Throughout history, scientists, philosophers, mathematicians and Phd students lacking funding for actual research have turned to the thought experiment in hopes of discovering something publishable, thereby retaining tenure and/or attracting the admiration of comely undergraduates. The best thought experiments throw light into dark corners of the universe and also provide other scientists, philosophers, mathematicians and destitute Phd students a way to kill time while waiting for the bus. Below is a classic thought experiment, pillaged from my book The Geeks' Guide to World Domination (Be Afraid, Beautiful People). I'll post a new thought experiment each day this week.

Schrödinger’s Cat

SUNNYVALE, California, February 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- Rapid consumer adoption combined with expansion to PC TV positions company for continuing growth in 2009

Telegent Systems, the company that makes television mobile, today announced that it has shipped more than 20 million mobile TV receivers since its products became available on the market in mid-2007. Telegent's TV receivers have experienced extremely rapid uptake by enabling consumers to receive the same live, over-the-air programming that they view on conventional TV sets, while on the go. This shipment milestone clearly establishes Telegent as the leading provider of mobile TV technology and analog broadcasts as the dominant standard for mobile TV viewing around the world.

LONDON, February 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- Acquisition Creates World's Largest Payment Routing Data Provider

Accuity, the global leading provider of payment routing data, AML screening software and services, today announced that it has acquired 100% of London-based CB.Net, a reference data provider for the global banking community. The acquisition, which is effective immediately, brings together two of the world's largest payment data providers. Thousands of financial institutions and corporates worldwide already rely on Accuity and CB.Net to improve rates of payment straight through processing (STP).

LONDON, February 4 /PRNewswire/ -- President Obama is backing a green stimulus package with $150bn of investment in low-carbon infrastructure to create jobs and combat climate change. While on the other side of the Atlantic, on a smaller scale UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also espoused a green new deal to promote eco-friendly transport and renewables to boost employment.

So will investors follow the politicians' lead and put their money into climate change solutions - or will last year's relatively poor returns and the recession turn a green new deal into a pipe dream?

SUNNYVALE, California, February 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- Movistar-branded ZTE handset enables Peru consumers to view live, over-the-air TV programming on their handset, anytime, anywhere

Telegent Systems, the company that makes television mobile with its high-performance single-chip mobile TV solutions, together with Telefonica Moviles Peru, today announced that Telefonica has included the ZTE i766, a handset with a live TV feature enabled by Telegent, in its handset lineup. The handset, branded with Telefonica's Movistar logo, is available in all Telefonica retail outlets for 499 soles in prepaid mode.

LONDON, February 4 /PRNewswire/ -- AVIVA, the UK insurance group, will today be hosting a live presentation outlining full-year 2008 long-term savings new business figures plus the move from EEV to MCEV reporting.

Speakers at the event will include Andrew Moss, Aviva CEO, Philip Scott, Aviva CFO, Nic Nicandrou, FD Norwich Union Life, Tim Harris, Chief Financial Officer, Europe, and David Rogers, Aviva Chief Accounting Officer.

The live video webcast will be available on http://w3.cantos.com/aviva at 1000GMT with an on-demand replay available later in the day.

It's free to view. All you need to do is register at http://www.cantos.com.

TORONTO, February 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- Varicent entrenches leadership in sales performance management

Varicent Software, an innovator and provider of incentive compensation management (ICM) and sales performance management (SPM) solutions, continues to build on its momentum as a leader in the quickly evolving SPM market.

Remarkable revenue growth in 2008 was fueled by record customer demand, with notable companies including Getty Images, Smith and Nephew, Shaw Industries, Time Customer Service, Farmers Insurance, Nexient Learning, Gexa Energy, Manpower and more realizing the potential and value of Varicent SPM.

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, February 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Company CMI Technologies Ltd. (http://www.cmit.cz), has launched a new useful application for Nokia mobile phones, called Black White Guard.

The mobile phone is an excellent assistant, but it can also change a quiet life of many people into hell. It only takes a small inobservance and intimate information from SMS or data about intimate phone calls can get into unauthorized hands and cause a nuisance. According to psychologists SMS are the most common reason of conjugal infidelity disclosure. Also in politics, SMS have played their role. But in any case, it is not just conjugal infidelity or politics.

CONTINUA WINTER SUMMIT and TOKYO, February 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Bluegiga announced today that its OEM Bluetooth modules are now available with Bluetooth Health Device Profile (HDP). The Health Device profile is integrated into Bluegiga's iWRAP firmware, running inside the Bluegiga module, significantly simplifying and reducing the need for engineering and testing time for any type of health or medical device.

NEW YORK, February 4 /PRNewswire/ --

- Charles Gregson announces planned retirement at end of 2009; will remain at PR Newswire to transition role through end of March

Experienced leader in the distribution and technology industry, Ninan Chacko, is set to take the helm at PR Newswire with the planned retirement of Chief Executive Officer Charles Gregson, the company announced today.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/prnewswire/36921/

(http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090204/NY66595)