Month: April 2012

  • I will change the world

    I recall childhood dreams
    And the adult in me
    Misses them
    So it seems
    All I have left are
    Daydreams.

  • If code is not property, are software patents invalid?

    An appeals court has ruled that code is not property and therefore cannot be stolen. Wow! The potential ramifications are huge. The RIAA could find themselves unable to sue over copied media. More directly, this appeals court may have just invalidated every software patent ever filed. I personally despise software patents. Now, I’m not a lawyer as such I suspect my presumptions are very wrong. The undeniable result is that if you copy custom created software from your employer, you have not committed theft.

    The 2nd Circuit Appeals Court ruled that since computer code cannot be physically obtained, it doesn’t fit the legal description of a stolen good. … The court was quick to point out that this decision should not be interpreted for all cases of electronic theft, however the legal recognition that code isn’t physical property (which people have been saying for years) is sure to make this case a focal point in future MPAA/RIAA wranglings.

    [Source, Gizmodo, Appeals Court Rules Computer Code Is Not "Property" and Can’t Be Stolen]

  • Knoxville Earthquake

    Knoxville had a genuine earthquake at roughly 12:30am on April 11, 2012! Houses shook and a loud boom was reported in Rocky Hill, South Knoxville, and Seymour. #knoxquake

    Type: Earthquake
    27 minutes ago
    Magnitude: 2.2
    DateTime: Wednesday April 11 2012, 04:39:14 UTC
    Region: eastern Tennessee
    Depth: 4.9 km
    Source: USGS Feed

    [Source, Global Incident Map]

    [Source, Folkworm]

    Earthquake Details

    This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

    Magnitude 2.2
    Date-Time

    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 04:39:14 UTC
    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 12:39:14 AM at epicenter
    Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones

    Location 35.756°N, 83.825°W
    Depth 4.9 km (3.0 miles)
    Region EASTERN TENNESSEE
    Distances 13 km (8 miles) E of Maryville, Tennessee
    24 km (14 miles) SSE of Knoxville, Tennessee
    49 km (30 miles) SE of Oak Ridge, Tennessee
    275 km (170 miles) E of NASHVILLE, Tennessee
    Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 10.3 km (6.4 miles); depth +/- 3.1 km (1.9 miles)
    Parameters NST= 16, Nph= 29, Dmin=12.2 km, Rmss=1.35 sec, Gp= 50°,
    M-type=”Nuttli” surface wave magnitude (mbLg), Version=4
    Source

    Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
    Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

    Event ID usc000903d

    [Source, USGS]

    Upgraded:

    Earthquake Details

    This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
    Magnitude
    2.3
    Date-Time
    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 04:39:12 UTC
    Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 12:39:12 AM at epicenter
    Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
    Location
    35.797°N, 83.838°W
    Depth
    19.4 km (12.1 miles)
    Region
    EASTERN TENNESSEE
    Distances
    10 km (6 miles) E (85°) from Eagleton Village, TN
    10 km (6 miles) ESE (116°) from Rockford, TN
    10 km (6 miles) SW (215°) from Seymour, TN
    22 km (14 miles) SSE (154°) from Knoxville, TN
    232 km (144 miles) NNE (13°) from Atlanta, GA
    Location Uncertainty
    horizontal +/- 0.4 km (0.2 miles); depth +/- 0.8 km (0.5 miles)
    Parameters
    NST= 18, Nph= 24, Dmin=16 km, Rmss=0.14 sec, Gp= 86°,
    M-type=duration magnitude (Md), Version=B
    Source
    Southeast U.S. Seismic Network
    Event ID
    se041112a

    [Source, USGS]

    In 2007, Knoxville ran practice drills in preparation for a 7.7 earthquake. Thankfully, it hasn’t come yet!

    Possibly linked: Apparently there was a magnitude 8.6 earthquake off Aceh, Indonesia at the same time. Tsunami warning issued. See also usgs.

    [Source, Global Incident Map]

  • Easter Weekend

    Had a phenomenal Easter weekend. My daughter came home from college in New York so the entire family was together. Her siblings really miss her. The weather was perfect! I have grass on the lawn for the first time since…well…since I bought the house in 1997. And we had a great Easter egg hunt although I believe the Easter bunny needs to be a little tougher on hiding eggs next year.

    As for Monday, I need a pick me up. Must have spent all my happiness this weekend.