Engine of a Mini Seven racing Mini
Photo: Copyright © 2009 Eelke Blok

What happens to your data when your computer floods/catches fire/explodes?

So, what did you answer to that question? If it was, "Meh, that's not going to happen to me", think again. If it is, "I'm making backups", good for you. But how safe are your backups? Some say, one backup is no backup. This is especially true if you're just backing up to an external drive connected to your computer. Yes, it will safe your hide when the hard disk in your computer dies, but what if a bigger disaster happens? Of course, I wish no one to have their hard disks crash on them, let alone worse.

Everything is a remix

I heard about it, but had never watched the videos before (or even knew it was a series of four). Very interesting documentary explaining how "original work" is usually only a combination of existing ideas, "remixed" in a certain way (which doesn't make the invention or creation any less impressive, it's just that attributing something to a single inventor or creator doesn't exactly reflect reality). There are nice references to pop culture and it ends with an explanation why the current US patent system is a monstrosity that does not help its original intent at all.