Driving can differ widely by location...

Patent-related wars are the latest fad

As if the legal system wasn't a complete mess already you can add the patent office to the list of incompetent departments that is spinning out of control. Just take a look at the mobile patent law suits infographic compiled by Reuters and keep in mind that this is just a tip of the iceberg...

As someone who has worked for a number of technology companies and has been through a few patent infringement law suits I can tell you that not all patents out there are legitimate and there are a bunch of companies out there whose sole business purpose is to sue each other over these crappy patents. Some of the technical patents I came across were so broad that they encompassed a large portion of the internet which is so commonly used that it belongs in the public domain - I can only imagine that whoever approved this was technically inept. Imagine if someone patented use of water and air today and suddenly we were all in violation.

Now the image above is just a subset of the mobile industry but when you consider every patent out there you can imagine how things can get real messy and real fast. Patent office gets paid to approve crappy patents, predatory companies sue each other over this crap, scummy lawyers get paid off and someone along the way makes a bunch of money while hardworking people are sucking on their thumbs. Another day, more bullshit - this is business as usual.

Image courtesy of Reuters

Beer? Anyone?

Spending too much time on the web? You are not alone...

US budget explained in simple to understand terms

Now, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that something does not add up here. Honestly, would you run your household budget like that?

Which butt are you?

And remember there is no right or wrong answer to this...

Earth population reaches 7 billion

According to the United Nations the Earth population has reached 7 billion and counting. Based on the latest projections this number is expected to hit 8 billion by 2025 and a whooping 9.3 billion by 2050.

[USA Today]

How much money does it take to be in the top 1%?

Scores of fed up customers are ditching big banks

The nationwide "Move Your Money" and "Bank Transfer Day" are this Saturday, November 5. Since Bank of America and other big banks announced new debit card fees thousands of disgruntled customers across the nation started dumping their bank accounts in favor of not-for-profit community banks and credit unions which tend to have fewer and smaller fees. According to the Credit Union National Association over 650,000 new members have joined various credit unions in the last month alone and more than 4 out of 5 new credit union customers have stated the reason for the move being new bank fees and the "Bank Transfer Day". So far this amounts to a staggering $4.5 billion in new savings accounts that the big banks are not going to get their hands on. The Independent Community Bankers of America said they have seen an equally staggering increase of new inquiries and new customers. And all of this is happening even before the actual "Bank Transfer Day". With thousands more who have pledged to leave their big banks this Saturday we could see these numbers skyrocket by the end of the week. Imagine the possibilities...

In the meantime the Occupy Wall Street movement is holding its own "Dump Your Bank Day" on Tuesday, November 8. So it seems pretty likely that even more people will join this wave of defiance. Even though big banks decided not to introduce the new debit card fees after all the experts in the banking industry agree that more fees and higher existing fees will be rolling out soon as banks will need to look for other creative ways to make up for lost revenue. This may in turn push even more customers away. Is the commercial banking industry, as we know it today, heading for a speedy demise?

Here is what a few of our fellow citizens had to say about the whole situation, which really drives the point home:

"They take your deposits and use them to buy politicians to de-regulate, give them immunity, interest-free loans and bailouts. Then they turn around and charge you fees to make them even richer."

"Take your money to a credit union or a community bank that will use your money in your community and not to pervert the rule of law and fill their own pockets."

[CNN]

A record high 50% of Americans support legalization of marijuana

An all time record HIGH number of Americans now support legalization of marijuana according to the latest research from Gallup. The number of those in favor has now reached a respectable 50% or half of the population. This is up from 46% last year. Currently only 16 states allow medial use even though feds still consider any such use illegal. There appears to be a general trend - young and more open minded/Liberal people tend to be in favor. However, we expect this support to grow over time as the younger generations phase out the more conservative older folks.

To recap the main points:
- marijuana is the most commonly abused drug in US after alcohol and tobacco
- 50% now favor legalization compared to 46% last year
- Liberals are twice more likely to support than Conservatives
- Democrats and independents more likely to favor than Republicans
- 62% approval for ages 18 to 29
- last year 70% supported legalization for medical use
- only 31% over 65 are in favor
- more men than women are in support
- some states have decriminalized MJ while others made it legal for medical use only
- former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders supports lagalization
- 46% still think it should be illegal

[Gallup]