The idea for autonomous grippers that could pick up space debris is pretty inspired. But my big question - and one of the things this articles completely ignores - is what happens to the debris after its collected.
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Another weird example of who owns what and how they control content
This is a weird dispute between Sony Pictures and CBS on how the TV show Jeopardy is distributed. And the fact that it airs on other networks in parts of the country just complicates it further.
Superbowl streaker with some sage advice
"Being rich is living life on your own terms, according to your possibilities not your limitations."
While money certainly does offer more leeway, its a lesson for all of us to not live by the expectations and rules that have been set arbitrarily. Be yourself and live your best life!
https://www.the-sun.com/sport/13463185/super-bowl-streaker-dunkin-donuts-trader-chiefs-49ers/amp/
Science and innovation are under attack
T-rump has proposed "drastic cuts" to pretty much everything. And while they all hurt in some way, the ones that make me nauseous are the ones that are related to the sciences. Who needs weather forecasting? Who needs any sort of public health information? Who needs food that meets certain standards? These are all things that are likely to be cut off.
No more ability to keep us healthy. And no more ability to research and innovate - no that has to be left to private companies who can profit from it.
But on that note, there's another interesting twist here. During Biden's presidency, there was an uptick in the number of patents that were filed. The patent and trademark office protects these private companies (and individuals) when they invent something new. With the advances in computers, machine learning, and our ability to make physical things using 3D printing, there have been more patents filed.
So Biden, realizing that there was not enough space in the DC office and not enough people willing to relocate to DC anyway, took a different approach. He implemented a "work from anywhere" program for patent examiners, and opened a satellite office in Atlanta to take some of the burden off of DC.
T-rump has told all government workers that they need to "return to the office" in DC, even if they were hired with the explicit agreement that they could work from anywhere. And it appears as though he wants to close the satellite office in Atlanta, too.
As news of this unfolds, we are hearing that many of the patent examiners will simply quit, rather than move to DC, and have an unknown office arrangement (there wouldn't be enough space if they all moved). Besides, the cost of living is too high, and surely the pressure on them will mount.
And that means that the patent process will slow to a crawl. If companies know that innovation that they want to protect may take a significant amount of time to go through the process, it seems likely they will be reluctant to innovate at the same pace.
Or perhaps they start patenting in Europe or elsewhere, which moves innovation out of the US.
These are dark times.
Tailgating!
Here's a fun look at tailgating. It has an interesting history that deserves a little attention.
While doing my dolphins podcast, I met a few interesting folks who were true tailgating aficionados.
There was the "commissioner of tailgating" (the designation came from him, but was picked up by the food network, and later by espn, and then the NFL featured him). He told some fun stories about tailgating and how it's become a part of our lore. And how it's a bit of friendly rivalry with opposing fans.
He was big in the history and pointed out that the first tailgates happened during the civil war. At some of the early battles, locals would bring a sandwich picnic, and sit on a hill and watch the battle unfold. It's crazy but that means that tailgating is very much a part of our history.
And then I met a guy from the UK who was so fascinated by the idea of tailgating, that he made a trip one fall to the US and went to tailgates for all 32 NFL teams. It was remarkable, and he crowd funded some of his expenses by sharing his experiences on the fledgling social media platforms.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/08/g-s1-47257/the-american-tailgate-why-strangers-recreate-their-living-rooms-in-a-parking-lot
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/08/g-s1-47257/the-american-tailgate-why-strangers-recreate-their-living-rooms-in-a-parking-lot
Being your best self
The challenge in today's world is to make yourself useful, and fight against the absurdity that seemingly exists around us.
I'd like to share with you what I'm doing, and suggest you come up with some things for yourself.
First, and foremost, never stop learning. Take advantage of any opportunities that are offered to learn a new skill. Take classes at the collegiate level (hey some are offered at universities for free, online, on your schedule). I keep teaching myself new tools online and playing with creative ideas.
Challenge yourself to think about things you hear. Don't accept things at face value. Always be a critical thinker.
Volunteer! I am currently volunteering about once a month at the food bank. The reason: food insecurity is a very big problem and as a (supposed) 1st world nation, we should be doing more. My little bit helps my community. And by the way, something I read was that Taylor swift makes a sizable donation to the local food bank in every city she tours, because she sees the need and can't volunteer in person. For what it's worth, I find that intriguing.
I also decided that I could be a citizen archivist. The national archives is always looking for volunteers to help read hand written cursive letters that exist in the archive. It's surprisingly fun, and as long as the archives remain available on the internet, I can see keeping this up.
Betting and sports
As we bid goodbye to another NFL season, I wanted to call attention to the biggest "elephant in the room" when it comes to sports, and that's gambling on sports. And the fact that the various leagues promote and endorse it just makes it that much worse.
A few years ago, you had the story about the NBA referee who was aiding the mob in a sort of game fixing.
Look, a single call in a game probably won't influence the outcome. But if you can disrupt the flow or get someone in foul trouble then you can influence it.
And while that story went away, like magic, the reality is that the sport is forever tainted. And then when we heard about the NBA player being suspended this year because he was gambling on games, it's that much worse.
Franchises have rules that players can't bet on the games they're involved in, and can't bet at all when at the team facility (to protect the owner from appearances of impropriety)
But of course they find ways around those rules, or have friends place bets on their behalf. And what's to stop a player from doing something that could alter the outcome? It's not that hard to miss a free throw or take a strike or make a half hearted effort to tackle is it?
You had the MLB involved in a scandal a few years back where there was "sign stealing" and again that was investimagated and turned up nothing.
Same thing in the NFL with the patriots.
And more recently in the NFL, you had some consequential but very marginal officiating going on late in the season and in the playoffs. The league simply said "hey some errors were made but pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"
For me, I enjoy watching sports. But for the entertainment of it all. I try my best not to get caught up in who wins and loses and rooting for a team. There's really no purpose; it could be "fixed" or it could simply be luck that the team you're rooting for wins - or loses.
But in the end, eyeballs are on that event. And sports betting makes an absolute killing on interest in a sportsball game.
The ads, the point spreads, the constant barrage of information about betting on games. It's just too much.
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