We got this in the mail not too long ago. Marty's mom did the quilting and binding, and I love it!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Studying for the Patent Bar
Once upon a time I blogged about the patent bar--or at least how I was thinking about taking it if I could get through the hoops of the application process.
Here's a little update. I think I have all of the appropriate documentation to complete my application to sit for the patent bar. But I'm not ready to apply yet, because there are a couple other hoops. Once the USPTO (US patent and trademark office) approves my application, I have only 90 days to take the exam. The exam is the kind of exam that you really need some kind of prep course in order to have a hope of passing.
Last summer my boss purchased the prep material of my choosing for me. My initial hope was to take the exam before Christmas. That didn't happen. My new goal is to take it by the end of the summer. And I'm happy to say that I am fitting some real study time into my life.
But here's where I have a bit of a dilemma...The exam is open book, of a sort. I'll plan on taking the exam on computer, and I will have at my disposal a pdf of the manual from which the questions of the exam are based--the 1200 page manual in legalese. The version of the pdf reader that I'll get to use on the exam has a search function, but it only searches within a selected chapter, not the entire 1200 page document; so I'll still need to know which chapters to search to find the answers. My test prep software allows me to search the entire document, and so far I've discovered that I'm incredibly terrible at constructing effective searches to find the answers that I want--either I get no results or 1000+ results.
So, do I focus my study time on actually trying to know most of the material so I don't have to worry about looking up answers? (I've read estimates suggesting that you'll only reasonably be able to look up 25% of the questions if you want to finish the exam in the allotted time.) Or do I focus my time getting as good as I can possibly get at using the electronic manual and the search function? (I talked with someone who took the patent bar in November and his advice was just practice with the software that I have, adding that he was able to look up the answer to every single question).
Here's a little update. I think I have all of the appropriate documentation to complete my application to sit for the patent bar. But I'm not ready to apply yet, because there are a couple other hoops. Once the USPTO (US patent and trademark office) approves my application, I have only 90 days to take the exam. The exam is the kind of exam that you really need some kind of prep course in order to have a hope of passing.
Last summer my boss purchased the prep material of my choosing for me. My initial hope was to take the exam before Christmas. That didn't happen. My new goal is to take it by the end of the summer. And I'm happy to say that I am fitting some real study time into my life.
But here's where I have a bit of a dilemma...The exam is open book, of a sort. I'll plan on taking the exam on computer, and I will have at my disposal a pdf of the manual from which the questions of the exam are based--the 1200 page manual in legalese. The version of the pdf reader that I'll get to use on the exam has a search function, but it only searches within a selected chapter, not the entire 1200 page document; so I'll still need to know which chapters to search to find the answers. My test prep software allows me to search the entire document, and so far I've discovered that I'm incredibly terrible at constructing effective searches to find the answers that I want--either I get no results or 1000+ results.
So, do I focus my study time on actually trying to know most of the material so I don't have to worry about looking up answers? (I've read estimates suggesting that you'll only reasonably be able to look up 25% of the questions if you want to finish the exam in the allotted time.) Or do I focus my time getting as good as I can possibly get at using the electronic manual and the search function? (I talked with someone who took the patent bar in November and his advice was just practice with the software that I have, adding that he was able to look up the answer to every single question).
Friday, March 05, 2010
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Ten for Tuesday
1. Sometimes I'm an idiot. Like when I spend all afternoon working on various files, and then I as I'm finishing up, I choose not to save the changes I've made to one of the files. Argh!
2. I like listening to audio books, but it really bugs me when they have mood music playing in the background. I shouldn't need background music to tell me that I'm listening to an emotionally intense, or sappy, or dramatic part of the book, or to try to evoke any emotion from me--the writing and language of the book should set the mood. If I'm going to have an emotional response to the book, it should be because of the text.
3. Razor likes bananas. When she was a puppy Razor really liked bananas, but after eating an entire banana (peel and all), she wasn't interested in them anymore. Well, a couple of weeks ago that all changed. All of a sudden she acts like bananas are as good as her jerky treats.
4. We got a new car. We hadn't planned to, but when we discovered that our clutch was having problems and that it was likely driving up our steep driveway everyday that was causing the problems, we decided to look into options other than replacing the clutch only to replace it again in a couple years. Thus, the new car. Basically, it's just like the old car, but it's an automatic instead of a stick shift.
5. Razor also likes apples. Tonight she happily took apple pieces even though I also had bacon.
6. Cher has been promoted to Head of Guest Services for our household. You should see the care she puts into ruffling the toilet paper. Not only that, but she'll even unroll the toilet paper for you, so the toilet paper is beautiful and ready to use without the hassle of being on the roll.
7. Marty has a test tomorrow. That means I've been banished to the upstairs while he focuses on studying downstairs.
8. Marty has an interview for the Masters of Accountancy program at NC State on Thursday. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
9 & 10. I have a new young woman in my Beehive class at church. On Sunday she talked to me about how she doesn't have scriptures. I told her I have some extras at home. When I got home and looked at the extra set I was thinking of, I realized that I'd forgotten how badly Razor had mangled the cover when she was in her puppy chewing everything stage. I needed to do some cosmetic enhancement.
I disassembled a little purse that I bought years ago on ebay and have never used, and from it I created this:
2. I like listening to audio books, but it really bugs me when they have mood music playing in the background. I shouldn't need background music to tell me that I'm listening to an emotionally intense, or sappy, or dramatic part of the book, or to try to evoke any emotion from me--the writing and language of the book should set the mood. If I'm going to have an emotional response to the book, it should be because of the text.
3. Razor likes bananas. When she was a puppy Razor really liked bananas, but after eating an entire banana (peel and all), she wasn't interested in them anymore. Well, a couple of weeks ago that all changed. All of a sudden she acts like bananas are as good as her jerky treats.
4. We got a new car. We hadn't planned to, but when we discovered that our clutch was having problems and that it was likely driving up our steep driveway everyday that was causing the problems, we decided to look into options other than replacing the clutch only to replace it again in a couple years. Thus, the new car. Basically, it's just like the old car, but it's an automatic instead of a stick shift.
5. Razor also likes apples. Tonight she happily took apple pieces even though I also had bacon.
6. Cher has been promoted to Head of Guest Services for our household. You should see the care she puts into ruffling the toilet paper. Not only that, but she'll even unroll the toilet paper for you, so the toilet paper is beautiful and ready to use without the hassle of being on the roll.
7. Marty has a test tomorrow. That means I've been banished to the upstairs while he focuses on studying downstairs.
8. Marty has an interview for the Masters of Accountancy program at NC State on Thursday. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
9 & 10. I have a new young woman in my Beehive class at church. On Sunday she talked to me about how she doesn't have scriptures. I told her I have some extras at home. When I got home and looked at the extra set I was thinking of, I realized that I'd forgotten how badly Razor had mangled the cover when she was in her puppy chewing everything stage. I needed to do some cosmetic enhancement.
I disassembled a little purse that I bought years ago on ebay and have never used, and from it I created this:
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