"Get to Know Me!" Monday Part IV - "So, you do what, exactly?"

It's been more than a month since I wrote up one of these posts that helps you get to know me, your humble and dynamic blogger.  So far, most of these ice-breaker posts have had to do with my pop-culture preferences... but know I'm going to actually describe my profession.  Take a shot of espresso right now to remain awake.

As I mentioned when I started this blog, and then again when I took up blogging again late last year, I'm a patent attorney.  "What's that?" you ask?  Well, as some of you may or may not know... the United States is one of the many, many countries that awards patents for technological innovations that are sufficiently new, and give the inventor (or, more likely, the inventor's employee), the right to exclude others from making or using the invention for a period of about 17 years (give or take a year or two depending on how long the patent application was pending).

Wow, that's a lot of words, and I didn't really tell you anything... now did I?  Basically, anything that is useful, new, and "non-obvious" (a fancy patent law term for "not just a minor, inconsequential change") can be patented.  There has actually been a lot of press in the last few years about patents, and most of it has been negative (if you've heard the term "patent troll," then you've heard some of that negative press).  Despite all the bad press, I firmly believe that a good, strong patent system is crucial for the future financial success of the United States, and I'll happily debate any of you in the comments if you'd like to argue otherwise.

But anyway, that's not really what I wanted to talk about now.  Basically, I wanted to show you a few of the patent applications that I've actually worked on that I think are kind of cool, and that cover actual products that you can go to the store and buy (or that you can buy online).  None of these patents are particularly earth shattering, and none of them will cure cancer or anything like that.  They are just kind of interesting little inventions that have actually been put into practice (you'd be surprised... but the ideas behind most patents don't end up in a product at all).  So, here we go, a small sampling of products that I wrote the patent application for (or at least one of the patent applications):

1. The Trick Percursion "Throw Off"

A "throw off," also referred to as a strainer or snare strainer, is the little contraption on the side of a snare drum that lets you move the snares (wires) from the "off" position (where they are not touching the drum and are not vibrated when the drum is struck) and the "on" position (where the snares are touching the bottom of the drum, or are very close to the drum, and are vibrated when the drum is struck).  Prior to the Trick invention, the throw off could generally only be "on" or "off."  There was no in between.  The Trick throw off allows for a drummer to select where the snares are set so that they could be somewhere between fully off or fully on.  As it was described to me, it allowed the drummer to select a kind of "washy" intermediate sound that was different from either the previous "off" or "on" sounds.  I have no idea if this product has been commercially successful, but I still think it is pretty cool.

"Get to Know Me!" Monday Part III - The Most Anticipated of 2012

Last week, I outlined my own personal "Best of 2011."  This week, I outline the things I'm looking forward to in the coming year.

Most Anticipated Event

Right now, there is no question... the Twin Cities Marathon.  I officially registered for this last week, so there is no backing down.  The farthest I've ever run is just over 15 miles, so it will be interesting as I gear up to run 11 more miles beyond that!  Look for a lot of posts about marathons starting around July.

(More "Get to Know Me" After the Jump)

"Get To Know Me!" Monday, Part II - The Best of 2011 Edition

Since January 2012 is almost over, and everyone else's "Best of 2011" list has been gathering dust for a full month now, I thought I'd come late to the party and offer my on personal "Best Of" so you can get a sense of what I'm currently digging.  These categories will be kind of random, so enjoy the ride.

Favorite Movie¹

 

I am not ashamed to admit it... I LOVED The Muppets.  Sure, it was a big bowl of nostalgia porn for people like me who loved watching "The Muppet Show" when I was a kid.  Sure, it is cheesy and corny.  But, so what?!  It's delightful with some really fun songs ("Man or Muppet" is my favorite, but "Life is a Happy Song" is also great).  In other words, it is pure joy in movie form.

Runner Up: (Tie) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (probably the best "Potter" movie of the whole series) and The Help (I didn't think I'd like it... but they did a good job adapting the book).

Movies I Didn't See (But Want To): (In no particular order) (1) Moneyball (LOVED the book), (2) Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, (3) Martha Marcy May Marlene, (4) The Tree of Life, (5) The Artist, (6) Meek's Cutoff, (7) Drive, (8) Take Shelter, (9) Hugo, (10) Super 8, (11) Cedar Rapids, (12) The Descendants, (13) Cerified Copy, (14) Midnight in Paris, (15) War Horse, (16) Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

Favorite Song

Who knew I was such a populist?  But, once again, I loved "Party Rock Anthem."  I love when they "Shake That!" and so does my son (he goes into violent spasms, dancing, when that part comes on).  (Source for the video is the "Literal MS Paint" channel on YouTube).

Favorite Book

Generally, I'm not a Fantasy fiction fan, but this book (and the subsequent books in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series) are so well written and so rich and layered that I couldn't help but love it.  Unfortunately, I'm all caught up to the most recent book in the series, and it will probably be a few years before the next one is out.  Oh well.

What other categories of stuff do you want me to name my "Best" of?  What have I missed?  What am I totally wrong about?  Leave a comment and let me know.

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¹ Disclaimer: since I have two little kids, I see very few movies, particularly in the theater. I believe that I saw only 3 or 4 movies in the theater in 2011, so if you disagree with my "favorite," understand that I probably haven't seen your favorite movie.

"Get To Know Me!" Monday

Blogs need gimics... and Monday is a boring day where most people are looking for a distraction from work.  I know there are tons of you readers out there just clamoring for more details about who this Mike guy is anyway.

In order to satisfy this market need, I have created "Get to Know Me!" Monday! (with my trademark double exclamation points).  Every Monday until you all know me perfectly (or, more likely, when I get bored with this concept), I will post something about me.  It may be just be some details about my life.  It may be things that I like.  It may be a hodge-podge of stuff that I threw onto the page and then sent off to the ether of the internet.  Whatever!  It's a gimick!

For today's Get to Know Me! Monday! I'm going to randomly list off my "favorite" out of various categories... generally different kinds of media.  It's pretty self-explanator, so here we go.

Favorite Movie: "The Princess Bride" - if you don't at least like this movie, I don't think we can be friends.

Favorite Band: This used to be The Dave Matthews Band... but now I'm not really sure.  Maybe Rush?

Favorite Food: Pizza!  It's got all four food groups.  It has to be healthy, right?

Favorite Beverage (that everyone can enjoy):  It definitely used to be Dr. Pepper, then it was Coke, then it was Dr. Pepper again, but now that I'm a grown up, I think it's Iced Tea (unsweetened).  Lame, I know.

Favorite (Adult) Beverage: Another one that has evolved.  First, it was a Gin and Tonic, then it was a Whiskey and Soda, but recently I'm really learned to appreciate red wine and Margaritas.  (I just realized that I'm basically a mid-40s divorcee... creepy)

Favorite Current TV Show: I almost never get to watch TV, so I'm probably missing a bunch of great stuff.  But, my favorite right now is "Mad Men."  I also really like "How I Met Your Mother."

Favorite TV Show of All Time: "Cheers" and "The Simpsons" (tie), with "Seinfeld" a close second (third, I guess), and "I Love Lucy" a very close fourth.

Favorite Book - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.  Close second is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Close third is a tie for every other Harry Potter book.  (I really like Harry Potter).

Favorite Non-Potter Book - Probably "The Hobbit," although I have really been digging the Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin, so "A Game of Thrones" would be up there.  Other honorable mentions include several Stephen King books (particularly "The Dark Tower" series and "The Stand,"), and The "Lord of the Rings" Trilogy (particularly "Return of the King").

Favorite Non-Fiction Book - "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote (which is probably the best written book I've ever read).  I also really like "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln" by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Favorite McDonald's Shake - Shamrock.

Favorite Race Distance - right now, the 10 mile.  But I had such a good race at Disney, that the Half Marathon is #2 with a bullet.

Favorite of My Children - you don't think I'm stupid enough to answer that, do you?  Also, both of my children are a tie for my favorite.

Favorite Fictional Character - Homer Simpson.  Hands down.

Favorite Homer Quote

• "In this house we obey the LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS!" and
• "Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.'" and 
• "The trick is to say you're prejudiced against all race." (on getting out of jury duty), and 
• Homer: "No beer and no TV make Homer something something" Marge: "Go crazy?" Homer: "Don't mind if I DO!" and 
• (praying to God) "In gratitude, I present you this offering of cookies and milk.  If you want me to eat them for you, give me no sign" (short pause) "Thy will be done" (eats cookies)
• (talking about God) "The lesson is: Our God is vengeful!" (to God) "O spiteful one, show me who to smite, and they shall be smoten!!!" and 
• "And how is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?" and
• "If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it --Now quiet, they're about to announce the lottery numbers!"

That's it for now... I hope you all feel better having gotten to know me better.  Until next week.