This makes me want to cry: Sci-fi writers join war on terror. Am I the only one who finds this appallingly moronic? We pay the Department of Homeland Security for this?

Here’s the worst bit of idiocy in the article:

Although some sci-fi writers’ futuristic ideas might sound crazy now, scientists know that they often have what seems to be an uncanny ability to see into the future.

“Fifty years ago, science-fiction writers told us about flying cars and a wireless handheld communicator,” says Christopher Kelly, spokesman for Homeland Security’s Science and Technology division. “Although flying cars haven’t evolved, cellphones today are a way of life. We need to look everywhere for ideas, and science-fiction writers clearly inform the debate.”

Talk about confirmation bias! Mr. Kelly is oblivious of his blatant counterexample, which he brings up himself. He just proved that sci-fi writers have an equally uncanny ability to imagine complete fantasies.

Apparently, when Mr. Kelly refers to “everywhere” he even means this realm of pure fantasy. Bravo! Now DHS will work to prevent us from being killed in terrorist attacks that can only occur in one’s imagination. I feel safer already.

Now we will know what to do if a terrorist crashes a flying car into the Golden Gate Bridge.

[Found this article via Schneier on Security.]