I see Google has a new patent search feature. This is one of the more useless Google features to those of us in the software industry. The first rule of software patents is “never read software patents”. The broad nature of many software patents makes it almost certain that my code infringes multiple patents out there (patents that one could argue should never have been granted, but the USPTO isn't really in the business of preventing patents). But I am a programmer, not a lawyer. I am not able to ascertain with any degree of legal certainty whether the code I am working on infringes a given patent. However, if I read a patent and subsequently get successfully sued for infringement by the patent holder, it's automatic triple damages for my knowing about it. I can only harm myself and the company I work for by reading patents.
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Proper English
This tsunami disaster has shown once again that journalists don't understand the usage of the word “enormity”. I doubt that they are deliberately invoking pathetic fallacy. The tsunami was a terrible tragedy, but I don't see the need to ascribe it to malice on the part of nature.
Midsummer…
Good things today: England through to the second round of Euro 2004. Wimbledon started. Henman through to 2nd round. Holiday over – back at home. Bad things today: Not feeling well. Tonsils swollen. Too many flights lately, cooped up in noxious breathings and recirculatings. Holiday over – back at work….
halloween is coming
I already got the flyer/catalogue from Party City. My LiveJournal Trick-or-Treat Haul elbeno goes trick-or-treating, dressed up as an anti-pirate. _skye_ gives you 11 teal vanilla-flavoured pieces of chewing gum. arielerilrondil tricks you! You get a wad of paper. auntysarah gives you 18 orange cola-flavoured wafers. editor tricks you! You…