Yearly Archives: 2013

Unfortunately this was not an ideal case for taking on Monsanto

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While the patent wars in the technology sector are incredibly annoying and waste huge sums of money, patents in agriculture are actually far more dangerous.

This was a case of contract law and the farmer violated the patent. Instead farmers need to stop using patented seeds altogether and start reintroducing some genetic biodiversity into their crops.  

Supreme Court rules in favor of Monsanto, says farmer violated seed patents
The US Supreme Court just ruled today that it is infringement for a farmer to make new copies of seeds that contain patented genetic modifications by harvesting them from older plants. The ruling…

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Anyone that suggests Apple should get into the car business is a fool that clearly… 5

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Anyone that suggests Apple should get into the car business is a fool that clearly has no understanding of the complexity of the business

+John Voelcker's suggestion that Ford would be a far better fit for Tesla makes a lot more sense although I doubt that will happen.

Should Apple Buy Tesla? Or Would Ford Be A Better Buyer?

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In 1940, Charlie Chaplin took on fascism and his words ring as true today as they…

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In 1940, Charlie Chaplin took on fascism and his words ring as true today as they did then

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….

Charlie Chaplin : The Great Dictator’s Speech
I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible…

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Just because something doesn't have a face, it doesn't mean it's not… 1

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Just because something doesn't have a face, it doesn't mean it's not alive or intelligent

Fungus network lets plants alert each other to defend themselves against aphid attacks
Underground fungus and plants have long been known to have a mutually beneficial relationship — mycorrhizal fungi delivers nutrients to plants, and the plants give carbon back in exchange. Now, a…

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I almost never agree with anything John McCain proposes but this certainly seems… 1

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I almost never agree with anything John McCain proposes but this certainly seems like it might be a step in the right direction

I'd like to see more of the control control over unbundling go to consumers rather than the cable companies. I haven't read the whole proposal, but from this write-up, it's not clear if cable companies would actually be forced to sell channels a la carte or only they get to choose which channels to take from the broadcasters. If consumers still have to buy hundreds of channels they don't want to watch this doesn't help at all.

Another interesting part is that companies like Viacom and Fox might lose if follow through on threats to go cable-only if Aereo wins in the courts. Those broadcasters would be stripped of their broadcast spectrum.  

John McCain proposes ‘a la carte’ cable bill, encourages death of sports blackout rule
Senator John McCain today introduced the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013, legislation that would encourage cable operators and entertainment conglomerates to unbundle channels and offer…

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