Some random items of interest:
- An interview with Kamenetz, the author of "DIY U" over at Salon. It looks like a great read. Another debt bubble about to pop: Higher education in this country is in a state of crisis. Nearly nine out of 10 American high school seniors say they want to go to college. Yet almost half of U.S. college students drop out, outstanding student loan debt exceeds $730 billion, and tuition fees rose 248 percent between 1990 and 2008, more than any other major commodity or service.
- A judge in NY, Robert Sweet, stuck down the validity of genetic patents. The decision potentially invalidates patents on 20% of the human genetic code already granted. His argument: you can't patent nature (or, companies shouldn't be able to gain a monopoly on the genetic code that is already inside your body). Wow. It's been so long since anything sane has come out of the court system, that this was totally unexpected.
- UN report holds some data on Somali pirate business models: When ransom is received, fixed costs are the first to be paid out. Nice. Here's some detail on the payout structure of a successful operation. "These are typically: • Reimbursement of supplier(s) • Financier(s) and/or investor(s): 30% of the ransom • Local elders: 5 to 10 %of the ransom (anchoring rights) • Class B shares (approx. $15,000 each): militiamen, interpreters etc. The remaining sum — the profit — is divided between class-A shareholders."
- O'Reilly on the Internet Operating System. It's not cloud computing. It's the services. Very well done.
- Glenn Greenwald over at Salon has an excellent article on Mike McConnell and the privatization of US national security.
- Love this. The Piranha USV. Want one. 54-foot Piranha USV weighs only 8,000 lb, yet can carry a 15,000 lb payload 2,500 miles.
- Richard "peak everything" Heinberg is all over resilient communities. Nice.