Broken patents system

• “Google lawyer: Why the patent system is broken” by James Temple (San Francisco Chronicle; 2011.06.11) – http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/05/BUQP1LQN3V.DTL&ao=all
• “Start-ups in the maze of software patents” (StormDriver; 2011.03.28) – http://www.stormdriver.com/blog/start-ups-in-the-maze-of-software-patents/
  “Let me give you a stark example, that something is wrong with the current patent system: Microsoft is a patent giant of IT world, and holds 17258 valid patents, even though it didn’t develop a single important software innovation over the course of all its history – just check this very interesting list [http://www.dwheeler.com/innovation/innovation.html].”

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Related here: One more example of reactive social role of patent system – https://eikonal.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/one-more-example-of-reactive-social-role-of-patent-system/ | Lawsuits in mobile space – https://eikonal.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/lawsuits-in-mobile-space/

Scientology

• “List of Scientology Security Checks” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scientology_Security_Checks
  A security check resembles the confessional in traditional religions. However, it also differs from them in that it is not voluntary and that it explicitly gives power to the auditor to scrutinise and control individual Scientologists. Hubbard told security checkers that “you are not merely an observer, or an auditor, you are a detective.”
  Susan Raine of the University of Alberta observes that the questions asked in security checks show that L. Ron Hubbard was intensely preoccupied with scrutiny, surveillance and betrayal. She notes that this intense form of surveillance makes sense from a bureaucratic perspective as a way of making sure all individuals follow (and internalize) the organisational goals. Bent Corydon, an ex-Scientologist, compares security checking to the use of thought police in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. He writes that Scientologists are punished for having negative thoughts about Hubbard or Scientology and so learn to think only positively. David Mayo, another former member, reported that sec checks included the question, “Have you ever had any unkind thoughts about LRH?” and that such “discreditable thoughts” could land a follower in trouble.
• FACTnet (F.A.C.T.net Inc. = Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network Since 1993) – http://www.factnet.org/ – Since 1993, Discussion, Resources and Support for Recovery from the Abusive Practices of Religions and Cults
• Scientology Critical Information Directory – http://www.xenu-directory.net/
  • Security Check (Sec Check) – http://www.xenu-directory.net/practices/seccheck1.html
• Ask the Scientologist – http://askthescientologist.blogspot.com/
• Infinite Complacency / Violence and Abuse in Scientology (Jonny Jacobsen) – http://infinitecomplacency.blogspot.com/
• Leaving Scientology (Jeff Hawkins) – http://leavingscientology.wordpress.com/
• Scientology v. Armstrong (Gerry Armstrong) – http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/
• The Wog Blog (Mark Bunker) – http://www.xenutv.com/blog/
• Xenu Directory’s Weblog (xenu-directory.net) – http://xenudirectory.wordpress.com/
• “The Apostate – Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology” by Lawrence Wright (The New Yorker; 2011.02.14) – http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?currentPage=all
• “Tom Cruise and Church of Scientology investigated by FBI” by Lucius Wilson (Examiner.com; 2011.02.08) – http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-icons-in-national/tom-cruise-and-church-of-scientology-investigated-by-fbi
• “Scientology & Tom Cruise Give Us More Reasons to Be Afraid” by Kim Conte (The Stir; 2011.02.08) – http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_news/116017/scientology_tom_cruise_give_us
• “What You Need to Know About The New Yorker’s Paul Haggis–Scientology Article” (Vulture magazine; 2011.02.07) – http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/02/paul_haggis_scientology.html
• “Paul Haggis and the New Yorker Scientology piece: What will be the fallout?” (LA Times; 2011.02.08) – http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/02/paul-haggis-scientology-hubbard-new-yorker-wright-miscavige.html
• “True Grit star Josh Brolin calls Scientology F**king bizarre!” by Lucius Wilson (Examiner.com; 2011.02.07) – http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-icons-in-national/true-grit-star-josh-brolin-calls-scientology-f-king-bizarre
• “Paul Haggis now says he isn’t cooperating on Scientology book” (LA Times; 2011.01.13) – http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/01/paul-haggis-not-involved-scientology-book.html
• “How much will a Paul Haggis book hurt Scientology’s image?” [Updated] (LA Times; 2011.01.06) – http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/01/paul-haggis-scinetology-book-tom-cruise-will-smith-church.html

X-Ray Vans on US streets

It is time for tin-foil hats … and (tin-foil) whole-body uniforms.

• “Security Theater Creep: Full Strength X-Ray Body Scanners coming to Airports” by Steve Watson (Prisonplanet.com; 201.03.02)- http://imperialtwilight.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/security-theater-creep-full-strength-x-ray-body-scanners-coming-to-airports/
• “Mobile X-Ray Anti-Terrorist Van Disturbs Privacy Advocates” by Charles Tate (Internetbits; 2010.10.04) – http://www.internetbits.com/mobile-x-ray-anti-terrorist-van-disturbs-privacy-advocates/54175/
• “Full-Body Scan Technology Deployed In Street-Roving Vans” by Andy Greenberg (Forbes; 2010.08.24) – http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2010/08/24/full-body-scan-technology-deployed-in-street-roving-vans/
  

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Related here: “Surveillance, wiretapping, tracking, etc.” – https://eikonal.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/surveilance-wiretapping-etc/.