BASF sues Apple in US, says iPhones infringe face authentication patents | Reuters

The world of corporate intellectual property is always interesting to me. 

Here’s a case where BASF created a means to detect people’s faces, and patented it. 

And Apple is accused of having stolen it for use in iPhones. They filed suit and the most likely outcome is that Apple winds up licensing it from BASF. Of course it’s also possible they created a new piece of technology, and they get the case dismissed.  

But one thing to keep in mind: when Apple first invented the iPhone, much of their camera technology was “likely” infringing on some things Kodak had developed. But Kodak was a little disorganized at that time and also had some financial difficulties. So they chose not to pursue legal action. Thus letting Apple “steal” some of their work (or so would seem). 

https://www.reuters.com/world/basf-sues-apple-us-allegedly-infringing-its-face-authentication-patents-2026-09-03/

Never Forget the Space Monkeys That Made It All Possible

Although the stories are not well chronicled, and they aren’t all that well known, monkeys played a critical part in understanding human space flight. 

This story summarizes their contributions. I would like to note that among them, Bonnie is perhaps the most interesting one. And that’s because they wanted to study longer term effects in space, but Bonnie’s condition deteriorated rapidly and they had to abort the mission - and this was concurrent with the moon landing. Surely this was a concern among scientists. 

And second, the public reaction to using Bonnie in this situation caused nasa to re-think how they handle primates in experimentation. 

https://www.vice.com/en/article/five-important-ape-o-naut-moments/

Farmers let 200 wind turbines go up across their corn ground in Iowa, and instruments in the rows found the crop running a degree and a half cooler by day and up to three degrees warmer at night

Well, would you look at that?

In addition to creating clean (and at least mostly free) energy, the wind turbines have a net positive effect on the crops where they stand. 

The still layer is stirred out. Heat leaves faster, moisture leaves faster, and gases exchange with the atmosphere faster in both directions.

A little science, yo!

A flow of air is good for the crops. So in the end we also get better yields. 

Why are people opposed to this? Are we that dumb?

https://www.ecoportal.net/en/farmers-let-200-wind-turbine-cornfield/30378/

Flocking cameras!

Technology has evolved to the point where cameras and data are all connected to provide surveillance literally everywhere.   We are, for all intents and purposes, a police state.  

The information is used for some legitimate purposes, but its also misused, too.  By organized groups, factions of government, and even what might be considered rogue police officers.

And there's not much we can do to stop this.  Sure, there are moves to limit the use of flock cameras, but the companies that run them are working to undo those limits and in some cases to simply re-brand as another name; make no mistake, they're still installing them just with a different logo.

Do you have any idea how many there are in your community?  Well, here are some tools to find out.  The first is information about how much is being spent and where they are located.  The second tracks the details of where they are installed.  You can also get a sense of how quickly the number of them is growing.

I live in a small town near Ft. Lauderdale.  5 years ago, we had zero cameras.  Today, we have 48!  The city and police tell us its for safety.  The city was relatively safe 5 years ago - and appears to be about the same today.  So please enlighten me on why this surveillance is needed?

 

https://mytownview.com/flock-cameras-near-me

https://maps.deflock.org/

Strange times

The mid-term election may still be more than a month away, but "the machine" is in full swing.  What I find strange, though, is that all of the things I see are from one point of view.  Yeah, I pretty much only see "stuff" from the MAGA-aligned groups and candidates.

This election feels different than others.  I don't know what to make of it exactly, and the question I have is *why* so many ads are essentially hating on one person, distorting the truth, and fear mongering.  

And then there's the matter of the FCC not allowing for a democratic candidate to be interviewed on network television, while allowing his opponent to go on unfettered and say whatever he wanted.  

Of course, you also have captain tangerine poopy pants offering $5,000 to every adult if his party retains the house.  I mean, he's promised money to Americans several times, and of course reneged every time.  Why should this be any different?  And let's not forget that its not up to him; congress must approve it and appropriate the funds.  And if you do the math, this would be nearly a TRILLION dollars removed from the treasury.  Meaning we move further into a deficit.  Couldn't that money be used for some other good?  And isn't the party (and him) *against* welfare?  I mean that's what this is, isn't it?

Sigh.  Here's to hoping people have indeed already made up their minds, and this election swings the pendulum back a little.  

But don't rest on that!  Remind people you know to check on their voting status and to make a plan to actually vote.  

Simon Weckert creates Digital Camouflage to avoid AI surveillance

Stylish (!!) and hides you from surveillance. That’s remarkable. 

https://www.dezeen.com/2026/08/25/digital-camouflage-shirt-ai-video-surveillance-simon-weckert/

Lambs grazing beneath an Oregon solar array gained weight at statistically similar rates despite 38 percent lower pasture production, as higher forage quality helped offset the smaller crop

Hmmmm. From an agriculture perspective, the pasture did better with the solar array, due to shade and other factors. 

Maybe we should use more of these arrays to provide a clean power source AND helps the environment, and by extension could help with food production. 

Just saying. 

https://spacedaily.com/b-lambs-grazing-under-an-oregon-solar-farm-had-38-percent-less-grass-in-front-of-them-than-lambs-in-the-open-field-alongside-and-they-put-on-the-same-weight-to-the-gram-because-shade-makes-a-pasture-g/