Newsmaker:  Are laser weapons ready for duty?
By Jonathan Skillings
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: April 11, 2006

The next generation of weapons in the U.S. arsenal could be straight out of 
science fiction: laser beams and heat rays. And they could be ready for action 
before you know it.

By the end of this year, the Air Force plans to conduct a first, fully loaded test 
flight of its Airborne Laser, a jumbo jet packed with gear designed to shoot 
down enemy missiles half a world away, at the speed of light. The ABL also 
packs a megawatt-class punch--it's not exactly your garden-variety laser 
pointer. 

Oh, and the supporting cast of characters are also geniuses and quirky: you'd have the hyper Nerd Girl who attracts and is attracted to our young protagonist. You have the Uber-Genius who many years ago worked on a project and realized that his work could end up harming people so he resigned himself to living in the steam tunnels, accessible through the closet in the room of our heros. Plus, you have the asian genius and the Ultra-Dork who constantly kisses up to the Professor.

Without giving more away, the above is a poor description of the film Real Genius, a film that my kids have discovered and watched enough to constantly spew out all the quotes.

Megawatt lasers to shoot down satellites, missiles, and maybe the occassional human. Just need a mounted optical tracking system...

Listen to Laszlo.