intellectual property

Simon & Schuster Joins Forces With Author Solutions To Rip Off Writers | David Gaughran: The (self) publishing business is pretty ugly, just like the inventor help business. Let’s take ’em for all they’ve got! When I read of this press announcement the other day, a flurry of questions flittered through my mind. And now that we have the skinny on it, hope that the warnings raised here by David twitter through cyberspace. “So crooked they can’t…

New Patent Rules: What You Need to Know | Inc.com: As the new US patent rules really kick in, here is a very good overview what’s happening in the world of IP by DesMarais. The US will join the rest of the world to become first-to-file (vs first-to-invent). Litigation can be hopefully be largely avoided by moving the contesting of the patent clear up the issuing process. But make no doubt about it, patents and…

The next crisis: Sponging boomers | The Economist: The math is ugly. This is a great article that summarized some really big key issues that arise from the generational move of the Boomers into retirement. BoomAge could be the syndrome. Those age 65 or older are expected to consume about $333B more in benefits/services than they paid in taxes. No worries, let’s let our kids and grandkids take care of that bill. And the bad…

Bill Gates Helps Reinvent the Toilet – Earth911.com: I know what you’re thinking, when you contemplate the power of poo. You’re thinking about Winnie the Pooh. Right.  “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” Winnie famously said… Talking about going out and making a difference. Apparently the same can be said for poo. We need to take new and better…

Issuu – bbiinternational – Documents: Check out issues of Ethanol Producer Magazine… And other Biomass, biodiesel, biomass, biofuel rags. (Reading these online is surprising smooth once you get the swing of it.) Great info in this month’s edition of Ethanol Producer. Because of the trade-off between burning our food (corn) and eating it, the use of corn-ethanol as a fuel is critical. It’s especially critical during times of drought. It takes a lot of water to grow…

Issuu – bbiinternational – Documents: Check out issues of Ethanol Producer Magazine… And other Biomass, biodiesel, biomass, biofuel rags. (Reading these online is surprising smooth once you get the swing of it.) Great info in this month’s edition of Ethanol Producer. Because of the trade-off between burning our food (corn) and eating it, the use of corn-ethanol as a fuel is critical. It’s especially critical during times of drought. It takes a lot of water to grow…