VIDEOS: James Bond & the Electromagnetic Pulse

Sorry to interrupt our yearend review again, but it has come to Walt's attention that there are some who consider the idea that the explosion(s) which rocked Nashville on Christmas Day were caused by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), rather than a simple stick of dynamite or other device a suicide bomber* might use, a bit farfetched. One reader has even suggested that such a WMD doesn't exist outside of a sci-fi writer's imagination! 

Just in the nick of time, Agent 3 has come up with evidence that the existence of EMPs was known, talked about, and written about at least a quarter-century ago. Indeed, it is the basis of the plot in the James Bond movie GoldenEye, released in 1995. 

Here's the IMDb synopsis: Years after a friend and fellow 00 agent is killed on a joint mission, a secret space based weapons program known as "GoldenEye" is stolen. James Bond sets out to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using the weapon. And here's the official trailer.

   

A new YouTube channel called Movie Fun has the entire film, divided into 15 parts. Even with Pierce Brosnan playing James Bond, it's pretty good. Lots of action and more-gorgeous-than-usual Bond girls. *** (3 stars). But if you're only interested in learning about the EMP, go to Part 5. The part you want to see begins at about 5:45.

   

What just happened there? The question is answered in the following part, about one minute in.

   

Now I ask you... Don't you think it possible that an explosion which damaged 41 buildings in Nashville and caused power outages and communications disruptions across TN and four neighbouring states might have been caused by just such a device? 

But wait! Another piece of the puzzle was revealed today. * Authorities said the man suspected of setting off the "bomb" -- they're still calling it that -- died in the explosion. Investigators said they used DNA to identify the remains found at the scene as those of a Tennesseean named Anthony Quinn Warner. The FBI said it also matched the RV's vehicle identification number to a registration belonging to Mr Warner. 

There's still more. Public records show that Mr Warner had experience with electronics and alarms, and had worked as a computer consultant for a Nashville realtor. Just like "Boris", the computer geek who programmed and controlled the EMP in the movie! He had been linked to the "bombing" since at least Saturday, when federal and local investigators converged on a Nashville home linked to him.

Investigator have yet to uncover any motive for the "bombing", nor have they figured ouot why Mr Warner selected the location, which was not far from a large building occupied by... wait for it... AT&T. The explosion disrupted phone service and police and hospital communications in several southern states. Could be Mr Warner was unable to pay his bill, but I think there must be more to it than that. What do you think?