When I saw this article: Bank Not Responsible for Letting Hackers Steal $300K From Customer | Threat Level | Wired.com. I couldn’t help but think of the classic “identity theft” sketch from Mitchell and Webb:
Yearly Archives: 2011
59 posts
Following is a press release from my company, Q-Track. More details are in this recent post: NFER® RTLS for Forklift Tracking and Supply Chain Management. Always a pleasure to have good news to share! -Hans Invention expected to dramatically lower cost of supply chain visibility Huntsville, AL — June 7, […]
The most difficult part of a regular blog is staying in the rhythm of frequent posting. Coping with a natural disaster doesn’t make it easy. The historic tornado outbreak of April 27 sliced through Northern Alabama, leaving trails of devastation in its wake. The scale of the outbreak was difficult […]
In the first rollback of his health care plan, last week President Obama signed a bill repealing the onerous 1099 reporting provision. This provision, slipped into the Health Care Bill, targets small businesses and independent contractors by requiring them to file a 1099 form with the IRS for the cumulative […]
Conventional RFID systems can identify assets passing through a portal, but once inside a warehouse locating the assets becomes a substantial challenge. Tagging each of the potentially thousands of assets in a typical logistics scenario is cost-prohibitive. But by identifying an asset, associating it with a forklift, and then tracking […]
Well buttressed conclusions on a possible cell phone – brain cancer link remain in short supply despite substantial research on the question. Nevertheless, inconclusive results keep leading to alarming headlines. Encouragingly though, the weakness of the case against cell phones is becoming more evident. Writing for New York Times Magazine […]
Starting May 4, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will allow inventors to expedite their patent prosecution. The first 10,000 inventors willing to pay an extra $4000 (no discount for small entities) will be able to place their patent applications in a “Fast Track.” The new service aims to achieve […]
The Time Domain Corporation has sold its ultra-wideband (UWB) real-time locating systems (RTLS) business unit to a newly-formed, privately-held company: PLUS Location Systems. Here’s the full press release: Huntsville, Alabama (March 31, 2011) – Time Domain, a leader in ultra wideband (UWB) product development, announced that it has sold its […]
Maxwell first published his famous equations describing electricity and magnetic one hundred fifty years ago. In honor of the anniversary, ÆtherCzar will discuss some interesting and not always appreciated aspects of Maxwell’s Equations. Previously, ÆtherCzar considered the question, “Is radiation divergenceless?” Today’s topic: Radiation of a DC Signal? The last […]
The Czarina needs four lines translated into French for her packaging. Whoever can first assist will get their choice of Baby Dipper infant/toddler feeding products. Leave your translation in the comments, and I’ll get back to you with the shipping address for : Curved non-slip handle. For use with the […]
Time to clear out the link box… The Saga of the Scientific Swindler! (1884-1891) | Skulls in the Stars. Hat tip: BoingBoing Low Power Radio: FCC Enforcement Actions in the AM Band. 115-Year-Old Medical X-Ray Machine Comes Back to Life | Wired Science | Wired.com. How One Man Waged War […]
Steven J. Crowley once again has an update on Experimental License Applications before the FCC. A couple of highlights include: ZAI filed an application with exhibit for special temporary authority to test an ultra-wideband (UWB) vehicle-mounted radar system for identifying roadside threats and obstacles. The hardware is manufactured by Time […]
Maxwell first published his famous equations describing electricity and magnetic one hundred fifty years ago this month. In honor of the anniversary, ÆtherCzar will discuss some interesting and not always appreciated aspects of Maxwell’s Equations. First, is radiation divergenceless? “Divergence” is a mathematical property of fields, measuring the extent to […]
Last year, ÆtherCzar reported on growing skepticism that Bruce Ivins – fingered as the Anthrax Mailing culprit – was really guilty. Now, Noah Shachtman, writing at Wired, revisits the case and the uncertainties surrounding it with a wealth of new information and details. While the case certainly has some open […]
Answer: more quickly than it used to if USPTO Patent Commissioner, Robert Stoll, has his way. Patently O reports on a new USPTO initiative to drive toward an average of ten months to an initial office action after an inventor files a patent. To that end, the Patent Office has […]
Here are some RTLS news items of interest: Chinese plans to track cell phones raise concerns: Beijing to track people’s movements via their mobile phones – Computerworld. Hat Tip: @TheSchnack Skyhook brings location-awareness to the Sony NGP, including WiFi-only models — Engadget. Computer scientists develop smart, less obtrusive tracking system […]
Initiatives Magazine had a nice article about my company, Q-Track, and the many applications of our Near-Field Electromagnetic Ranging (NFER®) Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS). Coincidentally, an older article from Technology Alabama also recently became available online: In an all-too-familiar story in the Huntsville area, a technology — which was practiced […]
Wireless researchers in industry must act before March 10 to help avoid discrimination in the FCC’s proposed revision of the Experimental Radio Service. As previously noted on ÆtherCzar, the FCC plans to reform the Experimental Radio Service, but one of the most beneficial reforms (Research Program Licenses) will only be […]
I just attended the pre-release screening of Atlas Shrugged Part One, and I’d like to share my first impressions. Take this as an initial installment toward the much more thoughtful (but equally enthusiastic) review I’ll compose at leisure over the next few days and publish at the (fan-run, unofficial) Atlas […]
Today, the producers of Atlas Shrugged Part One will be screening the the movie for “selected commentators, bloggers, critics, and devotees of Rand’s work.” I’ll be in Culver City, California for the screening. I’ll provide my initial reactions as well as a full review and analysis. This event caps a […]
Here are some recent GPS links of interest: GPS to track truant students in Anaheim. FoxNews.com – Experts Warn of ‘Death by GPS’ as More People Visit Remote Wildernesses. US Air Force raises concerns over LightSquared’s LTE network messing with GPS — Engadget. FAA warns of ongoing GPS issues in […]
Here’s a Japanese view on the litigiousness of American society: “It’s not unusual for an elderly person like yourself to think of drying her cat in the microwave. Therefore, it’s clearly the fault of the manufacturer for not adding a proper warning.” (Hat Tip: Lowering the Bar)
Here are some recent links of interest: Amazing how many people were taken in by what appear to be high-tech dowsing rods: Iraqi Treasury Gets Partial Refund on Magic Wands – Lowering the Bar. Remarkably, the company’s website is still up. Spy Tech Surveillance Gear – Top Surveillance Gadgets – […]
Wired reports on the fascinating story of Mohan Srivastava, a geological statistician who found statistical anomalies that enabled him to win at scratch lottery games. The story reminded me of an incident in the 1988 Fall Semester at Purdue University when the Society of Physics Students cracked the Burger King […]