Logo of the Inventors Association of St. Louis

Inventors Connection
Inventors Association
of Saint Louis

Logo of the Inventors Association of St. Louis

Inventors Association of St. Louis (IASL) - Marketeers
PO Box 410111
St. Louis, MO   63141
Tel: 314-432-1291
Fax:
Contact: Robert Scheinkman, Director
E-mail: Director@inventorsconnection.org
Web Page: www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/05-40.htm

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Service Name: Our Final Jeopardy Topic is:
Much as it is in life, you guess your way through when you aren't absolutely sure-- -- Most everyone has viewed "Jeopardy" on television. -- You know some of the correct answers and you wait to see whether you possibly may be able to answer the "Final Jeopardy Question?" (along with those 'brains.') -- You find that 'it' is in the topic: "Invention." -- For this degree of difficulty, they might as well have given you the topic: "Earth." It is near impossible. ;-) -- Mr. Ed

-- Unless, of course, you have been 'studying-up.'
===============================================

- Pick the correct answer:
-- #1. The USPTO is in:
-- A. Arlington, VA
-- B. Alexandria, VA

- #2. The four areas of Intellectual Property are:
-- A. Trade Names
-- B. Patents
-- C. Trademarks
-- D. Trade Marks
-- E. Service Marks
-- F. Copy Rights
-- G. Copyrights
-- H. Copywrites
-- I. Non-Provisionals
-- J. Provisional Patents
-- K. Provisional Patent Applications
-- L. Secrets
-- M. Top Secrets
-- N. Trade Secrets
-- O. Government Cover-ups

- #3. You have been offered either A. or B. as Royalties for your invention of a product that will sell for $19.95 each, cost $3.90 per unit and have expected sales of 1,000,000 units within two years. --
-- Which contract from our offering company would you accept? --
-- Everything for the inventor is guaranteed and written in concrete:
- A. $10,000 paid up-front, 6.25% per unit on each unit manufactured and delivered; money to be remitted quarterly to inventor, with no buy-backs, for the first two years. Re-negotiated in final quarter of contract.
- B. Lloyds of London will insure that you will get a dollar the first month, two dollars the second month, four dollars the third month, etc. - continued exponentially for no more than eighteen months. Paid to the inventor monthly. To be re-negotiated after fifteen months.

..unless you can't wait or expect to live for two more years nailing down your dream, you should always [always] read the fine print and do the math. -- ANSWERS:

- #1. Both are correct for now. The Patent Office has been moving from Arlington, VA to Alexandria, VA and hasn't fully pulled away. So, being a trick question, [who gives a damn], you get by with either answer. Much as it is in life, you guess your way through when you aren't absolutely sure--and this was a 50-50 chance of being correct.

- #2. Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets. There are two more, but like in the game of chess, you learn those when the need arises and you are asked for six instead of four. Like in most tests, the questions go beyond the reasonable expectation of having the use of trivia. But then, the one who knows more than you, whips your ass by 'showing you up.' ;-)

- #3. The answer is B. Take your time and do the math. - Sure, that answer A. gives you up-front satisfaction, and "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," but don't forget that two-hundred sixty-two thousand and fifteen dollars ($262,015.00) is guaranteed, unless you can't wait or expect to live eighteen more months nailing down your dream? You should always [always] read the fine print and do the math. --

-- -- Think Outside the Box -- --

===========================================================
-- No, it's all made up with just enough truth to make you believe that it's all true.
http://www.publicknowledge.org/issues/hr2391
===========================================================

An alumnus returned to his old school and ran into his previous Civics Professor. They schmoozed about the old days, when the former student spied a recent Civics Test.

"This looks like the same test I took some ten years ago? Aren't you afraid that the students will compare notes and have all the correct answers?"

"No, - the questions are the same. - Times have changed and all the right answers are now all the wrong answers."

-- "FOXNews.com - Dvorak: This Dot-Com Bubble Will Burst, Too - Technology News | News On Technology" --

-- Do the right thing. Hire the right staff to advise you.

"If General Motors had kept up with the technol-ogy like the comp-uter indus-try has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon." : Technology Joke

At a recent computer exposition, Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto industry and stated "If General Motors had kept up with the technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon."

In response to Bill's comments, GM issued a press release stating: "If General Motors had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars with the following characteristics:

1. For no reason whatsoever, your car would crash twice a day.

2. Every time they repainted the lines in the road, you would have to buy a new car.

3. Occasionally your car would die on the freeway for no reason. You would have to pull over to the side of the road, close all of the windows, shut off the car, restart it, and reopen the windows before you could continue. -- For some reason, you would simply accept this.

4. Occasionally, executing a maneuver such as a left turn would cause your car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to reinstall the engine.

5. Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable, five times as fast and twice as easy to drive -- but would run on only five percent of the roads.

6. The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be replaced by a single "General Protection Fault" warning light.

7. The airbag system would ask "are you sure?" before deploying.

8. Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna.

9. Every time GM introduced a new car, car buyers would have to learn to drive all over again because none of the controls would operate in the same manner as the old car.

10. You'd have to press the "Start" button to turn the engine off.

The only dif'-rence bet-ween men and boys is the muscle bet-ween their ears
;-)
-- Eligibility Quiz - How Again Did This Go? -
-- It's your choice as to the final word:
-- "The only difference between men and boys, is the size of their _____."
- a. penises
- b. toys
- c. risks
- d. portfolio
- e. debts

-- -- "USPTO Annual Reports" -- --

-- "Table 2: Patent Applications Filed" --
-- "Table 4: Patent Pendency Statistics" --
-- "Table 6: Patents Issued" --
-- "Table 7: Patent Applications Filed by Residents of the United States" --

Addit-ional Notes: -- Need a quick response? --> Post-it -->
-- Colleagues will provide information even faster when asked on a handwritten Post-it® note, reports the Journal of Consumer Psychology. The Post-it® is perceived as a request for a personal favor.

-- "How to Market a Food Product?"

-- "Urban Legends Reference Page: Lost Legends" --

E-mail message
Date: Wed, Dec 21, 2005, 5:36pm
To: one_top_mason@yahoo.com (one_top_mason), inventors_council@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Inventors Council] Looking for investors

"Does anyone here know how to find investors looking to invest in new ideas and inventions? I have an invention but I don't have the capitol to get it out there to the industry. Please, I would love it if someone could help me. Thank you all."

Answer: There are plenty of investors out there looking to make money:

1. Does your invention make money? Can you prove it? How much money do you want? Who else is in on it? How much have they invested? What's in it for me? How long do you need my money and how soon do I get it back? How good are you; I mean, can I trust you, what's your track-record? Have you put your own money in it, too? How much do you stand to lose? What amount of securities do you have to cover my investment? etc.

2. Can I control over 50% of your business? Can you protect my investment so that I take no loss on your scheme? Is your invention a long term winner or only a seasonal product -- or is it a fad of only a few months?

3. Who is taking over if you die? Have you back-ups? Have you the material to make it? Who makes it and where is it going to be made? Do you have cost breakdowns? Have you worked out logistics? Who and where is your competition? Who else knows about your invention? How have you protected your invention, e.g., patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and letters of confidentiality? Is your timing right for this product when it hits the marketplace?

4. I don't want to be liable for your personal actions or for your untried invention/product. I want 'guarantees' from you.' - When some goniff wants 'easy pickings,' he'll sue me because I have deep pockets and you don't have as much to lose as I do.

5. Who am I? I am your competition wanting you to fail. We don't need you to cut into our profits. Our R&D department has already covered all known facets of business possibilities and so, your untried invention, if Not Invented Here, is not what we would invest in. -- However, we want to know what you have, and we may just take a look at it? There is a one in one-hundred chance that your invention is promising?

6. To your overall question: You must be kidding?? There are dozens of ways an investor can make money without investing on an untried invention.


---------------------------------> >

INVENTORS ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS
From: Caroline
Subject: ABC and Mark Burnett Productions...now casting Shark Tank!!!
Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009 9:37 PM

ABC and Mark Burnett Productions (The Apprentice, Survivor) are now casting "Shark Tank"!

"DO YOU HAVE THE NEXT GREAT MONEYMAKING IDEA? We are currently on the search for entrepreneurs, inventors, businesspersons, dreamers, promoters, creators, innovators, etc. If you feel you have a lucrative business idea but just can't seem to secure the financial backing to get it off the ground then Shark Tank is just the show for you. Each episode features aspiring entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas to moguls in hopes of landing investment funds. Apply now for your chance to enter the "Shark Tank" and see if your idea survives.

All interested parties should email .Caroline Johnson-Stephens at carolinecasting@gmail.com with the following information:

Name:
Age:
Hometown:
Phone:
Photo:
*Please put in the Subject Line of your email if you are an: Inventor, Entrepreneur or both"
======================================================================================
-- >> "Shark Tank" review: -- >>

-- "Shark Tank" was a television show on ABC on Friday nights, about inventors and business people seeking venture capital to take their ventures to the next level. When the sharks liked the offered venture, they made their offers to the venturer, separately and collectively. The entrepreneur then had the choice of accepting the offer, making a counter bid or refusing this final offer.

-- In one of the previous shows of "Shark Tank, in 2009:"

-- A dress designer received funding, but she almost didn't make the cut because she wanted to go from selling on a website to having her own retail store. The sharks didn't like this particular idea, especially with this economy.

-- One of the sharks, a female who held real estate totalling in the millions of dollars, finally said that she would invest only if another shark, who had experience in the fashion design business, would also become her co-investor. He accepted the deal after negotiating better percentage terms.
¤¤¤¤
SHARK TANK ENDED ITS TUESDAY NIGHT SEASON IN OCTOBER 2009
BUT RETURNED TO ABC TV IN JANUARY 2010 ON FRIDAY NIGHTS 8:00 P.M.
BUT THEN ENDED ITS SEASON ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2010. SORRY TO SEE IT GO :-(

-- "Angel Investor News.com" --
--------------------------------> >
-- Venture Capitalists' 'Shark Tank' Questions & Demands

1. How much of your own money have you invested? Over how much time? What percentage of profit have you made so far?

2. For what amount do you value your business? What are its assets? What is it still lacking?

3. I want 51% of your business for a 25% investment. I want your patents in your business as part of the deal.

4. What is your projected business growth?

5. What makes your business unique?

6. What more can you offer?

7. Why didn't you:
a. go to the bank for more money
b. borrow from your previous lenders
c. borrow on your house and car

8. How soon will I get my money back? --

The Women's Capital Connection

The Women’s Capital Connection (WCC) is a regional network of accredited angel investors dedicated to identifying and funding the most promising start-up business opportunities in the Kansas-Missouri region.

WCC has two primary objectives:

1) To present high return on investment funding opportunities to its members;

2) To facilitate access to early-stage financing for high-potential women led businesses and entrepreneurs.

Is Angel Investment Right for You?

Angel investment is the “right” source of funding for only a small proportion of entrepreneurial businesses. When considering yourself for investment by an individual angel or angel group, ask yourself these key questions:
Am I willing to give up some amount of ownership and control of my company?
Can I demonstrate that my company is likely to realize significant revenues and earnings in the next 3-7 years?
Can I demonstrate that my company will produce a significant return for investors?
Am I willing to take the advice from investors and accept board of director decisions I may not always agree with?
Do I have an exit plan for the company that may mean I’m not involved in 3-7 years?


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Women's Capital Connection

The Women’s Capital Connection (WCC) is a regional network of accredited angel investors dedicated to identifying and funding the most promising start-up business opportunities in the Kansas-Missouri region.

WCC has two primary objectives:

1) To present high return on investment funding opportunities to its members;

2) To facilitate access to early-stage financing for high-potential women led businesses and entrepreneurs.

Getting Started

Complete and submit an application and executive summary.

You must include the following in your Executive Summary:

Describe your company’s products and/or services
Submit Sales and marketing plans.
Describe how you propose to reach your targeted customers from marketing, sales & support perspectives.
Describe the 3-5 year goals of the business & identify the several most important steps needed to reach the goals.
Financial overview – projected financials for at least three years out.
Describe fully your 3-7 year exit strategy?

WCC Review Process

The application and executive summary will be reviewed by a pre-screening team.

Based on the team’s review of the opportunity, they may:

1) ask for a meeting in order to gather additional information about the company;

2) recommend that the entrepreneur present at a Screening Committee meeting; or

3) determine the company is unlikely to receive WCC funding.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OKLA-HOMA From: Alan Schaefer
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 8:55 PM
Subject: FW: Goooood Oklahomaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some will call this political. If you do not agree....just delete it. I call it factual, realistic, and timely. I believe that a majority of the voting public already agrees.

An update from Oklahoma.

The state law passed today, 37 to 9, had a few liberals in the mix, an amendment to place the Ten Commandments on the front entrance to the state capitol. The feds in D.C., along with the ACLU, said it would be a mistake. Hey this is a conservative state, based on Christian values...! Guess what..........We did it anyway.

We recently passed a law in the state to incarcerate all illegal immigrants, and ship them back to where they came from, unless they want to get a green card and become an American citizen. They all scattered. Hope we didn't send any of them to your state. This was against the advice of the Federal Government, and the ACLU, they said it would be a mistake. Guess what..........we did it anyway.

Yesterday we passed a law to include DNA samples from any and all illegals to the Oklahoma database, for criminal investigative purposes. Pelosi said it was unconstitutional. Guess what........We did it anyway.

Several weeks ago, we passed a law, declaring Oklahoma as a Sovereign state, not under the Federal Government directives. That, for your information, makes Oklahoma and Texas the only states to do so. Guess what.........More states are likely to follow. Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, both Carolina's, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, West Virginia, just to name a few. Should Mississippi act, so will Florida. Save your confederate money, it appears the South is about to rise up once again.

The federal Government has made bold steps to take away our guns. Oklahoma, a week ago, passed a law confirming people in this state have the right to bear arms and transport them in their vehicles. I'm sure that was a set back for the Kennedys and Ms Pelosi. Guess what..........We did it anyway.

By the way, Obama does not like any of this.
Guess what....who cares...were doing it anyway.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> >
From: Alan Schaefer
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 8:58 PM
Subject: Other Side of the Fence

From the other side of the fence... Received the following from Tom O'Malley, who was a Director with S.W. BELL in Mexico City :

"I spent five years working in Mexico . I worked under a tourist Visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that you were working illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks waiting on the FM3 approval.

“During that six months our Mexican and U.S. attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a 'FM3'. It was in addition to my U.S. passport that I had to show each time I entered and left the country. Barbara's was the same, except hers did not permit her to work.

"To apply for the FM3, I needed to submit the following notarized originals (not copies):
1. Birth certificate for Barbara and me.
2. Marriage certificate.
3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.
4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.
5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors I had worked for at least one year.
6. A letter from the St. Louis Chief of Police indicating that I had no arrest record in the U.S. and no outstanding warrants and, was "a citizen in good standing".
7. "Finally, I had to write a letter about myself that clearly stated why there was no Mexican citizen with my skills and why my skills were important to Mexico . We called it our 'I am the greatest person on Earth' letter. It was fun to write."

"All of the above were in English that had to be translated into Spanish and be certified as legal translations, and our signatures notarized. It produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick with English on the left side & Spanish on the right."

"Once they were completed Barbara and I spent about five hours, accompanied by a Mexican attorney, touring Mexican government office locations and being photographed and fingerprinted at least three times at each location, and we remember at least four locations where we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the government's actions or we would be committing a felony. We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done we could legally bring in our household goods that were held by U.S. Customs in Laredo , Texas . This meant we had rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting our goods. There were extensive fees involved here that the company paid."

"We could not buy a home and were required to rent at very high rates and under contract and compliance with Mexican law."

"We were required to get a Mexican driver's license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the licensing agency to come to our headquarters location with their photography and fingerprint equipment and the laminating machine. We showed our U.S. license, were photographed and fingerprinted again and issued the license instantly after paying out a six dollar fee. We did not take a written or driving test and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was to never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. If he got his hands on it you would have to pay ransom to get it back. "

"We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually using the number of our FM3 as our ID number. The company's Mexican accountants did this for us and we just signed what they prepared. It was about twenty legal size pages annually."

"The FM3 was good for three years and renewable for two more after paying more fees."

"Leaving the country meant turning in the FM3 and certifying we were leaving no debts behind and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs."

"It was a real adventure and if any of our Senators or Congressmen went through it once they would have a different attitude toward Mexico ."

"The Mexican government uses its vast military and police forces to keep its citizens intimidated and compliant. They never protest at their capitol or government offices, but do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The U.S. Embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress and during most protests the Mexican military surrounds the block with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear to protect the Embassy. These protests are never shown on U.S. or Mexican TV. There is a large public park across the street where they do their protesting. Anything can cause a protest such as proposed law changes in California or Texas ."

Please feel free to share this with everyone who thinks we are being hard on the illegal's.

========================================> >
-- "Entering the U.S. - Documents required for Foreign Nationals (International Travelers)"
========================================> >

From: Alan Schaefer
Subject: Fw: Fwd: Immigration and Missouri
Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010 12:02 AM

Why is everyone getting on Arizona? We did it awhile back!

Simple solutions to not-so-complex problems.

The "Show Me" state has once again showed us how it should be done. They need more exposure on this. Let's pass it around.

In 2007, Missouri placed on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment designating English as the Official language of Missouri. Nearly 90% voting in favor! English became the official language for ALL governmental proceeding in Missouri. It also means no individual has the right to demand government services in a language OTHER than English.

In 2008, a measure was passed that requires our Highway Patrol and other law enforcement officials to verify the immigration status of any person arrested, and inform federal authorities if the person is found to be here illegally. It allows Missouri law enforcement offices to receive training to enforce federal immigration laws. The bill makes it clear that illegal immigrants will NOT have access to taxpayers' benefits such as food stamps and health-care through Missouri HealthNET.

In 2009, a measure was passed that ensures Missouri's public institutions of higher education do NOT award financial aid to individuals who are here illegally. The law also requires all post-secondary institutions of higher education to annually certify to the Missouri Dept. of Higher Education that they have NOT knowingly awarded financial aid to students who are unlawfully present in the United States.

So, while Arizona has made national news for its new law, it is important to remember Missouri has been proactive in addressing this growing problem.

Missouri has sent a clear message that illegal immigrants are NOT welcome in our state and they are certainly NOT welcome to receive public benefits at the cost of Missouri taxpayers!

Article in "The Ozarks Sentinel" Editorial Opinion - Nita Jane Ayres, May 13, 2010

So, tell me again, what’s wrong with the Arizona law?