Save America’s Patent System

Good problem to solve, wrong solution. Examine patents on use rather than before issuing.

(Related: This week in defeating Patent Trolls; How to fix software patents; BBC On Patents)

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The New York Times: Twitter Permanently Suspends Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Account

Do they mean revoked?

(Related: #Resist; Email Alerts for new Referers in Google Analytics using Apps Script; News: New York Times responds to Donald Trump's lawsuit threat: bring it on)

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Pluto should be reclassified as a planet, say some scientists

Yes.

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Mimica, which automates RPA, raises $6M Series A funding led by Khosla Ventures

I'm holding out for the company that automates robotic process automation automation.

(Related: California, I can save you billions with a small and reasonably priced computer program...; Merging Resource Dictionaries for fun and profit; Is PAD dead?)

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Snap Out of It, America: Give Kids the Right to Vote

So I disagree with this but it's interesting and well argued. A better idea is my life expectancy weighted voting plan.

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The ease of mail-in voting may increase turnout in California’s recall election.

NYT finally twigs.

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A woman is suing S.F. for $50 million over a parking ticket, saying tire chalk is unconstitutional

In one of the cases, filed Sept. 4, plaintiff Maria Infante seeks $50 million and class-action status after a San Francisco parking enforcement officer wielding chalk on a residential street gave her a $95 ticket.

The second case, filed the same day against San Leandro, demands $5 million for class members whose tires were chalked to financially benefit the city.

Civilization continues to collapse. I had my tongue in my cheek for this proposed constitutional amendment but I'm not so sure any more...

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How to Call Customer Service and Actually Get What You Want

Wired has this generic article on getting support with some insights that might have been cutting age a decade ago. I'm still waiting for CAPTGUAs.

(Related: California November 2020 Propositions; San Francisco November 2020 Ballot Measures; Legislative Service)

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The New York Times: Opinion | Will We Ever Amend the Constitution Again?

See my training wheels suggestion for this.

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25-year retrospective of Nokia's Communicator, the first pocket computer phone that worked

My first mobile phone, and in many ways still my favorite.

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CNN: What's the risk of indoor dining if you're fully vaccinated? Here's what one expert says

Exhibit A

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The New York Times: Opinion | America Needs to Break Up Its Biggest States

I'd rather get rid of the electoral college and have a national, ranked choice vote but this is interesting.

(Related: #Resist; Thinking about the UK referendum on AV; End the Electoral College: Amendment, Compact, or Supreme Court?)

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California’s Drought Is So Bad They’re Driving Salmon to the Ocean in Trucks

Don't tell the bears!

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Ars Technica: “I’m totally screwed.” WD My Book Live users wake up to find their data deleted

Backup, backup again and then stick another copy in a fire safe.

(Related: Folder Insights; Capture DropCam (Nest Cam) frames to Google Drive; The Trust Project, Fake News and a Partial Facebook Uninstall)

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The New York Times: How Brexit Ruined Easter for Britain’s Chocolate Makers

Interesting that there also seems to be a shortage on British supermarket shelves as well then.

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Easter egg hunt: UK shoppers disappointed by shortages | Easter | The Guardian

Here's the Guardian on the shortage. So British chocolate can't be found in Europe or the UK. Where is it going? Eezy Freezy!

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The story behind Kidlapse

Latest update on Kidlapse.

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Search Engine Roundtable: Google: User Generate Content Products Reviews Will Have A Hard Time Ranking Well

And instead we get affiliate link stuffed fluff pieces?

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The Washington Post: We should soon stop catering to the vaccine holdouts

Yes

(Related: Is PAD dead?; Catfood Software Support; Securing the Internet of Things)

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Solar System Cartogram

Might need revisiting when we get a submarine into Enceladus.

(Related: Air Gap; Export Google Fit Daily Steps, Weight and Distance to a Google Sheet; Basic HTTP auth for an IIS hosted WCF 4 RESTful service)

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