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Well I think this is a GOOD thing. Do you know that drivers distracted by talking or texting on cell phones killed an estimated 16,000 people from 2001 to 2007? And if those drivers had been talking on a landline, using a very long extension cord, the figures would be even higher. And telephones in the home are responsible for at least 3 or 4 domestic accidents every long-enough-for-this-statistic-to-be-valid time-period.

On that basis I applaud the Obama... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by the quidnunc kid at 3:59 AM on June 6, 2013

How is this news? I mean it seriously. Were you all wishfully thinking this wasn't the case of everything, everywhere?
posted to MetaFilter by CautionToTheWind at 3:20 AM on June 6, 2013

Blame the political climate. If something does happen Republicans will paint liberals as soft on terrorism. Just like we did with the 9/11 plane memo to Bush.

Obama isn't stealing your freedom. Fox and CNN are.

Yeah, Roger Ailes possessed Barack Obama's body as the President slept and forced him to do terrible things.
posted to MetaFilter by Pope Guilty at 3:17 AM on June 6, 2013

We need a traffic analysis resistant social network, cloud storage system, and instant messaging system based on Tor. I've heard Pond provides a better basis than TorChat, but afaik all these open social networking protocols fail hard against traffic analysis. It's fairly doable but several times the work of doing it wrong.
posted to MetaFilter by jeffburdges at 2:29 AM on June 6, 2013

If you see 'CSS' and hear Cansei de Ser Sexy and not Cascading Style Sheet, you're probably not a nerd. Might be a music geek, though.
posted to MetaFilter by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 9:56 PM on June 4, 2013

oh my god are we still doing this

please don't tell me we're still doing this
posted to MetaFilter by Tomorrowful at 4:50 PM on June 4, 2013

Erickson, for her part, doesn’t seem crazy about her young rival, but also, somewhat tragically, finds herself helplessly eager to please.

My take on it is more that the young anchorwoman just seems really mean.
posted to MetaFilter by eugenen at 1:03 PM on June 4, 2013

It also reduces the amount of time you'd have to wait if you were a brilliant but destitute programmer who absolutely had to use somebody else's patented invention as a building block for your own

Yeah, but that's not what happens. Every normal programmer routinely reinvents things which have been patented, as a matter of everyday life, and simply never knows about it. Companies acquire patent portfolios not because they expect to learn anything useful... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Mars Saxman at 10:25 PM on June 4, 2013

One of my kids paused while eating and said, "Wait, is 'chicken' like 'A chicken'?"

When my daughter was about the same age we were in a BBQ joint and she was commenting on all the cute piggies that made up the bulk of the decor. "Look at that piggie. Oh, look there's 'nother piggie. Mom, did you see that piggie?" And it suddenly hit me that she didn't know why the decor was porcine themed. Ethical dilemma!... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by looli at 5:59 PM on June 4, 2013

spacewrench: do you believe that to a practitioner reasonably competent in the field that this slide-to-unlock patent discloses any information that, had it not been so disclosed, would have left said practitioner faced with material difficulty in replicating said patented mechanism?

If you do, would you perhaps point out which element(s) or combination(s) of element(s) enumerated within this patent you believe the patent elucidates their working above and beyond that... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by hoople at 10:15 PM on June 4, 2013

The claim doesn't say "slider;" it says "unlock image."

They put an arrow on the slider?

I'm seeing that as more of an innovation in roundabout description than UI design, TBH.
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 7:50 PM on June 4, 2013

You're paraphrasing again. The patent covers even less than "tracing a line" -- you have to drag an "unlock image" along with the tracing.

It's called a slider - its a pretty common UI element.
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 7:26 PM on June 4, 2013

The patent at issue DOES NOT cover a lock screen, as jedicus points out. It covers a particular type of lock screen with a bunch of details. You can have a lock screen with any other set of operational details; the patent only prevents you from making a lock screen that is exactly described in the claim.


Sure, but the bunch of details are mostly-to-entirely the minimum set of things that anybody would need to produce a lock screen.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Homeboy Trouble at 6:00 PM on June 4, 2013

A touch sensitive lock screen with visual feedback and if you don't correctly unlock it reverts it locked! Genius! That changes everything!
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 5:47 PM on June 4, 2013

That it's a really wordy description of a lock screen makes it more bullshit, not less.
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 5:32 PM on June 4, 2013

> In the end, this is big business not wanting to pay smaller people the value of their inventions.

Spoken as someone who has zero idea as how the industry works. (Background: I have two software patents to my name.)

Nearly all software patents in question are the purest and utterest bullshit. First, they nearly all fail the condition, "There must be than one way to do it" - and separately, nearly all of them fail the condition,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by lupus_yonderboy at 5:16 PM on June 4, 2013

If they don't, then they should be invalid for failing the written description and enablement requirements:

And yet companies continue to sue on invalid patents. That's practically a description of the problem.
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 4:17 PM on June 4, 2013

If they don't, then they should be invalid for failing the written description and enablement requirements:

Frankly I wonder how software patents have ever gotten by on this basis. Most of they are notoriously hand-wavey with a bunch of block diagrams and never specify any specifics at all. Which is of course the objection to them because they become so broad as to encompass any minor variation on the idea.

Imagine a biotech... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by GuyZero at 4:17 PM on June 4, 2013

Apple's 'slide to unlock' patent invalidated by German court
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 4:00 PM on June 4, 2013

I'd argue that if, on the face of it, a game-theoretic analysis of a policy regime meant to promote some particular activity would indicate that under said regime the winning strategy for a deep-pocketed rational actor would be to refrain from engaging in said wished-for activity then it ought to follow that said policy regime should be laughed all the way out of the room and into the recycle bin of dumbass policies of yesteryear unless -- and only unless! -- its advocates can muster copious... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by hoople at 3:48 PM on June 4, 2013

Yup, having a lock screen. It's a garbage patent.
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 3:48 PM on June 4, 2013

Student Wins Intel Science Fair; Threatened With Patent Infringement Claims For Patent Not Yet Granted
posted to MetaFilter by homunculus at 3:28 PM on June 4, 2013

Big businesses are the ones who are claiming to be "victims" here. As if it is a terrible thing that they have to prove that they came up with something first.

It's everyone who faces the fact that the settlements are cheaper than the court costs. It's just that big companies also have the money to lobby. Are you seriously suggesting that (to pick an example) open source doesn't have a patent problem?

Merely... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jaduncan at 3:16 PM on June 4, 2013

A big Mexican standoff where nobody fires a gun is still a Mecucan standoff.
posted to MetaFilter by Artw at 3:13 PM on June 4, 2013

Here's your citation. It's from 2000, granted in 2009. Honestly, poll 100 CS undergrads and probably 10 of them will come up with the exact system described in this patent. It's a bit sad.

Oh and it took 5 seconds of google searching to find that patent. It's the top hit for "email notification patent."
posted to MetaFilter by GuyZero at 2:37 PM on June 4, 2013

Is there any history on how software patents ended up so squishy? I mean, you're right that a patent for "a device that accepts combustible fuel as an input and produces kinetic energy directed to wheels" would get laughed out of the office, while software patents in the form of "any and all methods to produce Onscreen Effect X" are routinely granted. But how in the name of everything even remotely sane did that happen?
posted to MetaFilter by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:17 PM on June 4, 2013

There's no way to get rid of patent trolls, or really distinguishing what a patent troll even is, without destroying the patent system.

If you read the actual White House statement it has some pretty clear actions that would actually help make software patents less of a useless anchor for the industry:

Tighten functional claiming: requiring patent applicants to explain their inventions better and to limit those... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by burnmp3s at 1:52 PM on June 4, 2013

Ironmouth: Here's the thing. What makes patents valuable to the inventor is the ability to transfer the rights to the patent.

No. This is a thing that makes patents valuable to the inventor. But you could license the rights without selling them. And even without that, you could start a company that utilizes the patent, or even utilize it (at a small scale) yourself.

Giant companies are the ones... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by JHarris at 1:46 PM on June 4, 2013

What this stuff really is is a trojan horse for European and Japanese style patents, which have little value.

I can't speak for other industries, but in the software industry it is blatantly obvious to just about everyone that reducing the value of patents would be a very good thing. We are all stuck in a bizarre, inefficient game of mutually-assured destruction where every company has to waste time and money filing patents not because they are... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Mars Saxman at 1:16 PM on June 4, 2013

In the end, this is big business not wanting to pay smaller people the value of their inventions.

You don't have to invent anything to get a software patent. The guy who cost RIM millions in fees got his patent for nothing more than thinking up a few random ideas and then filing the patents. He had no expenses, his ideas were obvious to anyone with knowledge of the field and he had never made any attempt to commercialize his patents.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by GuyZero at 1:09 PM on June 4, 2013

This Week's This American Life is pretty damning. Although there is a lot of money in the "buy a maddeningly vague patent and use it to bully businesses into paying out tens of millions of dollars," this actually seems to be the work of a small group of aggressive (and very sketchy) attorneys, many of whom hold multiple shell organizations, and ends up being something that actually is a problem for corporations.
posted to MetaFilter by Bunny Ultramod at 1:06 PM on June 4, 2013

No, and this is also the age at which kids are trying to sort out family relationships and are easily confused as to who is what and belongs to whom. They also start saying, "When I grow up and I marry you, mommy ..." and "When you were a baby and I was your mommy ..." It isn't harmful and she'll sort it out. (I assume mom is still saying things like, "When we see your grandpa tomorrow ..." so she's hearing his proper relationship; she'll eventually understand what... [more]
posted to Ask MetaFilter by Eyebrows McGee at 6:48 AM on June 3, 2013 marked best answer

This is completely irrelevant to the fact that it indicates the length of copyright has expanded rather dramatically.

That... was my point?
posted to MetaFilter by Pope Guilty at 8:48 PM on June 2, 2013

Here's the problem with saying "Don't go see comedy if you can't handle hateful jokes." I went to see Maria Bamford and Jackie Kashian. These are incredibly funny comics who do not tell misogynist jokes. The local opener was the incomparable Shalewa Sharpe. She does not tell misogynist jokes. But the local "host comic" chosen by the theater told mostly misogynist jokes (and seemed shocked that the crowd who paid $30 per seat to see Maria Bamford didn't laugh at his... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by hydropsyche at 4:22 AM on June 3, 2013

Oh, Scott isn't done ruining his fans goodwill yet? Oh, maybe he could use Behold A Pale Horse as source material for the new Blade Runner. And bring back Lindelof to write in a scene with a giant illuminati tortoise shell rolling down the middle of the street while our intrepid detective simply can't figure out a way to dodge it. BOOYA! That well will never run dry, Lindelof!
posted to MetaFilter by Rocket Surgeon at 4:39 PM on June 2, 2013

Harmony Korine's Barry Lyndon:

A dude comes down off bathsalts in a garbage bag.
posted to MetaFilter by Divine_Wino at 4:44 PM on June 2, 2013

Life expectancy US 1790 - 34 - 40 years
Life expectancy US 2010 - 79.

Nearly all of that increase is reduction of infant mortality rates.
posted to MetaFilter by Pope Guilty at 6:48 PM on June 2, 2013

Would a 9/11 joke really have been hilarious on 9/12?

Only if it didn't bomb.
posted to MetaFilter by Blazecock Pileon at 10:38 PM on June 1, 2013

Not to derail the central discussion too much, but I think it's pretty funny when these discussions erupt and some people take it upon themselves to rally behind the earnest, hardworking comedian, like they are selfless charity workers digging wells for the poor.

This generation of comics must be a serious pack of soft little shits if Fozzie Bear can take a tomato to the face better than them.
posted to MetaFilter by SharkParty at 8:26 PM on June 1, 2013

Nope. If nothing is sacrosanct, then neither is a performance. We should be allowed to boo, hiss, throw vegetables, whatever. Shut the dumb fuck up.
posted to MetaFilter by KokuRyu at 8:18 PM on June 1, 2013

We do not use "malum prohibitum" to describe civil matters. There is no "malum" in breach of contract.

Yes, and the criminal justice system is not available to prosecute breach of contract actions either. I was assuming you thought that copyright infringement should be criminalized. Surely you don't think that TOS violations or other contract breaches should be criminal matters?

"Malum... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gd779 at 3:36 PM on June 2, 2013

...fraud is primarily a malum in se criminal matter...

Dayum. Shit just got latin.
posted to MetaFilter by Kinbote at 2:11 PM on June 2, 2013

I would be interested to learn why the criminal authorities should have had no role in this matter involving a civil contract.

Tanizaki: Because fraud is primarily a malum in se criminal matter, that also permits a "me too" civil claim, while copyright infringement is a malum prohibitum civil matter that has no business being criminalized, at least according to those of us who have adopted the prevailing norms of the digital age.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by gd779 at 2:03 PM on June 2, 2013

Yep, same delightful experience with the Devil trailer at Scott Pilgrim for me, too!
posted to MetaFilter by troika at 2:42 PM on June 2, 2013

I'm having trouble believing that this really happened, but if it did then the movie-going crowd in your area must be made up of insufferable buffoons and I can totally understand why you don't find yourself watching movies out very often.

What, why? The exact same thing happened to me. As in, at Scott Pilgrim.

The movie trailer was for 'Devil'. The trailer was proposterous, and everyone in the audience was wondering what the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Alex404 at 2:37 PM on June 2, 2013

Apparently, it’s physics-week here on metafilter. I’m awake, I’ve got my coffee, let’s get physical.

What this article is discussing is the technical concept of “Naturalness.” Naturalness does not mean “pretty theories” or “mathematical elegance.” What the Naturalness problem is attempting to tackle is why are there vastly divergent energy scales* in the physical laws that govern the Universe?

*As I’ve discussed in detail before on metafilter,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by physicsmatt at 9:13 AM on June 2, 2013

It doesn't say that a universe couldn't exist that didn't allow for a slime to grow on a rock.

To be clear, the problems with "sterile universes that do not support life" go far beyond supporting slime but not humans. They are mostly universes where stars might not be stable, or where chemistry might not be possilbe because atoms can't bind together electrically, or where atoms more complex than hydrogen might not be possible. Only a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by localroger at 6:48 AM on June 2, 2013

PhysicistsReporters are so excitable: always telling us either that they're on the brink of understanding everything, or that nobody understands anything.
FTFY
posted to MetaFilter by CheeseDigestsAll at 4:58 AM on June 2, 2013

Imagine that baking was an incredibly opaque topic, that the average person has no direct experience with. People have seen bread in movies, and they vaguely know that into the bakery goes a bunch of things, but something altogether different comes out.

Now imagine you are a writer and you have to write an article about a new kind of bread bakers are making, with a no-knead dough, and how that might change the industry in profound ways.

Except it... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by danny the boy at 11:32 PM on June 1, 2013

I'm reminded of when President George W Bush talked about listening to the Beatles on his iPod. At the time, there was no legal way to put a Beatles song on an iPod.

But look, HBO needs to charge money somehow. And they're kind of not dicks about it; HBO Go is more consumer friendly than most video services. It's a huge problem for their business that the physics of information makes it hard for them to enforce scarcity of their video service. The real danger is they've... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Nelson at 9:21 AM on June 2, 2013