Real Genius/Headscratchers: Difference between revisions

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** They don't know it works. They know it missed its target and burst into flame. They ''don't'' know that this was intentional, and probably assume it's just a piece of junk.

*** No, they know it had a failure. The next step would be to put together another one, have someone go over it to try and find the problem, and then do another test to see if the problem could be reproduced or was just some sort of fluke or human error. Having one unexplained failure and scrapping the project forever is pure Hollywoodism.

**** Given that the test failure produced substantial property damage ''off-base'', you would think that an accident investigation crew tearing this thing's remains down to the frame to try and find the problem would be mandatory. If only to try and avoid liability concerns. And of course the instant they do that they find the traces of grease smeared on the lens, which at minimum suggests 'it blew up due to faulty maintenance' and not 'it blew up due to inherent design flaw'. So run the test again.

** Again, the point that people seem to be missing is the ''added public scrutiny''. The Congressman, the college dean, and a few passersby saw a laser beam hit Hathaway's house. Eventually, a Congressional oversight committee and an interested public are going to start asking questions. I expect that the laser project would be buried underneath red tape for YEARS to come.

*** Congressman and others go to Congress. The Congresspeople that actually approved the project in the first place say "It's classified" and send them on their way, to gripe to the college newspaper and whatever publications will listen to them about "a giant space laser". Red tape cut.