What I cannot create, I do not understand

This excellent blog post draws parallels between Feynman's observations regarding the Challenger disaster and current trends in Software Engineering. Makes for a rather interesting read and is worth checking out. In particular, I appreciated the bit about unit testing and 'step by step' increases -- things I believe good programmers should constantly strive for in single-author programs... but which may become increasingly difficult/expensive in larger endeavors.

(via Slashdot)

WWII's Unmanned Battleship

Between serving as part of a show of force just before the end of WWI and her eventual destruction at Pearl Harbor, the USS Utah was converted to a remotely-controlled vessel used for target practice.

One of the earlier military applications of unmanned systems, the Utah was refitted with a radio-control mechanism which enabled remote operation from the safety of a nearby ship. She was used for realistic targeting exercises for nine years, allowing sailors to sharpen their bombing & gunning skills, and was eventually capsized as a result of the Pearl Harbor attack, trapping an unknown number of men inside.

Read more about the history of the USS Utah: USS Utah (BB-31) - Wikipedia