With a gaggle of Republicans running for president in 2012,  it’s hard to hear one voice above the din.

It’s been particularly hard for Tim Pawlenty. The mild mannered (read dull) candidate can’t seem to steal the microphone from Michelle Bachmann.

So now TPaw is talkin’ tough…he’s called Obama a chicken. (no doubt Obama is reeling)

He’s also claims he is poised to steal the nomination… (despite recent polls) saying McCain was in his shoes at this point in the 2008 race.

Tim Pawlenty also appears to be quite the concocted character, but who isn’t? The New York Times reports that he’s quite the fundraiser.

Still… news of Michele Bachmann’s migraines seem to be dominating the campaign news.

Migraines or not…can a woman not handle the pressure of higher office? Check out the feats of these past presidents.

In Iowa (the location of an upcoming presidential Straw poll in August) it’s now the  TPaw and Michele show.  But Bachmann’s got the edge…she’s already a keynote speaker at the Straw Poll pre-game.

We wonder if they will be serving chicken.

UMBC was recognized as a “Great College to Work For” in a survey done by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The 2011 survey was based on responses from nearly 44,000 people at 310 US institutions. UMBC was as one of ten large four-year colleges (> 10K students) selected for the honor roll based on its scores on nearly 100 questions across twelve key categories.

UMBC was recognized as a “Great College to Work For” in a survey done by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The 2011 survey was based on responses from nearly 44,000 people at 310 US institutions. UMBC was as one of ten large four-year colleges (> 10K students) selected for the honor roll based on its scores on nearly 100 questions across twelve key categories.

This week’s story on This American Life, When Patents Attack, is a good introduction to how the patent system is being used and abused, especially in the software industry. I listened to it today and got new insights into a complex problem. It will be aired on WYPR (88.1) at 4:00pm Sunday and available for for online listening or downloading after 7:00pm on Sunday. The text of the show is available now on NPR’s Planet Money blog. Here’s how it starts…

Nathan Myhrvold is a genius and a polymath. He made hundreds of millions of dollars as Microsoft’s chief technology officer, he’s discovered dinosaur fossils, and he recently co-authored a six-volume cookbook that “reveals science-inspired techniques for preparing food.”

Myhrvold has more than 100 patents to his name, and he’s cast himself as a man determined to give his fellow inventors their due. In 2000, he founded a company called Intellectual Ventures, which he calls “a company that invests in invention.”

But Myhrvold’s company has a different image among many Silicon Valley insiders.

The influential blog Techdirt regularly refers to Intellectual Ventures as a patent troll. IPWatchdog, an intellectual property site, called IV “patent troll public enemy #1.” These blogs write about how Intellectual Ventures has amassed one of the largest patent portfolios in existence and is going around to technology companies demanding money to license these patents.

Patents are a big deal in the software industry right now. Lawsuits are proliferating. Big technology companies are spending billions of dollars to buy up huge patent portfolios in order to defend themselves. Computer programmers say patents are hindering innovation.

But people at companies that have been approached by Intellectual Ventures don’t want to talk publicly.

“There is a lot of fear about Intellectual Ventures,” says Chris Sacca, a venture capitalist who was an early investor in Twitter, among other companies. “You don’t want to make yourself a target.”

Sacca wouldn’t say if Intellectual Ventures had been in contact with any of the companies he’s invested in.

“I tried to put you in touch with other people in this community to talk to you about this and they almost uniformly said they couldn’t talk to you,” Sacca told us. “They were afraid to.” IV has the power to “literally obliterate startups,” Sacca says.

It’s well worth reading or listening to to understand how the current patent system in the US is effecting not only business, but also the disciplines that produce new ideas and inventions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

This week’s story on This American Life, When Patents Attack, is a good introduction to how the patent system is being used and abused, especially in the software industry. I listened to it today and got new insights into a complex problem. It will be aired on WYPR (88.1) at 4:00pm Sunday and available for for online listening or downloading after 7:00pm on Sunday. The text of the show is available now on NPR’s Planet Money blog. Here’s how it starts…

Nathan Myhrvold is a genius and a polymath. He made hundreds of millions of dollars as Microsoft’s chief technology officer, he’s discovered dinosaur fossils, and he recently co-authored a six-volume cookbook that “reveals science-inspired techniques for preparing food.”

Myhrvold has more than 100 patents to his name, and he’s cast himself as a man determined to give his fellow inventors their due. In 2000, he founded a company called Intellectual Ventures, which he calls “a company that invests in invention.”

But Myhrvold’s company has a different image among many Silicon Valley insiders.

The influential blog Techdirt regularly refers to Intellectual Ventures as a patent troll. IPWatchdog, an intellectual property site, called IV “patent troll public enemy #1.” These blogs write about how Intellectual Ventures has amassed one of the largest patent portfolios in existence and is going around to technology companies demanding money to license these patents.

Patents are a big deal in the software industry right now. Lawsuits are proliferating. Big technology companies are spending billions of dollars to buy up huge patent portfolios in order to defend themselves. Computer programmers say patents are hindering innovation.

But people at companies that have been approached by Intellectual Ventures don’t want to talk publicly.

“There is a lot of fear about Intellectual Ventures,” says Chris Sacca, a venture capitalist who was an early investor in Twitter, among other companies. “You don’t want to make yourself a target.”

Sacca wouldn’t say if Intellectual Ventures had been in contact with any of the companies he’s invested in.

“I tried to put you in touch with other people in this community to talk to you about this and they almost uniformly said they couldn’t talk to you,” Sacca told us. “They were afraid to.” IV has the power to “literally obliterate startups,” Sacca says.

It’s well worth reading or listening to to understand how the current patent system in the US is effecting not only business, but also the disciplines that produce new ideas and inventions in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Dog fights Shark and wins! See the video here.

Tragedy strikes Norway.

The end may be near for the NFL lockout.

Famine continues in southern Somalia.

Thanks to MSNBC!

No matter where you were in the U.S. this past week you probably heard the phrase “It’s hot!” more than a few times.

Throughout the last several days, a massive heat wave overtook 29 states. On Friday, the East Coast seemed to take the brunt, breaking previous temperature records.

In Central Park, the temperature reached 115 degrees once humidity was factored in. Parts of Washington, D.C. felt like 120 degrees.

All over, power grids faced increased demand as people took shelter inside and cranked their air-conditions up.

How have you been keeping cool?

Sending a “save the date” card is a tradition for large events (re: weddings, parties, etc.) What would the news “Save the Date “cards look like? We’re going to take a crack at it.

July 23, 2011: The Borders “Going Away”  sale begins. Yesterday, a federal bankruptcy court approved the companies liquidity plans that will go in effect today. Customers can expect to see discounts on all of their favorite books.

Everyday!: Negotiations about the national debt ceiling continue to collapse as Speaker Boehner and President Obama fail to reach an agreement. The country is nearing the ceiling that will cause the United States to default on its loan. How much longer can this turmoil last?

September 20, 2011: President Obama has set an official date for the abolishment of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that was passed last December. He is convinced that this can be done without any harm to military readiness, but the Pentagon must work out the logistics.

August 2012: NASA plans to land a rover on Mars. There is a 96 foot crater that could tell us if there is really the potential for life on Mars.

Election Day 2012: Marylanders will have the chance to vote for or against in state tuition for illegal immigrants as a referendum.

Sometime in a two to three year period:  Steven Speilburg wasn’t very specific about the legistics, but he has confirmed that a Jurassic Park 4 script is in the works.  Keep a look out for more information.

The case of rape stirs many emotions.

The delicacy of the subject often leaves it swept under the rug whether it’s at the workplace, universities, or in the military.

But now more attention is being focused on the issue of sexual violence.

The controversially named Slutwalks do their bit to raise awareness to the subject.

In the US,  The government is instituting new guidelines for colleges and universities on how tackle campus sexual assaults. Vice President Joe Biden gave a speech in April to New Hampshire University students to highlight the move.

Now there is a movement to change the way rape is defined by the FBI. Currently the Bureau uses an eighty-year-old definition in their annual Uniform Crime Report.

Opponents see the need for change

to better reflect the realities of sexual assault and to more accurately count all victims.

Change.org is the ring-leader in bringing this issue to the heads of the FBI with over 95,000 signatures in counting. Let’s hope that they will be heard and the federal government will take a gander and dust off those old books.

The case of rape stirs many emotions.

The delicacy of the subject often leaves it swept under the rug whether it’s at the workplace, universities, or in the military.

But now more attention is being focused on the issue of sexual violence.

The controversially named Slutwalks do their bit to raise awareness to the subject.

In the US,  The government is instituting new guidelines for colleges and universities on how tackle campus sexual assaults. Vice President Joe Biden gave a speech in April to New Hampshire University students to highlight the move.

Now there is a movement to change the way rape is defined by the FBI. Currently the Bureau uses an eighty-year-old definition in their annual Uniform Crime Report.

Opponents see the need for change

to better reflect the realities of sexual assault and to more accurately count all victims.

Change.org is the ring-leader in bringing this issue to the heads of the FBI with over 95,000 signatures in counting. Let’s hope that they will be heard and the federal government will take a gander and dust off those old books.