Bits

[unixronin]

Three weeks ago, Eastman Kodak sued Sony alleging infringement of ten Kodak digital-camera patents.  Now, Sony is hitting back with a countersuit against Eastman Kodak for violation of ten of Sony's own digital-camera patents.  Apparently Kodak and Sony have been trying, and failing, to come to a cross-licensing agreement for three years.  C'mon, guys, put the lawyers away and just cross-license even-Steven, OK?

South Korea has begun service of its first high-speed "bullet train" line.  The 186mph (300kph) French-built KTX links Seoul and Busan (also known as Pu San) in two hours and 40 minutes, making South Korea the fifth nation to deploy high-speed trains, after Japan, France, Germany and Spain.  When are high-speed trains coming to the US, you ask?  Don't hold your breath.

And, astronomers estimate that half of the 100 planetary systems so far discovered could contain Earth-like planets.  However, they haven't actually observed any yet, and don't expect to be able to for about another 15 years.  All the extrasolar planets so far observed have been Jovian or super-Jovian.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

You cannot simply let cars roll across a bullet train's tracks, like you can with an ordinary freight train. This deforms the track subtly. Ordinary trains slow down when approaching a grade crossing, and also are a lot less picky about variations in their track. A minor deformation at 25-35mph is unnoticeable. A minor deformation at 200mph... and you've got a derailment, 200mph train hash, body parts all over the track. Not pretty. You have to build the track on a trestle or bridge above the road.... which gets expensive fast.

[ilcylic.livejournal.com]

Oh, ok. The problem is I'm an idiot, and thought "grade crossing" meant something else. :)

I thought we were talking about bullet trains being unable to go over hills.

I'll go sit over there now.

-Ogre

(Also, I'm amazed that cars deform RR tracks that much. I've worked with RR track, and that's some heavy shit.)