NOAA radar stations are reportedly being targeted by an armed conspiracy group that views them as weapons.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.today/post/28977252

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned the National Weather Service of possible attacks from an armed conspiracy group targeting Doppler radar stations, according to a report from CNN. The group, Veterans on Patrol, is going after government radars because it believes they’re being used as “weather weapons.”

CNN learned of the possible attacks through NOAA emails warning NWS staff that Veterans on Patrol was planning to conduct “penetration drills on NEXRAD sites to identify weaknesses,” with the ultimate goal of destroying NEXRAD. Despite its cooler-than-average name, the NWS uses NEXRAD or “Next Generation Weather Radar” for a fairly mundane purpose: detecting precipitation in the atmosphere. NEXRAD plays a vital role in locating thunderstorms and tornados, making it easier to evacuate vulnerable communities before disaster strikes.

Archive link: https://archive.is/GVsgP

  • WesDym
    2•12 hours ago

    @billwashere I realized sometime back that actual intelligence isn’t very relevant to good reasoning. It comes down to good thinking HABITS, which nearly anyone can develop with enough effort and practice. But it doesn’t come naturally for most people, and instead must be taught and learned. And the later in life you learn those skills, the more you have to UNlearn to do it.

    • billwashereEnglish
      1•12 hours ago

      But critical thinking and intelligence have to be 2 fruits on the same tree, right? I can’t think of a single person I’ve ever met that had one and not the other. I can understand that critical thinking skills can be taught, but I’d argue that that skill creates more intelligence or at the very least awareness.

      And I can testify that bad habits are very hard to unlearn.

      • WesDym
        1•11 hours ago

        @billwashere More specifically, I come from a realm of scientists and academics, and I’ve by now seen MANY highly intelligent, very well-educated people who have demonstrated astonishing stupidity.

        At the same time, I’ve also personally known people with clinically diagnosed neurological deficiency who can nevertheless reason very well, even very wisely.

        What you’re staying is true in broad statistics, but it’s not a rule.

        • billwashereEnglish
          1•23 minutes ago

          Totally agree. There are exceptions to everything.

          I will also acquiesce to your major point though. I work in academia so I have seen my fair share of phd students that run with scissors.

      • WesDym
        1•12 hours ago

        @billwashere I used to believe that, but no longer do. I’ve seen too much evidence against it.

        I’m now certain that any self-capable person can develop and have good thinking habits. They might need help in with information or education, and some guidance in basic logic. But I’m certain by now that rational thought is not dependent on superior or even average native (neurological) intelligence.

        They’re uncommon, but folks like the Sllingblade guy really do exist. I’ve known them.