I volunteer at the Exploratorium, and it's great. I think it must be one of the top, if not *the* top, hands-on museums in the world. Also, the other poster's advice about the pass good at multiple museums is a good one. My fine arts one is called a "reciprocal pass". Some participating museums give you free admission, and sometimes it's discounted. A great value for your scenario.
>Maybe you didn't realize this, but no one can be forced to say this pledge thing. This has been the law of the land since 1943 (before they even added the "prayer" part to it).
And nobody was ever officially forced to join the Young Pioneers or Nazi Party.
Recognize the indoctrination for what it is, and give up your fantasy that there is not pressure applied to the average kid to say the pledge in the exact same robotic tone as everybody else. Stop profering this flacid defense and actually ask people how it the pledge was conducted in their experience.
In response to the assertion that the patent is narrow in scope, I will differ. I can't help but notice that TiVo used "Motion Picture Entertainment Group" in a generic sense rather than specifying MPEG2 specifically. When MPEG4 rolls out, will VP manufacturers still be constrained by the TiVo patent?
I have bought the last two ATI All in Wonder generations, and I have to say I agree that it is prior art which should invalidate this patent. Additionally, I think the "obviousness" argument is solid as well. When I bought my TiVo, it wasn't obvious to me that it had this capability, but as a designer, it would have come up in the discussions quite early.
I must say, I am a huge fan of TiVo, but I think this patent application epitomizes exploitation of the Patent Office's glaring ignorance in this sector.
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I volunteer at the Exploratorium, and it's great. I think it must be one of the top, if not *the* top, hands-on museums in the world. Also, the other poster's advice about the pass good at multiple museums is a good one. My fine arts one is called a "reciprocal pass". Some participating museums give you free admission, and sometimes it's discounted. A great value for your scenario.
>Maybe you didn't realize this, but no one can be forced to say this pledge thing. This has been the law of the land since 1943 (before they even added the "prayer" part to it).
And nobody was ever officially forced to join the Young Pioneers or Nazi Party.
Recognize the indoctrination for what it is, and give up your fantasy that there is not pressure applied to the average kid to say the pledge in the exact same robotic tone as everybody else. Stop profering this flacid defense and actually ask people how it the pledge was conducted in their experience.
In response to the assertion that the patent is narrow in scope, I will differ. I can't help but notice that TiVo used "Motion Picture Entertainment Group" in a generic sense rather than specifying MPEG2 specifically. When MPEG4 rolls out, will VP manufacturers still be constrained by the TiVo patent? I have bought the last two ATI All in Wonder generations, and I have to say I agree that it is prior art which should invalidate this patent. Additionally, I think the "obviousness" argument is solid as well. When I bought my TiVo, it wasn't obvious to me that it had this capability, but as a designer, it would have come up in the discussions quite early. I must say, I am a huge fan of TiVo, but I think this patent application epitomizes exploitation of the Patent Office's glaring ignorance in this sector.