Archive 22. April 2011

Alex Levinson has some interesting comments on the "new" discovery of the collected geodata on the iPhone. Apart from the fact that it is not Apple that collects the data, but only the user's own device and computer, it is quite interesting that this "new" discovery was so well known that Alex has spoken about it at conferences and it was already described in his book on iPhone Forensics at the end of December 2010. A printed book. One of those made of paper. Something that researchers should actually read when they investigate things. So they don't make themselves look ridiculous when they write hyped articles about topics that have been known for a long time, without referring to previous research on the subject ...

Leica Summilux 35mm / 1.4 ASPH FLE. Does anyone have 3700 Euros to spare for me? Unfortunately, I don't, and that's how much this gem would cost me. I'll probably stick with my 700 Euro Zeiss C-Biogon 35/2.8, though I'm missing two stops of light intensity.

Münster declares its colors

Dichte Büsche mit Lavendelfiedern und grünen Blättern Viele rote Rhododendrenblüten an einem blühenden Strauch Eine Reihe von roten und gelben Tulpen in einem Garten Ein Baum voller zartrosa Blütenzweige vor einem roten Gebäude. Ein Tulpenfeld mit der Form des Wortes 'Frieden' in einem Park. Eine Fensterbank mit einer Pflanze und bunten Blumen Ein Baum mit rosa Blüten und Tulpen im Park

In spring, colors explode in Münster - many cherry trees, rhododendron bushes, and magnolia trees in public areas and in front gardens (yes, in Münster many townhouses still have front gardens with real plants instead of concrete slabs!), even basement windows directly on the sidewalk get a few flowers. In winter, one almost forgets how beautiful the city can be. The title is derived from a regular planting action by the city gardeners - and can also be found as a planted area on the promenade at Aegidii-Straße.

Nature Conquers History

Ein nackter, stählertiger Krieger mit einem Löwen, umgeben von Blumen.

I just found it interesting how a cheeky shrub has settled on the monument.

Zwinger in Münster

Ein nackter Mann mit Elefantenkopf steht in einer Stadt Eine alte, verwitterte Steinmauer mit einer kleinen Öffnung und vertikalem Grünlaub. Eine Bronzeplatte mit einer Inschrift auf Pflastersteinen. Ein verwitterter Backsteinbau mit einer hohen Kirchenarkade und Bäumen im Hintergrund.

The Zwinger in Münster is an old gun turret from the early 16th century, which, among other things, was used as a prison and execution site by the Gestapo during World War II. Today, it is part of the city museum. The Zwingerbezwingerin is a Ganesha statue in the garden of a house on the other side of the Promenade, opposite the Zwinger.

Patent lawsuit: Google convicted in first instance over Linux servers. Just when we thought patent nonsense couldn't get any worse, here's the latest example of how absurd patents on algorithms and data structures are. Especially when such cases are tried before juries, as if patent infringements were something that could be judged by the "public conscience."