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Douglas Ernst

dernst@washingtontimes.com

Articles by Douglas Ernst

The F-35 joint strike fighter jet

Man arrested in N.J. for attempted smuggling of F-35 data to Iran

A man was arrested Jan. 9 at Newark International Airport in New Jersey and charged with attempting to give blueprints for the F-35 fighter jet to Iran.

January 14, 2014

Image: Kickstarter

‘Rubber Band Machine Gun’ fetches over 100K in pledges on Kickstarter

Who knew that worldwide demand for a Rubber Band Machine Gun was so high? Alexander Shpetniy, a design student at the National University of Lugansky, has raised over $100,000 in pledges on Kickstarter for his creation, which can dispense 672 rubber bands in just 48 seconds.

January 14, 2014

Russian President Vladimir Putin tries on a jacket during a visit the training center for volunteers Winter Olympics at the Black Sea resort of Sochi, southern Russia, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014. Russian President Vladimir Putin has rescinded a blanket ban on demonstrations in Sochi in and around the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Alexei Nikolsky, Presidential Press Service)

Russia wins Sochi gold for corruption? IOC official cites $18B in embezzlement

If there was an Olympic gold medal in embezzlement, would Russia win? During a recent radio interview, A Swiss member of the International Olympic Committee said that roughly a third of the $55 billion spent on the Sochi Olympics having disappeared due to corruption.

January 10, 2014

** FILE ** A small Draganflyer X6 drone is photographed during a test flight in Mesa County, Colo., on Jan. 8, 2009. (Associated Press/Mesa County Sheriff's Department)

Hunters use drones to stalk prey

PETA has used drones to keep track of hunters. Now hunters are using drones to keep track of their prey.

January 10, 2014

Image: KHON News 2 Hawaii, screenshot

Man takes ‘selfie’ after surviving plane crash over Pacific Ocean

Ferdinand Puentes survived a plane crash in December off the coast of Hawaii. Then, while treading water in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, he had the presence of mind to chronicle his attempt to survive with a "selfie."

January 10, 2014

Image: Twitter, Mars One

Veterans make first Mars One cut: ‘A hell of a thing to tell your mother’

More than 200,000 people volunteered to be the first to walk on Mars, but only 1,000 made the first cut. Many of them have military backgrounds.

January 10, 2014

President Hamid Karzai chats with President Barack Obama during the start of the dinner at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 28, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

Karzai snubs U.S.: 72 high-profile detainees will walk

Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced Thursday that 72 high-profile detainees that intelligence officials insist are a threat to American troops will be released.

January 9, 2014

Minnesota Vikings mascot Ragnar waits to ride onto the field before an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)

‘True vikings’ must try Iceland’s ‘whale beer’

Iceland has a new drink that is being marketed for "true vikings" — whale beer.

January 9, 2014

Pornkamol Mongkolsermsak was caught at the border between the United States and Mexico smashed inside a suitcase. (U.S. Customs and Border Proteection)

Illegal immigrant caught at U.S. border hidden inside suitcase

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials stumbled upon a odd smuggling plot recently when they discovered a woman attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border — stuffed inside a suitcase.

January 8, 2014

**FILE** Carry teams move flag-draped transfer cases of the remains of the four Americans killed in Benghazi, Libya, from a transport plane during the Transfer of Remains ceremony on Sept. 14, 2012, at Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Washington. (Associated Press)

Former Gitmo detainee with ties to al Qaeda implicated in Benghazi attack

U.S. officials believe that former Guantanamo Bay detainee Abu Sufian bin Qumu, who was released in 2007 and sent to Libya, played a role in the Sept. 11, 2012 terror attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

January 8, 2014

In this Dec. 6, 2012 photo provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, soldiers assigned to 6th Engineer Battalion utilize snow shoes during Arctic Light Individual Training on the Bulldog Trail in sub-zero conditions at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. ALIT is the United States Army Alaska's Cold Weather Indoctrination program. It gives all soldiers, regardless of their job, the foundation to successfully work, train, and go to war in some of the harshest environments in the world. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Justin Connaher)

Top military brass kept from pension cuts that budget deal brings to soldiers

December's congressional budget deal will shave the pensions of many career soldiers via cost-of-adjustment changes — but top brass will be unaffected.

January 8, 2014

The San Francisco skyline rises behind a row of Victorian homes. (Associated Press)

San Francisco: It’s illegal to store anything other than a car in the garage

In San Francisco, storing that weed trimmer and old sports equipment in apartment or hotel garages can get you fined up to $500. In fact, it's illegal to store anything besides an automobile.

January 8, 2014

President Barack Obama pauses while speaking about benefits for the unemployed, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, in the East Room at the White House in Washington. The president applauded a Senate vote advancing legislation to renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed as an important step. The Senate voted 60-37 Tuesday to clear the bill's first hurdle. But Republicans who voted to move ahead still want concessions that will have to be worked out before final passage. The Republican-controlled House would also have to vote for it. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates rips Obama in memoir

President Obama's leadership style is savaged in the 594-page memoir of Former Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, a man who has served every president going back to Richard Nixon, except Bill Clinton.

January 7, 2014

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2008, file photo, boxer Evander Holyfield, from United States, reacts after losing against Nikolai Valuev, of Russia, in a WBA heavyweight title fight at the Hallenstadion, in Zurich, Switzerland. The former world heavyweight champion has been reprimanded by the bosses of a British reality TV show for saying being gay "ain't normal." The 50-year-old American made the comments during a conversation with a fellow contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in an episode that was aired Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, in Britain. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

Evander Holyfield gets earful for ‘choice’ gay comments

Evander Holyfield used to take hits in the ring — now he's taking them in the court of public opinion over his televised comments on gay people.

January 7, 2014

This undated photo released Thursday, May 30, 2013 by aerospace technology company Northrop Grumman shows the RQ-4 Block 20 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft that students in the University of North Dakota aviation program will learn to fly. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Northrup Grumman)

Pentagon looks for new ways to weaponize 11K drones

A recent report by the U.S. Department of Defense highlights the Pentagon's desire to adapt roughly 11,000 drones for its needs in the Asia-Pacific region.

January 3, 2014

** FILE ** President Obama. (Associated Press)

Obamacare website failure: 18K West Virginians forced to re-enroll

Thousands of West Virginians who thought they had signed up for Obamacare will have to re-enroll because of glitches in the system.

January 3, 2014

**FILE** Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is seen Oct. 15, 2011, during a meeting in San Francisco. (Associated Press)

Facebook’s Zuckerberg makes $990M charitable gift; tops in 2013

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made the largest charitable gift on public record in 2013, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

January 3, 2014

** FILE ** A man examines documents at the gutted U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. The Justice Department has filed charges against Libyan militia leader Ahmed Khatallah, the first indictment in last year’s deadly terrorist attack that killed four Americans. (Associated Press)

Libyan army detains two Americans in Benghazi

Two Americans have been detained in Benghazi, Libya, only days after four U.S. military personnel were taken into custody and then released by the Libyan government, Reuters reported.

January 2, 2014

Indie director Kevin Smith is shown here in this undated photo.

Kevin Smith plans movie pitting humanity and Satan vs. giant raging Jesus

Director Kevin Smith targeted the Catholic Church in 'Dogma' and fundamentalist Christians in 'Red State.' One of his upcoming movies will apparently pit humanity and Satan vs. a giant rampaging Jesus, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

December 31, 2013

Washington Nationals second baseman Stephen Lombardozzi (1) gets covered in beer as he and teammates celebrate as the Washington Nationals clinch the National League East at Nationals Park, sending them into the playoffs, Washington, D.C., Monday, October 1, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

The first 3D printed liver expected in 2014

Beer and liquor drinkers rejoice! The first 3D printed liver is scheduled to be "bio-printed" in 2014.

December 27, 2013