Clandestine gun-making facility discovered in Australia (including an Aliens pulse rifle?)

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"The search was carried out as part of Strike Force Temarang..." which "was established by State Crime Command’s Drug & Firearms Squad into the importation and manufacture of 3D printed firearms and firearm parts, 3D computer aided designed software, and other privately manufactured firearms."

I think this is the song in that ninja sword tweet by the UK Home Office

🚨 Ninja swords are used by criminals to rob victims of their lives.

There is only one course of action:

✅ Remove knives from the streets
✅ Tougher consequences for criminals
✅ Save lives pic.twitter.com/VaKMe2qRCK

— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) September 9, 2024

Reaper by Bryant Lowry, who I believe also composed the soundtrack for John Romero's Sigil II

Is this animated, musical graphic about the UK banning "ninja swords" intended to be farcical?

🚨 Ninja swords are used by criminals to rob victims of their lives.

There is only one course of action:

✅ Remove knives from the streets
✅ Tougher consequences for criminals
✅ Save lives pic.twitter.com/VaKMe2qRCK

— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) September 9, 2024

What's the track?


Some other tweets:

It will soon be illegal to own a zombie-style knife or machete.

Surrender your weapon at Manchester City Centre Police Station at the Town Hall Extension before the law changes on 24 September 2024.

Open 24/7.

More info: https://t.co/kbtP4p0OLL pic.twitter.com/9AQmQbYn8S

— Manchester City Centre Police (GMP) (@GMPCityCentre) September 11, 2024

Government to introduce ban on machete and zombie-style knives - as Brits urged to surrender their weapons https://t.co/CEXVMbYdBI pic.twitter.com/m0IsqDqitD

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) August 18, 2024

And an official post:

This scheme is just one part of the government’s pledge to halve knife crime in a decade. Next steps will include further bans, stronger rules to stop online sales, and tough action to stop young people being drawn into crime.

(I'm assuming, hoping they've created and announced actual standards about what sort of bladed weapon is unlawful, and not just using vague slang terms.) (That first tweet cites "ninja swords" as the problem, and then follows up with removing "knives")

The "BMW Flamethrower" was a car-mounted flamethrower designed to deter carjackings in 1998 South Africa

Today I learned about "The Blaster" - an absurd underdoor mounted flamethrower meant to deter car jackings invented in South Africa in the 90's, and everything about Elon Musk's stupid ass Cyber truck and his whole mindset suddenly clicked into place pic.twitter.com/gPvFz268tb

— Casey @ twitch.tv/caseyexplosion (@CaseyExplosion) December 2, 2023

From the Wikipedia entry for "The Blaster":

In South Africa, it is legal to use lethal force in self-defence if in fear of one's life, and ownership of flamethrowers is unrestricted.

The invention came in response to the increasingly severe violent crime situation in South Africa, which in 1998 had already made the country (particularly Johannesburg) the per capita murder, assault, rape and carjacking capital of the world.

The device was controversial in South Africa

...

the high price tag at 3,900 rand ($655) limited its market

A 1998 CNN article:

Both sides flame at the same time, regardless of whether the attack is coming from just one side of the vehicle, or whether passersby are on the other side. But the breadth and depth of blast can be modified according to individual preference.

...

it offers a cheap, dramatic defense against carjackers

...

"Yes, there are certain risks in using it, but there are also risks in not having anything at all."

And a promotional video from the AP shows it in action:

Today's cyberpunk loadout is an adversarial hoodie for defeating night vision security cameras, 3d-printed firearms for resisting the military coup, and a voice replica for seizing bank accounts

"The Camera-Shy Hoodie is a DIY adversarial garment designed to give the user the option to anonymize themselves within the recording of a night vision security camera." https://t.co/V6htOLDOGR pic.twitter.com/JOCfGj4IEN

— Jake Hanrahan (@Jake_Hanrahan) February 25, 2023

Wafflemaker sword and many other Swordtember creations

Many more gems in the feed:

Swordtember - Day 15 : Dual-Purpose 🧇#swordtember #swordtember2022 #blender3d pic.twitter.com/bkKOpCeTRz

— Kay 🎨 (@KayLousberg) September 15, 2022

"Scream" movie franchise adapted for the ice; Japanese covers for Columbo novels; Hatchet with cat motif

“Scream on Ice” exists! I repeat - “Scream on Ice” exists! 😱 pic.twitter.com/Tf6tukWSVq

— Chris Strider (@stridinstrider) July 3, 2021

Columbo novelization covers from Japan. pic.twitter.com/kbOG5JowOZ

— Brandon Schaefer (@seekandspeak) July 3, 2021

A hatchet with a cat motif, Poland, ca. 1980https://t.co/csTTWKTCEh pic.twitter.com/nOx1PIC0oW

— Cats in Art (@CatsinArt1) June 30, 2021

With the rise of Gen-Z, it's time for a new version of Friends!

I have just one tiny tweak that will bring this show into the modern era and make it a fun watch for EVERYONE: the Friends are constantly worried about the group of six exact doppelgangers who live one floor above.

— Emily VanDerWerff 🙋‍♀️ (@emilyvdw) July 2, 2021

sending oc refs to artists is so embarrassing like yes this is a character i created as a partial expression of myself in the form of projection and personal goals both i am baring my innermost creation to you and trusting you to keep it safe. also can you make her ass bigger

— veraero rocher 🌙 (@coeurlclaw) July 1, 2021

Fashion that says "Don't talk to me"; Lantern x Flintlock; Explaining the birds and the bees

pic.twitter.com/zDTCfhSfWi

— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) March 19, 2021

(Craig Green.)

Room designed to look like it's under attack by King Kong; Axe with decorative hearts; Men can't shriek

Sure, we may be one of the most lauded architectural feats of all time—but if you ask us, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

Our top-to-bottom revamp of the visitor experience tells NYC's story like never before. Read via @blooloop: https://t.co/nWbyUv9mnr pic.twitter.com/4xqpHXhwuO

— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) February 19, 2021

Japanese axe, Muromachi Period, 14th century. pic.twitter.com/9rr1iU95JA

— Marina Amaral (@marinamaral2) February 22, 2021

https://t.co/EiReEMvEAn pic.twitter.com/XjqnwUdW80

— Thanos Massias (@MassiasThanos) February 22, 2021

A fascinating observation about men screamin in cinema is brought up in the new issue of FANGORIA. pic.twitter.com/Nnomr7e8de

— Justin Decloux (@DeclouxJ) February 22, 2021

Finnish PhD students get a sword when they graduate

Beautiful sword! In Finland PhD graduates also grind their swords. Companion rotates the wheel, and champagne is used as a lubricant. pic.twitter.com/NfwOddpcQ0

— Tarja Repo (@Tarja_Repo) February 23, 2021

Funniest weapon to get stabbed by, and other adventuring equipment

funniest weapon to get stabbed by pic.twitter.com/EETOChulnU

— Rosemary 🌿 (@dragonkisser420) September 27, 2020

"For more than a year, a violent tow truck war has been raging across the Greater Toronto Area"

From February in The Globe and Mail:

Dozens of trucks have been set on fire, and at least two men tied to the industry have been killed – one as he stood in front of his mother’s Scarborough home. The feuding shows no signs of abating, with at least two arsons reported in York Region during the first week of February alone.

...

A car that has been in a crash typically needs more than just a tow from Point A to Point B. It may need repair work, and the driver might need physiotherapy. It’s an open secret in the industry that some body shops and rehab clinics will pay tow truck drivers to bring them business. As a result of these kickback fees, a single car can yield thousands of dollars, and “chasers” are racing each other to every job.

...

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the city’s boroughs were unofficially carved up into “kingdoms” by towing operators – an arrangement that required some companies to pay organized crime groups for protection in order to work, the report explained. In some cases, these groups were paid a flat monthly fee. In others, they took a cut of each job.

An update today:

Police announced 20 arrests in total.

...

According to police, evidence seized as part of the search warrants includes:

11 tow trucks.
Dozens of guns, including handguns, shotguns, rifles, and a machine gun.
Thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Two conductive energy weapons and brass knuckles.
An assortment of drugs, including five kilograms of fentanyl, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 1.25 kilograms of crystal meth and 1.5 kilograms of pot.
Over $500,000 in cash.

And a 2014 article about Los Angeles:

Bandit tow trucks will take your car for ransom

Sword wishes its victims eternal life

@UrsulaV , the comments made me think you'd be amused pic.twitter.com/0he5q8WHc1

— Alexander Hollins (@AlexanderDSoSo) February 28, 2020

Hellfire missile with pop-out swords

How do you carry out a drone strike that reduces the risk of collateral injury? Replace the explosive payload with a bunch of pop-out swords:

Frikken swords, man. pic.twitter.com/7HPWFLLvSD

— Nick Waters (@N_Waters89) May 9, 2019

FKA Twigs showing off her sword skills

no cops at pride just Twigs and her sword pic.twitter.com/cvefhGdUOX

— to(c)ina (@mstoxinadrag) November 24, 2019

Full performance, the sword shows up at 3:28

"Feds Demand Apple And Google Hand Over Names Of 10,000+ Users Of A Gun Scope App"

Forbes:

According to an application for a court order filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on September 5, investigators want information on users of Obsidian 4, a tool used to control rifle scopes made by night-vision specialist American Technologies Network Corp. The app allows gun owners to get a live stream, take video and calibrate their gun scope from an Android or iPhone device.

...

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) department is seeking information as part of a broad investigation into possible breaches of weapons export regulations. It’s looking into illegal exports of ATN’s scope, though the company itself isn’t under investigation, according to the order. As part of that, investigators are looking for a quick way to find out where the app is in use, as that will likely indicate where the hardware has been shipped. ICE has repeatedly intercepted illegal shipments of the scope

Previously: "A.T.F. Filled Secret Bank Account With Millions From Shadowy Cigarette Sales"

"Arizona governor will decide whether to legalize nunchucks"

"Arizona allows people to have nunchucks to prepare for competition, but supporters say those who practice martial arts shouldn't have to worry they'll face charges for possessing the weapon"

Adventuring gear

殺意を測る包丁を作った！🔪
joke/冗談
mischief/悪戯
injury/傷害
killing/殺害
の刻みがついてる。いちばん深いと殺害 #vivevagina #darkromanesqueholiday pic.twitter.com/3zrbvJ0zUU

— si oux🌔スー (@sioux) August 30, 2016

Costume worn to a masked ball by Swedish King Gustav III in which he was assassinated. The assassins identified him by the Star of the Royal Order of the Seraphim on his chest.https://t.co/3rA8APH75K pic.twitter.com/uM7NxHVGp9

— Sardonicus (@RealSardonicus) March 17, 2019

The Lycurgus Cup is the only complete example of colour-changing dichroic glass from ancient Rome.

The glass contains nanoparticles of gold and silver – this makes it turn from opaque green to translucent red when light is shone through it https://t.co/5nKrGE6Gc1 pic.twitter.com/A3jMa5z27I

— British Museum (@britishmuseum) March 26, 2019

*More equipment.

Switchblade

ive fallen and cant get up pic.twitter.com/VRmXEelyaZ

— Krismas ECCC V9 (@kristaferanka) February 12, 2019

Related:

Sharon Stone (@sharonstone) working on her moves. Behind the scenes of TOTAL RECALL (1990) #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/SlxutWXOAn

— ULTRAKiLLBLAST (@ultrakillblast) February 11, 2019

And:

Remembering the late Albert Finney we show Kincade and M, Judi Dench and their stunt doubles Tony Van Silva and Tina Maskell #stunts #AlbertFinneyRIP #JamesBond pic.twitter.com/GgBWNN4ZpK

— Behind The Stunts (@stuntcentral) February 9, 2019

Cobra Commander's gear

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Happy New Year from Cobra Commander! #tommybuilt #xm8 #gojoe #cobra #magpod #nocompromise #hecklerandkoch #cobracommander #riseofcobra @airasylum_art @hecklerandkoch @strictly_hk @hkparts @magpod @magpul @pit_viper_studios

A post shared by tommybuilt (@tommybuilt) on Dec 31, 2018 at 5:32pm PST