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Google, Facebook ask court to reject patents on abstract ideas

As patent spats continue to command much of the tech world's attention and corporate resources, a group of prominent companies is taking a stand against a practice it sees as hobbling innovation.

Google, Facebook, Zynga and five other tech giants filed an amicus brief with the U.S. State Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday, asking the court to reject the patents central to a lawsuit between two financial institutions. CLS Bank has sued Alice Corp. for allegedly infringing on four patents covering a computerized method of having a third-party hold funds in escrow on behalf … Read more

Jackson Pollock's hi-fi: A work of art?

I visited the Pollock-Krasner House & Study Center last week in East Hampton, New York. While I was there learned the abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock and his wife, artist Lee Krasner had a pretty cool hi-fi.

Yes, I was there for the art but then I noticed the horn speaker under the stairwell to the second floor of the house. Helen Harrison, the Pollock-Krasner House's Director allowed me to open the door and examine the speaker system in greater detail. She told me the hi-fi was purchased by Pollock in 1954. In the room behind the staircase I spotted a Bogen DB-20 tube amplifier and a Crown (?) turntable I've never seen before. Ms. Harrison assured me the hi-fi still works, but the records that were on hand weren't playable. Oh well.

Ms. Harrison explained that Pollock loved to play his hi-fi really loud, especially when Krasner was out of the house. Some things never change.

It's also interesting that the inside of the door that supports the horn and woofer originally came from Pollock's studio, which is a separate building from the house. The inside of the door is covered with Pollock's trademark paint splatters, drips, and blobs, probably made while making some of his more famous paintings. That discovery stopped me in my tracks. … Read more

Autechre, 'Altibzz': Free MP3 of the Day

IDM connoisseurs Rob Brown and Sean Booth are among the undisputed leaders of abstract music. Their albums as Autechre are typically chaotic, abrasive, and unimaginably intricate, but those not familiar with the group's sound need not fear. Amidst the electronic manipulations of all those clicks, bleeps, and whacks, Booth and Brown create a dense and rhythmic soundscape that fits any situation.

Download free MP3 now!

Brijit pays you to write less

Last night Rafe wrote a post about ways to make money while in your underwear. It's a novel concept that likely wouldn't lose its luster until the winter months. One of the companies, called Brijit caught my interest, mostly because as a blogger, one of the required skills is summarizing large written items and shrinking them down into small, edible chunks. Brijit takes large stories from online and print publications and fits them into 100-word-or-so abstracts you can quickly give a once-over, and decide if it's worth it to delve deeper. The site is powered by freelance … Read more