battery detectors? I'm short MAGSF
As long as the detection schemes are based on x-rays, then materials
with high electron densities, especially heavy metals like lead and
mercury, are the easiest things to detect. But the vast numbers of
batteries being shipped back and forth these days may make that idea
unworkable. How many laptop computers, Sony BombMans, GameBoys, travel
alarm clocks, and so on are in your bags? There's at least one or two
batteries in my bags every time I fly.
The fellow on NightLine may have made a tactical error as well. IF I
were a terrorist and heard his remarks, I'd certainly consider them
carefully. There's plenty of ways to not use a battery, plus there are
lithium batteries which are not strongly x-ray absorbing.
Other detection schemes look for nitrogen atoms in high oxidation
states. The nitrates (-NO3) and nitro (-NO2) groups are found in most
high explosives and many low explosives. Nuclear quadrupole resonance
is the most sophisticated and specific, but also the most difficult.
Sniffers (gas sensors) can detect the faint residues of solvents or
volatile explosive components. Both systems can give false positives
that could be exploited by terrorists. The NQR detector sometimes
responds to leather. The sniffer could be fooled by sending through
lots of bags with a drop of special "perfume" added.
The bomb detection equipment could also be defeated much as we take
out enemy radar. We launch missiles at the radars themselves. The
terrorist could make bombs that were set off by x-rays, for example.
Boom goes X-ray machine and operator. Repeat until no machines or
operators are available.
My point isn't to teach terrorists how to bomb airports, it is to
point out how difficult it is to stop them. A smart, determined
terrorist will not be stopped by any of the measures we now know of.
Our current policy of vigorously investigating and running terrorists
to ground may have the best deterrent effect. I think we'd be much
better off if this policy had been taken straight to the palace in
Libya.
Back to the issue of INVN...
I wasn't able to short INVN or BARR because of exchange restrictions.
After looking at the recent history, I chose criteria based on how
much these stocks were up since July 1.
stock July 1 July 29 %change notes
------- ------ ------- ------- ------------------------
BARR 3 10.375 345 not marginable
INVN 11.5 26.00 226 not marginable, may hold value well
MAGSF 4 9.00 225 book 0.29, earnings 0.34, **I'm SHORT
ASE 10 16.50 9 didn't rise due to high P/E?
TMD 25.5 27.50 8 didn't rise
ICTSF 7 12.75 40 not much attention
No more bombs! I'd hate to see these stocks get another shot of juice.
-bob mackey |
