The idea behind wanting to ban fake news seems simple enough: you find the "news" content that isn't representing the truth objectively and legitimately, then prevent those sites from disseminating their material. However, in practice, laws are written and enforced by a nation's government—making a legal ban on "fake news" into something else: a powerful censorship tool. On … [Read more...] about Op-Ed: Russia’s new ‘fake news’ bills demonstrate censorship, oppression
Alex Hollings Articles
The Dark Knights: F-117 spotted sporting the name of a squadron that shouldn’t exist
A few weeks ago, images began to surface online of an F-117 Nighthawk flying over Nevada and California. Despite being formally retired for more than a decade, a number of these aircraft are consistently maintained in flyable condition, prompting sporadic sightings over the years that never fail to get the aviation community buzzing. This most recent sighting, however, came … [Read more...] about The Dark Knights: F-117 spotted sporting the name of a squadron that shouldn’t exist
China says US media is lying about why Pacific nations want the F-35
China's aggressive claims of sovereignty over the vast majority of the South China Sea have put the nation at odds with many of its Pacific neighbors, many of whom have conflicting claims over portions of the waterway. International law permits the navigation of waterways outside of about 12 nautical miles from a nation's shore and awards exclusive economic rights to the sea … [Read more...] about China says US media is lying about why Pacific nations want the F-35
Watchdog report: Navy risking troops’ lives by pushing the F-35C into combat
Last month, the United States Navy declared that the carrier-based variant of Lockheed Martin's Joint Strike Fighter, known as the F-35C, was ready to commence combat operations. Now, a new report from the non-profit, bipartisan Project on Government Oversight (POGO) says that decision contradicts the Navy's own data regarding the platform. According to POGO, "The Navy is … [Read more...] about Watchdog report: Navy risking troops’ lives by pushing the F-35C into combat
Pentagon plans to deploy ‘particle beam’ weapon in space by 2023
Missile defense has been a priority in the United States for decades, in no small part because the threat posed by long-range, nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles remains as one of the few direct threats to the American mainland that could arise with little to no warning. In today's world, it would be all but impossible to sneak up to American shores with a sizable military … [Read more...] about Pentagon plans to deploy ‘particle beam’ weapon in space by 2023
Firefight surrounds Brazilian uranium shipment during convoy transport
On Tuesday March 19th, a group of armed men opened fire on police escorting a shipment of uranium destined for one of Brazil's two operational nuclear power plants. The convoy came under fire while passing through the town of Frade, about 19 miles from its ultimate destination in Angra dos Reis. Details surrounding the incident remain fairly sparse, but according to reports … [Read more...] about Firefight surrounds Brazilian uranium shipment during convoy transport
Here is the complete list of military projects the Department of Defense says may get bumped for the border wall
On Monday, the Pentagon provided Congress with a list of construction projects that could be delayed or stopped in order to reallocate funding to President Trump's proposed southern border wall. The President declared a national emergency in order to redirect funding to the endeavor, before having that decision reversed via votes in the House and Senate. The president then … [Read more...] about Here is the complete list of military projects the Department of Defense says may get bumped for the border wall
New F-15s, F-22 upgrades, and classified bombers: Here’s where the Air Force wants to put its money
As defense officials unveil their 2020 budget requests, journalists and analysts alike are finally getting a peek behind the curtain at the real priorities driving the American war-fighting apparatus. The Department of Defense (DOD), by and large, needs to err on the side of discretion when discussing ongoing defense initiatives. A poorly chosen word can send stock prices … [Read more...] about New F-15s, F-22 upgrades, and classified bombers: Here’s where the Air Force wants to put its money
A meteor unleashed a 173 kiloton explosion in Earth’s atmosphere and nobody noticed
Back in the 1990s, movies like "Armageddon" and "Deep Impact" helped show the world what it could be like if humanity met its end in a massive asteroid impact like our Jurassic (okay, technically Cretaceous) predecessors. In these movies, mankind utilized the best (science fiction) technology available to prepare for and attempt to prevent the impending disaster. As unrealistic … [Read more...] about A meteor unleashed a 173 kiloton explosion in Earth’s atmosphere and nobody noticed
How one planning decision is responsible for so many of the F-35’s woes
It can be tough to find stories about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that don't go out of their way to paint the platform as either an incredibly overpriced boondoggle or the best thing to happen to military air power since the invention of nose-mounted radar. From an editorial standpoint, these "absolute good" and "absolute bad" angles tend to elicit the most engaged reactions … [Read more...] about How one planning decision is responsible for so many of the F-35’s woes
What exactly is going on with Boeing’s troubled Max line of aircraft?
On March 10, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, took off from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and almost immediately suffered flight control issues. Within five minutes of takeoff, the aircraft went down, claiming the lives of all 157 people on board. Tragic as this incident was, it didn't take long before investigators and journalists began linking it to … [Read more...] about What exactly is going on with Boeing’s troubled Max line of aircraft?
Cell phone saves life of Australian man shot with arrow
It's happened countless times in movies: the hero slips a Bible, a notebook, a watch, or (in "Back the Future III") a stove door into their shirt before squaring off with their opponent. After a moment of tension-building drama, the villain draws and fires, striking our hero who crumples to the ground. After yet another moment of suspense, the seemingly-dead hero springs back … [Read more...] about Cell phone saves life of Australian man shot with arrow