In the wake of the recent death of Michael Jackson, many worldwide are remembering his music, his dancing, and the early years in the Jackson 5.  But how many remember him as an inventor and patentee?  Perhaps the attorney who drafted the patent application, or Examiner Patterson, who recognized the inventive novelty during prosecution.  I’ll venture to guess few even knew Michael Jackson also wore the inventor hat in addition to that cool fedora.  Read more here.

Ever wonder why pigs became the symbol of saving money? Wonder no more!

Long ago, dishes and cookware in Europe were made of a dense, orange clay called “pygg.” When people saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as “pygg banks.” When an English potter misunderstood the word, he made a bank that resembled a pig. And it caught on.

Newton’s Telecom Dictionary, p.716. [just don’t ask me why its in there]

Thomas Jefferson once said, ‘We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.’ And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.

- Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)

In all large corporations, there is a pervasive fear that someone, somewhere is having fun with a computer on company time. Networks help alleviate that fear.

- John C. Dvorak

(this post added on my lunch break)

This week I attended a luncheon featuring Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as the keynote speaker. It was an incredible opportunity to hear a sitting Supreme Court justice in person, speaking about the path by which he reached his current position, as well as the role he plays on the current Court. Not only that, but his personal story is one that encapsulates the American dream - a young boy born into extreme poverty rises up to become one of the greatest men in America. His story exemplifies the truth that anyone can achieve anything with the freedoms we have here in this country.

The only thing that shocked me, though I suppose it really should not have, was the utter lack of publicity his arrival and time in Dallas generated. Not one local news outlet highlighted the event, to my knowledge, nor even mentioned that a sitting Supreme Court Justice was in town! The local newspaper did not write up the event in advance of or after its occurence. The only place I could find mention of the event was on blogs, and organizational websites of participating organizations.

Compare that to the previous year, when retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to Dallas. Months before her arrival, news outlets reported on her coming and gave information about the event. The public was made aware of the opportunity and her time here received much press. I attended that event myself, and enjoyed hearing her persepective about her time on the Court. The question is, why the difference? Why does one retired Justice receive an enormous amount of attention, while another sitting Justice receives barely any at all?

The answer may be found in the lone editorial reviewing Justice Thomas’ new book, in which the columnist writes:

If Clarence Thomas were a liberal, he’d be widely regarded as an American hero.

(interestingly, although the DMN editorial was written only a week prior to the event this past Tuesday, no mention is made of Justice Thomas coming to Dallas)