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Category: Innovation
This statement is from a Peter Thiel interview. Peter Thiel is a founder of Paypal, investor in Facebook and many other technology startups. Mr. Thiel is talking about entrepreneurs and businesses and that you want to create a unique company and dominate your market space. I have just finished a manuscript for a non-fiction book that makes this point from an economy wide point of view. Wealth is not created by manufacturing undifferentiated, me-too products, it is created by new technologies. There is no contradiction between what is good for the economy and what is good for an entrepreneur, despite the statement of economists on perfect competition.
One of Peter Thiel's interview questions is tell me something you know to be true that no one else knows is true? How would you answer that question?
My answer is that the source of real per capita growth is inventions and patents, property rights in inventions, are the key to stimulating people to invent, resulting in the Industrial Revolution and our present standard of living.
This is an excellent post on the inventor Charles Brush from the excellent blog Ice Dynamo.
Charles Francis Brush was born March 17, 1849 on his family's farm – a farm not so different from those sprinkled across Bainbridge. You can imagine the bemusement of his parents – both farmers – when seemingly from infancy Charles showed an insatiable interest in electricity. He was a mere twelve when he built his first static electric machine.
He graduated college when he was twenty, and immediately went to work repaying his student loan, granted to him by his uncle. Charles spent his days selling iron ore and his nights devising a new dynamo – an early version of the electric generator. He was twenty-eight when his tireless efforts earned him his first patent.
As abundant and reliable as electricity is for us today, it's hard to imagine what Brush's dynamo meant for nineteenth century Americans. At the time, electricity was so inefficient and uneconomical that it little more than a novelty; what lighting existed was almost exclusively in the form of kerosene lamps.
The dynamo was a great achievement, but for Charles Brush, it was just a stepping stone. He envisioned a world lit by arc lights (a technology similar to light bulbs). That vision required not only economical electricity, but efficient and reliable arc lights. Once he'd completed his dynamo, he turned his focus to arc lights, and received his first of four patents in 1878.
Charles Brush loved his own life too much to relegate himself to thankless toil in an obscure lab. He was eager for the world to benefit from his genius, and wanted to be remunerated for his effort. Thus, in 1880 he established the Brush Electric Company. It was a herculean undertaking; he competed directly with Thomas Edison's titan of a company, General Electric. Nevertheless, in a few short years Brush's arc lights illuminated the streets of cities such as San Francisco, Montreal, Boston and New York. His hydroelectric power plant in Minneapolis was one of the first in the United States to generate electricity from water.
When Brush was 42, he merged his company with General Electric and retired to the mansion he'd built in Cleveland. His home included a private laboratory in the basement and the world's first automatic wind turbine generator. Even in retirement, he never stopped investigating scientific phenomena.
Charles Brush's inventions – such as his dynamo – were incredible machines, but they were so much more. Those inventions were the product of a child who was born with a singular purpose, and never let being an iconoclast stop him from pursuing that purpose. They are the result of a young man's inexhaustible dedication to his work, and an industrialist's fearless determination to bring light to the world.
Which brings us to the article's title. My favorite author described machines as "the frozen form of a living intelligence."
An academic paper claims that the cost for royalties ($120 per phone) is about the same as the cost of the components in a smartphone. This was accompanied by a number of articles suggesting this was outrageous and unsustainable. For example see:
* High smartphone patent royalties undermine industry profitability: report
* The $120 Smartphone Patent Tax: Patent Royalties Cost More Than The Actual Hardware In Your Phone: This one from my favorite patent Luddite site, Techdirt.
* Smartphone royalties now equal manufacturing costs
The logical flaw underlying all these articles is that the value of products is determined by the amount of physical labor and/or the cost of the underlying materials. On this basis, the actual material costs of a cell phone are probably less than $5 and the labor (unskilled labor in the US is worth perhaps $10/hr) involved in making the phone might be worth $5, let's throw in $10 for distribution and the hard costs of a smartphone are about $20.[i] The rest of the costs are the result of intellectual property, much of which is in the form of patents, but some is in the skilled labor, copyrights and trademarks. The actual cost of the intellectual property in a smartphone is closer to $380.00. Much of these costs are hidden. For instance, when Intel sells a microprocessor they charge you $50, for example, but the labor cost and material cost of the microprocessor is pennies. The reason they can charge $50 is because of the intellectual property, which means patents. From an economic point of view you are paying a dollar or so for the manufacturing and $49 in patent royalties.
Another logical flaw in these articles is that this is an unsustainable business model. First of all the underlying paper points out that sales of smartphones and tablets is now bigger than all the rest of the consumer electronics space, with over a billion smartphones sold in 2013. Clearly the business model is not falling apart. Second of all, the cost of Microsoft Office Home and Business 2013 is $219.00 and none of that is manufacturing cost. The cost of Microsoft Office is essentially all IP (Patents, Copyrights, etc.). Solidworks, which is 3D CAD software, cost $4000.00 and also has essentially no manufacturing costs, which means you are paying the equivalent of $4000 in royalties. The argument that the model is unsustainable is absurd.
Actual Paper
The paper that started this economic stupidity is The Smartphone Royalty Stack: Surveying Royalty Demands for the Components Within Modern Smartphones. The paper is clearly designed to sway public and Judicial opinion in a manner that will be beneficial for Intel. Namely, Intel wants a patent system that emphasizes manufacturing, not inventing. Another goal of the paper is to get courts to reduce the amount of royalties that inventors receive.
"In particular, there has been significant recent focus on "royalty stacking," in which the cumulative demands of patent holders across the relevant technology or the device threaten to make it economically unviable to offer the product."
This statement is absurd on its face, as the paper itself points out.
"The market for smartphones has exploded. Smartphones sales for 2013 topped one billion units globally for the first time ever. In addition, global revenues for smartphone and tablet sales in 2013 are estimated to have surpassed for the first time revenues for the entire consumer electronics markets (e.g., televisions, audio equipment, cameras, and home appliances)."
Here is the real point that this paper is pushing:
"Further, the available data demonstrate a need for licensees to advocate and courts to rigorously apply methodologies for calculating royalties that focus on the actual value of a claimed invention put in context of the myriad other technologies in a smartphone and the components in which the technologies are implemented."
I will admit that having courts set royalty rates is not ideal and the results can be squirrelly, which is why eBay should be reversed. The courts used to just prohibit the infringer from using the patented technology and then the parties had to work out a deal. But the Supreme Court decided that enforcing the only right you get with your patent is an injunction – actually it is not an injunction it is an exclusion order requiring the infringer to not trespass on (use) the patent owner's property.
The paper admits that its methodology is limited and the actual cash cost going to pay royalties could be higher or lower. For instance, the paper does not track cross licensing, pass through, or patent exhaustion, all of which could significantly reduce the actual royalties paid. They clearly made an error if they did not account for patent exhaustion. If patent exhaustion was part of the royalty costs, then almost every high value component's price is mainly due to patents. Correctly accounting for patent exhaustion would show a royalty per smartphone closer to the $380.00 per phone as explained above.
The paper is just dishonest when discussing the growth in the number of patents issued and the number of patent lawsuits. It shows in 20 years the number of patents issued in the US has increased from 100,000 per year to 250,000 per year. The implication is that this is an absurd increase in the number of issued patents, but if you do the math this turns out to be a 4.75% annual increase, about the same as the increase in worldwide GDP over the same time period. The paper also shows a graph depicting the number of patent lawsuits exploding around 2011. This increase is due to the America Invents Act, which limited the joinder of defendants in patent lawsuits. This has been well documented, as in the article The America Invents Act at Work – The Major Cause for the Recent Rise in Patent Litigation. The paper's failure to point this out is just outright fraud. The fraud is perpetrated again when the paper points to the increase in the number of NPE lawsuits. These authors seem to have gotten their training from Al Gore and French economist Thomas Piketty.
[i] In fact you can buy cell phones for less $30.00 on the Internet. The cost of materials in a smartphone and a $30 cell phone is essentially the same. The material costs in a cell phone include the plastic which costs several cents, the metal for the conductors which might be worth a dollar, the silicon which in its raw form is worth almost nothing.
The authors (Sven Bostyn and Nicolas Petit) of this paper, PATENT=MONOPOLY – A LEGAL FICTION, argue that patents are not a monopoly based on standard antitrust analysis. It is very unusual for an academic paper to take such an unpopular position. They must have not got the memo that the goal of all academics is to vilify inventors, patents, and property rights. Below are some the lines I thought were interesting and my comments are below.
"No other IPR is so thoroughly examined and evaluated as a patent."
No other property right is so expensive, time consuming and expensive to obtain title to.
"In 2011, approximately 1,000,000 patents were granted across the globe. This would mean that 1,000,000 monopolies would have been created worldwide. This clearly, cannot be true."
"Competition is very valuable, but innovation is probably equally, if not more, valuable."
My main critique is that they did not explain how patents are a property right or the history of property rights and patents. Under Locke's theory of property rights, patents and copyrights are property rights – they are granted because of the creative effort (labor) of the inventor/author. This was picked up by Sir William Blackstone in his Commentaries, where he affirms that patents and copyrights are property and therefore natural rights. This was enshrined in the constitution as "securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."
Gary Boone invented the microcontroller while working at Texas Instrument in the early 1970s. I had the good fortune to know Gary Boone in the later part of his life, he had a brilliant mind and was a good friend. It is sad day for the electronics industry and my heart goes out to his family.
IEEE did an Oral History with Gary that was lost for over a decade. You can see the agility and brilliance of this great inventor's mind in the interview. Please read the whole oral history. Mr. Boone has a number of interesting insights in the interview. For instance, he states that he invented microcontroller while at Texas Instruments because of boredom. He was working in a group designing custom Integrated Circuits (ICs). While designing these chips he began to feel "I'm tired of doing this. I'm working long hours. My family is not happy. I have to find a better way of doing this." He also noticed that the basic requirements for all these projects were similar and this led to the idea that a general chip that was programmable could solve multiple customers' requirements. He also discusses the resistance in the community to this innovation.
After inventing the microcontroller, he moved to a start-up company, Litronix, that made handheld calculators. The company was not aggressive about filing patents. An overseas competitor was able to drive Litronix out of the market because of the differential tax rates, U.S. regulatory rules on consumer warranties, and their weak patent portfolio.
Because Mr. Boone was the inventor of the microcontroller, he ended being involved in numerous patent lawsuits. This has caused him to have a unique perspective on the patent system. One of the most interesting points he makes is that design teams often fail to review the patent literature before starting the design process. Because of this, they often reinvent designs and reviewing patent literature results in better designs.
Gary will be missed by all that knew him.
I have often pointed out that patents are a natural right under Locke's theory of property rights. Locke stated, in modern language, that you own yourself so you have the right to those things you create. Many detractors have suggested that this absurd. According to Locke the three chief natural rights are life, liberty, and property. Locke states that protecting property rights is the main reason for forming governments.
Sec. 124. The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property.[1]
Inventions are the result the inventor's labor and therefore property under Locke. Property is a natural right, so patents are natural rights. Despite this logical connection, many people have continued to deny that patents (property rights in inventions) are a natural right.
Locke's ideas were incorporated in the law of the United States by William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England. This treatise became the basis of common law in the US. Here is what Blackstone said about patents and copyrights (intellectual property). Note that he cites Locke's ideas on property rights for his explanation for why intellectual property is Property.
There is still another species of property, which (if it subsists by the common law) being grounded on labour and invention is more properly reducible to the head of occupancy than any other; since the right of occupancy itself is supposed by Mr. Locke, and many others, to be founded on the personal labour of the occupant. And this is the right, which an author may be supposed to have in his own original literary compositions; so that no other person without his leave may publish or make profit of the copies. When a man by the exertion of his rational powers has produced an original work, he seems to have clearly a right to dispose of that identical work as he pleases, and any attempt to vary the disposition he has made of it, appears to be an invasion of that right.
Now the identity of a literary composition consists entirely in the sentiment and the language: the same conceptions, clothed in the same words, must necessarily be the same composition: and whatever method be taken of exhibiting that composition to the ear or the eye of another, by recital, by writing, or by printing, in any number of copies, or at any period of time, it is always the identical work of the author which is so exhibited; and no other man (it hath been thought) can have a right to exhibit it, especially for profit, without the author's consent.
This consent may perhaps be tacitly given to all mankind, when, an author suffers his work to be published by another hand, without any claim or reserve of right, and without stamping on it any marks of ownership; it being then a present to the public, like building a church or bridge, or laying out a new highway: but, in case the author sells a single book, or totally grants the copyright, it hath been supposed, in the one case, that the buyer hath no more right to multiply copies of that book for sale, than he hath to imitate for the like purpose the ticket which is bought for admission to an opera or a concert, and that, in the other, the whole property, with all it's exclusive rights, is perpetually transferred to the grantee.
On the other hand it is urged, that though the exclusive property of the manuscript, and all which it contains, undoubtedly belongs to the author, before it is printed or published; yet from the instant of publication, the exclusive right of an author or his assigns to the sole communication of his ideas immediately vanishes and evaporates; as being a right of too subtile and unsubstantial a nature to become the subject of property at the common law, and only capable of being guarded by positive statutes and special provisions of the magistrate.
The Roman law adjudged, that if one man wrote any thing on the paper or parchment of another, the writing should belong to the owner of the blank materials meaning thereby the mechanical operation of writing, for which it directed the scribe to receive a satisfaction; for in works of genius and invention, as in painting on another man's canvas, the same law gave the canvas to the painter. As to any other property in the works of the understanding, the law is silent; though the sale of literary copies, for the purposes of recital or multiplication, is certainly as antient as the times of Terence, Martial, and Statius. Neither with us in England hath there been (till very lately) any final determination upon the right of authors at the common law.
But whatever inherent copyright might have been supposed to subsist by the common law, the statute 8 Ann. c. 19 hath now declared that the author and his assigns shall have the sole liberty of printing and reprinting his works for the term of fourteen years, and no longer; and hath also protected that property by additional penalties and forfeitures: directing farther, that if, at the end of that term, the author himself be living, the right shall then return to him for another term of the same duration: and a similar privilege is extended to the inventors of prints and engravings, for the term of eight and twenty years, by the statute 8 Geo. II. c. 13, and 7 Geo. III. c. 38, besides an action for damages, with double costs, by statute 17 Geo. III. c. 57. All which parliamentary protections appear to have been suggested by the exception in the statute of monopolies, 21 Jac., I. c. 3, which allows a royal patent of privilege to be granted for fourteen years to any inventor of a new manufacture, for the sole working or making of the same; by virtue whereof it is held, that a temporary property therein becomes vested in the king's patentee. (emphasis added)
The idea that patents are a natural right is incorporated in early American law as the quote below shows.
"we protect intellectual property, the labors of the mind, productions and interests as much a man's own, and as much the fruit of his honest industry, as the wheat he cultivates, or the flocks he rears." (Davoll v. Brown, 7 F. Cas. 197, 199 [C.C.D. Mass. 1845].)
It is just obstinance or disingenuousness to suggest that patents are not part of natural rights.
[1] The Second Treatise of Civil Government; 1690; John Locke; CHAP. IX., Of the Ends of Political Society and Government.
A recent study report on PatentlyO clearly shows that President Obama and the histrionic chorus of the surge in lawsuits by Patent Assertion Entities (Mythical Patent Creations) is just not true. Changes in the law under the American Invents Act (AIA) that prohibited the joinder of defendants for the infringement of the same patent are the only reason for any apparent change and this was a known outcome of the AIA. The complete paper "Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs) Under the Microscope: An Empirical Investigation of Patent Holders as Litigants" can be downloaded here.
Cotropia, Christopher Anthony and Kesan, Jay P. and Schwartz, David L., Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs) Under the Microscope: An Empirical Investigation of Patent Holders as Litigants (November 10, 2013). Illinois Program in Law, Behavior and Social Science Paper No. LBSS14-20; Illinois Public Law Research Paper No. 14-17. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2346381
Now that we have some idea of what wealth and economic growth are, let's look at some examples of what is not economic growth. When Tony slaughters a cow and eats it he has consumed some of his wealth. He has one less cow, but he has food in his belly that he needs to live. Is he wealthier now? Well he needs food to eat in order sustain his life. If he starves to death, he is certainly not wealthier. However, Tony now has less of what he needs to sustain his life in the future. Wealth is the surplus above what one needs to live today. Consumption is not wealth. Interestingly, being overweight was traditionally considered an indicator of wealth. The excess fat meant you could sustain yourself without eating for longer because you could not find food, or because you were sick and could not hold food down. In fact, it was fashionable for women and men to be overweight in the 1700 and 1800s. Fat was an indicator of wealth, both because the person could sustain themselves without food longer and because it indicated that the person had plenty of food, compared to the calories they consumed. In societies that live on the edge of starvation or what is called the Malthusian Trap, being overweight is a source of wealth.
The Malthusian Trap is named after Reverend Thomas Malthus (1766 -1836), who postulated that human population would always grow faster than the food supply, dooming humans to subsistence living, i.e., living on the edge of starvation. Oddly enough Malthus was correct until about the time he died. The advent of the Industrial Revolution changed this situation; first for the people of England and the US, then the West and today for at least half of the world's population. The economist Gregory Clark has shown that policies to alleviate human suffering in a non-Malthusian Trap economy just result in additional misery in a Malthusian economy.[1]
Another example of what is not economic growth, but our present GDP measurements do count as increases in wealth is known as the broken window fallacy. This was first explained by the French economist Frederick Bastiat (1801-1850). The fallacy is explained by this story. A window to your house is broken by a windstorm and you hire window installer to fix it, the window installer and the person who makes windows have additional work and income. The window installer is wealthier, but is this economic growth? The house is now in the same position it was before the window was broken, but you are out the cost of the window. The amount of profit the window installer has made is less than you paid, because window installer has costs, such as the cost of the gas to get to your house, the cost of the glass. Even adding up the profits of all the people the window installer paid does not add up to the cost you paid for the window. The reason for this is we have to consume food and other resources to stay alive as we discussed above. What this means is that your broken window has actually resulted in less wealth not more. This is not surprising. If our fisherman, Randy's boat is damaged he is not wealthier. Even after he fixes his boat, he lost out on time he could have been fishing. Destruction does not create wealth, it reduces it. Unfortunately, you will hear politicians and economists talk about natural disaster causing economic growth all the time. An article in NPR discussing Superstorm Sandy that hit the U.S. northeast in 2012 stated:
But there may be a silver lining to all that destruction: Some economists argue that reconstruction from Sandy could help stimulate the national economy in 2013.[2]
The reason economists are confused about whether destruction causes economic growth is that our measurement of the GDP does not count the destruction of property and life. This is like the gambler who only counts his winning.
[1] Farewell to Alms: A Brief Economic History of the World, by Gregory Clark, Princeton University Press 2000.
[2] Could Post-Superstorm Sandy Rebuilding Energize The Economy?, by Joel Rose, NPR, December 31, 2012, http://www.npr.org/2012/12/31/168363901/could-post-superstorm-sandy-rebuilding-energize-the-economy.
It is my contention that classical economics is not completely consistent with Ayn Rand's Objectivist philosophy and even economists who are Objectivists have failed to provide an economic theory that is consistent with her ideas. For instance, George Reisman is one of the well known economists associated with Objectivism and Professor Emeritus of Economics at Pepperdine University. In his book Capitalism on page 40 he states:
Patents … derive their market value from the fact that they make it possible for the intellectual creators of new and additional wealth to benefit from their contributions by temporarily limiting the increase in wealth that their intellectual contributions bring about.
Now how does Dr. Reisman square his ideas with Rand on this subject? Dr. Reisman later states that patents increase the supply of goods, so he appears to be somewhat inconsistent. But on page 449 he states:
Intangible assets (patents) no more constitute capital than they constitute wealth.
Dr. Reisman does define wealth in Chapter 2 as material goods made by man. So it is consistent with his definition, but how does he square this with Rand who states in Galt's speech:
He cannot obtain his food without knowledge of food and of the way to obtain it. He cannot dig a ditch––or build a cyclotron––without a knowledge of his aim and the means to achieve it. To remain alive, he must think." Rand 1992, p. 1012.
An example might be useful. Joe is a builder and knows how to make concrete but is not presently making concrete. Is he wealthier than Jim who is a builder, in essentially the same position as Joe, but Jim does not know how to make (or get) concrete? Clearly Joe is wealthier. I think Reisman's definition of wealth is flawed.
I also think it is inconsistent with Ayn Rand, who in Capitalism the Unknown Ideal, states:
Patents and copyrights are the legal implementation of the base of all property rights: a man's right to the product of his mind.[1]
Is the value of a building worth more in a country with property rights or one without property rights? In the property rights country, the owner can collateralize his property, he can obtain income from his property without having to hire thugs to enforce his rights, he can justify investing in improvements in this building. In both cases there is the same material good, but the value is totally different. Property rights are wealth, their contribution to wealth is secondary to the underlying asset, i.e., the building or the invention.
My main problem with classical economics or Austrian economics is they have not built a system around the fact that man's main tool of survival is his mind. That is the source of his wealth and the only source of real per capita increases in income/wealth.
[1] Rand, Ayn, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, Signet, New York, 1967, p. 130.
What is economic growth? We all think we know the answer to this question. It's when GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is growing or positive, would be a typical answer. That is an abstract answer for most of us. We tend to focus more on the likely results of a growing economy, such as there are more high paying, high quality jobs; you are more likely to receive a raise above the inflation rate; you are more likely to have more money in your bank account; your access to education, health care, quality of food, etc. generally increase. But if population growth is 5% and GDP growth is only 2% then none of these good things happen. What we are interested in is real per capita increases in wealth.
But what is wealth? Is it the number of digits in your bank account, how many dollars you have in your pocket, how many dollars your 401K is worth? The people in Venezuela have seen a huge increase in the number of digits in their bank accounts, and the number of dollars (Bolivars) in their pockets have increased, however they are getting poorer. So did the people in the Weirmar Republic in the early 1920s, many of whom were billionaires (in Marks). Wealth cannot be confused with the amount of currency (Dollars, Bolivars, Marks) one has.
Using currencies to denote wealth often causes confusion. Let's look at some examples separate from currency. Image a farmer, we'll call him Tony. Tony has two cows, a dirt house with a thatch roof and no running water or electricity. A year later Tony has ten cows and running water. Clearly Tony is now wealthier than he was a year ago. In fact, the quantity of livestock one owns has been a traditional indicator of wealth in many societies. Wealth means having more of the things necessary to sustain one's life. But people in the US and the West are not like Tony, most of these people have more than they could possible need to sustain their life –right? Actually, no. A rational person, let's call him Randy, does not just worry about whether they have enough food for today. Randy's a fisherman and just because he catches enough fish to feed his family today, does not mean he should stop fishing. What if the fish are not biting tomorrow? What if there is a storm tomorrow and he cannot fish? What if his boat needs repairs and he cannot fish for a week? Because Randy is rational he keeps fishing even after he has caught enough fish to feed his family that day, if there are fish to be caught and the day is not over.
But the average American, call him Sam, is not like Tony or Randy. Sam has so much to eat he is overweight. He is wealthy beyond the wildest dreams of Tony or Randy. He lives in a nice house, has running water, electricity, three televisions, five cell phones, why should Sam care about being wealthier? Well what if Sam gets sick and can't work, what if he loses his job, what if his car breaks down, what if his child gets accepted to Harvard? Only the uber wealthy have enough wealth to meet all their needs for the rest of their lives. When you consider that a prolonged hospital stay can cost over million dollars, it would require a net worth in today's economy of around ten million dollars or more. All except the uber wealthy have a rational desire for economic growth (i.e., increasing wealth) and even the uber wealthy benefit from the new technologies and opportunities provided by economic growth.
Ever wonder why the US has a record number of people on food stamps now, why the median family income is declining, why the labor participation rate is the lowest since Jimmy Carter? You need look no farther than the fact that the US has fallen from 2nd or 3rd in 2000 in the Cato/Fraser index of economic freedom to 17th. It is not just our economic freedom we are losing as the NSA and IRS scandals make clear. This is not just an academic exercise either. As the report makes clear longevity, access to medical care, education opportunities etc all deteriorate with a declining of economic freedoms.
The irony of this report is that the CATO Institute has been inconsistent at best about supporting property rights, which is the key issue underlying economic freedom. CATO has adopted a utilitarian basis for "property rights" that suggests they are just a useful artifact for efficiently distributing scarce resources. So in fact, they do not support property rights but property grants or privileges. This also means that they are confused that patents are not property rights. Patents are the single most important property right to economic growth, especially in a developed country. CATO is therefore in the position of being for property rights at an empirical level, but arguing against them on a philosophical level. Interestingly this also means that CATO is inconsistent about supporting our Constitution, which requires that Congress secure the rights of inventors to their inventions. No wonder the US is an economic basket case.
I have written extensively on the problems I see with IPXI's model to market licensing rights to patents. Their model is based on a commodities contracts type of model, where unit licensing rights can be bought and traded. I believe a model based on how Amazon sells books would be more effective and open up the patent licensing market to smaller entities and inventors. This sort of retail licensing system would allow inventors to post an invention that they are willing to license with a unit licensing rate for one instance of the invention. For software enabled inventions the unit licensing rate might be based on a per execution basis or a time limited period. The retail licensing system would issue a certificate that the licensor would use to prove that they had bought a license and only be good for one instance or execution. It is my assumption that the unit licensing rates would be so low that it would be easier to license the invention than infringe. The license would not come with any warranties of validity or non-infringement, but would come with a warranty of ownership of an issued patent. In addition, there might be bulk unit licensing discounts and a chance for the inventor to sell their engineering talent to help implement the invention.
This system would reduce the cost of licensing. Avoid some of the problems of IPXIs model, such as having a limited number of unit licenses and it would open up the market to individual inventors and small entities and spark an inventive wave that we would all profit from.
David Kelley gave a talk on Ayn Rand vs. Friedrich Hayek On Abstraction. (If you want to read Mr. Kelly's paper on point click here) This is a very important talk and explains the difference between Austrian economists and free market (objectivists). It also helps explain why Austrian economists who say they are for free markets are against patents, which are property rights in one's invention.
Ultimately, Hayek is a warmed over Platonist. According to Hayek our perception and reason are limited (Plato). It is this limit to reason that is Hayek's justification for a free market. Basically, Hayek argues that because our reason is limited it is sheer folly to suggest that central planning can ever work. Rand on the other hand sees no limit to reason and notes that reason is man's basic tool of survival. But each man must reason for them self. To force (central planning) someone to do something against their reason is immoral and eliminates the creativity and ingeniousness of everyone subject to the central planning decree. This means we have a small group of people attempting to "solve" problems instead of many people and the people making the decision are not the ones that feel it's effects. As a result, central planning is an open loop process, which as any engineer knows is a very inaccurate process. In addition, central planning does not take all the variables into account, since only each individual can know exactly what their circumstances and needs are.
I believe Austrians gravitate to Hayek's ideas because it saves religion (Christianity) from reason and the free market. Hayek's ideas on the limits of reason puts him in the company of Kant, Hume and Plato. Hayek in that sense is both anti-reason and anti-science, which leaves plenty of room for religion.
It also explains why Austrians do not understand patents. Property rights to Austrians are based on social convention or utilitarianism but not based on reason. According to the Austrians we have property rights (privileges, arbitrary grants) because of tradition or because they believe (not know – reason is limited) it results in the best use of resources. As Hakek states:
[M]orals, including, especially, our institutions of property, freedom and justice, are not a creation of man's reason but a distinct second endowment conferred on him by cultural evolution.
Patents were once characterized as monopolies (see English history), so Austrians cannot reason out the difference between what were called patents before the Statute of Monopolies and what are patents today. For Rand, creation is the basis of property rights and all human creations start with one man's mind. Because of this Rand made it clear patents/copyright (Intellectual property) are the basis of all property rights.
For more see Defending Capitalism: Ayn Rand vs. Hayek
More specifically on Hayek's concept of Abstraction:
If Hayek's ideas had any validity, then a person whose eyesight was restored after being blind from birth could immediately (visually) identify an apple or red, which we know is not true. If Hayek's ideas were true then we would have to have some inherent understanding of the double slit experiment in quantum mechanics or the idea that time slows down as we approach the speed of light, but this is clearly nonsense.
Earth Day was created in the Nixon administration and the first was in 1970. This day violates the 1st Amendment by the Federal Government "respecting an establishment of religion." Environmentalists are often portrayed by the Media as lovable, good natured people; people who only want to save some adorable furry creature and pick up trash. Environmentalist groups target new technologies claiming that they are dangerous or unproven. For instance, they killed off the nuclear power industry. The policies they advocate are anti-innovation and have destroyed advances in medicine, food production, power generation, vaccines, and more. These policies have resulted in the deaths of more people than Hitler, Stalin, and Moa combined. These deaths are not the result of good intentioned policies gone wrong; these are the purposeful goals of environmental groups. Environmentalists have consistently proven that they are willing to lie in order to achieve their objectives. Being "Green" is worse than being a Nazi, worse than being a Marxist; BUT these policies do work hand in hand with these statists philosophies.
I will briefly outline three environmentalist policy areas where environmentalists have lied about the science and even more important than lying, these policies have killed millions of people.
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson resulted in the banning of DDT.
Deaths Caused by DDT Ban
In 1970, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences estimated that DDT saved more than 500 million lives during the time it was widely used. http://www.wnd.com/2004/07/25428/ Banning DDT has resulted in about 100 million deaths, many of whom were pregnant women and children. By comparison: Hitler killed about 6-7 million, Stalin killed around 10-14million, and Mao killed between 60-68 million.
FYI: The ban on DDT is why the US is currently having infestations of bed bugs; most people born after 1940 thought these were eradicated like polio.
Lies about DDT
Carson claimed DDT thinned the eggshells of birds resulting in fewer offspring that endangered raptors existence. This was based on 1956 study by Dr. James DeWitt, published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. However, DeWitt's study actually showed that 50 percent more eggs hatched alive from the birds subjected to DDT than the non-DDT group. Other claims suggested that raptor populations declined because of the use of DDT; however, raptor populations were failing before the introduction of DDT. In fact, the Audubon's Eagle counts from 1941 to 1961 actually increased when DDT was mostly widely used. All the latest evidence shows, Carson's claims were nothing but outrageous lies.
Goal of Banning DDT was to Kill People
Alexander King, founder of the Malthusian Club of Rome, wrote in a biographical essay in 1990:
"My own doubts came when DDT was introduced. In Guyana, within two years, it had almost eliminated malaria. So my chief quarrel with DDT, in hindsight, is that it has greatly added to the population problem." http://jiminmontana.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/environmentalism-the-green-religion-of-dehumanization/
Dr. Charles Wurster, one of the major opponents of DDT, is reported to have said,
"People are the cause of all the problems. We have too many of them. We need to get rid of some of them, and this (referring to malaria deaths) is as good a way as any." http://jiminmontana.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/environmentalism-the-green-religion-of-dehumanization/
Nuclear Power
Anti-Nuclear power activists claimed that nuclear power generation would result in the deaths of thousands of people. This movement was able to kill off the nuclear power industry in the United States after the Three Mile Island accident in which no one was killed and the average person within ten miles of the accident received the equivalent on one chest x-ray of radiation.
Deaths Caused by Nuclear Power Ban
The main alternative to nuclear power plants,to date ,have been coal fired plants. For each person killed by nuclear power generation (including deaths due to Chernoybal), 4,000 die from coal. The previous data is adjusted for how much power is produced by each method of power generation. http://www.the9billion.com/2011/03/24/death-rate-from-nuclear-power-vs-coal/ The number of people killed per year in the US because of this change is at least 10,000. These deaths are mainly due to particulate pollution (nuclear power has no particulate pollution). This figure also includes an increase in the number of mining deaths, and increases in the number of deaths due to the extra transportation required to move coal compared to transporting uranium. In the United States alone: this environmental pogram has resulted in at least 300,000 deaths. Why has this not made headlines??! While the rest of the world has not followed the U.S.'s lead completely, the anti-nuclear movement has definitely retarded the development of nuclear power plants around the world. As a result, a reasonable estimate of the deaths worldwide because of this environmental policy is at least 600,000.
Nuclear power plants represent a huge reduction in air and water pollution. Real reductions in pollution are the result of advancing technologies, not regulator schemes such as the EPA. In fact, regulatory agencies can be credited with increasing pollution levels compared to what it would be without their influence.
The largest one time event fatality toll from energy production was in 1975. 30 dams in central China failed in short succession due to severe flooding. An estimated 230,000 people died. The fatalities from hydroelectric power far outnumber deaths from all other energy sources. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20928053.600-fossil-fuels-are-far-deadlier-than-nuclear-power.html Of course, hydroelectric power is one of the environmentalists' favorite sources of power.
Lies about Nuclear Power
The number one lie about nuclear power is that an accident could result in the death of thousands of people. There is absolutely no evidence for this claim. Another related boogey man of the environmentalists is that the half lives of the byproducts from nuclear power lasts tens of thousands of years. What if the half life were infinite? Wouldn't that be worse? If the half life were infinite, the elements (compounds) would be stable. Longer half lives mean that there is less radiation. Nuclear power plants accelerate the natural radioactive decay of uranium, so leftover fuel rods are less radioactive than the mined material.
Another lie of environmentalist s that nuclear power plants are too expensive to make economic sense.
Nuclear power is not intrinsically expensive. What drove nuclear plant costs up were environmentalist delays (caused by anti-nuclear "interveners" and the high interest financing rates—both perpetrated by those who wanted to kill nuclear power, and who now complain that nuclear costs too much. Source: Electric Power Research Institute
Goal of Banning Nuclear power was to Kill People?
There does not appear to be any environmental wacko comments to this effect; certainly it has been the result and since the environmentalism movement believes there are too many people-well, it seems this was likely part of their goal in killing off nuclear power.
Global Warming
Man made global warming or Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW) is the latest hoax being thrust upon us by Environmentalists, who I have already shown, have a very poor track record.
Deaths Caused by Global Warming Hoax
The United States is spending about $10 billion a year on Global Warming research. http://frontpagemag.com/2011/01/28/the-black-hole-of-global-warming-spending/ I think it is safe to say that at least $100 billion has been spent worldwide on Global Warming over the last decade. It costs about $20 to provide infrastructure for clean water for one person. According to WHO, 30,000 deaths occur every week from unsafe water and unhygienic living conditions. Most of these deaths are children under five years old. That is over 600,000 deaths per year because of poor water infrastructure. If the $10 billion being wasted on Global Warming research were instead applied to water infrastructure, this could save 50 million lives. The Global Warming Hoax has cost the lives of at 6 million people.?
How AGW Advocates Have Lied
"The latest data released by the Met Office, based on readings from 30,000 measuring stations, confirms there has been no global warming for 15 years." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096277/Global-warming-James-Delingpole-claims-green-zealots-destroying-planet.html#ixzz1xP61Eo2b
It is well known that the main driver of the temperature on Earth are the variations in the amount of solar energy the Earth receives. "Experiments at the CERN laboratory in Geneva have supported the theory of Danish physicist Henrik Svensmark that the sun — not man-made CO2 — is the biggest driver of climate change." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2096277/Global-warming-James-Delingpole-claims-green-zealots-destroying-planet.html#ixzz1xP61Eo2b
The biggest greenhouse gas is water vapor – over 95%, but you never hear about this from AGW advocates. http://www.creators.com/opinion/walter-williams/environmentalists-wild-predictions.html
"Natural wetlands produce more greenhouse gas contributions annually than all human sources combined." http://www.creators.com/opinion/walter-williams/environmentalists-wild-predictions.html
Below, IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -UN) Experts comment on the IPCC, which is the group at the UN that has been saying a consensus of scientist s "believe" in Global Warming http://ukipscotland.wordpress.com/2011/10/04/fifty-ipcc-experts-expose-global-warming-lies/
Dr Vincent Gray: "The (IPCC) climate change statement is an orchestrated litany of lies."
Dr. Lucka Bogataj: "Rising levels of airborne carbon dioxide don't cause global temperatures to rise…. temperature changed first and some 700 years later a change in aerial content of carbon dioxide followed."
Dr Richard Courtney: "The empirical evidence strongly indicates that the anthropogenic global warming hypothesis is wrong."
Dr Eigil Friis-Christensen: "The IPCC refused to consider the sun's effect on the Earth's climate as a topic worthy of investigation. The IPCC conceived its task only as investigating potential human causes of climate change."
Goal of AGW
The goal of AGW is to kill capitalism and as a result kill millions of people. Patrick Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace explained. (Environmentalism today is) more about globalism and anti-capitalism than it is about science or ecology….
"Ultimately, no problem may be more threatening to the Earth's environment than the proliferation of the human species."
— Anastasia Toufexis, "Overpopulation: Too Many Mouths," article in Time's special "Planet of the Year" edition, January 2, 1989. http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-dickens/2012/04/19/earth-day-special-medias-top-25-wackiest-environmental-quotes#ixzz1xPBuQJxp
"Today, life on Earth is disappearing faster than the days when dinosaurs breathed their last, but for a very different reason….Us homo sapiens are turning out to be as destructive a force as any asteroid. Earth's intricate web of ecosystems thrived for millions of years as natural paradises, until we came along, paved paradise, and put up a parking lot. Our assault on nature is killing off the very things we depend on for our own lives….The stark reality is that there are simply too many of us, and we consume way too much, especially here at home….It will take a massive global effort to make things right, but the solutions are not a secret: control population, recycle, reduce consumption, develop green technologies."
— NBC's Matt Lauer hosting Countdown to Doomsday, a two-hour June 14, 2006 Sci-Fi Channel special. http://newsbusters.org/blogs/geoffrey-dickens/2012/04/19/earth-day-special-medias-top-25-wackiest-environmental-quotes#ixzz1xPCThQaU
"My own doubts came when DDT was introduced. In Guyana, within two years, it had almost eliminated malaria. So my chief quarrel with DDT, in hindsight, is that it has greatly added to the population problem." http://jiminmontana.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/environmentalism-the-green-religion-of-dehumanization/
Dr. Charles Wurster, one of the major opponents of DDT, is reported to have said,
"People are the cause of all the problems. We have too many of them. We need to get rid of some of them, and this (referring to malaria deaths) is as good a way as any." http://jiminmontana.wordpress.com/2012/01/15/environmentalism-the-green-religion-of-dehumanization/
"A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present levels, would be ideal," Turner stated in 1996.[1]
A leading environmentalist, Dr. Eric R. Pianka advocated the elimination of 90 percent of Earth's population by airborne Ebola in front of few hundred members of the Texas Academy of Science who rose to their feet, and gave him a standing ovation.[2] Dr. Pianka attempted to deny this, but the evidence was overwhelming including his student evaluations.
Environmentalism is a Religion – and that religion is anti-human and EVIL
[1] Ted Turner Repeats Call For Population Curb, by Paul Joseph Watson Prison Planet Monday, April 28, 2008 http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/april2008/042808_ted_turner.htm
[2] Meeting Doctor Doom, By Forrest M. Mims, III, The Eco-Logic Powerhouse http://www.freedom.org/board/articles/mims-506.html.
The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in the Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics No. 11-725 case that revolves around the myth that you can patent a person's genes. Typical of the idiocy surrounding this case is the article by the AP, which states that this case is about monopolies for human genes. The author proves not only their lack of understanding of the science, but also the fact that they do not know that patents are a property right. (For more on Patents, Property Rights and Monopolies see below) A number of books have also pushed the agenda that human genes are patentable. The CAFC's ruling in this case sets the record straight.
CAFC ruling under reviewed
The ruling in the 2012 version of this case was very similar to the ruling in 2011 that I discussed in my post Association of Molecular Pathology v. USPTO. Below I provide what I think are the most interesting excerpts from the opinion.
Composition claims are all eligible under 35 USC 101.
They (The isolated strands of DNA) are obtained in the laboratory and are man-made, theproduct of human ingenuity. While they are prepared from products of nature, so is every other composition of matter. All new chemical or biological molecules, whether made by synthesis or decomposition, are made from natural materials. For example, virtually every medicine utilized by today's medical practitioners, and every manufactured plastic product, is either synthesized from natural materials (most often petroleum fractions) or derived from natural plant materials. But, as such, they are different from natural materials, even if they are ultimately derived from them. The same is true of isolated DNA molecules. PP. 38-39
The highlight portion points out a general rule of patent law (actually nature) – all inventions are combinations of existing elements, these elements are formed from natural materials. You cannot create something from nothing – it's called conservation of matter and energy. Unfortunately, this simple rule of physics is often ignored by the courts – probably because most of them do not have a scientific background and are therefore unfit to rule in patent cases.
A composition of matter is not a law of nature. P. 51
The anti-patent crowd has been trying to expand laws of nature to include anything that occurs naturally. A law of nature is something that explains a host of data and can be used to accurately predict how things will behave in nature, such as gravity. Using a counterbalance in an elevator uses gravity – a law of nature, but it is not a law of nature.
It is undisputed that Myriad's claimed isolated DNAs exist in a distinctive chemical form—as distinctive chemical molecules—from DNAs in the human body, i.e., native DNA. P. 44
The critics of patenting human genes miss this point. The claims do not cover native DNA, they cover DNA that does not exist but for the intervention and ingenuity of humans.
Claims 1 of the '999, '001, and '441 patents, as well as method claims 1 and 2 of the '857 patent—all of which consist of analyzing and comparing certain DNA sequences—not to be patent-eligible subject matter on the ground that they claim only abstract mental processes. P. 55
I strongly disagree with this statement. Myriad clearly showed that the analyzing step requires machines that are clearly described in the specification. Even if a doctor had the print out of the results of analysis and then he compared the results without a machine, then this is contributory infringement. The only justification for the CAFC's decision is hyper technical analysis of the claim that requires a recited machine in the claims. This sort of overly formal interpretation does nothing to protect the property rights of inventors, but does advance the interests of entities that want to steal other people's inventions.
We once again, even in light of Mayo, arrive at the same conclusion of patent-eligibility because at the heart of claim 20 is a transformed cell, which is made by man, in contrast to a natural material.
By definition, however, performing operations, even known types of steps, on, or to create, novel, i.e., transformed subject matter is the stuff of which most process or method invention consists. All chemical processes, for example, consist of hydrolyzing, hydrogenating, reacting, etc. In situations where the objects or results of such steps are novel and nonobvious, they should be patent-eligible. P. 61
The idiots at the Supreme Court have attempted to break claims down and determine if each step is new. You can't create something from nothing and a step which is completely new does not meet the requirements of 35 USC 112. This form of interpretation of the claims was specifically rejected by the 1952 Patent Act under 35 USC 103. But the anti-patent Justices on the Supreme Court are not interested in logic, the Constitution, or the law. They are only interested in forcing their policy visions on the American public.
Patents and Monopolies
Patents: Monopoly or Property Right a Testable Hypothesis
If patents are a monopoly, as some suggest, then it should led to certain outcomes. A close examination shows that none of the supposed monopoly effects result from granting patents.
Monopoly/Rent Seeking vs. Property Rights/Intellectual Property.
This post explains the characteristics of a monopoly and a property right and poses three questions to show the difference. Patents fit all the characteristics of a property right and none of a monopoly. Note that professional license, such as a law license has some of the characteristics of a monopoly.
More on the Myth that Patents are Monopolies.
This post contains a number of quotes from philosophers explaining that patents are not monopolies.
Property Rights, Possession and Objects
This post explains the difference in the concepts of property rights, possession, and objects. Most economists and patent detractors confuse these concepts. The origin, definition, and legal basis of property right are explained.
The Myth That Patents are a Monopoly
This post compares the definition of a monopoly to the rights obtained with a patent. It shows that the rights obtained with a patent do not confer a monopoly.
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Recent publications in Occasional Paper
Where have all the entrepreneurs gone
An analysis of new business creation in Australia
Australia's English Curriculum: A critique
The Foundation to Year 10 Australian Curriculum: English falls far short of what would reasonably be expected of a national English curriculum. This analysis is based on a comparison with eight post-war Australian state curriculums. The existing...
Things are getting better all the time: A snapshot of Australian living standards in the long run
Australians have come a long way over these past two centuries, as evidenced by the numerous improvements in our health, education, and material living standards. As diseases are increasingly being conquered thanks to medical technologies,...
IPA FreedomWatch Factsheet: Racial Discrimination Amendment Bill 2014
Racial Discrimination Amendment Bill 2014
Section 18c, We Will Continue Fighting - The Australian
If you missed the IPA's full page statement on section 18C in The Australian on Friday, 8 August, you can see the final print version here. Thank you to the 501 IPA members and donors who together contributed $60,294 to make the ad possible.
Public broadcaster or green activist? How the ABC spins Australias energy choices
The ABC has a persistent and systemic left wing bias in its coverage of contemporary Australian political issues. This report marks the first time that a comprehensive, independent and scientific assessment of ABC bias has been undertaken.
Bureaucracy overload
State government employment since the GST reforms
The City and The State
An occasional paper
A taxing approach to choice
How behavioural taxes deliver perverse outcomes
2014 IPA Economic Freedom Index Factsheet


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Phi Upsilon Omicron, a national honor society in family and consumer sciences, has over 88,000 members across the United States, and once a year many attend our conclave, which updates the many chapters on events that happened in the past year. We are a community service based honor society, meaning our chapter, the Beta Psi Chapter, is and has been very involved with the community. In the past years we have done several projects with LA Food Bank, Steven's Hope for Children, Foothill Family Shelter, and the San Felipe Migrant Workers. Phi U also serves the Cal Poly Pomona campus by working closely with several other campus club like FN Forum and Food Science Society, as well as participating in campus wide events such as the Wellness Fair. Phi Upsilon Omicron strives for excellence in school and in the community and welcomes those who have the same outlook on life.
|Jennifer Zagorski
|Vice President:
|Kirsten Ault
|Hayly Peacock
|Kathleen Reyes
|Lucinda Trang
|Corinne Worland
|Ag Council Rep:
|Haya Umar, Ariadna Mendez
|Initiation Chair:
|Kayla Koach, Amy Ngo
|Dr. Martin Sancho-Madriz, Gdandam Khayef
|Club Email:
|Club Website:
|Meeting date/time/location:
|Biweekly on Tuesdays/12:00p.m./7-117
|Club Majors:
|Foods and Nutrition, Food Science & Technology, Hotel & Restaurant Management, Apparel Merchandising & Management
|Number of members:
|Club Events & Activities:
|Guest speakers at meetings, Pumpkin Festival, Health Fest, club fairs, various fundraiser activities, and the Step Walk competition.
|Community Service Projects:
|Pumpkin Festival, Health Fest, LA Food Bank, canned food drives, Ag Beautification, and bone marrow and blood drives.
|General Information:
|National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences. Membership is by invitation only: the requirements are to have a 3.0 gpa and 36 quarter units, or have attended two quarters for transfers.
|History of Club:
|Founded in 1910 at the University of Minnesota.
|Club Goals:
|Recognize and promote academic excellence, enhance qualities of leadership by providing opportunities for service, and encourage lifelong learning and commitment to advance family and consumer science and related areas.
|Phi Upsilon Omicron offers an environment empowering lifelong learning, leadership building, and ethical and scholastic experience.


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Gators hire J.C. Deacon to coach men's golf
The Florida Gators hired J.C. Deacon as the new men's golf coach, banking on a 31-year-old with no head coaching experience to return UF's program to the nation's elite and replace a coaching legend.
Deacon arrives two months after the Gators failed to qualify for the NCAA Championships in coach Buddy Alexander's final season in Gainesville.
During his 27 seasons, Alexander coached UF to eight SEC titles and the national championship in 1993 and 2001. But the Gators finished the 2013-14 season ranked 72nd in the country, according to Golfstat, and did not reach the NCAAs for the first time since 2000.
Deacon is undaunted by the challenge ahead.
"I am looking forward to becoming part of something I truly believe in," he said in a statement released by UF. "I've been a big fan of the Florida program for a long time. Buddy has produced nationally competitive teams throughout the years. I just know there are a serious amount of championships to be won at Florida.
"I have that platform now and it is up to me to go out and do the hard work to get it done."
Deacon spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach under UNLV's Dwaine Knight, one of college game's top coaches during 27 seasons in Las Vegas.
Deacon played for Knight from 2001-05 and helped the Rebels win the 2002 Mountain West Conference championship. He also was named to the academic All-Mountain West team.
"It is readily evident that he wants - and has a plan - to make the players successful in the classroom, on the course and in life," UF athletic director Jeremy Foley said. "He will do things the right way because with his character and tremendous integrity, he knows no other way. J.C. will fit right in among our coaching staff and we welcome him to the Gator program."
Deacon was an accomplished player prior to his coaching career.
He advanced to the semifinals of the 2005 U.S. Amateur, won by Italy's Edoardo Molinari - the only Continental European to win the prestigious event.
Deacon played professionally on several tours. This included three years on the Canadian Tour, where he made 17 cuts in 35 events. His best finish was a tie for fourth at the 2008 Saskatchewan Open.
Email Edgar Thompson at firstname.lastname@example.com. Read the Swamp Things blog at www.orlandosentinel.com/swampthings. Follow our UF coverage on Twitter @osgators.
Copyright © 2014, Orlando Sentinel


text: JIMENEZ REUNION 2010 Concha's branch View full-size image < previous next > Is this photo a winner? "Jimenez Family Reunion is held in San Jose, CA at Hellyer Park every 2 years. This was our 17th. My Grandfather had 19 children and this photo is just one family branch. Each family branch wears a different color of shirts. Our branch had our shirts made using "CustomInk" Their website is so easy to use, great quality shirts and fast too. " - Becky Vidales (Sep 07, 2010) Share this photo on: Twitter Facebook Pinterest Similar Photos: family | family reunion | california | san jose | fun | event reunion | happy | hellyer park Feeling inspired? Visit the CustomInk Design Lab to start your own group order. Design Your Own


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I put together a howto with samba here:
Samba Homedirectory - Wiki
I think the bits you want to look at in more detail are the ACL support, and valid users.
ACL support on the filesystem allows you you use setfacl to set NTFS style permissions -ie how you to allow shares on a per user basis.
you'd probably need to do this on a group basis rather than OU, but it is fairly trivial to make OU members of groups.
also look atwhere you could use @"DOMAIN\domain^admins" for example.Code:valid users =


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The Skin Stem Cell Serum (Malus domestica) is a liposomal preparation based on the stem cells of a rare Swiss apple (Uttwiler spatlauber) cultivated for its remarkable storage longevity. Thanks to this technology, the remarkable benefits of these plant stem cells are now available to humans. Skin Stem Cell Serum also contains a seaweed extract that has exceptional emollient properties. This innovative skin serum protects and preserves the youthful look and vitality of your skin.
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Not tested on animals.


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A House for Mr. Biswas
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[electronic resource]
House for Mister Biswas (eBook)
Humorous fiction.
Domestic fiction.
Electronic books.
Middle-aged men
Home ownership
Community Activity
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One of my all time favorite books. Mr. Biswas made my heart ache and my belly laugh
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Word: la naiba!
Added on: 2011-09-25 Listened: 61 timesin: Add categories to la naiba!
Pronunciation in Romanian [ro]
- Pronunciation by RoxanaC (Female from Spain)
- Pronunciation by AlexD (Male from Romania)
- Pronunciation by Salerosa (Female from Romania)
- Could you do it better? different accent? Pronounce la naiba! in Romanian
Accents & languages on maps
- Random word: Silvian
by Google Translate English translation:
la naiba! = dammit!
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There has been widespread concern with regard to implementation of the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) among foreign investors. The Shome panel on GAAR suggested deferring the implementation by three years. This was welcomed by the investors.
The Finance Minister's recent move to meet the FIIs and keep them abreast of the developments was welcome. This keeps the investors involved and shows the Government is working towards creating a healthy investment atmosphere. Investor interest is also sustained, as is evident from the fact that FIIs have been net buyers and invested over $18 billion so far this year.
However, interactions alone will not solve the myriad problems inhibiting foreign investments. The Government has to adopt a holistic approach.
It is in this context that the issue of special economic zones (SEZs) is important. Based on the concessions offered under the SEZ Act 2005, a large number of foreign investors invested in them. The decision to apply Minimum Alternate Tax on SEZs, however, seems short-sighted.
This is because MAT cancelled out all tax concessions that were being offered under the Act. Those who had already invested felt cheated.
Shrut Sharma
Milking consumers
Prices of milk sachets haven't fallen despite the recent crash in procurement prices (Business Line, November 15). Adulteration by dairies is another issue consumers have been complaining about. Children avoid dairy milk, as added chemicals gives it a bad odour. My morning coffee prepared with dairy milk has become a distasteful experience. Dairies try to fool us by arguing that preservatives are for hygiene; I have personally seen them mixing old stock of milk powder with milk.
B. Aravinda Prasad


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Louis Armstrong Stadium Ticket Information
What started as a venue for a 1960s World's Fair Exhibit has since transformed into one of tennis' most iconic sites. Located in Flushing, N.Y., Louis Armstrong Stadium has served as one of the host sites for US Open tennis since 1978. The structure resides on the USTA Billie Jean King National Center grounds and its courts are used in conjunction with those at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which took over as the primary US Open tennis venue in the early 90s. Find Louis Armstrong Stadium tickets at Vivid Seats for early rounds of the multi-week tournament by browsing the match schedule above for pertinent event information. Once you've found the date of your choice, click the "Tickets" link to view pricing, seating, and more, and then press "Buy" for checkout. Log in to provide us with delivery and payment information so we can begin securely processing your order as soon as it's received. If you need any assistance with your Louis Armstrong Stadium tickets purchase, contact Vivid Seats customer service by phone (866.848.8499) or Live Chat. After placing the order, you will receive a confirmation email to verify your purchase once it has been approved by the seller.
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Digital Subtraction Radiography Evaluation of SMART Restoration With Partial Caries Removal in Primary Teeth (DSR)
- Full Text View
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- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The objective of this study was to analyze the radiographic density of digital subtraction radiographs after SMART restoration with partial caries removal in primary molars at 6 and 12 months.
Dental Caries Extending Into Dentine
Procedure: partial caries removal only at enamel dentin junction.
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Clinical and Digital Subtraction Radiography Evaluation of Partial Caries Removal in Primary Teeth
- dentin remineralization [ Time Frame: 12 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]Dentin remineralization was evaluated using Digital subtraction radiography (DSR).
|Study Start Date:
|September 2010
|Study Completion Date:
|September 2010
|Primary Completion Date:
|September 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: partial caries removal
partial caries removal only at enamel dentin junction (EDJ) without carious tissue removal at the pulpal site
Procedure: partial caries removal only at enamel dentin junction.
Partial caries removal only at enamel dentin junction (EDJ) without carious dentin removal at the pulpal site and restoration with glass ionomer cement(SMART restoration)
Detailed Description:
In management of deep caries in primary teeth, the partial caries removal approach favored the arrest of dentin carious lesions, reduced cariogenic micro-organisms and the risk of pulp exposure. The carious tissue at the lateral walls of the cavity at the enamel dentin junction (EDJ) was removed by a spoon excavator without carious tissue removal at the pulpal site. After caries removal, restoration using glass ionomer cement (GIC)(GC Fuji IX™GP extra) was completed. Such an approach is called SMART restoration. The serial radiographs of each restoration consisted of three radiographs; immediately after restoration, at the 6-month follow-up and at the 12-month follow-ups. Digital subtraction radiography(DSR) was used to evaluate dentin remineralization following partial caries removal. Image-Pro Plus software was used to evaluate DSR. For evaluating the changes in DSR, areas with increase density show higher radiopacity, whereas areas with decreased density show higher radiolucency. The 6-month and 12-month follow-up radiographs were subtracted from the baseline radiograph.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|6 Years to 8 Years
|Genders Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Presence of teeth with dentinal caries limited to the occlusal and proximal surfaces without clinical signs and symptoms of irreversible pulpitis (spontaneous pain, sinus opening, or abnormal tooth mobility
- The radiographic examination showing dental caries involving not less than half of the dentin without any pathologic findings (external root resorption, internal root resorption, abnormality of root resorption, or radiolucency area at furcation /periapical regions).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Teeth with caries exposure to pulp
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01749267
|Mahidol University
|Bangkok, Thailand, 10400
|Study Director:
|Araya Phonghanyudh, PhD
Additional Information:
|Responsible Party:
|Mahidol University
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01749267 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Faculty of Dentistry
|Study First Received:
|December 11, 2012
|Last Updated:
|December 11, 2012
|Health Authority:
|Thailand: Ethical Committee
Keywords provided by Mahidol University:
dentin remineralization
caries regression
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Dental Caries
Stomatognathic Diseases
Tooth Demineralization
Tooth Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on November 25, 2014


text:
2520 Flora St.
Dallas, TX 75201
Category: Performing Arts Venues
Region: Uptown & Oak Lawn
Attention comedians of 2013: I'm not interested in that crazy sexual anecdote you just tweeted. I don't want your Vine. Also, I won't download your podcast. My comedic demands are simple and finite: Be as funny as Buster Keaton. Whether he's riding a horse backward into a lake or diving through a miniature window, Keaton uses every piece of himself to deliver his message. Hey, you know who else was amazing? Harold Lloyd. Yeah, you think you've cornered the market on "clueless and disaffected"? Nobody stumbled hilariously through life like that guy. And let's rap about Charlie Chaplin. It's been 100 years since he cut those old silents and he's still the master of physical humor. So what I'm saying is, you keep your podcast. Go broil about something inconsequential on a late night talk show. I'm spending my night with Hollywood's three greatest men: Keaton, Lloyd and Chaplin. The Dallas Chamber Symphony — the city's best little gift of the last two years — performs original scores by Alain Mayrand, Penka Kouneva and Brian Satterwhite synced up to films by Keaton, Lloyd and Chaplin in Tuesday's 8 p.m. program "The Comedic Three." They'll also play selections by Benjamin Britten and J.S. Bach, and it all happens in the Dallas City Performance Hall (2520 Flora St.). Tickets range $19 to $44. Visit dallaschambersymphony.org.
Tue., Nov. 19, 2013


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Save to My Recipes
Butternut Squash and Sage Soup with Sage Breadcrumbs
Published: February 2008 Servings: 6
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups chopped onions
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
- 4 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled seeded butternut squash
- 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse sea salt
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 5 to 6 cups Chicken Stock or 5 to 6 cups purchased organic chicken broth
- 2 crustless slices fresh whole grain wheat bread, torn
- 4 teaspoons butter
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
PREPARATIONView Step-by-Step Directions
Melt butter with oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions, parsley, and sage; sauté until onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add squash and coarse salt; sauté until squash softens and onions are golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic; stir 1 minute. Add 5 cups stock; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until squash is very soft, about 25 minutes. Cool slightly.
Working in batches, puree soup in blender, allowing some texture to remain. Return soup to pot. Thin with stock, if desired. Season with pepper and more salt, if desired. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and chill. Rewarm before serving.
Place bread in processor; blend until fine crumbs form but some slightly coarser crumbs remain. Cook butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until golden, about 2 minutes. Add breadcrumbs and sage. Cook until crumbs are crisp, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. DO AHEAD Can be made 4 hours ahead. Let stand uncovered at room temperature.
Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
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Welcome to our ongoing exploration of America's coolest food artisans. We'll be bringing their knowledge and expertise back to our home kitchens—and to yours.
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From a food truck to a "pastry luncheonette," these are the Best New Restaurants in America


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Patient Financial Services(513) 420-5033(866) 674-4737 toll freeMonday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Medical Records Department(513) 420-5200Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
One Medical Center Drive
Middletown, OH 45005
(513) 424-2111
Middletown Regional Hospital Welcomes New Physician
Middletown Regional Hospital (MRH) is pleased to announce that Emad Alshami, MD, psychiatrist, has recently joined the hospital medical staff.
Dr. Alshami earned his medical degree from Damascus University Faculty of Medicine in Damascus, Syria. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at University of Virginia School of Medicine Center for Healthy Aging in Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Alshami is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and specializes in psychiatric care for adults and geriatrics. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Geriatric Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Alshami is presently accepting new patients at his new office, located at 1060B Summit Drive in Middletown. To schedule an appointment, please call (513) 423-4546. Dr. Alshami also sees patients in the Behavioral Health Center at Middletown Regional Hospital. For more information about services offered, please call (513) 420-5252.
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Raises, insurance boosts county costs
Boone County government might have to dip into reserves to get through 2004, according to a preliminary budget prepared by County Auditor June Pitchford.
Principals rank building needs
This holiday season children won't be the only ones making wish lists. Principals in the Columbia Public School District are hoping their most pressing school facility needs will be covered by a proposed $22.5 million bond issue.
In January, the school board will decide whether to put the proposal before voters on the April ballot. Deputy Superintendent Jacque Cowherd said the district's financial adviser has determined that $22.5 million is the amount of money that could be issued without a tax increase.
King Memorial gets grant
In one fell swoop, a U.S. senator has done what a committee raising money for restoration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial worked nearly a year to achieve.
U.S. Sen. Kit Bond has landed $100,000 from the Save America's Treasures program for the King Memorial project. The Save America's Treasures program uses grants from the National Park Service and the National Endowment for the Arts to preserve national monuments and other places of interest.
The sharing season
Although she doesn't have much to give besides her time, 78-year-old Margaret Hicks volunteers year-round for the New Life Evangelistic Center in Columbia.
Trade deal would open up markets for Missouri farmers
Some Missouri farm and livestock groups are confident their members will profit from the Free Trade Area of the Americas trading bloc, but the cheap costs of production in Central and South America have others worried that the playing field won't be level for Missouri farmers.
Negotiations end today in Miami, where U.S. officials and representatives from 34 countries of Central and South America have been discussing the framework of an agreement that would remove trade barriers among member countries. If an agreement is reached, the FTAA would be the largest trading bloc in the world, stretching from Alaska to Argentina.
U.S. post office leading the way in use of E85 fuel
On weekday mornings, Leona Cotton, a cashier at the Tiger Conoco station on I-70 Drive Southwest, would watch U.S. mail trucks line up at the pumps for E85, a special fuel made from corn and soybeans.
School board split on joining lawsuit
The Columbia School Board failed to decide Thursday morning whether to join a lawsuit for equity and adequacy in school funding in Missouri. But the board did raise key issues that it said need to be researched before it votes on the matter in December.
The proposed lawsuit, which is being led by attorney Alex Bartlett of Jefferson City and so far involves 228 of the state's 524 districts, would challenge Missouri's formula for how districts receive money.
Commission rejects park road plan
Heeding the concerns of dozens of residents who turned out to make their voices heard, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted to maintain the Russell Property in west Columbia as its owner originally intended: as a nature preserve and recreational park.
Forum debates U.S. role
Attack countries that threaten the United States. Encourage dialogue and democracy. Promote free trade. These issues and more were addressed Thursday night during a public forum held at the Columbia Public Library.
The deliberation is part of the National Issues Forums, a nonpartisan network of meetings held nationally and locally to address issues of public policy. Nine Columbia residents led by two moderators expressed their views on four proposed approaches to America's role in the world: international order through military action, democratic dialogue, promoting free trade and preserving the planet's future.
Text messaging
Tired of talking on your cell phone in public and having complete strangers listen in on your personal life? Maybe it's time you started text messaging.
At least that's what your cellular carrier hopes. Text messaging, the act of sending written messages between cell phones, is being heavily marketed by U.S. cellular carriers who want customers to use their phones for more than just talk.
Making holiday weight-gain obsolete
Pile in the car with a 32 oz. soda. Start driving. Beware of the Thanksgiving traffic. Click on the radio. Oh, they're already playing Christmas tunes. Drive, think about turkey, drive, eat a Snickers and a bag of Ruffles, drive.
Arrive at your parents,' or brother's or aunt-you-don't-like's house. Chat awhile. Eat a homemade grandma goodie. Unload bags into the drafty guest room that smells like an attic. Sit down. Think about exercising. Eat cookies instead. Sit. Eat. Sit. Eat. Walk to the fridge. Grab a beer. Sit. Drink. Sit. Drink. Go to bed tired, annoyed with your kin and five pounds heavier. Ah, the Thanksgiving holiday.
Enjoy all holiday treats in moderation
Here's some scary food for thought: To gain five pounds from now to the end of January, all a person needs to do is eat an average of 300 calories more per day than normal. Even scarier: During the holiday months, everyone is apt to fall victim to overindulgence.
Lunch hours and evening will inevitably be spent shopping and running errands, without the actual physical motion of running.
Mercury advisories are rising
If you live near a lake or river in Missouri, chances are good that body of water is under a mercury advisory. Between May 2000 and 2002, mercury advisories for Missouri lakes and rivers increased from zero to 288, 315 acres.
The issue of mercury levels, and how quickly they should be reduced, has become a hot topic of debate since President Bush proposed his "Clear Skies Initiative" in 2002. The initiative, which is currently being heard by committees in both the U.S. House and Senate, is designed to significantly reduce emissions from sources of pollution, especially coal-fired power plants. Under the plan, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury would all be gradually reduced over next several decades.
Senators criticize sales tax proposal
JEFFERSON CITY — A proposal to automatically raise Missouri sales taxes when state revenue falls has been taken to task by leading Republicans.
The petition initiative, brought to Secretary of State Matt Blunt's office this week by a team of lobbyists, ignores needed policy reforms, said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood. Changes to the taxing system need to be addressed before the state seeks new revenue sources, said Gibbons, who is chairman of the Joint Committee on Tax Policy.
Revisions to Philips plan filed
A contentious zoning proposal that would allow developers to build a mix of homes, offices and stores on the Philips farm — a 489-acre property southwest of Columbia — is back on the table after three months of behind-the-scenes analysis and planning.
Developer Elvin Sapp, who withdrew the proposal in September, resubmitted it Nov. 13 with a handful of restrictions and clarifications addressing concerns of residents and city staff. Sapp's next step is the Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission, It will hold the first formal public hearing on the proposal Dec. 18.
Al Franken was here, and that's no lie
Al Franken — author, political humorist and former "Saturday Night Live" cast member and writer — brought his humor and insight to Columbia on Wednesday night. The satirist signed copies of his books at MU's University Bookstore before delivering a lecture at Jesse Auditorium. He was promoting his recent book "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right."
"He's one of the most talented satirists on the left or the right. What differentiates him from others is his ability to substantiate himself with facts," said MU student Angad Nagra.
Free versus fair
In a small maroon picture album, Ron Dunkle keeps blurry pictures of a rain soaked crowd on a dark Seattle street and lines of men in blue parkas standing determined behind a fence lined with riot police.
The images document Dunkle's trip in November 1999 when he and Carl Roberts traveled to Seattle to represent the concerns of mid-Missouri's United Steelworkers of America Local 790 and protest the policies of the World Trade Organization. The Perry and Mexico natives traveled more than 2,000 miles because the workers at their firebrick plants feared free trade policies would shift their jobs to cheaper labor markets.
Tuned in
The sharp tap of snare drums surrounds Tim Baker every morning while ringing bells follow him the rest of the day. As drumline instructor and math teacher in two different schools for students who he says are very similar, Baker is followed by music wherever he goes.
Every morning through marching band season, Baker can be found out on the practice field at Rock Bridge High School, teaching and restraining the friendly and boisterous drumline. The drummers call him "Tim" and regard him as a friend with the power to tell them to shut up. And every morning, Tim drives across town to Douglass High School to be Mr. Baker, the only in-residence math teacher.
Former superintendent in new role
Jim Ritter, former superintendent for the Columbia Public School District, has been elected chairman of the board of directors for Columbia's new Health Adventure Center.
"Columbia is known for two things: health and education," Ritter said. "We're the health center for much of the state, and education has always had a great emphasis. This center is an excellent fit for the community."
Mix and match
Third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Derby Ridge Elementary School found themselves in new seats next to new people during lunch Wednesday.
"It was a quieter cafeteria time than usual," said Kim Freese, an art teacher and coordinator of the change of pace.