# Are scalar weapons for real? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879 "2003-08-04T12:50:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 31
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/601 "2003-09-08T02:09:52Z")
_ **600** _ ---
**Author:** ![notez2bme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cdc98d/32.png) [@notez2bme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notez2bme)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/602 "2003-09-08T03:01:24Z")
As a cuuretntly serving member of our esteemed armed forces and soon-to-be liberator of Iraq (noooo, I’m not being sarcastic), I can tell you there is, indeed, a death ray deployed by US soldiers. It is called a PAQ-4 and it projects an ifrared beam (AKA, “ray”) that is (after much work in a darkened latrine) boresighted to the rifle it is mounted upon. It projects a dot on to the target that is visable through night vision devices. One simply puts the dot on target and pulls the trigger–with proper boresighting, you CAN NOT miss. But you say that the bullet aimed with the ray, er, beam is the cause of death, not the beam, uh, ray itself! You’ve got it all wrong! You see, the damned thing is ridiculously expensive (government purchasing being what it is), so if you lose it, the First Sergent kills you. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/603 "2003-09-08T11:38:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by notez2bme \* > \*\* if you lose it, the First Sergent kills you. \*\* With an old fashioned death ray, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/604 "2003-09-08T12:09:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > \*\*Last call for information on B, C, & B death rays being funded through embezzlement, foreign powers, or the mob. Last call. > > (Now, where are **DocCathode** , **Tuckerfan** , and **paperback writer** when you need them?) \*\* I think it`s “_foreign mobs embezzling powers in the FORM of “Death Rays”_”. ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/605 "2003-09-08T20:32:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > \*\*Last call for information on B, C, & B death rays being funded through embezzlement, foreign powers, or the mob. Last call. > > (Now, where are **DocCathode** , **Tuckerfan** , and **paperback writer** when you need them?) \*\* Fortune Magazine did an expose on the accounting practices of the top 100 and…at the time, 2 companies were found to have participated diverting capital to the B, C, & B death-ray companies. Needless to say that their practices came under scrutiny when it was found a Big Five firm, initials AA, and some electric firm, starts with an “E” and ends with an “N” were put under the microscope by the SEC. So, no mob, no foreign powers, just plain “glad-handing” here. I don’t have the issue off hand, I used it for target practice about a month ago… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/606 "2003-09-08T21:57:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Governor Quinn \* > \*\*You might be confused on Iran-Contra, as the events in question happened in the late 1950’s/early 1960’s. \*\* I think that either some of the later participants in Iran/Contra got either their start, or inspiration from the project. It’s been a while since I read the article, and I’m so tired at the moment, that all my thoughts are fuzzy on the matter. Still I know that there _was_ a connection. Might have to get off my tuckus and dig up the article on the matter (assuming I still have it). ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/607 "2003-09-09T00:50:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frixxxx \* > \*\*Fortune Magazine did an expose on the accounting practices of the top 100 and…at the time, 2 companies were found to have participated diverting capital to the B, C, & B death-ray companies. > > Needless to say that their practices came under scrutiny when it was found a Big Five firm, initials AA, and some electric firm, starts with an “E” and ends with an “N” were put under the microscope by the SEC. So, no mob, no foreign powers, just plain “glad-handing” here. I don’t have the issue off hand, I used it for target practice about a month ago… > > :smack: \*\* Now, **frixxxx** , you’re mistaken. The events in question are over 40 years old. Perhaps this will jog everyone’s memories: [QUOTE] _Originally written by Dr. Hobbes_ \*\* I entered [C.H.] Barris’ office, and found two other men in there, waiting for him. One identified himself as being Abba Eden, who, I learned later, was an Israeli government official. The other didn’t identify himself, but I later found out that he was either the underboss or one of the top street leaders (or both) of the Philadelphian mob… The phone rang, and I was the one that picked it up. “Hello”, I said. The man at the other end said “$250,000 of our money is unaccounted for, and it was handled by you. Where is it?” I responded, understandably, with “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He said, “Oh, yes you do. This is the American Broadcasting Corporation.” At that, I stated “You must be confused. This is Dr. Hobbes.” The man at the other end stopped for a moment. He then chuckled a little, and said “Sorry. Your receptionist gave us the wrong line.” Then he hung up. \*\* [QUOTE] A personal note: Dr. Hobbes was, at this point, in semi-retirement at Ohio State, and was working as a freelance consultant. The events in the previous passage took place in 1961. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/608 "2003-09-09T00:52:05Z")
Darn it, the coding weasels struck again! ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/609 "2003-09-09T01:42:38Z")
The good Dr. Seuss is spinning, spinning, spinning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/610 "2003-09-09T01:44:10Z")
Not again! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/611 "2003-09-09T02:11:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spingears \* > \*\*The good Dr. Seuss is spinning, spinning, spinning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \*\* …into the future… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/612 "2003-09-09T04:23:02Z")
**GQ** , I remember reading about the incident you’re talking about now. “American Broadcasting Corporation” was a code phrase which Dr. Hobbes wouldn’t have recognized. It seems that Drs. Fry and Bender, who were assistants to Dr. Hobbes had been running the ferret smuggling scheme I mentioned earlier, and had told both the Mossad and the Philly mob that Dr. Hobbes was in on it. They even managed to trick Dr. Hobbes into being the bag man in a couple of operations, by telling Dr. Hobbes that they needed him to deliver a package to a sick friend. It was one of those times that the money disappeared. Hobbes knew nothing of it, of course, Drs. Fry and Bender having arranged the whole affair, and the recipient, Dr. Zoidberg, was also in on the deal. He skimmed the $250,000 from the delivery and told his handlers in the Mossad that the money was missing. They naturally questioned their friends in the Philly mob as to what was going on, who knew nothing of the matter. Things got hairy when Drs. Fry and Bender were spotted in a strip club in Dallas owned by Jack Ruby, spending money furiously. Fry and Bender were locked in a contest to see who could drink and stare at boobs simultaniously when Dr. Fry puked on a man in a dark suit wearing sunglasses. The man turned out to be none other than G. Gordon Liddy, FBI agent. Liddy was there for reasons which remain classified to this day. However, he was _not_ amused at being barfed on and arrested Fry for assaulting a Federal Agent. Fry panics and yells at Bender to get him out of this. Bender responds by making an almost full confession. (i.e. Bender rats out everyone but himself) Liddy, being the dedicated FBI agent, immediately alerts the Philly FBI office, they respond by launching massive raids on the Philly mob’s operations. Word gets back to J. Edgar Hoover about the bust, Hoover, fearing that the mob will release the photos of him in drag it’s been blackmailing him with, calls the raids off and orders the arrested mobsters released. Liddy gets his panties in a bunch over the matter, Hoover talks Ronald Reagan into explaining to Liddy that Israel was in charge of the operation and gives Liddy the details of the whole ferret smuggling scheme. Liddy writes a full report, agreeing with Reagan and Hoover that Israel is justified in it’s actions. Years later, when an obscure Marine by the name of Oliver North is looking for a way to fund anti-communist guerillas in Nicaragua, he stumbles across Liddy’s report. Naturally, North seizes upon the scheme, substituting cocaine for the ferrets, and the rest would be history, if Liddy’s report, along with numerous other documents hadn’t been shredded by Fawn Hall. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/613 "2003-09-09T14:49:50Z")
**Tuckerfan** - I`d like to know how you came about that info. If Fawn Hall had shredded most of the related docs. how did you know that the Mob had photos of Hoover in drag (like that would even be disclosed to begin with). Is this merely speculation? If your going to speculate, please indicate that in your post. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/614 "2003-09-09T18:35:09Z")
Perhaps we could _broaden_ the thread topic to include 1950’s Style Hyper-Death Rays? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/615 "2003-09-09T20:00:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor \* > \*\*Perhaps we could _broaden_ the thread topic to include 1950’s Style Hyper-Death Rays? \*\* Not to be snarky or anything but could we, for once, _please_ stay on topic? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2003, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/616 "2003-09-09T22:14:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by whuckfistle \* > \*\ ***Tuckerfan** - I`d like to know how you came about that info. If Fawn Hall had shredded most of the related docs. how did you know that the Mob had photos of Hoover in drag (like that would even be disclosed to begin with). Is this merely speculation? If your going to speculate, please indicate that in your post. \*\* Heh, heh, heh. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. It’s information I gleaned in interviews with various folks who were connected to the incidents in question. Many of them were family friends and it just kind of leaked out of them over the years. Strange the kinds of folks my parents know (or have known) and my folks are such mundane people you’d never have expected to brush with the people in power. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/617 "2003-09-10T03:21:47Z")
**Tuckerfan** , you’re in error, but understandably. At my college library today, I found two book that dealt with the subject. One, (Matagrassi) was obviously the one used by you. It is more or less correct, except with the ABC issue. It was determined by the late Clerow Wilson in 1995 that, in his autobiography, Dr. Hobbes conflated the Mafia/Mossad connection (of which Wilson determined that Barris was part of both) with an 1961 internal investagation by ABC in the theft of the mentioned cash. In that instant, it turned out that the money in question couldn’t have been stolen by anyone, as it only existed as a typo. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/618 "2003-09-10T03:35:21Z")
Sorry, **GQ** , but I’ve not read Matagrassi’s work. I got this from various family members, all of whom are rather closed mouthed about their government service. You wouldn’t believe what I had to go through to find out that one of my uncle’s was Gen. MacArthur’s personal aide during WW II. I also had an aunt, who was on the verge of telling me about her work on the SDI program using death rays when she mysteriously died of lung cancer after a mere 50 years of smoking. I’m _certain_ she was murdered by the Feds to keep her quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/619 "2003-09-10T03:45:42Z")
Ahh, never mind, never mind. On a related note: The person who tipped off Clerow Wilson will be revealed soon. By a general agreement, it was determined that the name of the person who be exposed five years after either 1) the death of Wilson, or 2) the death of the person in question. Wilson died in October 1998. Therefore, the truth will out soon. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879/620 "2003-09-10T14:28:30Z")
**GQ** - Are you thinking of, maybe, “Deepthroat”? How does this have anything to do with Watergate? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-scalar-weapons-for-real/192879.md?page=32)