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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: MadImmortalMan on July 10, 2009, 01:52:48 PM

Title: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: MadImmortalMan on July 10, 2009, 01:52:48 PM
http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-07/bill-gates-files-patent-hurricane-killer-plan

Quote

Bored With PCs, Bill Gates Sets His Sights On Controlling the Weather

Microsoft's chairman is part of a join patent filing for using fleets of vessels to stop hurricanes via geoengineering
By Jeremy Hsu Posted 07.10.2009 at 12:11 pm 0 Comments

Bill Gates' Plan to Stop Hurricanes: A diagram from one of the newly disclosed Gates and Myhrvold patent filings, depicting a deployment of hurricane-supression vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. via TechFlash

Truly this is the age of Greenfinger: Billionaire Bill Gates has patented the idea to halt hurricanes by decreasing the surface temperature of the ocean.

The patent calls for a large fleet of specially equipped ships which would mix warm water from the ocean surface with colder water down below, according to five new patents that include Microsoft's chairman as a co-inventor. That could then reduce or perhaps eliminate the heat-driven condensation which hurricanes feed upon, thus significantly reducing their intensity.

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popsci.com%2Ffiles%2Fimagecache%2Farticle_image_large%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2Fhurricane%2520plan_0.jpg&hash=09e019998536f4ae8581f3a6f9f80cfde994b115)

Patent-watcher "theodp" first spotted the new patent filings, and told TechFlash that the scheme reminded him of something Mr. Burns might have concocted in "The Simpsons" -- if the fictional industrialist hadn't already blown his master plan on blocking out the sun.

The hurricane-stopper plan apparently hatched from a meeting of Intellectual Ventures, a patent house which regularly gathers scientists and technologists to brainstorm together. TechFlash notes that the official filings came through an Intellectual Ventures affiliate, Searete LLC.

One of the five patents also suggests how to pay
for the massive seagoing fleet, including selling insurance policies in hurricane-prone areas -- so much for the billionaire backer.

This represents just the latest in a long line of geoengineering proposals aimed at taming Mother Nature, whether aimed at climate change or hurricanes. Even the prestigious National Academy of Sciences held a workshop in June on geoengineering, although that ended with disagreements on whether the cure might be worse than the problem.

We previously looked at other plans regarding hurricanes, such as sending supersonic jets slicing into the eye of the giant storms. But for now, it's likely that coastal cities should at least invest in more grounded ideas to become hurricane-proof.


What would you do if you had a quadrillion dollars and lots of free time, anyway?  :lol:
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Caliga on July 10, 2009, 01:57:58 PM
How dare he try to thwart the Wrath of God(TM).  :mad:
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Viking on July 10, 2009, 02:02:40 PM
I for one welcome our new weathermen. Now I can "order" good weather for that BBQ....
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: The Brain on July 10, 2009, 02:04:14 PM
What could possibly go wrong?
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Caliga on July 10, 2009, 02:11:32 PM
Soon Bill Gates will get his own planet at the center of the galaxy and tell everyone he's God.  Spock's crazy cousin will worship him and Captain Kirk will have to show up and declare "God... is.... the spark of.... the DIVINE... WITHIN ALL... of us!"
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Josquius on July 10, 2009, 04:06:47 PM
Interestingly awesome.

Except the funding of course.
Quote
One of the five patents also suggests how to pay
for the massive seagoing fleet, including selling insurance policies in hurricane-prone areas -- so much for the billionaire backer.
How the hell is that going to work?
What if I live in Louisiana but I don't want to pay? They're going to knock my house down to represent the hurricane?
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: The Brain on July 10, 2009, 04:17:14 PM
Quote from: Tyr on July 10, 2009, 04:06:47 PM
What if I live in Louisiana

:console:
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: crazy canuck on July 10, 2009, 05:15:33 PM
Quote from: Tyr on July 10, 2009, 04:06:47 PM
What if I live in Louisiana but I don't want to pay? They're going to knock my house down to represent the hurricane?

Its essentially what Gates did to Netscape.  You dont want to mess with him.
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Strix on July 10, 2009, 06:13:12 PM
Quote from: Tyr on July 10, 2009, 04:06:47 PM
What if I live in Louisiana but I don't want to pay? They're going to knock my house down to represent the hurricane?

It will be like Microsoft Windows. Gates will have it be bundled in with the purchase of any new house in the effected areas. It will be impossible to unbundle it without voiding your homeowners insurance or mortgage.
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Monoriu on July 10, 2009, 07:43:09 PM
I hope he tries to control people's minds. 
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: BuddhaRhubarb on July 10, 2009, 08:29:18 PM
Sounds awesome I hope Bill can solve all the world's problems just by inventing shit in his garage. He should start working on making a Holodeck and Star Trek food replicators next, then FTL drives.
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Syt on July 10, 2009, 11:08:28 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 10, 2009, 01:52:48 PM
What would you do if you had a quadrillion dollars and lots of free time, anyway?  :lol:

I think it would have to do with orgies. :)
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: The Brain on July 11, 2009, 03:01:19 AM
I would build my enormous tomb complex. Bill Gates has no sense of humor at all.
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Jaron on July 11, 2009, 05:51:28 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on July 10, 2009, 07:43:09 PM
I hope he tries to control people's minds.

That method works great in China, but not here buddy.
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Palisadoes on July 11, 2009, 06:43:08 AM
World domination...

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fterramel.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2008%2F12%2Fbill-gates-hitler.jpg&hash=4357d839e7cd0db4af162ee56031a86144c3b13f)
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Vince on July 11, 2009, 07:29:59 AM
I shudder to think what a hurricane's version of a BSOD would look like
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Viking on July 11, 2009, 07:40:10 AM
Quote from: Vince on July 11, 2009, 07:29:59 AM
I shudder to think what a hurricane's version of a BSOD would look like

Consider this.. the computers controlling the weather would run on Vista.
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files pat
Post by: Martinus on July 12, 2009, 12:52:25 PM
Quote from: Syt on July 10, 2009, 11:08:28 PM
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on July 10, 2009, 01:52:48 PM
What would you do if you had a quadrillion dollars and lots of free time, anyway?  :lol:

I think it would have to do with orgies. :)

Seconded.
Title: Re: Bill Gates wants to control the weather. Builds Bond-Villain lair, files patents
Post by: Monoriu on July 12, 2009, 11:06:30 PM
Some ideas:

1. Skynet.  Could be a self-aware programme that exists in every networked device.
2. A device in every screen that emits powerful psychic signals to control people
3. Nano machines that are everywhere - monitoring people's lives and enforcing Microsoft edicts.
4. Bio-engineered super-humans that form a Prussian General Staff-style organization for Microsoft
5. Some sort of scheme that tricks people into agreeing to implant a chip set in their brains.  Then create a Ring-of-power to control all the chips.