"The new platform represents a departure from the Navy CRF patrol boats in current use. The Navy specified a "visual-deterrent" appearance for the new vessel, which the design satisfies with a futuristic and "menacing" faceted hull profile above the waterline....."From Maritime Executive, December 19:
The U.S. Navy and Louisiana-based boatbuilder Metal Shark are nearing the end of the testing period for the new “40 PB” 43-foot patrol boat platform, and full-rate production is set to begin soon.....MORE
The design was developed as the replacement for the small 25-foot and 34-foot patrol boats operated by the Navy's Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) in ports and waterways around the world, and it was selected from a field of seven competitors. Metal Shark will soon be delivering one production boat per month; the firm holds an initial contract for 11 hulls, extending up to 50 with options. The existing fleet numbers about 100-160 vessels, and it is expected that the new design will replace these hulls over the next 15 years.
The new platform represents a departure from the Navy CRF patrol boats in current use. The Navy specified a "visual-deterrent" appearance for the new vessel, which the design satisfies with a futuristic and "menacing" faceted hull profile above the waterline. It is also conspicuously and heavily armed....
I am so sorry.
Reading that the Navy wanted highly visible guns and a "menacing" hull I kept flashing on this story adapted from AFNS:
January 13, 2014
After Car Attacked By Paris Taxi Drivers, Uber to Toughen Image With Umlauts
Uber car attacked as Paris taxi strike turns violent
Demonstration brings airport traffic to a halt as cab unions lash out against smartphone-based services...
In response:
San Francisco, CA (PRwëb) January 13, 2014-
In a move designed to make Uber seem more "bad-assed and scary in a quasi-heavy-metal manner," the Goldman Sachs, Menlo Ventures and Bezos Expeditions-backed company officially changed it's name to Über on Monday.
"Much like Mötley Crüe and Motörhead, Über is not to be messed with," said founder Gärrëtt Cämp, née Camp...Röck döts rüle
Long time readers will recognize the bald-faced ripoff of America's Finest News Service, ca 1997.
And even worse having started down that rabbit hole we came to this from 2015:
Peak "Like Uber For...": "Why there won’t be an Uber in every vertical"
For the record we completely agree with FT Alphaville's David Keohane that the "Like Uber for..." formulation should be banned and go further than he in postulating that it's usage is a sign of a weak mind and probably indicates underlying pathologies in the user's character in addition to retarded social development.
And poor fashion sense....
I think it was October of '08 when I lost my mind, 5 - 10% moves, up and down, on a daily basis, kids these days don't know what volatility is.
I am so sorry.
