up with the thing still not having a brand name?

linky: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/toshiba-launches-flashy-tablet-teaser-site-still-doesnt-have-a/

Surfs up space ponies! I'm making gravy without the lumps!

I am current active duty military with a clearance, and i was told the same thing. That being said, as long as i am active duty i will obey and not visit the site. Not for any fear of reprimand (honestly how would they know?), but because of my duties and responsibilities that were the reason for me being granted a clearance in the first place.

It is if you're really, really lucky.

I remember something called the "M&M" principle from a book i read as a kid. I don't remember the book, though, so any reply as to the source would be appreciated.

The basic principle is this: if you take a jar of red, green and blue indestructible M&M's and shake it for a million years, at any point in those million years there will be huge clumps of red, green and blue M&M's, interspersed with regions of near perfect dispersion. Never (or at least extremely rarely) will the entire jar be entirely evenly dispersed, or as evenly grouped as it was when you started. The explanation for this was that, of all possible arrangements that those M&M's can be in, almost all will show clumps and evenly mixed regions, only a few will be nearly all evenly dispersed or all grouped.

This encourages a mental image that i would rather not have.

Is this a boxing match or a war?

And Berlin, Monte Cassino, Okinawa, Tokyo, etc...

I'm not going to justify these actions, they were horrendous. Nonetheless, they were all done for the purpose of ending the war.

Not the intended goal of the insurgents whom we are fighting, who are actively seeking out such conflict.

The problem with this philosophy is, simply put, we own the ground also. Decisively. Yet they are still there.

Their goal is not traditional military superiority, their goal is to win the political game. As proof of how effective their campaign may eventually be, consider this. The U.S. won every battle in Vietnam. Every single one. Most by an embarrassingly huge margin. But, who has control of the Vietnam peninsula today? How did they achieve this?

hmmm, just to contrast, not trying for a inter-branch flame war, here's the Marine Corp's list.

3 Desert MARPAT trousers. (only 2 were issued)
3 Desert MARPAT blouses. (ditto)
3 Woodland MARPAT trousers.
3 Woodland MARPAT blouses.
2 pair infantry combat boots.
3 steel toe boots. (i'm in the wing)
2 Desert MARPAT 8-point covers. (hats)
2 Woodland MARPAT 8-point covers.
1 Desert MARPAT boonie cover.
1 Woodland MARPAT boonie cover.
14 skivvy shirts.
14 pr. boot socks.
1 neck gaiter.
2 polypro tops.
2 polypro bottoms.
1 tan watch cap.
1 black watch cap.
1 fleece jacket.
1 pr. black leather gloves.
1 pr. glove inserts.
1 Desert MARPAT GoreTex Jacket.
1 Desert MARPAT GoteTex Trousers.
1 Woodland MARPAT GoreTex Jacket.
1 Woodland MARPAT GoreTex Trousers.
1 USMC PT Sweat Top/Bottom pair.
1 set USMC Running Suit. (i haven't gotten mine yet damnit!)

1 Service "A" Coat.
1 Service "A" Belt.
2 Green service trousers.
3 Khaki short sleeve blouses.
2 Khaki long Sleeve blouses.
1 Barracks cover. (piss cutter)
1 Green Garrison Cover.
1 Khaki tie w/ tie clasp.
2 set shirt stays.
2 pr. corfram black dress shoes.
2 pr. black dress socks.
1 Dress Blues Coat.
1 Dress Blues white web belt.
1 Dress Blues adonized belt buckle.
2 khaki web belts.
2 adonized web belt buckle.
1 White Garrison Cover.
1 all weather coat. (think inspector gadget)
1 green sweater.

And i'm sure i am missing something. Also, from what i hear, this is nothing compared to the Navy's list, especially now that they have cammies also.