One giant leap for goonkind.
August 22, 2010 8:37 AM Subscribe
Some people make DIY drones. Some people build WiFi-hacking UAVs. Somethingawful members build their own submarines, floating launch-platforms, and tow their own manned spacecraft out to sea.
Oh crap, I was worried someone would weaponize Something Awful.
posted by The Whelk at 8:40 AM on August 22, 2010 [7 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:40 AM on August 22, 2010 [7 favorites]
EVE Online is just not big enough for GoonFleet.
posted by chambers at 8:50 AM on August 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by chambers at 8:50 AM on August 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
I forgot to mention this 2004 DIY Cruise Missile project, which, though it was sensational at the time, seems a lot less audacious now.
posted by fake at 8:53 AM on August 22, 2010
posted by fake at 8:53 AM on August 22, 2010
EVE Online is just not big enough for GoonFleet.
They're called Goonswarm Federation now.
Goonfleet is still around, but they're owned by a different set of goons. It's a long story.
posted by tylermoody at 9:00 AM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
They're called Goonswarm Federation now.
Goonfleet is still around, but they're owned by a different set of goons. It's a long story.
posted by tylermoody at 9:00 AM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh crap, I was worried someone would weaponize Something Awful.
Although we respect the right for Something Awful to peacefully defend themselves, we cannot stand idly by and allow them to act as aggressors to their neighbors.
Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I authorize the use of force against Something Awful. It is our mission to install a new leadership and continue in a peacekeeping capacity for the next... oh... let's say 20 years.
God bless each and every one of you, and God bless Metafilter.
posted by SNWidget at 9:07 AM on August 22, 2010 [14 favorites]
Although we respect the right for Something Awful to peacefully defend themselves, we cannot stand idly by and allow them to act as aggressors to their neighbors.
Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I authorize the use of force against Something Awful. It is our mission to install a new leadership and continue in a peacekeeping capacity for the next... oh... let's say 20 years.
God bless each and every one of you, and God bless Metafilter.
posted by SNWidget at 9:07 AM on August 22, 2010 [14 favorites]
Force against SomethingAwful? Don't be insane. They're protected.
posted by QuarterlyProphet at 9:11 AM on August 22, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by QuarterlyProphet at 9:11 AM on August 22, 2010 [9 favorites]
Is the "manned" rocket numbered 00000?
posted by vibrotronica at 9:22 AM on August 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 9:22 AM on August 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Coming hard on the heals of last weeks Google Drone story...
Not so fast--I haven't recovered from that one yet.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:30 AM on August 22, 2010
Not so fast--I haven't recovered from that one yet.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:30 AM on August 22, 2010
These guys are my new personal heroes. I just donated $20 to their project.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 10:24 AM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 10:24 AM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
DIY rocket is pretty cool but DIY working mini submarine is 100x more awesome. The real life Captain Nemo is about 10 years old right now and he/she is reading this thread.
posted by doctor_negative at 10:44 AM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by doctor_negative at 10:44 AM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
What is this 'archive upgrade' thingie SA wants me to install so I can see the submarine thread? Wouldn't I have to be, what's the word, stupid to voluntarily install a piece of software from SomethingAwful?
posted by localroger at 11:01 AM on August 22, 2010
posted by localroger at 11:01 AM on August 22, 2010
I looked into doing this for a business last year to inspect remote sites. We found out that you have to have a pilot's license to operate one and you can not do it commercially.
posted by kenaldo at 11:08 AM on August 22, 2010
posted by kenaldo at 11:08 AM on August 22, 2010
What is this 'archive upgrade' thingie SA wants me to install so I can see the submarine thread? Wouldn't I have to be, what's the word, stupid to voluntarily install a piece of software from SomethingAwful?
It's an account upgrade. Threads become inaccessible about six months after they get their last post in order to keep the size of the live forums down. (SA's bandwidth expenses are legendary and are where most of the money goes.)
And anyway, why would you be afraid of SA-provided software? Are you confusing SA with 4chan or LJDrama?
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:12 AM on August 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's an account upgrade. Threads become inaccessible about six months after they get their last post in order to keep the size of the live forums down. (SA's bandwidth expenses are legendary and are where most of the money goes.)
And anyway, why would you be afraid of SA-provided software? Are you confusing SA with 4chan or LJDrama?
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:12 AM on August 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'm outta here.
posted by atchafalaya at 11:13 AM on August 22, 2010
posted by atchafalaya at 11:13 AM on August 22, 2010
oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god. this is the coolest thing ever. oh my god oh my god oh my god. wow. holy crap.
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:39 AM on August 22, 2010
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:39 AM on August 22, 2010
If ever the internet becomes a battleground, I'm thankful to have both MeFi and Something Awful citizenship.
posted by reductiondesign at 11:53 AM on August 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
posted by reductiondesign at 11:53 AM on August 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
Honestly, I went completely fucking nuts when I saw they made their own submarine, then their own rocket and launchpad, and then towed the mess out to sea for launch. SO AMAZING. It's the first time I've felt compelled to post to the front page.
Maybe I should have de-emphasized SA in the post, because it feels like some comments here are just knee-jerking to that, instead of the raw awesomeness of what these guys have done. I don't think their membership in SA is really a critical part of their work. Oops.
posted by fake at 12:33 PM on August 22, 2010
Maybe I should have de-emphasized SA in the post, because it feels like some comments here are just knee-jerking to that, instead of the raw awesomeness of what these guys have done. I don't think their membership in SA is really a critical part of their work. Oops.
posted by fake at 12:33 PM on August 22, 2010
Maybe I should have de-emphasized SA in the post, because it feels like some comments here are just knee-jerking to that, instead of the raw awesomeness of what these guys have done. I don't think their membership in SA is really a critical part of their work.
There's nothing wrong with posting SA stuff on here (in fact a lot of people are members of both sites); it's just that it's pretty rare to see it properly attributed to SA.
posted by hamida2242 at 12:44 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's nothing wrong with posting SA stuff on here (in fact a lot of people are members of both sites); it's just that it's pretty rare to see it properly attributed to SA.
posted by hamida2242 at 12:44 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
If ever the internet becomes a battleground, I'm thankful to have both MeFi and Something Awful citizenship.
Richard Kyanka: Ayatollah of rock and rollah!
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:01 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Richard Kyanka: Ayatollah of rock and rollah!
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:01 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
More information about both projects (rocket and submarine).
Copenhagen Suborbitals
The Wikipedia entry for the UC3 Nautilus
What these folks have done (and are currently doing) is simply amazing.
posted by elgilito at 1:06 PM on August 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Copenhagen Suborbitals
The Wikipedia entry for the UC3 Nautilus
What these folks have done (and are currently doing) is simply amazing.
posted by elgilito at 1:06 PM on August 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
The problem is going to be this: Mefites in their bright blue and professional white uniforms will spend all their time on Ask with questions like "I found this old black powder in the refrigerator, is it safe to use in my muzzle-loader?", while others will be on IRL trying to decide where to meet for the next skirmish, and cortex will be over in Music performing really good war ballads.
Meanwhile, the SA people are going to use frickin suborbital lasers and ballistic missile subs to take care of business.
posted by pjern at 1:07 PM on August 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Meanwhile, the SA people are going to use frickin suborbital lasers and ballistic missile subs to take care of business.
posted by pjern at 1:07 PM on August 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Wow, so SomethingAwful is now on par with or ahead of Iran?
posted by feloniousmonk at 2:15 PM on August 22, 2010
posted by feloniousmonk at 2:15 PM on August 22, 2010
What is this 'archive upgrade' thingie SA wants me to install so I can see the submarine thread? Wouldn't I have to be, what's the word, stupid to voluntarily install a piece of software from SomethingAwful?
You can say a lot about the way they nickle and dime you for every small thing over there, but there is no software to install. The archive upgrade, as anything else there, is purely a toggle on your user account that lets you browse the archives through your web browser, just as the live forums. Not sure where you got the "install/software" idea from.
posted by ymgve at 2:19 PM on August 22, 2010
You can say a lot about the way they nickle and dime you for every small thing over there, but there is no software to install. The archive upgrade, as anything else there, is purely a toggle on your user account that lets you browse the archives through your web browser, just as the live forums. Not sure where you got the "install/software" idea from.
posted by ymgve at 2:19 PM on August 22, 2010
I've never really minded the fees on SA, but then a) I don't get banned and b) I won my platinum upgrade by betting that Ron Paul would bomb in the Iowa primaries. Taking money from Paulestianians feels good, man.
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:31 PM on August 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 3:31 PM on August 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Their website says they're doing the first HEAT test shot in a week. Stay tuned.
posted by warbaby at 5:35 PM on August 22, 2010
posted by warbaby at 5:35 PM on August 22, 2010
Oh crap yay, I was worried hoping someone would weaponize Something Awful.
posted by spinifex23 at 7:07 PM on August 22, 2010
posted by spinifex23 at 7:07 PM on August 22, 2010
These guys are truly inspiring. I am so psyched for the update after the test launch! Best of luck to them – this is humanity at its best. If we were all as intelligent and driven as this, the world would be a much better place. I mean, assuming we hadn't all died in explosions or drowned in submarine mishaps.
I wonder how the HEAT rocket compares to the Reliant Robin "space shuttle" that was built a few years back for Top Gear? They seem roughly the same size, though of rather different design. If anybody hasn't seen that video yet, check it out on YouTube. (The good bit starts at about 7:40 or so.)
posted by Scientist at 7:23 PM on August 22, 2010
I wonder how the HEAT rocket compares to the Reliant Robin "space shuttle" that was built a few years back for Top Gear? They seem roughly the same size, though of rather different design. If anybody hasn't seen that video yet, check it out on YouTube. (The good bit starts at about 7:40 or so.)
posted by Scientist at 7:23 PM on August 22, 2010
My formerly awesome cyclekart project just seems so lame now.
posted by smcameron at 8:06 PM on August 22, 2010
posted by smcameron at 8:06 PM on August 22, 2010
This feels so Neal Stephenson--uber geeks weaponizing themselves.
posted by mecran01 at 11:14 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mecran01 at 11:14 PM on August 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is seriously, jaw-droppingly cool.
If you're interested in home-built submarines, check out Psubs.orgs.
posted by Harald74 at 4:02 AM on August 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
If you're interested in home-built submarines, check out Psubs.orgs.
posted by Harald74 at 4:02 AM on August 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
Is it a bad thing to mention the Blue's planned assault would probably be leaked early as more than one member of the Blue are confirmed Goons?
posted by Samizdata at 5:58 AM on August 23, 2010
posted by Samizdata at 5:58 AM on August 23, 2010
« Older What a shame | The Scorsese of the Midlands Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by twoleftfeet at 8:39 AM on August 22, 2010