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The Senate on Thursday confirmed nominees for four U.S. Attorney posts.
The chamber approved the nominations of Thomas Walker for the Eastern District of North Carolina, George Beck for the Middle District of Alabama, Felicia Adams for the Northern District of Mississippi and Ronald Sharpe for the Virgin Islands by unanimous consent.
President Barack Obama first nominated Walker on Nov. 30, 2009, to replace U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding, a George W. Bush appointee.
Holding was left at the helm of the office to oversee the campaign finance probe into former presidential candidate John Edwards, a Democrat. North Carolina Sens. Kay Hagan (D) and Richard Burr ( R ) worked to keep Holding in place while he supervised high-profile corruption probes into Edwards and former Gov. Mike Easley (D).
Edwards was indicted June 3, and Holding announced the following week that he would step down July 8.
Walker, a former federal prosecutor, is a partner at the law firm of Alston & Bird LLP in Charlotte, N.C.
Adams, whom Obama nominated March 2, will replace John Marshall Alexander, who has headed the Oxford-based U.S. Attorney's office since December. Alexander succeeded Bill Martin, who took the helm of the office after U.S. Attorney Jim Greenlee, a George W. Bush appointee, resigned in January 2009.
She has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Mississippi since 2000. Adams is currently the acting First Assistant U.S. Attorney, the No. 2 position in the Southern District of Mississippi U.S. Attorney's Office. She previously served at the Northern District of Mississippi U.S. Attorney's Office from 1989 to 2000.
Adams emerged as a candidate for the position in March 2010, several months after Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who took the lead on picking U.S. Attorney candidates for Mississippi's congressional Democrats, formally recommended criminal defense lawyer Christi McCoy for the job.
McCoy's connection to a local private investigator, who was probed for his billing practices, dogged her candidacy. The Northern District U.S. Attorney's Office, which handed the case, dropped its investigation last year, clearing McCoy.
Beck, whom Obama nominated March 31, will succeed Leura Canary, a George W. Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney, who stepped down in May.
He currently is a shareholder at the law firm of Capell & Howard P.C. in Montgomery, Ala. Beck has spent most of his career in private practice, but served as Alabama deputy attorney general from 1971 to 1979.
In 1977, Beck handled the successful prosecution of Bob Chambliss for his role in the 1963 Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Ala. The racially motivated attack killed four black girls and blinded another black girl.
The White House had considered Michel Nicrosi, who lost in a 2010 bid for Alabama attorney general, and defense attorney Joe Van Heest for Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney. But Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), who supported another candidate, contributed to the slow pace of the process.
Sharpe, whom Obama nominated March 10, has served as the interim U.S. Attorney in the Virgin Islands since September 2009. He previously worked in the D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office from 1995 to 2009, rising to First Assistant U.S. Attorney. The Virgin Islands hasn't had a Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorney since October 2008, when Anthony Jenkins stepped down.


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Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's downloadable content and season pass plans have been detailed today by Ubisoft.
Gamers will be able to enjoy a self-contained story spanning nine missions for the pirate-themed action-adventure title, starring Adewale, the first mate of Captain Edward Kenway.
This campaign will pack three hours of gameplay, and sees Adewale shipwrecked in Saint-Domingue . Here, Kenway's first mate finds himself battling his former captors and attempting to liberate the local slaves.
Black Flag's season pass also includes additional single-player content, as well as new weapons, skins and collectibles. On the multiplayer side of things, players can look forward to kitting the Jackdaw out with all sorts of customizable goodies via the Kraken Ship Pack.
Ubisoft has yet to staple-gun a price point to the season pass, though did say that forking out for the pass will save you 20 per cent off purchasing the DLC separately. All post-launch content will arrive before March 2014 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Wii U plans are currently unknown.
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is scheduled to ship in the U.S. for current-generation consoles on October 29, and in Europe on November 1. Next-generation versions will arrive in late November.
Black Flag takes place in the early 1700s during the 'Golden Age of Piracy' and sees gamers stepping into the well-worn boots of pirate-turned-assassin, Edward Kenway. Here, you'll sail the high seas in search of loot, ancient ruins and lost treasures as you battle against fellow pirates and Templars on board the Jackdaw.
Ubisoft recently said that a PS4 version of the game was planned early on in the game's development.
Stay tuned to PSU.com for more details on ACIV: Black Flag as they become available.

subset: commoncrawl


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Skins are thin, easy-to-remove, vinyl decals for customizing your laptop . Skins are made from a patented material that eliminates air bubbles and wrinkles for easy application.
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You limited your search to:
Year: 1886
Month: March
Day: 26th
Collection: San Antonio Light
San Antonio Daily Light (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 57, Ed. 1, Friday, March 26, 1886
Date: March 26, 1886
Creator: unknown
Description: Daily newspaper from San Antonio, Texas that includes local, state and national news along with extensive advertising.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries


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Top 10 Ways to Improve Baseball
October 16, 2008 | Lists,Sports
Before beer prices at stadiums got out of hand, and calling into question the virtue of the left-fielder's mother became frowned upon, you could at times find one of us in the stands at a baseball game (perhaps, during its heyday here when the Blue Jays earned back to back World Series victories. The greatest Jay of all time, the ass and karate kicking George Bell, is pictured below).
These days, we hardly ever attend sporting events that aren't dog-track related, but our memories of baseball, fading as they are due to the brain-shrinking effects of alcohol give us what we feel is the ideal perspective from which to point exactly what is wrong with the sport. It has been said by some observers of the game that baseball is duller than a thrift-store knife, while others have said "Zzzzz…" having already been put to sleep by a game. Being the altruistic sorts we are we've decided to share our views on how baseball can be fixed (literally, not in the Olympic boxing, Italian soccer and NBA sense of the term). These can even be implemented before the fat kid from Two and a Half Men or whoever, tosses out the first pitch of the World Series. Here they are: (and R.I.P. to the late, great George Carlin)
1) Put the Manager in Civilian Clothes; Undoubtedly one of the most embarrassing things in all of sport is the fact that the baseball manager must wear his team's uniform. No other sport has this convention. NBA coaches are not forced to put on the long shorts and muscle shirts, exposing their bleach-white legs and spindly arms. NHL coaches put on cheap suits instead of donning the team's gear and doing pirouettes at center ice. Soccer coaches wear Canali and smoke on the sidelines. To each their own, we say, but this has got to stop.
The manager in baseball presumably arrives at the stadium in casual wear before pulling a uniform out of a locker and putting it on. How mentally wounding must this be? He does nothing athletic whatsoever during the course of a game, no snagging of foul balls or tossing out warm-up pitches. He looks as if he's a few steps away from dropping dead when he jogs out to the mound to consult with the pitcher (another bone of contention, but we'll get to that). For his sake and ours, put the guy in a pith helmet or chinos if you have to, but please keep the uniforms for the players.
2. The Manager Should not be Allowed onto the Field to Interrupt Play.
Why does the manager have to step onto the field? I know he's wearing the team uniform, so perhaps he feels a sense of obligation, but the last time he circled the bases was during the Johnson administration. You never see an NBA coach step out onto the court, tap O'Neal on the shoulder and say, 'Hey Shaq, it's time to sit out a few plays and by the way, my kids didn't really care for 'Kazaam'. .. This is thoroughly unacceptable. A guy sporting 'office casual' never wanders out into the middle of a rugby scrum and you don't have MMA cornermen yelling instructions over the shoulder of the referee about how best to knee an opponent in the noggin.
3) Prevent the Catcher from Ambling out to the Mound: Baseball is criticized for its stop and go nature and there is no surer culprit of this than the pitcher breaking play to consult with the catcher. First what qualifies the catcher — a plug who usually runs like a tortoise because his knees are shot — to offer advice on pitching. But yet when a pitcher wants to break play, up rises the catcher, a Yoda of baseball, who will balance your Chi and upset our opponent's universe. This guy, who was a glorified bucket only a moment ago, is now expected to be able to dispense invaluable advice. "Throw him a slider Hank. He looks like a slider kind of guy. Just whip that ole' slider in there and that'll be the end of him." Unless he Googles scouting reports from the backstop, he should stay there. If the catcher absolutely has to offer advice to the pitcher, it should be of an entirely personal nature. "Frank, you're a lousy father, and your wife is an extremely shallow individual. Your invitation to dinner with you and your noxious brood has filled me with dread." The pitcher, thus chastened, would take the mound with a new found focus. This might foul up his game, but he might become a better member of society, and isn't that what we're all after?
4) No Warm-up Pitching on the Field: The pitcher should not be allowed to warm up while a game is in progress. He's a professional. He's been throwing in the bullpen. You should be able to pull this guy out of a buffet lineup and have him deliver the goods. But as it is this multimillionaire prince is allowed to break the action of a game to go out and toss the old apple with the catcher like he's at the Jersey shore?
5). No Interrupting Play for the Guy in the Bullpen to Run across the Entire Expanse of the Field. Why do 50,000 people have to sit stupefied while a guy in a puffy jacket who looks like someone who is currently breaking into your car, leisurely saunters onto the field? That is extremely irritating. He's not some Grand Marshall of a ticker-tape parade. During the last at bat, the relief pitcher can gradually meander his way along the sidelines. He can throw a few balls into the crowd, doff his cap, refute suggestions about his aunt's army boots, playfully rub the chemo kid's bald head for luck and then join the field of play.
6) Eliminate 'Saves'. You're not saving anything. Saving is a coupon for 25% off a case of Schlitz. A relief pitcher earning a save is basically rewarded for not f*cking up someone else's hard work. 'Staying the course', or 'Status Quo' could be acceptable substitutes. 'Hey Billy, so how many 'SQs' do you think Foulke will get this year?'
7) Whip pitchers for wild pitches; Pitchers make millions of dollars, so they should be so highly skilled that a wild pitch would be unthinkable. Yet they regularly loose pitches that would be embarrassing coming from Uncle Luke's rubber arm during a summer barbecue bender. Thus, we humbly propose a lashing for any pitcher who throws a wild pitch. The umpire should be the one to administer the lashing. In our view, once a wild pitch is thrown, the umpire should run out to the mound and administer the whipping. Baseball would see a premium put on accuracy after that.
8) Cut Down on the Number of Coaches. Often small market teams have a hard time competing and what better way to remedy this (other than jacking up the price of peanuts to $18 dollars per bag) than to consolidate a few redundant positions? There is nearly one coach for every position.
First base coach can coach first and third, depending on where a runner happens to be. Bullpen coaches can be replaced by pitching coaches, because relievers are just guys who aren't good enough to start. There's even a catcher's coach, even though that position can often easily be replaced with wire mesh. And what about a bench coach, whose responsibilities include helping to set up the day's practice and stretching routines before a game? Soccer players can easily shed 20 pounds in a typical game. They need to stretch. Baseball players will generally not have to reach for anything beyond sunscreen. Babe Ruth frequently played drunk. Basically what we're saying is that pre-game and practice rituals differ.
9) Make Fields the Same Size and Configuration: When NBA teams visit, say, the Arco Arena, they don't have to adjust to a hard court that is the width of 3 bowling lanes or slicked with Vaseline. Boxing matches aren't occasionally staged in an isosceles triangle ring. You don't see a hockey rink where boards behind a net are replaced by exposed brick and clematis vines.
10) Make Shirts and Shorts Mandatory: Loud pin stripes are only acceptable if you're an heir to the Al Capone family bootlegging fortune, or play stand up bass in a Disney swing band. Shorts and shirts are universally worn in summer sports (we're not including cricket here, as that's simply one base-quadruple-header baseball with tea and no gloves) and such garb will appeal to an increasingly important female demographic, not to mention cajole players into getting in better shape physically.
Other Posts You May Enjoy:
25 Responses | | Comments Feed
Was this list even written by a baseball fan?
Do these guys even WATCH baseball?
The #1 way to improve baseball is GET RID OF IT!! Piece of garbage game.
Probably the most idiotic 'Top 10' article I've ever seen. Obviously the writer has never played or even attempted to understand the game of baseball.
Funny post, and well written. Obviously not meant to be serious (I hope), because none of it makes any sense, but enjoyable to read. Why doesn't it make sense?
1. Manager in uniform is just tradition. In the "old days" there were many player managers who did both, and needed to be in uniform. jsut a tradition at this point.
2. Managers interrupt all sports. Most sports call these "time outs". In baseball, there is no time limit, so a "time out" is silly. Having every player run to the sideline (like basketball or football) would be a waste of time when you only want to talk to the pitcher. Faster to send the manager out.
3. Catcher going out to the mound is sort of like a huddle in football. Sometimes you can signal the play in, sometimes you need to discuss it. Generally, the pitcher does not like the catcher's call, and wants to explain (in secret) whay he has in mind – maybe a change from what they had planned to do prior to the inning.
4. Not a bad idea – but the pitcher should get a couple of pitches to make sure the mound is okay. Two pitches should do it. I think they are allowed 5 or 10?
5. Do you mean the flunky who carries the pitchers stuff back to the dugout when a reliever comes in? If so, I agree. Have him run across in between innings.
6. A "save" is just a statistic. Changing what it means would not improve baseball. Having it is one way of showing a pitcher does his job, that's all.
7. Just silly. Every athlete makes mistakes in the things they are paid to do. Maybe just make the pitcher go get the ball himself – that would be funnier.
8. Good point. You do need a 3rd and 1st base coach, even in Little League. There are a couple extras on every team, but when you got the money, spend it.
9. Interesting point. It will never happen, and in a way, helps define home field advantage, which is fun. Overall I like the differences, but it is the only sport that allows that.
10. Shorts would be silly, and bloody.
Like the site – nice job!
Funny post. I presume you mean to be funny, because none of them actually make much sense, nor would they improve the game.
Although #9 is an interesting topic, and unique to baseball. #1 is from the old days of player-coaches – some traditions die slowly.
I think making the batter stay in the batter's box unless he's been stung by a bee (and can prove it) would improve the game.
Nice site!
"First what qualifies the catcher — a plug who usually runs like a tortoise because his knees are shot — to offer advice on pitching…"
You know nothing about baseball, and this statement proves it. There's this thing called a "battery," look it up.
They still play baseball? Only way to improve the game is to let it fade into nothingness. I quit caring the last time these overpaid, over-roided "athletes" went on strike.
And yes, before anyone asks, the only reason I came in here was to leave this witty comment.
How about you just stop watching baseball all together. Those of us who understand why the manager interrupts play, why there are so many coaches, why warm up pitches are necessary, and why the catcher dictates the pitches in an at-bat will be happy to never have you complain about our game again.
Seriously. Stop watching baseball. Baseball hates you.
Thank God this guy doesn't run baseball.
Funny list, but thank God he doesn't run baseball.
A reminder: usually boxing rings are supposed to be 20 foot by 20 foot, but there have been boxing matches in 15 square rings and in 22 square rings.
Basketballs bounce really funny sometimes on those Boston Celtics' parkay floor, the only NBA franchise to still use them.
Lambeau Field is tilted down hill from sideline to sideline.
And sometimes some NHL rinks in Canada expanded or contract a foot depending on the speed of the other team.
And I heard Man U has it set up on their pitch to let loose a sewer smell on the opposing goaltender no matter which goal he's defending.
I guess this was supposed to be funny?
Tell me the demographic that is laughing at this.
i could think of 10 ways to improve this website..
Who cares about the artical. Chech out the softball chicks at the bottom of the page.
I'd hit that.
From what I understand, your proposal is to homogenize the game of baseball. That's never gonna happen. There's a reason that you never hear the word "parity" in reference to baseball in a broad sense, and I'm quite certain that baseball fans like it that way. The 80, 90, and 100 year droughts are PART of baseball and even if you were to ask a Cubbies fan, I'm certain that most of them would have it no other way.
You didn't have enough room on your list to include; get rid of the designated hitter. If you are going to have a guy on your team do nothing but hit, how about a "designated fielder" or a "designated runner" or a "designated throw a temper tantrum and charge the mound and hit like a school girl".
Dear Different Farker:
We're currently poring over Stats Canada and US Census data and we've tentatively concluded that our key demographic includes a) readers and b) those with internet access, some of whom are laughing as they read this, laughing prior to reading this and then stopping, laughing prior to reading this and then continuing to do so, not laughing prior to reading this and then continuing not to do so. If you've got any permutation we might have missed, do let us know.
"First what qualifies the catcher — a plug who usually runs like a tortoise because his knees are shot — to offer advice on pitching…"
are you serious? you obviously don't know too much about baseball. i could pull 8 or 9 other examples out of this abortion that you call a top 10 list to prove that point but you're just not worth it.
Editor's note: First off, thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy/hectic lives to offer such beautiful sentiments like the one posted above.
Anyway, we should point out that the above article is tongue firmly in chewing tobacco cheek. Yep folks, this is a humor article. The points we've outlined are those which make baseball quirky, fun and unique.
I'd venture that between the two of us, we've seen about 50 games. As a kid I went to the 1989 ALCS playoffs where Bob Costas was roundly booed when he (quite rightly) said the Jays had no hope in hell and watched in disbelief as Jose Canseco belted the longest home run I've ever seen–into level 5 of the Skydome upper deck.
I've seen games at Wrigley and at the old Yankee stadium, including a game where some idiot jumped onto the backstop mesh, flailing around and interrupting play for an hour.
Anyway, for those of you who enjoyed the article, thank you kindly.
Shark Guy Chris
Editor's Note II: To clear up any confusion, we've BEEN TO at least 50 games (if not more) in two countries in four different ballparks (including the old CNE Stadium, pre Skydome/Rogers Centre).
I went to the home opener against the Yanks this year.
Thank you once again.
Shark Guy Chris
I would improve baseball by the following:
I think you need to add a 2 teams to make it 32 teams. Add 2 playoff spots so there is 12 of 32 who can make the playoffs and instead of restrict a players earnings realign teams based on payroll spent. example:
Yanks, Red Soxs, Mets, Phils in one division and Teams like the Pirates, Nationals, Indians, Reds in another. This would ensure teams with lower payrolls can be represented in the playoffs. As you spend more you change divisions. This would keep the schedule fresh and teams like the Pirates and Royals would have a chance to play in October. This plan would attract fans in all markets.
check out the plan at:
Lower payrolls are not a result of the team not having money. The luxury tax, or profit sharing requires the higher earning teams to send money to the lower earning teams. The Yankees, for example, send some teams more free money than they pay out in payroll. So those teams get their players for free and bank the profits. I personally, don't like the Yankees. However, if your team can't compete, it's simply because they don't care. The owners don't care. They're banking the luxury tax, and your hard earned money that you keep spending on a team that isn't there to win, just profit. The monitary backing, thanks to this socialist profit sharing (much like the US where the rich are deemed as evil for working hard, and therefore made to pay for the poor to sit around on welfare and make babies), is actually pretty level.


text:
In this issue...
About the Cover: Giday WoldeGabriel of the Laboratory's Earth and Environmental Sciences Division is an Ethiopian-educated geologist with a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He serves as lead geologist and co-leader of the international Middle Awash research team, which searches for hominid fossils in Ethiopia.
View and download past issues
Back in the day...
Future Laboratory director Harold Agnew (left) stands with future Nobel Laureate Luis Alvarez as Larry Johnston (left) and Bernard Waldman kneel next to a diagnostic canister outside a Quonset hut on Tinian in the Mariana Islands.
Mail Stop M711
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Los Alamos, NM 87545
Fax: 505-665-4408


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I was informed yesterday by a fairly creditable source that my email server had sent 30000 messages last month. This is alot more that i expected possibly someone, somehow may be using me for a relay. I promptly checked the zimba dashboard but it does not give as exact informations as i would like. Is there another way to track and check the zimbra stats?
I am pretty sure that some spam was slipping through my backup mx, a none Zimbra, postfix server on a FreeBSD box. I have since shut it down until i can figure out what is going on.
I also checked the RBL lists and of course i am on the top three. I went to the spews site and discovered that my whole ip block is listed i think. Would this be something i can fix or does my ISP have to take care of it, how do i find out?
l1.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net http://l1.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net l1.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net LISTED
l2.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net http://l2.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net l2.spews.dnsbl.sorbs.net LISTED
spews.dnsbl.net.au http://spews.dnsbl.net.au spews.dnsbl.net.au LISTED


text:
Size30 m²
Floor No.9(with elevator)
- Air conditioning
- Internet/WiFi
- Towels
- Elevator in building
- Family/child friendly
- Gym
- Disabled access
- Kitchen
|Collins Avenue, 33141 Miami Beach, United States
|Property type
|Property ID
|Acceptance rate
|Response time
|A few hours
|Calendar updated
LUXURY & EXCLUSIVE Spacious and comfortable Apart-hotel within Historic Oceanfront Building in Miami Beach situated in the millionaire´s row on the famous Collins Avenue, with easy and private access to both pool and the beach.
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE: A clean and neat studio apartment with living-dining area and two double-beds that sleeps up to 4 persons, TV plus Cable, FREE VALET PARKING, high-speed wireless Internet - all your needs to get the maximum out of a relaxing holiday at Miami beach.
THE UNIT FEATURES: Fully equipped kitchen including a fridge. 4 burners and stove, Coffee maker, microwave as well as plates and cutlery for 4 people. Full bathroom with both shower and bath (and hairdryer). A walk-in wardrobe. Air-conditioning. Access to comunal washing machine and clothes dryer (at extra cost), a safe, PLUS 1 Iron and table iron .
OTHER AMENITIES ON LOCATION INCLUDE: an Olympic-sized heated pool (28 x 12 m, (phone number hidden).) with both pool and beach service, restaurant & bar with reasonable prices (especially at breakfast time!) & that provides all three room, pool and beach service, gym, lifts, washing machine and clothes dryer (at extra cost), & convenience store. Since the building is BEACHFRONT, you will have private and direct access to Miami beach where you will be able to relax to the gorgeous views of the Atlantic ocean
THE LOCATION: There are many restaurants near the hotel, as well as a couple of bars, a 24hr Walgreen's and a Publix supermarket 4 blocks down the hotel and 7/11 is in the front of the building for your convenience. There is plenty of public transportation to get you around to all the fabulous and trendy places. The bus stop is only 100 m away from the building.
The building is five minutes from the elegant and chic shops of Ball Harbour and the excitement and action of South Beach's Art Deco District. This building is just a few minutes away from the famous Fountain Blue Hotel and its trendy bars and clubs. There is a Country golf course at just 10 minutes away and tennis courts at just 600m away. The Port of Miami, Downtown Miami and Miami International Airport are easily accessible within fifteen minutes or less.
THE BUILING: Is a historic Miami Beach oceanfront landmark welcoming visitors worldwide since the 1950's.
This room forms part of a Miami Beach Hotel which boasts spectacular views of the sandy beaches framed by palm trees and the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and just in front, across the street, lies the Intracostal Waterway.
NOTE:Check-in time is 3pm onwards. We use a lock box system where we give you a code to open the box with the keys inside it, so after 3 pm you can arrive as you please. Same as for check-out. One must check-out by 11 am, but if need to leave earlier, can just drop keys in the drop box using the code given, no problems.
We are happy to rent this place to all BEACH-LOVING Travellers wanting their our private nest to relax in and soak up the sun.
We hope to hear from you to answer any questions and facilitate your trip plans...don't hesitate to contact us...
REMEMBER! we have plenty of apartments to rent in this unique building, so email us for more information.
|Check-in after
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La estadia fue optima desde todo punto de vista. Gracias
Recomendaria a Wimdu en Miami únicamente ya que mi experiencia en Nueva York fue deplorable.
We spent a wonderful 9 days' vacation in Miami Beachin staying in the apartment of Juliana on Collins Av. in Miami Beach.
The apartment is in a nice apartment/hotel building with all necessary comfort including large reception, bar-restaurant, valet service, gym, outdoor swimming pool and other services.
The Casablanca building has a beach front with 25 m walking distance to the wonderful beeches.
The apartment is nice and clean, fully equipped with all necessities for a short vacation. The sea view is fantastic.
I highly recommend this apartment for everybody searching a good value/price budget apartment visiting Miami Beach.
Nettes Zimmer.
Jedoch leider kaum Internet-Empfang.
Gute Sicht zu Meer und sauber.
Betten waren auch super.
Es war nicht laut im Hotel und Parkplatzserice war auch top!
Je suis très déçu par cette location (appartement numéro 430). L'appartement était sale (taches sur les rideaux et la literie, rouille dans la salle de bain) ; équipements et meubles en mauvais état ; vaisselle et matériel de cuisine incomplets (j'ai même dû acheter une poêle…) ; moteur du réfrigérateur qui fait un bruit important et permanent ; la connexion WIFI est celle de l'immeuble et ne fonctionne pas. Dune façon générale les prestations, la qualité et la décoration de l'appartement ne correspondaient pas à la description sur WIMDU. Il est évident que je n'aurais jamais loué un appartement dans un tel état et sans connexion internet. J'ai été également très déçu par la réaction de Juliana lorsque je lui ai signalé ces problèmes à notre arrivée. Sa seule réponse : vous pouvez quittez l'appartement et je vous rembourserai 50% du montant de la location ! Seuls point positifs : la situation de l'immeuble, la piscine et la plage.
I am very disappointed by this hiring (apartment number 430). The apartment was dirty (spots on the curtains and the bed linen, rusts in the bathroom); equipment and pieces of furniture in bad condition; crockery and incomplete material of kitchen (I have even due to buy a frying pan…) ; engine of the refrigerator which makes an important and permanent noise; connection WIFI is that of the building and does not function. Generally speaking the services, the quality and the decoration of the apartment did not correspond to description on WIMDU. It is obvious that I would never have rented an apartment in such a state and without connection Internet. I also was very disappointed by the reaction of Juliana when I announced these problems to him on our arrival. Its only answer: you can leave the apartment and I will refund you 50% of the amount of the hiring! Only point positive: the situation of the building, the swimming pool and the beach.
Molto buona! Posizione ottima vicinissima alla spiaggia, alloggio pulito, cordialità del personale, della struttura, tempi di consegna rispettati, proprietaria disponibile e puntuale.
Muy buena zona y buen apartamento dado el precio que tenía.
Con la anfitriona hablé por mail y me pareció muy amable y simpática. Nos explicó todo bien y no tuvimos ningún problema.
Volveré a usar Wimdu en el futuro.
Everything was great! On the beach and a good apartment.
Das Appartment war gut eingerichtet.Es war sauber und die Lage direkt am Strand super.Leider war keine Kaffemaschine vorhanden und WIFI ging nur eingeschränkt und direkt an der Zimmertür, aber sonst in der Lobby war der Empfang gut.Der Flur in dem Haus müßte mal renoviert werden.
Wir haben uns aber trotzdem wohl und sicher gefühlt.
Vielen Dank Juliana, auch für den späteren Checkout.
Wir können das Appartment weiterempfehlen.
Really enjoyed our stay at Casablanca Condo.
I would definately recommend it to my friends and family. The rooms were clean. from the beds to the kitchens. I enjoyed both of the views.
We had at our condo's.
Our 8-night stay in this condo was superb. We felt as home. The condo was very clean, free wifi, free parking 24h/24h. Breakfast, lunch and diner was served every day at the Casablanca hotel at very affordable prices. Very pleasant personnel. The most was the 2-min walk to the beach. Thank you very Juliana for this service. I will definitely be back.
- Quality assured accommodation
- Every host is verified by telephone
- Secure payment via SSL encryption


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There are some very significant differences that separate the Class 2 experience for the player as they move up in the season. The vehicle size has grown, it would appear similar onscreen to keep the visual experience consistent but the Class 2 racers are about 50% bigger than the Class 1 racers. The larger size will connote a more powerful machine that will behave similarly but is capable of much greater speed and even special maneuvers. The Class 2 will race over deserts, coastal areas, and possibly the lower atmosphere. The wings on this vehicle pivot allowing it perform tight turns at speed. The rear flaps also would help move the craft. Another big difference is the pilot in now fully enclosed as you can see in the rendering below.
2d, sci-fi, motorcycle, concept art, flying vehicle, jet, bike
by Ian Galvin


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New Android apps worth downloading: Photo Warp+, Wrike – Project Management, Army of Darkness Defense
There's a new version of the popular photo manipulation app Photo Warp, and it leads today's haul of cool new apps worth your attention. Following it is Wrike – Project Management, an app for Wrike users, and Army of Darkness Defense, a game based on the cult classic horror comedy film.
Photo Warp+ (Free)
What's it about? Photo-manipulation app Photo Warp+ is the sequel to the original Photo Warp, and packs lots of capabilities for messing with your photos to make them funny or weird.
What's cool? You've seen photo-warping before, the capability that let's you drag your finger around the screen of your Android device to make eyes huge or stretch out smiles. Photo Warp+ does those things well, but it also includes new capabilities, like a feature that lets you animate your warps. There are also finer tools and more zooming options that let you get in closer and manipulate your images more carefully – the point being that you can do more cool stuff (and undo more stuff) to get exactly the fun photos you want.
Who's it for? Android photographers who want a little novelty should try Photo Warp+. If you liked the original, you'll like this.
What's it like? Photo Warp is similar, obviously, as is FatBooth, but the latter isn't exactly flattering.
Wrike – Project Management (Free)
What's it about? Users of Wrike web-based project management software now have an app that ties them into the system, allowing the use of Android devices to stay up on work flow and communicate with coworkers.
What's cool? Wrike is limited to users of the web software, but if you're into it, there are a lot of features here that help turn your Android devices into mobile work stations. You can monitor the status of projects in real time, comment on tasks and delegate them when need be, and organize tasks, set and change schedules and even create reminders. It's a great way to keep up on what's going on at work when you can't be there.
Who's it for? As mentioned, this is for Wrike users, but if you like that software, the app is a must-have.
What's it like? Give Project Management by WAGmob a go for something similar, as well as Project Manager's Toolkit.
Army of Darkness Defense (Free)
What's it about? It's a castle defense game based on the film Army of Darkness, in which you play chainsaw-handed boomstick-wielding main character Ashley "Ash" Williams.
What's cool? That description wasn't enough for you? We're talking about cult-classic Army of Darkness turned into a game. As Ash, you command troops to run across the 2-D, side-scrolling castle landscape, engaging with waves of Deadites and using magic, special powers and your iconic weapons to fight evil. The game also includes a number of sound clips from the film, and you can earn upgrades to empower your strategic defenses as you take down more and more bad guys.
Who's it for? If you love Army of Darkness, this is a no-brainer. If you like castle-defense titles, though, Army of Darkness Defense is a pretty good bet. It'll give you plenty of monsters to kill.
What's it like? Paladog is another medieval-esque game with some novelty, and Grave Defense HD is a monster-filled tower defense spin on the action.


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If not is it streaming on clone zone?
Originally Posted by Win5002
If not is it streaming on clone zone?
It's on mediacom channel 22.
Larry Morgan and Adam Emmenecker are doing it......why can't we get Morgan off of TV?
He will be better than Nick Grant, that guy was bad on Saturday.
Go Cyclones!!
**** Iowa!!
Mediacom channel fuzzy 2
Basketball (M) - Schedule - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports
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More New and Used
from Private Sellers
Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
Anonymous Agencies, Backstreet Businesses, and Covert Collectives : Rethinking Organizations in the 21st Century
ISBN13:by Scott, Craig
Stanford Univ Pr
Questions About This Book?
What version or edition is this?
This is the edition with a publication date of 4/10/2013.
What is included with this book?
- The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc.
Many of today's organizations "live in public"; they devote extensive resources to branding, catching the public eye, and capitalizing on the age of transparency. But, at the same time, a growing number of companies and other collectives are flying under the radar, concealing their identities and activities. This book offers a framework for thinking about how organizations and their members communicate identity to relevant audiences. Considering the degree to which organizations reveal themselves, the extent to which members express their identification with the organization, and whether the audience is public or local, author Craig R. Scott describes collectives as residing in "regions" that range from transparent to shaded, from shadowed to dark. Taking a closer look at groups like EarthFirst!, the Church of Scientology, Alcoholics Anonymous, the KKK, Skull and Bones, U.S. special mission units, men's bathhouses, and various terrorist organizations, this book draws attention to shaded, shadowed, and dark collectives as important organizations in the contemporary landscape.


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"Snow White and the Huntsmen" seems to have all the buzz, adding multiple actors as the dwarves in separate announcements over the past few days. By increasing the film's pre-production profile, the picture vaulted over the surprisingly buzzless untitled "Snow White" film currently shooting under director Tarsem Singh, and slated for a release almost three months earlier. While the film boasts Julia Roberts as the wicked queen menacing Lily Collins as our heroine, Armie Hammer as the dashing Prince Alcott and Nathan Lane as the oh god stop right there you're sold on Lane. Fortunately, it does appear that the Singh project will have that extra shot of awesomeness that 'Huntsman' cannot boast.
The Hollywood Reporter announced that Sean Bean, who sneezes off knife fights in his spare time, is set to star as Snow White's father, the King who tragically experiences the destruction of his kingdom at the hands of Roberts' nefarious queen. While this does seem like yet another fateful role for one of the most constantly murdered actors in film history, this is considered to be a more family-friendly approach. So, Bean may only behead a couple of fools.
"Snow White" sees release on March 16th, while "Snow White and the Huntsman" is slated for June 1st. There's also "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" on March 2nd, along with a gaggle of superhero movies over the very same few months, a "Twilight" and a "G.I. Joe" and literally no reasons for actual adults to go to the cinemas anymore.


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Latest update : 2013-02-21
An overview of the stories making the French and international newspaper headlines. From Monday to Friday live at 7.20 am and 9.20 am Paris time.
2016-05-25 Taliban
'The name's Bond, Jane Bond'
INTERNATIONAL PAPERS - Weds. 25.05.16: Papers around the world focus on the Taliban. The Afghan group has named a new leader following the death of Mullah Akhtar Mohammad...
2016-05-25 labour law
French people blame government for current social unrest
FRENCH PAPERS - Weds. 25.05.16: Papers across the country focus on continued social unrest against the government's recent changes to the labour code. The government is hoping...
2016-05-24 Austria
'Near miss' for Austria and the EU
INTERNATIONAL PAPERS - Tues. 24.05.16: Papers around the world focus on the results of Austria's nail-biting presidential election. According to the Guardian, it was a "critical...
2016-05-24 labour law
FRENCH PAPERS - Tues. 24.05.16: Papers focus on continued social unrest against the government's recent changes to the labour code as well as the trade unions behind the...
2016-05-23 France
'Politics is dead, long live politics'
Is there a fuel shortage in France? The government says "No" but Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui-en-France questions that. It reports on shortages at 100s of petrol stations. The queues...


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Berlin's Wagendorf Lohmühle is a Hidden Self-Sufficient Caravan Village
Wagendorf Lohmühle's recycled and hand-made mobile shelters use solar panels to transform the sun's energy into free electricity. Some wagons, like this geometrical wooden one, were built on-site from a wide variety of found materials. Some other wagons
Read more >


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Disney & Orlando Secrets
Planning & Information
Resorts, Hotels, DVC, Villas
> where would you prefer to stay at a hotel or villa ?
View Full Version :
where would you prefer to stay at a hotel or villa ?
where would you prefer to stay at a hotel or villa ? and why :D
Well, I'm the first to vote and I guess my answer is obvious
I love the space and freedom of a villa and not being tied to just a room. Some days you don't want to be out all day and it's lovely being able to just relax by the pool and have a easy day.
I know I'm biased and I suspect that I'm possibly going to be the only vote for villas as most Secrets members are disney aficiandos and love everything Disney and that includes being on site.
Each to their own :-)
I just love being in Florida on holiday :yes:
Villa - love the privacey of your own pool.
As much as I would probably love a Villa, my DW doesn't want to be connected to cooking or cleaning when we are on vacation. Thus we stay on site in a hotel and enjoy all of the amenities.
As much as I would probably love a Villa, my DW doesn't want to be connected to cooking or cleaning when we are on vacation. Thus we stay on site in a hotel and enjoy all of the amenities.
Why would she have to cook and clean - restaurants provide food and with just the 2 of you I'm sure there wouldn't be anything to clean up
You should give it a go sometime, at least then you will experience both :-)
Haveing stayed in Hotel and 3 villas we liked the idea of private pool and to quiet drink by the pool and not have passing strangers or people walking past your room at all hours laughing and shouting so we decided to buy our own place.
Why would she have to cook and clean - restaurants provide food and with just the 2 of you I'm sure there wouldn't be anything to clean up
I totally agree with those comments even though my DW must be the World`s No.1 cleanaholic! :lol:
Apart from breakfast by the pool and the very occasional bbq, we always enjoy visiting many restaurants for dinner outside of those [rather expensive] ones at WDW when we stay at our villa.
That said, we always tend to spend a few days at our other "home" [the GF] whenever we go over using our DVC points to fund the stay, so in a way we have the best of both worlds.
We love our villa but also we really enjoy the GF so on that basis I can`t really vote on this poll. :unsure:
villa everytime for the reasons already said :).......BUT i would love to stay onsite, never don that yet. not for the full 2 weeks tho cant justify the cost of a moderate hotel. and the values dont interest me at all. a few days onsite would suit me tho :)
Onsite hotel for me - stayed in villas the first two trips and as much as it was lovely I prefer to be in the middle of it all - we don't need the space as we are rarely in the room, when we stayed in a villa we hardly used the pool etc as we weren't there enough. I have to be doing stuff and I don't like sunbathing/relaxing! So if DH and the kids are at the pool in the hotel I can be off doing other stuff more easily.
Well we've always stayed onsite so I guess I can put that side forward :lol:
We've always felt that whilst on holiday we don't want any stress. We want to drink whenever we like hic! and not drive if possible.
Staying on site gives us the Disney bus system to go wherever we want onsite with no problem other than perhaps time :)
We do feel the whole disney experience and the customer service which disney provides is fantastic. We have occasionally stayed in offsite hotels and have felt a little out of it.
We've stayed in values, moderates and deluxes and love them all really :) We've stayed for a few days or weeks at a time and basically the room ends up just being somewhere to sleep so it doesnt REALLY matter how big/small or anything else it is.
Of course, staying in the contemporary or bay lake towers with a wonderful view of the castle really can't be beaten :lol:
Would we try a villa? definitely we would. I'd LOVE to try a week in one this year/next year to see what it's like. DW would love the pool that's for sure and it would be a great base for our offsite excursions.
:wave: I would love to try a villa, I don't know if I would do the Disney thing though. There is alot to do in Orlando that we haven't done yet. Truth be told I'm exhausted when we come home! I think it would be wonderful and we could bring some of the kids with us as well :thumbsup:
we stayed in villa for first time last year and loved the freedom back to villa for beer swim and jacussi after long day inpark can't beat it
I've not stayed onsite at Disney but have stayed in many hotels and whilst for a non-disney holiday I prefer the social aspect of a hotel, I much prefer the idea of a villa at Disney. The best day we had was at Discovery cove followed by a BBQ around the pool. It was so much fun to have a pool party and a BBQ :yes:
Onsite for me!
I think it gives me the sense of 'Value for Money' as I would still experience 'Disney' magic at the hotel and at the park.
I fear that if I stay at non-disney hotel or villa, I would be leaving the magic behind.....
also I simply love seeing the disney shuttles and seeing all the smiling faces on board.
So for me.... staying onsite win hand down!
Why would she have to cook and clean - restaurants provide food and with just the 2 of you I'm sure there wouldn't be anything to clean up
You should give it a go sometime, at least then you will experience both :-)
I guess my question is, if I'm not going to cook or use the pool, why stay off site in a villa? Just asking... What would be the benefit?
I love being right smack dab in the middle of it all. We very rarely venture off site - usually only if we have a camera or vehicle issue... Disney has so many restaurants to choose from, we don't leave site to dine.
Although John has been known to hop in the pool at our Disney resort, I'm not being caught in public in a swim suit. At least not for at least 30 more pounds... So having my own pool isn't an enticement.
I guess if the cost was right, I'd be willing to try an on site villa some time.
Well if you are a Disneyholic then on site is right for you but the last 2 years we didn't visit Disney - it's Florida that is the draw for us as there's so much to do outside of theme parks.
The space and freedom of a villa and being able to relax away from the hustle and bustle too. I would hate to be stuck in just one room for 2 weeks ( or more)
Theoff site restaurants that can offer meals at much lower rates than onsite.
There are many views Donna, each to their own - that's the beauty of free will and choice. There's no right or wrong answer, just what we each prefer :yes:
I totally agree. What ever suits your needs best! That's why we have so many options.
I know for some folks villas are the way to go - especially for extended stays. Folks are able to save money by shopping and preparing some of their meals, etc. And, for them I can see the benefit. Sort of like some folks staying in the campgrounds. That's not for me either. Camping, for me, is a hotel without a bar or cable... LOL
If we were down there just to run around Orlando and do other things, obviously a resort at Disney wouldn't be as convenient. For that a villa might be the way to go. Heck, when we would visit Anna Maria Island, we'd stay in a duplex owned by a friend of my mom's. It has 2 bedrooms, a living room, a galley kitchen and small eating area. We prepared meals, lounged on the patio, walked to the beach. But we were there more. We don't spend as much time in our resort at WDW because we are out enjoying the parks.
For me, I just love staying on site when we are visiting Disney. I've been down there 3 times when I wasn't on site (hadn't even stayed on site at that point in time), and to be honest, I didn't enjoy the stay as much because of the driving to and from the off site hotel. One of those 3 times I was staying at Vistana. Once we were in Kissimmee, and once at a hotel outside the main gate. I didn't like having to pay for parking at the parks, but I also didn't like relying on provided transportation. Just not as convenient as being right there on site!
I know. I'm spoiled! LOL I'm blaming it on John!
It has to be a disney hotel for me because of the total disney feeling of it all :)
Villa definitely :)
I love the privacy and not being stuck in one room or having to share the pool with other people - fussy I know :lol:
I like being able to sit on the lanai in the morning eating breakfast and not having to go out to eat all the time. Being able to put bottles of water in a cooler and make a packed lunch rather than having to buy something when we get wherever we are going.
Coming home from a day out really tired and not wanting to go out again so you phone for a pizza delivery and just sit by the pool and eat it without having to get dressed up to out for dinner.
The freedom of having a car and being able to visit other areas, not just the surrounding area of the hotel or Disney property.
There are so many things but at the end of the day I guess it's just down to personal preference :yes:
Villa convert!! :wave:
We always used hotels but last year we went for the villa option. Never going back to 2 weeks in one room now. Space, privacy, facilities, freedom.
A few nights in a hotel would be fine I think but to be honest after two weeks at the All Stars I was completely moused out. :lol:
to be honest after two weeks at the All Stars I was completely moused out. :lol:
That just about sums it up for me.
Although we do love WDW and all that it has to offer, to us, Florida is a fabulous place to explore and to leave the hustle and bustle behind us for a while.
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I wouldn't have guessed that golfing on a tropical island could be so much like Western Pennsylvania … uh, well, except for the weather. It's sunny and warm here! In March!! And there's no Yuengling on tap in the clubhouse bar to go with your hot dog at the turn. In other words, trade offs.
I had a great time today launching drives up and down the fairways of the El Conquistador Golf Resort, west of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's a Waldorf Astoria property, and I'll bet the rooms were among the best designs of 1985. The service has been excellent, and white shag carpet would not be out of place in the spacious rooms. Still, when the views are this great (my room on the hillside next to the incline (funicular) overlooks the marina and water park!), who cares if the wood furniture is finished in pickled pine?
Fortunately for me, the course is moderate in length, a rarity in resort courses these days. That isn't to say it isn't challenging. The three experienced golfers in my foursome had almost as much trouble reading the greens as I did. Perhaps the giant lizards that watched us putt some holes might have whispered their advice. All that sun and breeze wore me out!


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A few blogs have written about how hike is sending data un-encrypted over 3G and Wi-Fi networks. We are aware and we've clearly outlined in this post how 128-bit SSL security is coming to hike by year end.
The point I'd like to address in this blog post is how hike uses personal information. There have been some concerns of why hike transmits data such as UDID. I'd like to address that with this blog post.
We state the following in our Privacy Policy:
We neither share nor sell Your Personally Identifiable Information such as Your mobile phone number and address book and any other information we may collect with any third parties for use for commercial, advertising and or similar marketing purposes without Your consent.
When we set out to build hike, we wanted to build a better messaging experience for ourselves, one free of ads and one where users privacy is respected. We hate ads, it destroys the user experience. Why spend so much time building such a beautiful experience and then ruin it with ads?
We also state:
We may share non-personally-identifiable information (such as anonymous user usage data, referring / exit pages and URLs, platform types, asset views, number of clicks, etc.) with third-parties to better understand usage patterns for certain content, services, advertisements, promotions, and/or functionality related to hike application.
We do transmit such data. Its a fact. We send it to a cluster sitting in Amazon Web Services to do exactly what we've mentioned above. To better understand user behaviour so we can build the best messaging app out there. We are very transparent in what we do and if we're transmitting information back to our servers, we do so for valid reasons as explained openly in this blog post and our T&C. We take users privacy very seriously.
Click here to find out what we're building next as a result.
You can read our full Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy at hike.in/terms.


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Kauai Ceremonies
Kauai Christian Weddings
Non-Religious Ceremonies
Kauai Vow Renewals
Kauai Gay Marriage
Kauai Wedding Locations
Hanalei Wedding Locations
Kapaa Wedding Locations
Poipu Wedding Locations
Hawaii Marriage License
Kauai Vow Renewals
Believe it or not, Vow Renewals are my favorite! It is so gratifying to see a couple that has been married 5, 10 or 25 years wanting to share their love. Sometimes emotions run so strong, that we have to pause for a moment before continuing on.
One interesting thing is that about half of all vow renewal ceremonies are surprises for one of the spouses (often it is the husband surprising his wife). I am grateful for every vow renewal ceremony I get to be part of.
I perform both Nonreligious and Christian Nondenominational Vow Renewals. Please email me with your preference and I will be happy to send it out.
You are welcome to make as many additions, deletions or changes that you wish or to provide your own personal vows to each other to add to or replace the vows within the ceremony.
I always tell couples, "it's your vow renewal and you may have it any way you want." The most important thing is that you have the experience that you will always remember in your hearts.
Contact Larry Today
to "save your date" choose your Kauai Wedding Ceremony style!
Wedding Ceremony Styles by Larry LaSota
Non-Religious Wedding
The most popular weddings on Kauai are the nonreligious marriage ceremony. After coming
Read More
Kauai Christian Wedding
I perform two different nondenominational Christian Marriage ceremonies. Some people are not sure what nondenominational
Read More
Kauai Vow Renewals
Believe it or not, Vow Renewals are my favorite! It is so gratifying
Read More
Same Sex Marriage
It's about time! I feel very fortunate to be able to offer same sex
Read More
"Your Ceremony Done Your Way!"


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Quick Links
For patent practitioners outside the United States (and possibly Germany2), inventorship is not a big issue as long as ownership of a patent is properly identified in the patent. However, as typically illustrated in Ethicon Inc. v. United States Surgical Corp., an error in inventorship on a U.S. patent may fatally invalidate the patent or result in a license to an omitted co-inventor, which may significantly reduce the value of the patent.
In Ethicon, a dispute over inventorship happened between a medical doctor, Dr. Yoon, and an electronics technician, Mr. Choi, who worked together to develop a trocar, a surgical instrument essential for endoscopic surgery and used for making small incisions in the wall of a body cavity to admit endoscopic instruments. Dr. Yoon identified a problem on conventional tractors--the tractor blade might accidentally damage internal organs and structures. He conceived of an idea to solve this problem by providing: (a) a safety system to prevent the blade from cutting into organs and (b) a device to alert the surgeon when the incision was complete. In 1980, to implement his idea, Dr. Yoon invited Mr. Choi to work with him to develop the safety system and the alert device. After eighteen months collaboration, in 1982, believing that the collaboration would not result in any marketable product, Mr. Choi left Dr. Yoon.
Right after Mr. Choi's departure from the projects, Dr. Yoon filed an application for a patent, naming himself as the sole inventor and disclosing various embodime nts of a safety tractor. That application matured into U.S. Patent No. 4,535,773 (the'773 patent). Under this patent, Dr. Yoon granted an exclusive license to Ethicon but did not inform Mr. Choi of the patent application or its issuance.
In 1989, Ethicon brought an action against U.S. Surgical, alleging infringement of claims 34 and 50 of the '773 patent. In 1992, while this action was still pendi ng, U.S. Surgical found out about Mr. Choi. Believing that Mr. Choi was a co-inventor, U.S. Surgical obtained from Mr. Choi a retroactive license to practice his tractor-related inventions and moved to correct the inventorship with respect to Claims 23, 33, 46 and 47 in the '773 patent. The district court granted U.S. Surgical's motion and found Mr. Choi's co-inventorship with respect to the subject matter recited in claims 33 and 47.
U.S. Surgical then moved to dismiss the infringement action, alleging a defense of license from Mr. Choi. The district court granted the motion and dismissed the suit. Ethicon appealed from the district court judgment. Noteworthy d iscussions on issues Ethicon advanced for the appeal are: (1) whether Choi's participation in Dr. Yoon's projects gav e rise to their inventorship of the claimed subject matter and (2) whether Choi's ownership extended to the patent as a whole irrespective of his contribution to each claim.
With respect to the first issue, the Federal Circuit applied a two-step test in determining (1) what Choi's contribution was and (2) whether that contribution's role appeared in the claimed invention. In applying the test, the court first looked at the embodiments in the specification and drawings to understand the subject matter of Claim 33 directed to a trocar with a safety system, and then identified that a blunt rod provided in an aperture on a trocar blade prevents the blade from accidentally causing an injury to internal organs. The Federal Circuit noted that the district court relied extensively on Mr. Choi's testimony corroborated by his own sketches, but discounted Dr. Yoon's testimony because a drawing depicting the blunt rod presented to corroborate Dr. Yoon's testimony was found to be altered and unreliable. The Federal Circuit did not find any error in this finding.
The same test was applied to Claim 47 directed to an embodiment of another safety system using a cocked spring to pull the trocar blade into a protective sheath. The Federal Circuit agreed with the district court that Choi invented one of the two structures constituting the detaining function recited in the claim to trigger the retracting of trocar blade based on one of Mr. Choi's sketches, although it found that D r. Yoon conceived of the retractable blade system in general. It, however, found clear error in the district court's finding of Mr. Choi's conception of the other structure since the sketch that the court relied on disclosed a structure that functioned differently from the structure adopted in the embodiments of the specification. When a claim in dispute is in the means -plus-function format, one who contributed to the conception of one of the alternative examples disclosed in the specification which examples corresponded to the function of the claim. Because Mr. Choi conceived one of the structures which provided the function of the claim in dispute, the Federal Circuit affirmed the district court's finding of Mr. Choi's co-inventorship for Claim 47.
After finding Mr. Choi's co-inventorship with respect to only two of the fifty-five claims in the '773 patent, the Federal Circuit made clear that each co-inventor owned an equal, undivided interest in the entire patent. Since the Patent Act provides options for whether or not to file plural inventions of different inventorships jointly or separately, "where inventors choose to cooperate in the inventive process, their inventions may become joint property without some express agreement to the contrary." In this case, Mr. Choi shares with Dr. Yoon the ownership of the entire patent and thus had the power to license the entire patent.
In interpreting the terms of the license agreement between Mr. Choi and U.S. Surgical, "license to make, have made, use, market and sell Choi's trocar-related inventions", the Federal Circuit did not limit the scope of license to the subject matter of the two claims which were found to be co-invented by Mr. Choi. This interpretation was supported by other provisions in the same agreement that indicated the parties' intent to grant a license for the entire patent. The court agreed with Ethicon that Mr. Choi could not release U.S. Surgical from the pre-license liability for damages to Ethicon but could release only from such liability to him. Nevertheless, the court dismissed Ethicon's claim against U.S. Surgical 's pre-license infringement, applying the important principle that all co-owners must join to file a patent infringement action. This principle is supported by the policy expressed in Section 262, which guarantees patentees the freedom to exploit their patents without a duty to account to other co-owners, and such freedom is applicable to the right to license. Because Mr. Choi refused to join as plaintiff in this suit, the dismissal of t his suit was proper.
Judge Newman wrote a dissenting opinion, arguing that the ownership of a co-inventor extended only to the subject matter of claims to which he or she contributed and did not extend to the entire patent. The 1984 amendment to Section 116 relaxed the inventorship requirement for filing an application to accommodate the needs to prosecute inventions resulting from team-research activities along with the growth of technology-based industry. It, however, did not deal with the ownership but made obsolete the premise for the joint ownership that each named person made a full and equal contribution to the entire patented invention. She emphasized that "the law had never given a contributor to a minor portion of an invention a full share in the originator's patent," and she believed that this was what had happened in this case.
The resolution adopted by the majority is in line with those of many other countries. For example, under Japanese law, because a patent right is issued to the application as a whole, one cannot divide the rights with respect to claims and transfer such divided rights to someone else. The exception to this rule is a request for a revocation or invalidation proceeding with respect to each claim.3
This case clearly demonstrates pitfalls for non-U.S. patent practitioners in prosecuting U.S. patents. First, non-U.S. patent attorneys would readily make an error in identifying an inventor if they do not know the extensive case law on conception that determines inventor-ship. An error in inventorship may destroy the patentability or validity under Section 104, and the inventor may be forced to tolerate exploitation by someone other than "so-believed co-inventors under Section 262. In Japan, as well as in many of other European and Asian countries, an error in inventorship is not a reason to challenge the patentability or validity. Therefore, if two inventors are obligated to transfer their rights to the patent to the same per son and that person applies for a patent, the application for a patent resulting from such application will have no flaw.
Like other European and Asian patent laws, Japanese patent law subjects a co-owner's right to license to consent from all other co-owners,4 although they are free to exploit the patented invention.5Thus, third party-accused infringers cannot be released from their liability by getting a license from a co-owner. However, whether co-owners must jointly file a patent infringement action is a point of controversy among Japanese patent scholars.6 Court decisions are also split.7 If the same theory adopted by the Ethicon majority were to apply under Japanese Law, a co-owner of a Japanese patent would be able to file an action without joining all the co-owners and enforce her right against a third party who had obtained a license from a co-owner without her consent.8
The Federal Circuit has affirmed an increased number of summary judgments in non-infringement suits after the Supreme Court decisions, Markman10 and Warner-Jekinson.11 Sage Products, Inc. clearly shows the trend in the Federal Circuit that limits the use of the doctrine of equivalents to the extent of nothing more than literal infringement. The policy discussions supporting the restrictive use of the doctrine signify the court's determination to change the case law direction. Such discussions, which are surprisingly similar to those found in the judgments of Japanese courts that follow the inventor's recognition limitation theory in blaming inventors for not drafting perfect claims to clearly cover accused embodiments, are quoted below:
"Once again, this case raises the question of why the law restricts application of the doctrine of equivalents without further fact finding. . . . The claim at issue defines a relatively simple structural device. A skilled patent drafter would foresee the limiting potential of the 'over said slot limitation. No subtlety of language or complexity of the technology, nor any subsequent change in the state of art, such as later-developed technology, obfuscated the significance of t his limitation at the time of its incorporation into the claim. . . . If Sage desired broad patent protection for any container that performed a function similar to its claimed container, it could have sought claims with fewer structural encumbrances. Had Sage done so, then the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) could have fulfilled its statutory role in helping to ensure that exclusive rights are issued only to those who have, in fact, contributed something new, useful, and unobvious. Instead, Sage left t he PTO with manifestly limited claims that it now seeks to expand through the doctrine of equivalents. However, as between the patentee who had a clear opportunity to negotiate broader claims but did not do so and the public at large, it is the patentee who must bear the cost of its failure to seek protection for this foreseeable alteration of its claimed structure. . . . This court recognizes that such reasoning places a premium on forethought in patent drafting. Indeed, this premium may lead to higher costs of patent prosecution. However, the alternative rule--allowing broad play for the doctrine of equivalents to encompass foreseeable variations, not just of a claim element, but of a patent claim--also leads to a higher costs. Society at large would b ear these latter costs in the form of virtual foreclosure of competitive activity within the penumbra of each issued patent claim. Because the doctrine of equivalents blurs the line of demarcation between infringement and non-infringing activity, it creates a zone of uncertainty, into which competitors tread only at their peril. Given a choice of imposing the higher costs of careful prosecution on patentees, or imposing the costs of foreclosed business activity on the public at large, this court believes the costs are property imposed on the group best positioned to determine whether or not a particular invention warrants investment at a higher level, that is, the patentee. In sum, the ' 728 patent claims a precise arrangement of structural elements that cooperate in a particular way to achieve a certain result. Devon achieves a similar result--restricted entry to a medical disposal container--but it does so by a different arrangement of elements. Because this issued patent contains clear structural limitations, the public has right to rely on those limits in conducting its business activities. This court will not effectively remove such a limitation under a doctrine to prevent 'fraud on a patent'."12
The premise adopted by Judge Rader in the above policy discussions is highly contrasted with the premise that applicants have incomplete information on the prior art and future modifications or variations developed by competitors, which German courts have historically been based on and the Japanese Supreme Court has recently adopted. Because of the impossibility for patent drafters to cover all possible variations excluding the prior art, the doctrine of equivalents enables the patentee to capture variations that are considered equivalents to the claimed invention.
In Sage Products, two competitors, Sage and Devon, sued each other for infringement of various patents relating generally to medical instruments disposal containers. Regarding Sage's '728 patent, the district court interpreted the claim to require (1) "an elongated slot" to lie at the top of the container body, in other words, at the highest point, level or part of the container body and (2)"a first constriction means of barrier means" to extend over the slot. Because the slot lies within Devon's container, the district court found no literal infringement. After affirming the district court's claim interpretation and finding of no literal infringement, the Federal Circuit also refused to find infringement by equivalents, stating that the doctrine of equivalents could not be used to effectively remove entirely the "top of the container" and "over the slot" limitations from the claim.
The Federal Circuit also affirmed the district court's finding of no literal infringement and no infringement under the doctrine of equivalents with respect to Sage's '849 patent that was directed to a needle removal and disposal device. The claims of the patent employed the word "means" to name elements in the claims in dispute. In determining whether Section 112, Paragraph 6 controls the interpretation of these claims, the Federal Circuit stated that the use of the word "means" gave rise to a presumption that the inventor used the word advisedly to invoke means-plus-function treatment, unless the patentee established that the "means" was not used in conjunction with functions. Since the "means in the claims in dispute were recited in conjunction with functions without reciting any particular structures, the court had to interpret the claims in accordance with the mea ns-plus-function claim interpretation under Section 112, Paragraph 6.
Accordingly, the court looked at the embodiments in the specification to identify the structure that accomplished the functions recited in the claims. The court found that a pivotable lid that could be removed to and from the open a nd closed positions in the specification provided the closure means. Thus, it concluded that the closure means must move from a closed position to an open position and back, in order to control access to the slot means. Because Devon's device's lid locked in a closed position but could not be moved back into an open position, Devon's device did not infringe Sage's 40 patent. The Federal Circuit also rejected Sage's argument that Devon's permanently locking lid was equivalent to the claimed closure means. However, the court emphasized the presence of additional functional limitations on the closure , which tended to suggest that the closure means must have an ability to control access and selectively move between open and closed access positions. An infringement under the doctrine of equivalents between the claimed device and the accused device would result in the entire removal of these functional limitations, which practice was forbidden by the Supreme Court.
Although Devon successfully defended against Sage's charge of infringement, it had no luck with respect to its own claims. The district court interpreted Devon's '592 patent to require two openings that (1) respectively pass through the two baffles of the medical waste container and (2) are horizontally displaced from one another so that deposited waste can travel laterally as it passes through the space between the two baffles. The Federal Circuit found no error in this interpretation because it was supported by the description of the specification and the prosecution history. Based on this interpretation, no literal infringement could be found because one of the two openings in the accused container might be adjacent to the baffle but could not pass through it and one of the openings overlay another, instead of being displaced from another.
The Federal Circuit also rejected Devon's claim of infringement by equivalents by applying the prosecution history estoppel. The missing "pass through" and "displacement" limitations of the two openings were inserted during the prosecution to overcome multiple prior art references, reciting the arrangements of the openings. The court determined that the scope given up by the applicant through the amendment included all containers having no opening through the second baffle and those having one opening overlaying another, and that Devon could not recapture the scope including the accused device through the doctrine of equivalents. The Federal Circuit affirmed the judgment of non-infringement because all claim interpretations and findings of no literal infringement by the district court were proper and no reasonable jury would find infringement under the doctrine of equivalents based on the properly interpreted claims.
This case clearly indicates the Federal Circuit's emphasis on other doctrines to restrict the application of the doctrine of equivalents. Some may wonder what is left for U.S. patentees as the range of equivalents after no literal infringement is found in the accused device or process, if courts attach a great significance to every limitation and prevent from ignoring any of them. Particularly, if the disputed terms are found to be amended or argued during the prosecution, a chance for the patentee to escape the application of the prosecution history estoppel is very slim. In spite of the fact that the Supreme Court agreed with the Federal Circuit that an argument or amendment during the prosecution does not automatically give rise to an estoppel bar, a patentee is left to defend his position without a clear guidance regarding what constitutes a sufficient reason to overcome the estoppel bar. The result of the current practice is effectively no different from the practice suggested by the Hilton Davis dissenters that required automatic application of the estoppel irrespective of the reason for argument or amendment.
It is too early to decide whether this case as well as many other recent cases indicate change in case law direction in reaction to the Supreme Court's instruction on claim functions. Reacting to the requirement imposed by the European Patent Convention, the German Supreme Court in Formstein13 indicated a clear determination to restrict their claim interpretation to the claim language but had shortly returned to their traditional view in determining the patent protection scope based on the general inventive idea. Some extreme views to extend the protection to patentable equivalents were modified by the most recent German Supreme Court decision, and the experience in German courts clearly indicate the difficulty in changing case law direction while maintaining the same judges to adjudicate patent issues.14 Whether this restrictive view indicated in recent Federal Circuit cases takes root in U.S. jurisprudence seems t o depend on how the Federal Circuit would resolve three pending cases remanded by the Supreme Court, namely, Litton,15 Festo16 and Hughes Aircraft.17 (Litton and Hughes were published on April 7, 1998 and will be reported in the next issue.)
In Europe, a debate has recently started on whether the problem-solution approach uniformly adopted by examiners in the European Patent Office (EPO) is inherently subject to a hindsight because one must always compare the claimed invention and its solution with the most relevant prior art before the assessment of the inventive step in order to objectively determine the problem to be solved by the claimed invention. Such a risk of evaluating an invention with a hindsight in the assessment of the inventive step is well demonstrated by a recent Federal Circuit case, Monarch Knitting Machinery Corp. v. Sulzer Morat GmbH.
The patent in this case, '053 patent, relates to an improvement on thin metal needles for machines that automatically knit yarn into fabric. In 1976, the inventors of the '053 patent discovered that the risk of breaking needles as a result of a high speed knitting operation could be minimized by decreasing the height of a portion of the needle cal led a "first segment." On May 11, 1979, the inventors' employer, Sulzer Morat, filed an application in Germany. Claiming priority based on the German application, on May 11, 1979, a U.S. application was filed with the only independent claim for a knitting tool that required a first segment to have "a length (l) of at least eight millimeters (8 mm) and a height (h) of at most eleven-tenths of a millimeter (1.1 mm)."
During the prosecution at the USPTO, the examiner rejected the claim for being obvious over Kohorn patent, which disclosed the use of cutouts at the back of a needle to reduce vibration, thereby lowering the frequency of needle breakage. Since Kohorn had taught a cutout extending one half the distance from the back of the needle toward the front, the examiner reasoned that one skilled would have designed the claimed needle by applying the Kohorn's teaching on a needle with a shank height of 2.2 mm. Sulzer Morat responded that no needle which had a shank less than 2.85 mm had existed in the prior art. The examiner allowed the application, resulting in the '053 patent.
In 1985, Monarch Knitting filed a declaratory judgment action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and requested a reexamination at the USPTO based on a new prior art, a Japanese publication disclosing two needles with shank heights of 1.92 mm and 2.0 mm. Although the examiner rejected the '053 patent over Kohorn in view of the Japanese publication, on appeal, the Board of Patent Appeals and Interference reversed the decision, reasoning that the first segment of the needles in the Japanese publication had lengths of less than 8 mm.
After the reexamination proceeding, Grotz-Beckert, the assignee of Sulzer Morat '053, started an infringement action against Monarch and its supplier in the same district court. That action was consolidated with the declaratory judgment action which was stayed during the reexamination proceeding. The district court granted Monarch's first motion for a summary judgment, finding claim 1 of the '053 patent being invalid for obviousness only. Monarch filed a similar motion that most dependent claims were invalid for obviousness. The district court granted Monarch's second motion and entered a final judgment of invalidity. Grotz-Beckert filed an appeal.
The Federal Circuit vacated and remanded the summary judgment, concluding that genuine issues of material fact remain and thus the district court should further discuss to resolve those issues. In determining that there was a dispute on factual issues underlying nonobviousness determination, the Federal Circuit examined the district court's formulation of the problem solved by the '053 patent. The approach adopted by the district court--determining the objective problem of the invention in terms of the most relevant prior art to understand the solution adopted by the inventor19--was exactly the same as the one uniformly adopted by the EPO and recently by the JPO. This approach, however, was rejected by the Federal Circuit, noting that "the problem in terms of its solution reveals improper hindsight in the selection of the prior art relevant to obviousness. It also affected the district court's determinations about the content of the prior art." The Federal Circuit found the district court's determination of obviousness improper because the district court relied on the trend of reducing the height of the first segment to affirm a suggestion to the solution improperly formulated and being subject to hindsight. According to Monarch court's proper assessment of nonobviousness, instead of finding a suggestion to a solution from the trend, one must decide whether one would have had a motivation to combine references to form a trend. This is highly contrasted with the EPO practice under which the solution of the invention must be identified before the assessment of inventive step, including the determination of an existence or absence of a suggestion to the solution.
Reexamining the Kohorn and other related references, the Federal Circuit found genuine factual issues on the existence of suggestion because they had taught several solutions to the problem, minimizing the breakage of needles, but were not motivated to select the one adopted by the inventors. Besides the improper finding of suggestion or motivation to combine, the court's finding of a trend to decrease the height of the first segment of a needle was also improper because a reasonable inference could be drawn in favor of the patentee with respect to four needles on which the district court's finding relied.
The Federal Circuit also found that evidence on secondary consideration disclosed genuine issue of fact with respect to the existence of a long-felt need. Relying on the evidence of contemporaneous developments of similar needles by Grotz-Beckert's researchers and a Monarch's Japanese supplier, the district court rejected the patentee's argument based on the existence of a long-felt need. The needles did not qualify as "prior art" for either novelty or nonobviousness determination; they were relevant to obviousness as a secondary consideration. The Federal Circuit noted that evidence of contemporaneous development must be reviewed to confirm the fulfillment of the need by the development. Because the evidence indicates a reasonable inference that the developments of two needles were isolated and failed to meet the need, the district court's conclusion against the patentee was improper.
Having stated that the record also revealed an inference in favor of the patentees with respect to "unexpected results" and "teaching away," the Federal Circuit concluded that the evidence in the record raised genuine issues of fact concerning the content of the prior art and secondary considerations, which issues were material to an obviousness determination. Thus, the summary judgment was vacated and the case was remanded for further proceedings.
Because this is a case reviewing a summary judgment, the Federal Circuit's reasoning in evaluating the record is not applicable to the proceedings in other countries. The discussions on the nonobviousness assessment is, however, very instructive to European and Japanese patent professionals in their reevaluation of the problem-solution approach, particularly regarding the relationship between the step for formulating the object and solution and the step for identifying the motivation. The discussions on factors for secondary considerations are also informative because both EPO and JPO take account of these factors but do not rely on them as heavily as the USPTO and Federal Circuit in determining the inventive step. As clearly demonstrated by the discussions in Monarch Knitting, the limited proceedings at the EPO and JPO in evaluating the evidence on factors in secondary considerations would reduce the effective use of these factors. Further, many inventions have not been exploited by the time when the EPO and JPO examine patentability. Particularly, it would be very difficult for the EPO to establish a practice to rely on secondary considerations unless such practice reflects the practice uniformly adopted by all member states because questions regarding secondary considerations are more suitable for courts' review than the patent office's.
Toshiko Takenaka
1. 135 F. 3d 1456, 45 USPQ2d 1545 (Fed. Cir. 1998). 2. The ownership of inventions made by employees is extensively regulated by an employee invention law. No or insufficient compensation for an invention qualified as a service invention prevents the transfer of the ownership of the invention from the employee to the employer. 3. Japanese Patent Law, Article 113 and Article 121, Paragraph 2. 4. Japanese Patent Law, Article 73, Paragraph 2. 5. Japanese Patent Law, Article 73, Paragraph 3. 6. Kosaku Yoshiguji, Tokkyo Ho Gaisetsu (Outlines of Patent Law) 552 (9th ed. 1992). 7. Compare, Judgement of Supreme Court, Aug. 31, 1961, 1961-62 Shinketsu Torikeshi Shu 7, dismissing an action brought by a co-owner of a patent as being improper; and Apr. 24, 1975, 7 Mutai Zaisankan Kankei Minji Gyousei Hanreishu (No. 1) 97, finding an action brought by a co-owner of a patent proper. 8. An influential professor indicated his view that an action filed by some but not all co-owners is proper. Nobuo Monya, Mutai Zaisanken Ho Gairon (Outlines of Industrial Property Law) 50 (1992). 9. 126 F.3d 1420, 44 U.S.PQ2d 1103 (Fed. Cir. 1997). 10. Markman v. Westview Instruments, 515 U.S. 1192, 132 L. Ed. 2d 921, 116 S. Ct. 40 (1995). 11. Warner-Jenkinson Co. v. Hilton Davis Chem. Co., 137 L.Ed. 2d 146, 117 S. Ct. 1040, 41 U.S.P.Q.2d 1865 (1997). 12. 126 F.3d at 1425. 13. "Moulded Curbstone" (Formstein), 18 Int'l Rev. Indus Prop. & Copyright L. 795 (1987)(BGH). 14. "Segmentation Device for Tree Trunks" (Zerlegvorttichtung fur Baumstamme), 26 Int'l Rev. Indus Prop. & Copyright L. 261 (1995)(BGH 1994); Jochen Pagenberg, More Refined Rules of Claim Interpretation in GermanyAre They Necessary?, 26 Int'l Rev. Indus Prop. & Copyright L. 228 (1995). 15. Litton Sysm, Inc. v. Honeywell, Inc., 87 F.3d 1559, 39 USPQ2d 1321 (Fed. Cir. 1996), remanded, 117 S. Ct. 1240 (1997). 16. Festo Corp. v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Co. 72 F.3d 857, 863 (Fed. Cir. 1995), remanded, 117 S. Ct. 1240 (1997). 17. Hugh's Aircraft Co. v. United States, 86 F.3d 1566, 39 USPQ2d 1065 (Fed. Cir. 1996), remanded, 117 S. Ct. 1466 (1997). 18. 45 USPQ2d 1977 (Fed. Cir. 1998). 19. Romuald Singer, the European Patent Convention, 185 (Translated in English by Raph Lunzer, 1995).
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SEATTLE — Nordstrom's markdowns during the holiday shopping season and costs to grow its Nordstrom Rack chain weighed on its profit during its holiday quarter.The high-end retailer's earnings outlook for this year was also short of Wall Street predictions. The Seattle-based chain said that expenses from its plans to open stores in Canada, grow its Nordstrom Rack chain and its technology investments would weigh on profit growth.
For the three months through Feb. 1, net income slipped nearly 6 percent, to $268 million, or $1.37 per share, from $284 million, or $1.40 per share, in its fiscal fourth quarter the year before. Its revenue rose less than 1 percent, to $3.71 billion.
Nordstrom's profit exceeded market forecasts of $1.34 per share, but revenue fell short of the $3.73 billion analysts polled by FactSet anticipated.
Slow spending over the holidays has hurt many retailers. Nordstrom was the latest to say that it increased markdowns because of the increased promotions this November and December. It is also expanding its lower-cost Nordstrom Rack chain. Costs from that effort weighed on profitability.
Nordstrom's revenue from its websites, catalogs and stores open at least a year increased 2.2 percent, versus a gain of 6.1 percent in the prior year. That's a key retail measure as it strips away the impact from new and closed stores, which can skew trends. The metric rose 3.6 percent at Nordstrom Rack.
For this year, Nordstrom forecast a profit of $3.75 to $3.90 per share; analysts were anticipating $4.07 per share. It anticipated that revenue will increase 5.5 to 7.5 percent, suggesting sales of $13.2 billion to $13.5 billion. Analysts predicted $13.5 billion.
For the current quarter, the retailer expected profit of 60 to 70 cents per share, below analysts' estimate of 78 cents per share.
Shares of Nordstrom fell 49 cents to $58.95 in after-hours trading. The stock has gained 7.8 percent over the past 12 months.


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In the Time of Swine Flu, What's a Parent to Do?
by Meredith O'Brien
One of my children was recently diagnosed with swine flu and missed a week of school. That's just the icing on the cake as far as sickness and kids go in my house these days. Between my swine flu kid (who's one half of an 11-year-old set of twins), and my 8-year-old, at least one child has been out of school due to a cold or some kind of health ailment during almost every week of this young school year. It's been one sick day after another, and that's not including the six half days the kids've already had. I haven't actually quantified the number of days when I've had at least one sick kid at home, but between the sick days, half days and handful of vacation days, I know that we're talking a substantial chunk of my work hours over the past few weeks.
This year, more than any other school year, I've felt absolutely blessed to be able to work from home, have a flexible schedule and the ability to make up the time at night after the kids are in bed or on weekends. If I worked in an office or off-site somewhere, I'd likely have already been reprimanded and/or considered a less-than-dedicated professional for having missed a substantial slice of my weekday hours because I've had to be home with sick children, or because there's a half day of school. Yes, it's true that I have a husband and that if I were working in an office that wasn't located inside my house we'd be obliged to divvy up all these days, sick, half and the lot. However since I do work from my domicile, it's simply easier for me to take the kids to their sick doctor visits, bring them their boxes of plush tissues and deliver trays of soup and beverages to them as they lie wanly in my bed watching Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel or ESPN with their glassy, cold/flu eyes.
What do other parents who don't work from home, who don't have flexible schedules or sick days do when their kids – as in more than one child -- get sick, on different days, particularly in the time of swine flu (never mind being home for a half dozen half days of school)? A New York Times story () provided an ugly answer: Parents whose companies offer no or few paid sick days wind up sending their kids to school even if the children are ill and report to work themselves when they're sick, even when the illness in question is the H1N1/swine flu, about which the federal government has declared a national emergency:
"Tens of millions of people, or about 40 percent of all private-sector workers, do not receive paid sick days, and as a result many of them cannot afford to stay home when they are ill. Even some companies that provide paid sick days have policies that make it difficult to call in sick, like giving demerits each time someone misses a day.
Public health experts say policies like these encourage many people with H1N1, commonly called swine flu, to report to work despite official warnings from the government and most companies that they should stay home."
I have many friends who are in this position, the swine flu combined with the recession has made it very difficult for a lot of people. I recently posted on truuconfessions.oom that I was so grateful that I could be a SAHM at the moment, it is a terrible decision to have to make.


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Eva Mullinax clutched her black jacket tighter as she headed toward Grover Town Hall. A little girl trudged along with her.
The economy and jobs factored into Mullinax�s vote Tuesday. The races for president, governor and the N.C. Senate were important for the teacher's assistant at Bethware Elementary.
�You owe it to America to vote. If you love it, you vote,� she said. �Don�t complain.�
Voters packed inside the town hall. Each filled out identification cards moments before casting their ballots.
Precinct volunteers aided residents who voted curbside during the brisk day.
A little more than 2,000 registered voters live in the area, according to Brenda Lipscomb, chief judge at the Grover precinct.
�The voters are very anxious and happy,� Lipscomb said. �We haven�t had any issues.�
About 29 percent of Grover's registered voters cast their ballots early, according to Lipscomb.
Location, ST | website.com