A Collection of Thoughts & Discoveries

Turn Number 2 Pencils into Diamonds?

Diamonds are nearly pure carbon, as is graphite. The two substances form in different crystal structure groups – diamonds in the cubic group, and graphite in the hexagonal group. Scientists have long dreamed of converting common graphite into diamond since the materials are so similar elementally as well as with regard to free energy and other factors. But alas, without the use of extreme heat and pressure (very costly and technically challenging), so far the task has proven unattainable.

This article in the M.I.T. Technology Review briefly explains some new research and why the task has been so difficult to achieve. It will likely be a while before you should forage through your drawers for all of your Dixon Ticonderogas and your new-found fortune.

Skype Sued for Patent Infringement: Patent Troll?

TechCrunch posted a story this morning in which some details of a new lawsuit against Skype are revealed. The plaintiff is an obscure company called Gradient Enterprises.

I don’t know if this is an example of patent trolling, but if so, I hope they (the plaintiffs) lose their shirts. Patent trolling is an abomination in my view and needs to suffer a fiery death. Legitimate patent holders need protection, but those engaged in filing or hoarding patents for the sole purpose of launching lawsuits once an innovator pours his or her blood, sweat and tears into developing it, should receive no reward for such a parasitic “business model”, and should cease to exist.

Hopefully, the law will side with what is right and protect the appropriate parties in this case.

Net Neutrality: An Important, but Complicated Topic

Today, the FCC voted 3 to 2 to pass an order setting-up rules to prevent ISPs from blocking certain content dependent upon the type of device used to access it—in other words, to make it unlawful, for example, to discriminate against users of mobile telephones in comparison to those accessing content via different devices or connection types. It’s obvious that legal challenges remain, and rather than attempt to analyze this whole thing I’ll simply post some links that are worth a read as we all try to decipher this. More information will be forthcoming once the full order is available in a few days.

The fact that people on all sides are mostly quite concerned about this is cause to stay engaged. Silence on this issue, leaving it to the government to figure out, is likely not in the best interest of the internet.

FCC's Net Neutrality Vote Hit from Both Sides

A Net Neutrality Timeline: How We Got Here

FCC's Next Net Neutrality Proposal: What to Watch For

Why You Need to Care About Net Neutrality

Was it Google and Verizon, or the FCC?

Presumably, there will be meaningful analysis from various sources, and hopefully intelligent dialogue, once the ruling is fully exposed.

UPDATE: I was going to post an update with some of the info that is surfacing regarding the ruling, but Fred Wilson has done a good job of summarizing some of the details. His article includes a link to a post by Barbara van Schewick, Director of Stanford Law School’s Center for Internet and Society, and a leading academic voice in the Net Neutrality debate. You can visit Fred’s blog post HERE.

There’s also a good breakdown on GigaOM today, by Stacey Higginbothem. View it here.