(no subject)

"This is a curious distinction. Comparing military "materiel" to civilian "equipment," we find that materiel costs more, is almost always manufactured by the lowest bidder, and someone is much more likely to get killed if it fails -- even in the case of seemingly trivial materiel, like insect repellant (which almost certainly will not work as a combat herbicide, but don't try to convince Nick of that.)"

footnote to http://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20050814.html