patently stupid

What this particular patent covers is the ability to use animated emoticons in mobile messaging, rather than just the text variety. - Techdirt article on recent AT&T patent on emoticons.

( watch me break patent law )

There's also the matter of the Cingular patent for a dedicated or shared emoticon-key; I guess the new keyboards for Windows Vista, with the emoticon-key next to the Start-Key will have to be scrapped.

it's all connected

Doing research on basic sales and marketing today, for my own edification. Funny to find this only two links away from a wikipedia on "sales":

bats feed regurgitated blood to those who have not collected much blood themselves knowing that they themselves may someday benefit from this same donation; cheaters are remembered by the colony and ousted from this collaboration.