Japan's Latest Weapon Against Terror . . . A fish

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 7-25-2006 | Colin Joyce

[blam]

Japan's latest weapon against terror. . . a fish

By Colin Joyce in Tokyo

(Filed: 25/07/2006)

Japan is to use tiny fish in the battle against terrorism.

Ricefish, measuring less than two inches and commonly kept as pets, react rapidly to contaminated water.

The fish, which is pale orange, pushes its face close to the surface when it experiences breathing difficulties or simply dies in the manner of canaries in gas-filled mines.

Whereas sophisticated and expensive filters may take up to 15 hours to detect a problem, ricefish typically react to contamination within a couple of hours. So far, they have been used on only an experimental basis at two water plants but they will now be deployed at the central water supply system for Shizuoka prefecture, south of Tokyo.

Japan has a history of studying animal behaviour for possible indications of disaster.

Catfish are watched carefully because they are believed to thrash about when an earthquake is looming.

It is suggested that they are unusually sensitive to electric fields, which are disturbed when a fault line is about to slip.

[blam]

I'm reminded of the effort to use bed-bugs to find the Viet Cong years ago. I don't know how that turned out.

[GonzoGOP]

Why can I only think of the Monty Python Fish Slapping Dance.

[From many - one.]

Bedbugs???

[martin_fierro]

[Dumpster Baby]

Japan has a history of studying animal behaviour for possible indications of disaster

I carry around an asthmatic bipolar schizophrenic for the same reason. Works every time! :^)

[DannyTN]

I think it caused some sleepless nights.

[blam]

"Bedbugs???"

Yup. I'm sorry I don't remember any details other than they were suppose to help the GI's detect ambushes and such.

[fontoon]

the bed bug story seems more interesting than the rice fish story, I want to know more

[fontoon]

I found an article on it, but the early indications sugest a barf alert

http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/cc/Hain.html

(I forgot the script to link it)

[Kewlhand`tek]

how about GODZIRRA!!!!!!
Godzirra vs Hizebullah
Godzirra vs Abu Jamal Tafar Mohamed bin Kalb

[scrabblehack]

Plot Summary for
The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)

Milquetoast Henry Limpet experiences his fondest wish and is transformed into a fish. As a talking fish he assists the US Navy in hunting German submarines during World War II.


The title character was played by Don Knotts.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Godzirra vs Abu Jamal Tafar Mohamed bin Kalb"

"...Or Ali versus Frazier..."

[Grut]

I'm reminded of the effort to use bed-bugs to find the Viet Cong years ago. I don't know how that turned out.

IIRC, the bedbugs were in a box with a microphone that picked up a characteristic noise they made when they smelled people. The bugs were conditioned to react strongly to people with a Vietnamese diet, who had a different body odor than Americans.

The countermeasure was for the VC to smear their feces on bushes everywhere, which caused the bugs to give so many false alarms they were useless. I only have this second-hand from press reports at the time and may be misremembering it.

[blam]

"IIRC, the bedbugs were in a box with a microphone that picked up a characteristic noise they made when they smelled people. The bugs were conditioned to react strongly to people with a Vietnamese diet, who had a different body odor than Americans."

Yup. Thanks, that sounds familiar.

Fontoon, see post #13.

[From many - one.]

I thought 13 was a joke.

Live and learn.

[fontoon]

wow thats interest and funny at the same time

[blam]

LOL.

This is all true. You learn something new every day on Free Republic.

I made seven trips to Vietnam in the mid-60's, fortunately all were as a civilian. Lots of stories though.

Thanks Grunt.

[Grut]

Thanks Grunt.

That's FronkenSTEEN!