Odd Stuff (Part 1)

Poison Drones Save Boobies!

2 Likes

You’re not even allowed to spill drinking water on the ground in the Galapagos, so as not to upset the delicate ecological/biological system.

Rat poison? Raining down indiscriminately? That’s a sign of desperation.

There are a lot of islands around the world with experience in how quickly a non-native species can eviscerate the local flora and fauna. Obviously, for such an extreme ecosystem – and it is! – extreme measures are required.

3 Likes

They’ve been using rat poison for a while, and carefully studying the results. Using drones would probably be less indiscriminate than expensive bulk helicopter drops. If they manage to get good rat detectors working, they could do pin-point drops in the problem areas.

https://www.nature.com/news/invasive-species-the-18-km2-rat-trap-1.12992

3 Likes

There’s some sickle people out there…

3 Likes

Took you a while to hammer that one out.

3 Likes

Thanks for that info. I have to believe they’re being incredibly cautious, it’s just a little shocking to hear, you know?

2 Likes
1 Like
4 Likes
1 Like

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/return-sender-high-court-hear-undeliverable-mail-case-61130697?cid=clicksource_4380645_10_hero_headlines_headlines_hed

So, we have a ruling that corporations are people, this case appears to turn on the courts ruling that government agencies are people, the only ones who don’t seem to count as people are, you know, people.

2 Likes

About 30 years ago, a cousin had himself declared a “Corporation” as a small business. I’m not clear on all the details but it had to do with reducing overhead expenditures and writing off certain costs.

2 Likes

The EFF is against you here :slight_smile:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/17/17-1594/80682/20190116110208796_17-1594%20bsac%20Electronic%20Frontier%20Foundation.pdf

Given that it would appear that the patent in question shouldn’t have been granted, it’s hard to see why the government shouldn’t be able to challenge it.

https://e-foia.uspto.gov/Foia/RetrievePdf?system=PRPS&flNm=CBM2014-00116_41

It’s another “do this thing that is already done - with a computer” patent.

I really don’t understand the law professors’ amicus brief

Because the Post Office cannot infringe (because it can insist on a licence and is required to pay just compensation for any patent it uses), it can’t challenge a bogus patent?

So any idiot can file a patent for something the government uses and the government must pay them a license?

They may be right that the USPS shouldn’t be able to challenge in this way but not be able to challenge at all?

2 Likes

Not taking a stand on the patent issue. I do not speak legalese at all. Just the requirement in the law (apparently) that only a “person” can challenge a patent. Therefore, the government agency must claim to be a “person.” Apparently personhood os a pretty fluid concept.

2 Likes

Hmm. Or you could just use the Pi to run Alexia or Google Home and directly tweak the hardware or software.

I suppose so, but LEGO!

1 Like
4 Likes