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A U.N. ambassador to E.T.? Sounds like sci-fi

If and when extraterrestrials try to contact humanity, they might want to stop by the United Nations headquarters. But despite earlier reports, it looks like there won't be a designated ambassador-to-the-aliens waiting for them there after all.

According to numerous reports, 58-year-old Malaysian astrophysicist Mazlan Othman, head of the U.N.'s Office for Outer Space Affairs--which is charged with "promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space"--had been tapped for the role. Word was that she was waiting only for U.N. scientific advisory committees and the General Assembly to give the thumbs-up.… Read more

Worthless New Age analysis

MB Subconscious Self Number is, like most every program from Mystic Board, an advertisement-delivery vehicle first, and an actual useful program... well, not at all. Although the program's description promises to "make you aware of your reaction to a stressful situation," we found that the program did nothing of the sort.

Like all other Mystic Board programs, the interface for this one was cluttered with ads, with fake menu items directing users to Donate or Make Money Online (these are actually just links that take you to the Mystic Board Web site). Users are instructed to enter … Read more

Inventions in outer space

The goal of BLIP is to keep the non-patent lawyer apprised of recent developments in the world of intellectual property law. This post is not directed toward that goal. Today's post is devoted to raising awareness about the patent law with the coolest title: "Inventions in outer space."

The collection of laws that govern patents can be found in Title 35 of the U.S. Code. Anyone having any familiarity with patent laws knows about sections 101-103 of 35 U.S.C.--these sections deal with what is patentable and how you judge if a patent is in fact novel or not obvious. But unbeknownst even to most practicing patent lawyers is that two sections later--in section 105--Congress has enacted a law specifically directed to extraterrestrial patents:

… Read more