Winston Churchill himself actually ordered the plans for the Colossus electronic computer (built to crack the Geheimschreiber) was to be destroyed and the machines (there were several at that time) to be broken up, no piece to be bigger than a man's fist.
Yes. Oddly enough, the British shared their cryptanalysis work with the USA, including their design of the Colussus machines*. After the war, the Americans never destroyed their plans and based a lot of commercial computing development on these designs.
*There was an interesting anecdote about a visit by American engineers to Bletchley Park. The original Colussus was based on relay logic and the US engineers had built their own copy to this design. When a newer version of the Colussus was built, the British had developed vacuum tube logic. When the Americans were shown the new machine, they asked if they could see it while it was running. The British engineers informed them that it was (the newer vacuum tube machines being very quiet compared to relay logic).
2) Garbage patent
to secure a patent,the invention has to be "enabled"
From the USPTO website:
"The specification must include a written description of the invention and of the manner and process of making and using it, and is required to be in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the technological area to which the invention pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same."
Lets see someone build a fusion propulsion engine. I'll be amazed.
Lets see the USPTO actually enforce their own requirement as a condition of granting a patent. My amazement will be multiplied tenfold.
Or, if some smart guy has the ability to overcome the fusion break even problem, he looks around, realizes that a bunch of corporations are sitting on bullshit patents, (We have no idea how to build it. But we have a patent on some imaginary crap that makes some overlapping claims.) and says, "Screw fusion. I'm going to build the Son of Twitter."
This is why, in order to patent something, you should have to bring a working model in and show it to the patent examiner.
That would be a bi-metal thermostat with a mercury tilt switch, right?
Since TFA said he was salvaging mercury switches (plural), he's either making a bunch of thermostats (or a bunch of bombs). Neither seem likely, so I assumed he was trying to accumulate a significant quantity of mercury for something else.
... to the capitalism club. You are having your initiation market crash. The subsequent depression shouldn't be too bad, as you are already familiar with policies of the New Deal. Let's just hope it doesn't take a world war to get your economy back on its feet.
Just like all those annoying radio/cassette players that kids used to haul around on their shoulder: Basically a nearly empty plastic box with tiny little speakers. And some big iron weights glued inside.
We had a guy who 'went to the feds' with a bunch of damning evidence on a corrupt outfit in my town. The feds he went to were already pwned by the company (see: regulatory capture). They just said, "Not interested." The they called the company up and told them who had snatched the documents so they could go to the police and have him charged with theft.
This guy should have set up an anonymous connection and not surfaced until he saw the feds marching executives off to the Crowbar Hilton.
You establish some anonymous communications with FBI/CBP/etc. (or your nation's equivalent) at their HQ. Not the local police department on the Texas-Mexico border. The latter have mostly been pwned by the drug lords. So you exchange public keys with the FBI and establish yourself as an unwilling insider. You set up a deal for immunity and a contact name and pass phrase that you can drop when the DEA storms the facility and hauls everyone out (including yourself) in handcuffs when the gang is busted. Until then, nobody needs to know who you are. If talk inside the gang turns toward looking for a snitch, you can always go silent if it looks like your law enforcement contact might have been dirty. And at this point, nobody will know who you are IRL.
If there is a leak in HQ and you or your family end up dead, you can arrange a 'dead man switch' on a server that forwards all your correspondence to the New York Times, Guardian, Wikileaks, and anyone else willing to print an expose on corrupt law enforcement in bed with the mob.
Slashdot Mirror
And by "gun" I mean gun.
Who brought up missiles this late in the negotiations? Someone with a vested interest in screwing up a settlement.
Three guesses who is running around behind the scenes queering the deal. And you will have two to spare.
Winston Churchill himself actually ordered the plans for the Colossus electronic computer (built to crack the Geheimschreiber) was to be destroyed and the machines (there were several at that time) to be broken up, no piece to be bigger than a man's fist.
Yes. Oddly enough, the British shared their cryptanalysis work with the USA, including their design of the Colussus machines*. After the war, the Americans never destroyed their plans and based a lot of commercial computing development on these designs.
*There was an interesting anecdote about a visit by American engineers to Bletchley Park. The original Colussus was based on relay logic and the US engineers had built their own copy to this design. When a newer version of the Colussus was built, the British had developed vacuum tube logic. When the Americans were shown the new machine, they asked if they could see it while it was running. The British engineers informed them that it was (the newer vacuum tube machines being very quiet compared to relay logic).
And you can only sell a cure once. Treatments are repeat business.
I'm afraid you will just have to stop thinking.
Fortunately, this seems to be the goal of most of Google's advertisers. Just sit back and enjoy the cat videos.
bus factor
Politically incorrect. Busses: good. Trucks: bad.
Every time I go to the doctor with some strange spots, they mysteriously clear up.
2) Garbage patent
to secure a patent,the invention has to be "enabled"
From the USPTO website:
"The specification must include a written description of the invention and of the manner and process of making and using it, and is required to be in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the technological area to which the invention pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same."
Lets see someone build a fusion propulsion engine. I'll be amazed.
Lets see the USPTO actually enforce their own requirement as a condition of granting a patent. My amazement will be multiplied tenfold.
Or, if some smart guy has the ability to overcome the fusion break even problem, he looks around, realizes that a bunch of corporations are sitting on bullshit patents, (We have no idea how to build it. But we have a patent on some imaginary crap that makes some overlapping claims.) and says, "Screw fusion. I'm going to build the Son of Twitter."
This is why, in order to patent something, you should have to bring a working model in and show it to the patent examiner.
Magazine ads don't squirm and wriggle around,
High Times ads excepted.
Incorporate in a state with lower taxes and fees. Delaware comes to mind as a popular location. Or the Cayman Islands.
Mercury Thermostat
That would be a bi-metal thermostat with a mercury tilt switch, right?
Since TFA said he was salvaging mercury switches (plural), he's either making a bunch of thermostats (or a bunch of bombs). Neither seem likely, so I assumed he was trying to accumulate a significant quantity of mercury for something else.
First thing that crossed my mind was this kid is trying to make a Sprengel pump.
Some of us would be happy just to have bald spots rendered properly.
Evidently you've never heard anyone try to sing the Star Spangled Banner (To Anacreon in Heaven) at a basball game.
There's a book out already.
Oblig xkcd
Yours truly,
Ali Khamenei
Just like all those annoying radio/cassette players that kids used to haul around on their shoulder: Basically a nearly empty plastic box with tiny little speakers. And some big iron weights glued inside.
That's where the farm is that we send all our ageing cats and dogs.
skip the police go to the feds
Go to the feds carefully. And anonymously.
We had a guy who 'went to the feds' with a bunch of damning evidence on a corrupt outfit in my town. The feds he went to were already pwned by the company (see: regulatory capture). They just said, "Not interested." The they called the company up and told them who had snatched the documents so they could go to the police and have him charged with theft.
This guy should have set up an anonymous connection and not surfaced until he saw the feds marching executives off to the Crowbar Hilton.
You walk into the local PD.
Walk. How 20th Century.
You establish some anonymous communications with FBI/CBP/etc. (or your nation's equivalent) at their HQ. Not the local police department on the Texas-Mexico border. The latter have mostly been pwned by the drug lords. So you exchange public keys with the FBI and establish yourself as an unwilling insider. You set up a deal for immunity and a contact name and pass phrase that you can drop when the DEA storms the facility and hauls everyone out (including yourself) in handcuffs when the gang is busted. Until then, nobody needs to know who you are. If talk inside the gang turns toward looking for a snitch, you can always go silent if it looks like your law enforcement contact might have been dirty. And at this point, nobody will know who you are IRL.
If there is a leak in HQ and you or your family end up dead, you can arrange a 'dead man switch' on a server that forwards all your correspondence to the New York Times, Guardian, Wikileaks, and anyone else willing to print an expose on corrupt law enforcement in bed with the mob.