The problem is that 5 minute thought process can exclude people from using an idea for 20 years.
And that's the problem, in a nutshell. That 5 minute thought process shouldn't be protected (non-obvious, anyone?). I work in learning systems and some of the implementations I've seen are, frankly, beautiful. If those sorts of things were the only ones accepted for patenting, that is novel and innovative discoveries, we likely wouldn't be having these software patent discussions. The problem only crops up when we start allowing "bouncy scrolling" patents and their ilk.
Can we just cancel the election and impe[a]ch Obama today?
Impeach. I don't think that word means what you think it means.
(Yes, I know 150lbs won't amount to much on the Moon. I'm still impressed)
It'll amount to the same weight on the moon as on Earth. Granted, it'll take much more mass to get up to the weight. If it can haul 150lbs here, it can do the same anywhere.
...without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.
That's simply not true. The video is rather long but he makes it clear that despite the video being vile (and it is, let's not play that game), free speech is sacrosanct. A choice quote, if you don't wish to follow the link,
Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. Moreover, as President of our country, and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so.
You'd have a hard time finding a greater free speech apologist than myself, but I think that the president has done a fine job of defending free speech while communicating with the Muslim community.
captcha: thighs
I think you're doing that wrong.
The feed back device didn't improve the monkey's intelligence, it simply undid some of the damage the crack did to them.
Really? Not even going to RTFS?
According to the study findings, the MIMO device was exceedingly effective in restoring the cocaine-impaired decision-making ability to an improved level of 10 percent above normal, even when the drug was still present and active.'"
Emphasis mine. Your other points may be valid, but this technique certainly did more than just undo the effects of the drug.
... and cars used stainless steel windshields?
Driving would be significantly more dangerous.
...reading a libro...
Of course not! I'd say "Estoy leyendo un libro."
Top Ten Things Overheard At The ANSI C Draft Committee Meetings: (5) All right, who's the wiseguy who stuck this trigraph stuff in here?