What new thing have you learned today ?

[Lamplighter]

I learned a new acronym today: "frand"

This is an interesting article about the patent law suits that are the rage in the computer/cell phone industry these days.

CNET.com

Frand--also known as "rand" in the U.S.--is an obscure legal acronym
that stands for "fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory," and is based on the principle
that fair licensing of intellectual property is often needed because sometimes
certain ideas and patents just need to be shared for everything to work together properly.

It's a fairly simple idea, but one that's been rocking the tech industry in recent years.

[Gravdigr]

Today, I learned about Cloudhopper balloons. Or, rather, 'hopper balloons', Cloudhopper being a brand name.

Hoppers don't have baskets.

Yeee-ikes, do not want.

[glatt]

Interesting. I'd like to see the launch of one of these. Balloons start out lying on their sides on the round, and it doesn't look like there is enough slack for the pilot to be standing up while the balloon is on its side. Landing could be interesting too. Does the pilot lie down as he's emptying the air out of the envelope? If he unhooks himself, the lack of weight will make the thing take off.

[glatt]

Not enough slack to stand, but enough to sit.