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Posts Tagged 'dirttracks'
Posted: July 3, 2017 in Photography, Racing
Tags: ama flat track, Dirt Modifieds, dirtcar, dirtmodifieds, dirttracks, ESS, Fugi, fujifilm, lincolnspeedway, new York, photography, racing, sports photography, sprintcars, Syracuse, USAC, weedsportspeedway, williamsgrovespeedway, xpro2
Yes it's true so far this summer my lens has been full of sprint cars. I was born and raised on Dirt Modifieds, and I still love ❤ attending a good Big block race. With this being said there is nothing like a winged sprint car running wide open on a tight dirt track. This summer I am shooting for Race Pro Weekly, so this has giving me more opertunities to cover races that I might not have been able to in the past.
My Spring started at the Utica Rome Speedway for a 360 Sprint car show, as well as Big Block Modifieds. This years spring was very wet, so the Utica Rome track was a bit of a challenge for the track crew. It felt great getting back to the track to cover some of my favorite race cars on earth. Both classes had a good amount of entries for the nights racing action. 360 sprint cars hit the track first for their heat races. A couple laps into the first race the dust was so bad they had to stop the race to apply more water. I know with all the rain we had you would think dust wouldn't be an issue, but it was. After a ton of water was put on to the parched surface, and the sun made its way behind the grand stands, the track was all set for a good night of racing. A few teams pulled out early. They should have stayed put, because the track and racing was great for the rest of the night.
Next up was a Sunday trip to Pennsylvania. We made our way to Action Track USA for the 4th annual "Dick Tobias Classic". This was my first visit to the popular track that runs SpeeedSTR's, 600cc Micros, and Modified like Slingshots. The place was packed with both cars and fans. I absolutely loved this place. The racing was top notch, as well as the facility. Richie Tobias and crew do a fantastic job with this little jewel of a race track. I hope to get back to The Action Track again this year.
Third on my summer schedule was the World Of Outlaws Sprint Cars at Weedsport Speedway. If you haven't been to the newly redone Weedsport Speedway I highly suggest you do. The WOO sprint cars do not make as many visits to upstate NY as they used to but, when they do it is awesome. I was blessed to be able to cover this race for Race Pro Weekly this year. Butterfly's filled my gut as I walked into the pit area looking at the line of stacker trailers, and the best sprint cars in the nation.
The track was perfect during hot laps, qualifying and the first few heat races. Unforchanitly Mother Nature thought the track needed some water. 😩 we waited it out for a while but the rain held on long enough that they had to reschedule the race in October. Sad night, but I was able to get some good shots. I will see you in October lol.
In between these sprint car races that I was covering, I was also covering Flat Track motorcycles, and big block Modified action around central NY.
Last winter I made plans to head to PA for the USAC Eastern Storm week. A full week of wingless sprint cars, Midgets, and the historic Silver Crown cars. My wife Tammy and I made our way to Lincoln Speedway for round two of the Eastern Eastern Storm.
This was my first time seeing USAC Sprint Cars, and boy am I glad I did. These things are awesome. I love winged sprint cars, but this is a whole different deal. As far as picture taking they are just beautiful to shoot. Winged cars stay as straight as they can for speed, these guys do the complete opposite. They drive down into the corners and throw it completely sideways. Wow 😳 that is wicked.
I was able to shoot from both the inside and outside of the track. I was smiling the entire night. It was great watching the top drivers from USAC battling on the popular tracks in PA. The racing was good from green to checkard at Lincoln. We absolutely loved it.
Tammy and I left Lincoln and headed toward Williams Grove to spend the night. Thursday we woke up had breakfast and cruised around PA killing time before we headed the the famous Williams Grove Speedway. Along with the sprint cars, we were also going to see some USAC/ ARDC Midgets on the fast 1/2 mile oval.
We pulled into the track a bit early, so we set up our lawn chairs, and watched the race cars pull in for the nights action. I wasn't shooting for anybody but my self at the Grove. It was fine because of the nice access that is avalible to the fans in the infield. We walked through the pits checking out the cars and drivers. It was very cool getting up close to these guys that we see on TV during the year.
Tammy and I made our way over to turns 1 & 2 with our chairs to enjoy the nights races. Both races were great from start to finish. I have found a new love in racing. Wingless sprint cars are great to watch. A bucket list item for all race fans.
After the full night of racing we started our 3 1/2 hr trip home. We pulled into our driveway at 3:10am Friday morning. I'm not 18 any more but getting home that late was worth every minute of lost sleep. 😴
Again gin between these races I was going to motorcycle races and covered some local car shows. My summer was kicking into high gear for sure.
In June I made my way back to Weedsport Speedway for the first ever Ultimate Wingless Shootout. Empire Super Sprints/ URC drivers removed their wings for a shot of winning $5000 at Weedsport. Again rain threatened us all night long. It did rain a bit early on, setting the race back a bit, but we were able to get the entire show in. Along with the sprintcars, the very popular Sportsman Modifieds were on the card as well.
The night was full of action, from great side by side racing to sprint cars flipping and landing in trees. Yes I said landing in trees. Three laps into practice one driver launched his car over the turn one wall perching himself in a tree just outside of the track. The driver was un injured, and the track crew learned how to get a race car out of a tree. That wasn't the only incident we had during the night. Three or four more cars got in their top before the final checkard flag flew.
Below is Mark Smith the winner of the A-Main and $5000.
My self I really enjoyed the show, and I hope this becomes a regular thing up here in NY. I think this might be a way to get more young race fans to the track.
July 1st I made my way back to the Fulton Speedway for some 360 Sprint Cars, Big block mods, sports and, latemodles, and fireworks 💥. I know that's a full night of racing. This was the second to last night of Sprint week for the Empire Super Sprints (ESS). The weather was great and the pit area was full of top runners in all divisions. With all of the rain we have had the track was fast and heavy the entire night.
As usual The racing was excellent in all classes. Fulton is a great place for dirt track racing. It seems like there is always a battle going on in the front of the field. Above ESS Feature winner Jason Barney at speed during his heat race.
So that's if for now, my summer is cranking up with lots more racing ahead of me for the three months. And yes a lot more sprint cars. Look for my Motorcycle, and Modified post coming here soon.
I will see you at the track.
Port Royal Was So "Sweet"
Posted: October 25, 2015 in Photography, Racing
Tags: bradsweet, dirttracks, donnyschatz, fujifilm, photograohy, portroyalspeedway, sprintcars, worldofoutlaws
Brad Sweet won his first race in Pennsylvania, against a stout field of WOO cars, as well as the always strong PA Posse. Port Royal hosted the World of Outlaws for their final 2015 appearance in the Keystone state.
After the National Open at Williams Grove a few weeks back, the traveling series made a stop at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park during Super Dirt Week. They then traveled west to Lawenceburg Indiana for a night, before coming back east for a couple of stops.
Their first stop was at"The Speed Palace", on Saturday and then up to the newly revamped Weedsport Speedway on Sunday night. Donny Shatz locked up his Seventh Woo championship a few weeks back, but is still trying to add to his impressive 31 feature wins this season. PA is a tough place to win because of the strong field of "Posse" at every track.
7 Time World Of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz
Myself and a couple of friends made the trip south Saturday morning to Port Royal for much needed 410 Sprint Car Action. Earlier in the week a freind of mine Frankie Cottrell, invited me to ride with him to Port Royal. I was debating on going to Weedsport for their big weekend of racing, or heading down to the 54th running of the "Eastern States" at Orange County Speedway. By Thursday I knew I wanted to go to Port Royal. I let Frankie know that I was going with him on Saturday. Friday I ran into long time freind Bill Bradshaw. I asked Bill if he would like to go with us in the morning? Bill being a former ESS Driver, doesn't turn down too many sprint car shows. It was set 11:00am, and the three of us headed out.
We met up with one Of Frankie's co workers at A-Verdi Storage, in Savannah, NY. The four of us had huge smiles on our faces all night. We all agreed that we are blessed with a lot of race tracks in NY, but still travel 3.5 hours to go see a sprint car race. It is true if you have never been to PA for a 410 Sprunt Car race you do not know what you are missing.
During the day on Saturday the weather man was calling for rain showers around 9:00pm. Port Royal did a great job moving the show along for the fans. I am sure it was a little crazy for some of the teams, but the fans showed up to see a show, and that is what they got. With over 40 sprint cars in the pit area, and a full field of Mid- Atlantic Modifieds, we knew it was going to be a great night of racing.
The track was perfect for time trials. Donny Schatz set fast time with a blistering lap on the 1/2 mile clay oval. Schatz beat out Daryn Pittmans 16.327 lap with a quick time of 16.199, averaging around 110 mph. Shane Sterwert, Brad Sweet, Lucas Wolfe, and Logann Schuchart won their respective heat races putting them into the nights A main.
Lucas Wolfe showed his competitors in the dash that he was going to be a threat in the main. Shane Stewert, Dietrich, Sweet, and Greg Hodnett rounded out the top five. In between sprint car races the Modifiedds ran their heat races, setting up their main event that would be run later in the night. NASCAR driver David Stremme was on hand racing one of his own chassis for their first appearance at Port Royal Speedway.
Stremme wheeling his Lethal Chassis Modified around the fast 1/2 mile
A few sprinkles started to fall on us before the mains made it to the track. Soon after we heard the pit Steward calling for the A-main cars to get onto the track for their race. We moved from turn one to turn three for the start of the sprint car feature.Most tracks in PA allow their fans to go into the infield for the same price to watch nights event. This is AWESOME, I wish the NY tracks would do the same.
It was show time. Wolfe and Stewert brought the field to the green with a lot of fast cars behind them. After only one lap the caution flag flew for a car that spun out. On the restart Wolfe lead Stewart into turn one with Brent Marks all the way up to third. Marks passed about five cars at the start of the race. Sweet, and Pittman made their way around Marks real fast, setting their sites on the leaders. Only after ten laps Wolfe found himself fighting his way through traffic. Brad Sweet worked the traffic to his advantage moving him self past the #2 Stewart for the second spot.
Wolfe, Sweet, Pittman worked hard to get past some of the back markers. Just about 1/2 way through the 30 lap main, Sweet put a move on Wolfe in traffic to take over the top spot in turn one. Lucas could not stop either Sweet or Pittman from going by his Famous Zemco Racing #1, moving him back to the 3rd spot. All eyes were on the top three, but you know fans scanned the field to see where the WOO champion was. Schatz was up to the fourth spot looking to get to the front.
By now Pittman was on Sweets rear bumper. With ten to go, the fans erupted when Pittman took advantage of a mistake by Sweet to take the lead. Pittman looked to pull his Kasey Kahn owned Great clips car out on Sweet and Schatz. Schatz was on the move with less then eight laps to go.
A late race caution flew bunching the field back up with only a few laps left. Daryn Pittman chose the bottom for the restart, putting Sweet on the high side, with Schatz and Dietrich close behind. The field fired coming out of four, making most of the fans rise to their feet. Pittman held off Sweet through turns one and two. Schatz was looking to make a move for second. Brad Sweet made a bold move to the outside of Pittman going into turn three. The move worked as Sweet grabbed the lead again for the final laps to win his first race in Pennsylvania.
Sweet On the high side of Pittman for the lead
Pittman said in his post race interview that he was disappointed with his second place finish. Daryn stated that he thought he had the edge on Brad when Sweet moved to the high side. He said he didn't think Sweet could make it stick up there, but he did. Port Royal ran this entire event in less than 3hrs. That is AWSOME. I would like to thank the promoters and all of their staff for making our trip to PA worth the drive.
If you have not been to a race in PA, please put it on your calendar for next year, you will not be disappointed. Check out all of my images from Port Royal at my web site John Zachary Photography
I will see you at the track
Labor Day Weekend and The Empire Super Sprints
Posted: September 8, 2015 in Photography, Racing
Tags: dirttracks, ESS, laborday, motorsports, racing, sprintcars, uticaromeraceway
Labor Day weekend means the end of summer here in Central, NY. It also means dirt racing is fast and furious in the area. This year it all started on Saturday night at a Thunder Mountain Speedway in Center Lisle, NY.
The Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints headlined the show with a 25 lap main event, along with the CRSA 305 Sprints, open Sportsman, 692 Soortsman, Rookie Sportsman, Empore Lighting Sprints, SRP Sprints, Street Stocks,Xcell 600 Modifieds, and the always popular Modifieds.
Yes all of this for $20 on a Saturday night. 177 cars, 10 features were on the bill for the night atop the Mountain. The stands were packed for a full programs of dirt racing. Only the ESS and CRSA classes ran heat races during the program. The rest of the classes ran just a feature race making it a great show for the fans.
I wasn't shooting this event, so the images below are ESS cars from a event at Rolling Wheels Raceway a few weeks ago.
All of the races were great, but the ESS main event was awesome. Eventual winner Curt Michael fought his way to the front from the 10th starting spot. Early leader Chuck Hebing, Robbie Stillwagon and defending series champion Steve Poirier battled wheel to wheel for most of the 25 laps. Lap traffic was thick on the small dirtoval, making it hard for the leaders to get out on the guy behind him. Michael made a pass for the lead on the outside of Hebing late in the race, but the caution flew and they reverted back to the last lap putting Curt back in the second spot. ESS does side by side restarts up till one or two laps to go. This means Hebing had his choice of starting inside or outside on the restart. Chuck choose the outside, putting Michael on the inside. Michael had been running the top most of the night, so this would be interesting to see if he could make the car work on the bottom. As the field mashed the gas coming out of turn four, Hebing pulled out a small lead going into turn one on Miichael. Chuck drove it deep into the first turn with Curt right next to him on the bottom. The two made slight contact, giving Michael the advantage coming out of two. That was just enough to get out on the top five and take the win over a stellar field of cars. Stillwagon tried to get around Hebing on the last lap, but came up a bit short, to finish third.
I haven't had the chance to see ESS in a few years, but I must say they put on a great show, with top notch Cars and Drivers.
Next up for the weekend was the Lucas Oil ESS at Utica Rome Raceway. We planned on going to see Steve Miller at the New York State Fair Sunday night, but with the high temps we decided to travel east to watch some more Sprint car racing. Again I didn't shoot this race, so I will use a few pictures from a race a few weeks ago at Utica Rome and Rolling Wheels.
Stewert Friesen above was on hand in both the Sprint cars and Stampede Steakhouse Modifieds. Mike Mahaney, Larry Wight, and Danny Varin also pulled double duty Sunday night at Utica Rome. 38 sprint cars were on hand for the nights Lucas Oil ESS show. Four heats, Dash for cash and a B main were in the docket for the sprint cars.
The track was dry slick from the hot weather and full sunshine beating on the track. This made it tricky for the competitors in all classes, but just a touch more for the super fast light weight sprint cars. During the heat races the middle of the track was pretty slick, but the inside and top had a decent amount of bite for the 360 cars to get a hold of. The top four in the heats went to the redraw, to set up the starting g grid for the A-main. The dash and B-Main would fill out the rest of the 25 car field.
By the time the ESS drivers pulled out onto the track, the bottom groove had been diminished to a 12-14inch piece of tacky dirt. The top had been blown off, making it a very thin line to run for 25 laps. One slip on the top could end up being a costly mistake. At the drop of the green the fast guys from the heat races set off on their quest to find some traction to help them get to the front. Early leader #33 Mike Mahaney pulled out to a decent lead on second place#51 Bryan Howland. Mike was on the bottom scratching for that little bit of relastate next to the tires. Local favorite #1 Stewert Friesen, (behind the Wherl of his wife's 360 sprint car) was searching high and low for traction. Friesen ran the top to get around cars on the bottom line, and sneak under the guys running the middle of the track. By the time Stewert made it to the second spot leader Mahaney was deep in lap traffic. Mahaney is new in the sprint cars. Doug Emery put Mike behind the wheel of his we'll know #33 car for the weekend. Friesen was on the bottom so far when he came out if turn four the car would get bite and move hard toward the outside wall on the front stretch.
Friesen made his way to the back bumper of Mahaney, in lap traffic. He worked in Mike for a few laps on the bottom. Finally Mike slipped up a touch and Stewert drove by him down the back stretch. Mahaney tried to stay close to Friesen, but Stewart was to strong out front in clean air. Saturday nights winner at Thunder Mountain Curt Michael worked his way up to the third spot behind Mahaney at the end of 25 laps. Michael said he was happy with his weekends results, because he wasn't used to the slick tracks in NY. Curt is used to running on the high bite tracks in PA.. Brian Howland, and Larry Wight, rounded out the top five.
It was a great weekend of sprint car racing in Central, NY. We had a great time at these tracks, and look forward to seeing the Empire Super Sprints in the near future. I you get a chance to see this show, do it it is worth every penny. Visit Empire Super Sprints for their full schedule.
I hope to see you at the track


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Night Fight at Wauhatchie Conclusion
by Dan O'Connell on May 24, 2012 · 0 comments
The Relief Column
At Brown's Ferry the sound of the battle to the south alerted Hooker that his rear may be in trouble. MG Oliver Howard, commanding XI Corps, was ordered to double quick his nearest division to Geary's aid. MG Carl Shurz got his two divisions ready for the rescue mission. The division of BG Aldolphus von Steinwehr led to the way with the brigade of COL Orlando Smith (33rd Massachusetts, 136th New York, and 73rd Ohio) out front. After a mile of double quicking down the Brown's Ferry Road they ran into Evander Law's pickets stationed at the base of a hill. All thoughts of the rescue mission stopped as the 73rd Ohio was scattered by the heavy volley from the trees. Smith had no choice but to turn and face the threat. He got the Ohioans in line and put the 33rd Massachusetts on their left. The 136th New York remained on the road in reserve. Orders arrived for Smith to clear the hill. The two regiments (approximately 450 men) inched their way into the tress and started up the hill. The advance quickly got disoriented but the men pushed up the slope. As they neared the top the intertwined units began to call out to each other for identification purposes. Suddenly there was a challenge
"What regiment is that?"
The answer rang out.
"Thirty-third Massachusetts."
Once they had identified themselves they received a tremendous volley from Law's main force at the crest of the hill. Nearly a quarter of the 33rd fell as a result. The volley fired at the Massachusetts men served as a warning and many of the 73rd Ohio fell to the ground expecting the same treatment. The volley passed over them, but they were ordered to push on and advanced into ever increasing fire. The momentarily staggered 33rd fell back to the bottom of the hill where they regrouped and were pushed forward again. Andrew Boies recalled the second trip up the hill this way in his journal of the war:
"…and at it they went charging with the bayonet, dealing each other blows over the head with the musket, slashing and cutting with swords…this was too much for them…and finally gave way…leaving the 33d in possession of the hill."
The bold effort cost the regiment 86 casualties from 238 that fought the fight. The 73rd Ohio, their partner in this affair lost a third of its strength. What they didn't know was that it could have been much worse. Law, reacting to a faulty intelligence report had decided to cede the position. The Confederates were in the act of realigning when the second assault came. The movement of troops had created gaps in the line that allowed the Federals to get in close. Had Law determined to fight for control of the hill its doubtful that the two Union regiments could have taken it at any cost. Law understood that his departure would leave Bratton uncovered from the north and that relief columns were headed to assist Geary. He issued a recall order.
As Bratton was about to begin his attack the messenger from Law arrived. There would be no final struggle just a retreat. The relatively unscathed 6th SC took up a position at the railroad and fired the last volleys to cover the retreat of the battered remnants of his other regiments. The Union relief troops from the north finally arrived hours after the battle had ended.
Conclusion and Assessment
Given the technology of the day night engagements were frowned upon. Difficulties with command and control in the darkness usually precluded such operations. Nevertheless, given the opportunity Colonel Bratton conducted a credible effort. He stealth fully avoided detection, maneuvered into close proximity of the enemy, achieved surprise, and inflicted serious damage to the enemy. His ability to remain in control of the operation despite the limitations speaks highly for the design of the attack, his ability to impart that design to his subordinate commanders, their execution of the plan, and the discipline of their troops. Had the attack been properly sized and supported it may have created an excellent opportunity for the Confederates to pin Hooker between them and the river. In Viet Nam terminology this might have become a "Hammer and Anvil" operation. The river helping to form the anvil and Longstreet's corps providing the hammer. Trapped between the river and the Confederates and only a single means of escape (the pontoon bridge) or reinforcement the Union forces could have been in serious trouble. Unfortunately, Longstreet had not dedicated his entire force to the plan and the chance to contain the Union breakout went by the board.
The short fight at Wauhatchie was costly for both sides. Geary suffered 216 casualties, including his son who died at the guns. Bratton paid the more expensive attackers butchers bill, losing 356 men. The fight at Smith's Hill nearly destroyed the 33rd Massachusetts and the 73rd Ohio.
Hooker attempted to find a scapegoat for his poor deployment that left Geary so vulnerable. He accused MG Carl Schurz of failing to aid Geary in a timely fashion. Schurz got a Court of Inquiry and was exonerated. Longstreet's failure here led to the inevitable split with Bragg. He was sent off to Knoxville and Bragg, desperately short of troops, was glad to be rid of him.
Wauhatchie (Campaign Series)
Night Fight at Wauhatchie Part 1
Tagged as: Wauhatchie
Article by Dan O'Connell
"Because every soldier deserves recognition information and commentary on lesser known Civil War events. Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Antietam, Chancellorsville, ...etc. did not constitute the whole war." Dan, a retired member of the United States Army, is a long time poster from the old History Channel Civil War Forum (sfcdan) and current contributor to the Civil War Talk forum (1sgdan). His activities there have led to a string of multi-part series on military operations during the war, with a focus on lesser studied aspects of the conflict. His personal interest lies in engineer operations, and one of his engineering articles has been accepted for publication by www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/ as a critical component of the war effort.
Dan has written 151 intriguing articles.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Carter Bryant v. Mattel, Inc. / Mattel Inc. v. MGA Entertainment, Inc.
Docket Number: 04-cv-09049
Case Filing Date: November 2, 2004
Court Name: United States District Court, Central District of California
Most recently, Mattel, Inc.'s (Mattel) asked a federal court of appeals in San Francisco to reverse the $310 million in damages and attorneys' fees the District Court for the Central District of California ordered Mattel to pay over in a prolonged battle over the ownership rights to the billion dollar "Bratz" doll empire against a former employee and Bratz designer, Carter Bryant, and MGA Entertainment (MGA). In particular, Mattel challenged the $17.25 million that MGA won on its counterclaims for trade secrets misappropriation by Mattel. It argued that the claims were time-barred. It added that MGA also failed to prove that its alleged trade secrets were really trade secrets.
Mattel's most recent action is not its first attempt to fight the heavy judgment. On August 4, 2011 the District Court denied Mattel's motions for judgment as a matter of law (JNOV) and for a new trial. It found that the factual record supported an eight-person jury's conclusions that MGA had used reasonable efforts to maintain its trade secrets for the Bratz dolls, which Mattel misappropriated by misrepresentation. Although the District Court remitted MGA's damages award of $88.5 million to $85 million, it also ordered Mattel to pay an additional $139.9 million in attorneys' fees and costs.
In 2004, Mattel first claimed copyright infringement and theft of its trade secrets by MGA and Bratz designer, Carter Bryant. Four years later, a federal jury awarded Mattel $100 million. However, the verdict was overturned on appeal and sent back for retrial on which the scope of Mattel's claims was limited. Mattel could only pursue the copyright infringement claims against the four original MGA dolls and two later models ("Formal Funk Dana" and "Ooh La La Cloe"), but could proceed with most of its trade secret theft claims.
However, an eight-person jury returned a verdict against Mattel on April 21, 2011. Specifically, the jury found that Mattel did not own a copyright in the creative designs behind the dolls. It also found that the ideas, designs and name of the doll collection were not Mattel's trade secrets and, generally, MGA did not misappropriate any of Mattel's trade secrets. The jury, however, found that Mattel misappropriated 26 of MGA's trade secrets, awarding MGA $3.4 million for each misappropriated trade secret for an approximate total of $88.5 million.
Judge: David O. Carter
Plaintiff(s): Carter Bryant, MGA Entertainment Hong Kong, MGA Entertainment Inc., MGAE De Mexico
Defendant(s): Mattel, Inc.
Legal Basis for Trade Secret Claims: Common Law (Restatement)
Filings from this case
Complaint for Declaratory Relief of Copyright Non-Infringement | 2004-11-02
Order on MGA's Motion for Summary Judgment; Mattel's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment; Machado's Motion for Summary Judgment | 2010-12-27
MGA Parties' Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's Summary Judgment Ruling Regarding Copyright Preemption of the Bratz Drawings and Sculpts Trade Secrets or, In the Alternative, for Certification of the Preemption Ruling for Interlocutory Appeal | 2011-01-01
Amended Order on MGA's Motion for Summary Judgment; Mattel's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment; Machado's Motion for Summary Judgment; Mattel's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on MGA's Counterclaims-in-Reply | 2011-01-05
Order Vacating 12/27/2010 Summary Judgment Ruling | 2011-02-14
Mattel Inc.'s opposition to the MGA Parties' Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's Summary Judgment Ruling Regarding Copyright Preemption of the Bratz Drawings and Sculpts Trade Secrets | 2011-02-16
MGA Parties' Reply in Further Support of Their Motion for Reconsideration of the Court's Summary Judgment Ruling Regarding Copyright Preemption | 2011-02-23
Redacted jury verdict form | 2011-04-21
MGA's motion for judgment on Mattel's intentional interference with contract and unfair competition claims | 2011-05-05
This case being litigated in the Central District of California involves the intellectual property rights in Bratz, a girls' fashion doll brand worth $400 million per year at the height of its popularity. The original idea for Bratz came from designer Carter Bryant, a former employee of Mattel, Inc. (Mattel) who left and began working for MGA Entertainment, Inc. (MGA) in late 2000, around the same time as his conception of the Bratz dolls. Mattel sued Bryant and MGA claiming copyright infringement and theft of trade secrets, and in 2008 a federal jury found that Bryant developed the concept for the dolls while working for Mattel before pitching it to MGA, awarding Mattel $100 million. However, the verdict was overturned on appeal and sent back for retrial. Also at issue in this case is Mattel's claim against MGA for trade secrets allegedly misappropriated by nine former employees who were also recruited by MGA.
The Court Battle
On January 5, 2011, the district court issued an Amended Order on the Parties' Motions for Summary Judgment (superseding its December 27, 2010 decision). The extensive, 163-page ruling addressed claims based in trade secrets, copyright, trademark, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy, and racketeering. With regard to the trade secrets claims centered around Bryant, the court found many genuine issues of material fact to be in dispute: 1) the interpretation of Bryant's inventions assignment agreement with Mattel, including whether it was unconscionable or contrary to a reasonable employee's expectations; 2) the timing of Bryant's conception of the Bratz dolls in relation to his leaving Mattel; and 3) whether the doll concept, or the names "Bratz" and "Jade", qualify as trade secrets.
With regard to the trade secrets claims based on the conduct of the other nine former Mattel employees, the court individually analyzed the value and secrecy elements of each alleged trade secret and the misappropriation allegations against each former employee. The court found genuine issues of material fact as to: 1) whether Mattel's unreleased product plan for a line of dolls with interchangeable heads and fashions qualified as a trade secret; 2) whether various files and computer programs regarding Mattel's sales projections, inventory and distribution systems, and market analysis tools qualified as trade secrets; and 3) whether the alleged acts by the nine former Mattel employees constituted misappropriation. Consequently, the parties' motions for summary judgment were denied on all but a few of these issues, leaving the vast majority of the issues in the trade secrets claims to be decided by the jury. The decision also held that the trade secrets claims, governed by California's Uniform Trade Secrets Act, were not preempted by the federal Copyright Act.
On January 1, 2011, MGA moved for reconsideration of the court's ruling on copyright preemption, arguing 1) that new facts and law had come to light after the court's decision, and 2) that the ruling was "legally erroneous" on the preemption issue. With regard to the latter, MGA argues that Mattel's trade secrets claims cover the same material and involve the same rights as the copyright claims.. MGA also notes that the "secrecy" element of Mattel's trade secrets claim does not distinguish it from the copyright claim because a copyright holder has a right to maintain the secrecy of his work.
In its reply, Mattel argues that there is no basis for reconsideration of the court's ruling, as the "new facts" that MGA refer to were available to the court before its ruling, and "new law" MGA points to is the very decision they wish to have reconsidered. Furthermore, Mattel argues that the state law trade secrets claims are not preempted because, in accordance with the Ninth Circuit test for preemption, the state law claim includes an "extra element" not required by the federal claim. While secrecy is permitted in copyright law, it is not a required element of a claim for copyright infringement. Thus, Mattel argues, copyright law does not preempt the trade secrets claims.
The Jury Verdict
On April 21, 2011, an eight-person jury returned a verdict against Mattel. Specifically, the jury found that Mattel did not own a copyright in the creative designs behind the dolls. It also found that the ideas, designs and name of the doll collection were not Mattel's trade secrets and, generally, MGA did not misappropriate any of Mattel's trade secrets. The jury, however, found that Mattel misappropriated 26 of MGA's trade secrets, awarding MGA $3.4 million for each misappropriated trade secret for a total of $88.5 million.
Mattel moved for judgment as a matter of law (JNOV) regarding parts of the jury verdict and for a new trial. On August 4, 2011, the District Court denied Mattel's motions for JNOV and for a new trial. It found the factual record supported the jury's conclusion that MGA used reasonable efforts to maintain its trade secrets, which Mattel had misappropriated by misrepresentation. The District Court also remitted MGA's damages award from $88.5 million to $85 million. However, it ordered Mattel to pay an additional $139.9 million in attorneys' fees and costs, for a total payment of $310 million to MGA.
Most recently, Mattel asked a federal court of appeals in San Francisco to reverse the $310 million in damages and attorneys' fees. In particular, Mattel challenged the $17.25 million that MGA won on its counterclaims for trade secrets misappropriation by Mattel. It argued that the claims were time-barred. It added that MGA also failed to prove that its alleged trade secrets were really trade secrets.


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Posted on February 8, 2008 by Scott Johnson
The Mandarin and the Empress's New Clothes
Last month AFP reported on remarks by Bush administration special envoy for human rights in North Korea Jay Lefkowitz at an American Enterprise Institute forum (the text of Lefkowitz's remarks is accessible here). Lefkowitz candidly acknowledged the dead end the administration has reached with North Korea.
Secretary Rice reacted to Lefkowitz's remarks as though he had asserted that the empress wears no clothes. Rice dressed Lefkowtiz down as a fool who was too benighted to observe the administration's fine new policy threads. In a remarkable postscript, Claudia Rosett discovered that the State Department sent Lefkowitz's speech down the memory hole. In the various reports on Rice's comments on Lefkowitz, however, Rice has cited no fact that belies his observations.
A friend at the State Department has been following our remarks about the Lefkowitz-Rice tussle with interest. He points out the North Korean response to Lefkowitz's comments, a response that harmonizes with Secretary Rice's, but that belies Rice's derogation of Lefkowitz. The nastiest part of Rice's response was her utterly petty assertion: "I would doubt very seriously that they would recognize the name [Jay Lefkowitz]." North Korea's response shows that they do indeed know who Lefkowitz is. He is entitled to wear the designation Reckless Mandarin as a badge of honor.
It should be a clue that one is on the right track when Kim Jong Il criticizes you. However, it's a sorry spectacle when a nominally Republican Secretary of State's sentiments are echoed by the mad North Korean tyrant. Here is the dispatch forwarded to us by our friend at State:
NORTH KOREA CRITICIZES US HUMAN RIGHTS ENVOY'S REMARKS ON NUCLEAR ISSUE
Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA [Following appears to be DPRK media's first mention of comments by President Bush's Special Envoy for Human Rights in North Korea Jay Lefkowitz on 17 January urging the US administration to "revisit" its "objectives" on North Korea. KCNA headline: "KCNA Ridicules US Mandarin's Reckless Remarks"]
Pyongyang, January 28 (KCNA) – Some days ago, Lefkowitz, special envoy for North Korean human rights issue of the US, was impudent enough to poke his nose into the nuclear issue, only to bring shame to himself.
What he uttered is nothing but rubbish which admits of no argument as it only provoked wry laughter.
But what merits attention here is that some American guys who do not know even where they stand, to say nothing of the way the world goes, are watching for a chance to scuttle the processes to settle the nuclear issue and improve the DPRK-US relations, displeased with them.
According to the International Herald Tribune, a few hard-line officials in charge of national security at the office of the vice- president and the State Department were reported to have asserted a more confrontational approach towards the DPRK.
It was in this context that Lefkowitz underlined the need to include the human rights issue in the agenda items of the six-party talks and complained that China and South Korea are not pressurizing [pressuring] North Korea at the American Enterprise Institute, a centre of conservatives.
This assertion was, in every respect, prompted by a dangerous attempt to sacrifice the process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula directly related to the interests of the US and other countries concerned and the peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia for meeting their selfish purpose as it is a revelation of their extreme uneasiness created by their impending political bankruptcy.
As well known, the US conservative hardliners led by neo-conservatives are now seized with extreme uneasiness and anxiety, marginalized in the political arena for the catastrophic consequences entailed by their extreme and subjective way of thinking.
They have neither anything new nor future.
Lefkowitz, Bolton and others are keen to misuse the process for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula for achieving their political ambition under the slogan of hard-line and conservative policy which has already proven bankrupt inside the US Nothing is graver mistake and crime against history than this.
The hackneyed methods used by the US during the Cold War will never work on the DPRK although they may work on others. The six-party talks cannot be treated the same as the "Helsinki process" under any circumstances.
The agreements reached at the six-party talks on the principle of simultaneous action and progress made in this course are welcomed by all countries. Lefkowitz and others who seek to scuttle them cannot escape public censure and jeer.
The reality goes to prove that the negotiated settlement of the nuclear issue remains the general will of the international community and the trend of the times.
We would like to question them what they really seek by turning back the clock.
Such nonsensical remarks would never help stem the trend of the times.
Now that the denuclearization process has reached an important phase the US should refrain from irresponsible remarks that may deflect it from its focus and countries concerned should thoroughly abide by the principle of "action for action." [Source: KCNA, Pyongyang, in English 0720 gmt 28 Jan 08]
Yesterday's New York Sun provides an intersting footnote to our exploration of the administration's North Korean diplomacy. On the eve of the New York Philharmonic's departure on a tour that will include a stopoff in Pyongyang, music director Lorin Maazel suggested that Americans are not in a position to criticize the North Korean regime, because America's own record on human rights is flawed. To borrow the formulation of the KCNA report on Jay Lefkowitz, such nonsensical remarks help further the trend of the times.


Parents and guardians can spend a fortune on their children's teeth and dental health but rarely give much thought to their feet. This is unfortunate as you only get one set and when things go wrong it often affects other parts of the body… and replacement feet are still a long way off.
Neglecting foot health can unwittingly invite problems to areas such as the legs, knees, hips and back. There can also be effects to the child's personality. The youngster with troublesome feet walks awkwardly and usually has poor general posture. As a result, the growing child may become shy, introverted, and avoid sports and social functions.
Consultation between the podiatrist, paediatrician, and at times other medical specialists helps to resolve these problems.
The human foot is a highly complicated structure. It has 26 bones, and is laced with ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Because the feet of young children are soft and pliable, abnormal pressure can easily cause deformities.
Cover you baby's feet loosely. Tight covers restrict movement and can retard normal development.
Provide opportunities for exercising the feet. Babies lying uncovered enables them to kick and perform other related motions which prepare the feet for weightbearing later.
Change your baby's position several times a day. Lying too long in one spot, especially on the stomach, can put excessive strain on the feet and legs.
It is unwise to try and force a child to walk. When physically and emotionally ready, the child will walk. Comparisons with other children are misleading, since the age for independent walking ranges from 10 to 18 months.
When the child first begins to walk, shoes are not necessary while indoors. Allowing the youngster to go barefoot or to wear just socks helps the foot to grow normally and to develop its musculature and strength, as well as the very important grasping action of toes.
Of course, when walking outside things are not straightforward. Soft sand and grass are good for young feet, however, on rough surfaces, babies' feet should be protected in lightweight, flexible footwear.
As a child's feet continue to develop, it may be necessary to change their sock and shoe size every few months to allow room for the feet to grow. Although foot problems result mainly from injury, deformity, illness, hereditary factors, improper footwear can also cause problems.
Shoes or other footwear should never be handed down.
The feet of young children can be unstable because of muscle problems which make walking difficult or uncomfortable.
A thorough examination by a podiatrist may detect an underlying issue or condition which may require immediate treatment or consultation with another specialist.
If you have a family history of foot problems, or there is something that you are just not quite sure about, make an appointment with Neil and get a professional opinion.
Without doubt sporting participation is a cornerstone of Australian culture. Whether it is within a team structure or as an individual sport, many of these operate outside the school curriculum where advice on conditioning and equipment is not always available.
Parents should become informed about their child's involvement in any of the sports that require a substantial amount of running and turning, or involve contact. Protective taping of the ankles is often used to prevent sprains or fractures; however, this should not be seen a standard practice.
Parents should consider discussing these matters with their podiatrist if they have children participating in active sports.
Sports-related foot and ankle injuries are quite prevalent in our most played team sports: AFL football, Basketball, Soccer and Netball.
Walking is one of the best forms of foot exercise. Most of us as Podiatrists recommend that walking patterns be carefully observed. For instance…does the child toe in or out, do they have knock knees, or other gait abnormalities? These problems can be acted on if they are detected early.
Going barefoot is a healthy activity for children under the right conditions. However, walking barefoot on dirty pavements exposes children's feet to the dangers of infection through accidental cuts and to severe contusions, sprains, or fractures.
Another potential problem is plantar warts (actionable link to the removal), a condition caused by a virus which invades the sole of the foot through cuts and breaks in the skin. These warts can require protracted treatment and can keep children from school and other activities. Use thongs or a similar foot covering when around swimming pools or public showers.
Preparations strong enough to kill warts and certain types of fungus can actually cause harm or burns to the skin.
Neil has been trained specifically and extensively in the diagnosis and treatment of all manner of foot conditions. His training and expertise encompasses all of the intricately related systems and structures of the foot and lower leg including neurological, circulatory, skin, and the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.


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Botswana's draconian Public Health Bill approved by Parliament, BONELA will challenge it as unconstitutional once President signs into law (Update 3)
Tell Minister Seakgosing what you think of the Public Health BIll by calling his office on +267313632521
Botswana Campaigns Punitive laws and policies Human rights
Update: April 5th 2013
Very disappointing news from Botswana. The Public Health Bill – including all of its draconian provisions on HIV – has been approved by Parliament.
BONELA issued this press release last week just prior to the vote.
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT (MPs) ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN SAVE US FROM THE PROPOSED PUBLIC HEALTH BILL…..IT IS IN THEIR HANDS
We knew that the Public Health Bill will be back in Parliament for further debate. However, we had anticipated that the Ministry of Health would heed calls made by stakeholders such as BONELA, UNAIDS, WHO, SALC, AIDS Alliance, ARASA, Ditshwanelo and other concerned Batswana and make amendments to the bill, particularly on the controversial, offensive and invasive provisions.
To our utter shock, the Ministry of Health intends to make no changes to the bill at all; even with the benefit of information on best practices availed to them. This to us; is a clear case of indifference and a deliberate plan to violate people's rights.
BONELA and its stakeholders have done all that is possible to raise awareness, especially to the general public who would be affected by this law. It is now up to MPs to propose and vote on the amendments.
If MPs fail or decide not to discharge that constitutional mandate, as concerned stakeholders, we would know that our MPs are happy to see people's rights being violated-that they are happy to see Batswana being tested for HIV without their consent, happy to give doctors sole mandates on deciding when and what to do with patients without consultations.
We would also know that MPs by failing to do their duty are happy to see litigants in court pleading not to be tested for HIV because their government want them to. Moreover, we would know that our MPs are happy to place responsibilities of sexual matters ONLY on those who are HIV positive by agreeing with forceful disclosure to all potential sexual partners by people living with HIV even if they are using protection.
Lastly, our MPs will be happy to see that whoever seeks dental services is required to do an HIV test before such services are meted.
It is therefore, in the hands of MPs to exercise their power to propose and vote for a sound Public Health bill. It is in your hands……
According to this APA piece, published on Wednesday, the Bill was approved by parliament. BONELA is now waiting for Botswana President, Ian Khama, to sign the Bill into law before it can approach the High Court to challenge the offending clauses as unconstitutional.
Botswana's Health Minister, Dr John Seakgosing on Tuesday said the Public Health Bill, which seeks among other things, to isolate people who infect others with sexually-transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS, while knowing their status, will apply to Members of Parliament, cabinet ministers and even the president.
He explained to APA in an interview that the Bill that was passed last week, will not apply only to ordinary citizens.
According to Seakgosing, if the president, ministers and legislators are found to be infecting others carelessly, they will be brought before the courts where the magistrate will take a decision to isolate them from the public.
While he explained that the Bill does not seek to empower medical practitioners to force clients to undergo tests, but Clause 104 (3) (b) provides that "the director or a person authorised by him may where necessary and reasonable, require a person or a category of persons to undergo an HIV test". Clause 104 (4) then provides that "where a person required to undergo a test under Clause 104 (3) refuses to do so, the director may apply to a magistrate for an order requiring that person to undergo the test."
But some HIV/AIDS activists are up in arms saying the Bill will reverse the gains achieved in fighting the HIV scourge as it encourages discrimination.
AIDS advocacy group Botswana Network on Ethics Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) says it intends to take the government to court over the Public Health Bill that has been approved by parliament.
BONELA director, Uyapo Ndadi, said in an interview that his organisation is only waiting for President Ian Khama to sign the Bill into law before it can approach the high court to challenge certain clauses in it as they are unconstitutional.
Update: December 14th 2012
The Public Health Hill has been shelved until next February thanks to the advocacy against the "outrageous" HIV-related provisions (see below) spearheaded by the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA). That's the good news this morning, according to Uyapo Ndadi, BONELA's Executive Director:
I am happy to inform you that the outrageous Public Health Bill has been shelved, at least until next year February when parliament resumes business. Our collective advocacy has helped to thwart cabinet's plans to have the bill passed into law during this sitting.
I am happy to further inform you that UNAIDS has also written to our government to remove the draconian provisions from the bill.
It is now hoped that in the intervening months, BONELA and other human rights advocates will add to the pressure created by UNAIDS to make the Government see that in order to save face internationally, they must either substantially rewrite the Bill or drop it completely.
Update: December 11th
Disappointing and worrying news today from BONELA:
Parliament yesterday voted in favour of passing the Bill from the 2nd reading stage to the Committee stage. Amendments to the Bill may be made at the Committee stage. It means that our efforts to get the Minister to withdraw the bill for lack of consultation have failed. Our hope now is that Parliament will remove from the bill the draconian parts of it.
A report in BOPA daily news highlights the debate yesterday
The Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Mr Nehemiah Modubule says he does not support the Public Health Bill in its current state. Debating the bill in parliament on Thursday, Mr Modubule said it should first be put into perspective, as some of the clauses are contradictory. He argued that they would have a hard time trying to amend such clauses if the bill passes to the committee stage. He noted that consultations with some stakeholders such as Botswana Network on Law and AIDS (BONELA) were not done. Furthermore, he said, the minister of health should have done justice to the bill by deferring it for further consultations, as some clauses touch on customs and practices of Batswana.
In his contribution, the MP for Moshupa, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi supported the bill, arguing that prevention and control of diseases is not peculiar to Botswana, more so that new communicable diseases continue to emerge. Mr Masisi said the bill conforms to international practices in terms of public health, adding that consultations had been done and they should not delay the bill.
Original post: December 10th
On Friday, Botswana's Parliament debated the proposed Public Health Bill which contains some shocking and regressive HIV-related provisions that, according to a strongly-worded press release from the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) "have no place in a democratic and modern day Botswana..that are counter-productive, discriminatory, unconstitutional and barbaric."
The relevant passages of the Bill are available to download here (Botswana Public Health Bill 2012.pdf, 1.4MB)
Some of the most problematic provisions as highlighted by BONELA, are below.
Clause 104 (3) b – empowering medical practitioners to force their patients to undergo HIV tests without their consent.
The Director, or any person authorised by him or her, may, where necessary and reasonable require a person or a category of persons to undergo an HIV test.
Clause 105 (2) b – empowering doctors to test patients without their knowledge.
A medical practitioner responsible for the treatment of a person may conduct an HIV test without the consent of that person where — (b) the medical practitioner believes that such a test is clinically necessary or desirable in the interests of that person.
Clause 109 (3) – allowing surgeons or dentists to test a patient for HIV before deciding on whether to carry out a non-urgent procedure.
Where, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse or dental practitioner, the surgical or dental procedure is not urgently required in respect of a person, the medical practitioner, nurse or dental practitioner may require the person to undergo an HIV test before carrying out that procedure.
Clause 116 (1) – mandating HIV disclosure to all potential sexual partners or care giver and allowing prosecution for placing another at risk.
A person who is aware of being infected with HIV or is carrying and is aware of carrying HIV antibodies shall — (a) take all reasonable measures and precautions to prevent the transmission of HIV to others; (b) inform, in advance, any sexual contact or care giver or person with whom sharp instruments are shared, of that fact; and (c) not place another person at risk of becoming infected with HIV.
Clause 116 (7) empowering doctors to disclose their patient's HIV status to their sexual partner without their consent.
A medical practitioner who is responsible for the treatment of a person and who becomes aware that the person has not, after a reasonable opportunity [disclosed their HIV status] may, after consultation with an approved specialist medical practitioner, inform any sexual contact or care giver of that person of the HIV or HIV antibody status of that person.
Clause 116 (9-12) – limiting the right to freedom of movement for people with HIV without sufficient legal checks and balances.
(9) The Director or any officer representing the Director may, in writing, apply to a magistrate for an order where the Director reasonably believes that a person infected with HIV — (a) is not complying with this Part; b) knowingly or recklessly places another person at risk of becoming infected with HIV without the knowledge of that person of the infected person's HIV status; or (c) is likely to continue the behaviour referred to in paragraph (b). (10) For the purpose of subsection (9), a magistrate may make any or all of the following orders — (a) an order that the person infected with HIV undergo such medical and psychological assessment as the Minister determines; (b) an order imposing restrictions on the person for a period not exceeding 28 days; or (c) an order requiring that the person be isolated and detained by a person, at a place and in the manner specified in the order for a period not exceeding 28 days. (11) In making an order in respect of a person under subsection (10), a magistrate shall take into account the following matters — (a) whether, arid by what method, the person transmitted HIV; (b) the seriousness of the risk of the person infecting other persons; (c) the past behaviour and likely future behaviour of the person; and (d) any other matter the magistrate considers relevant. (12) The Director may, in writing, apply to a magistrate to renew an order made under subsection (10) for a further period or periods not exceeding 28 days.
According to BONELA, the Bill appeared from out of the blue without any public consultation.
We are concerned by government attitude and tendency of introducing Bills in Parliament and debating them before engaging all stakeholders, including the civil society and Batswana as a whole. We know that the Botswana Health Professions Council is not aware of this Bill for they have not been consulted on it. As custodians of health we expect them to be intimately involved as this Bill is going to affect the way they work. This bill is significant in the lives of all of us and we therefore call upon [Minister of Health] Reverend Dr. John G.N. Seakgosing [contactable via phone on +267313632521] to withdraw it and if he refuses to, we urge MPs to reject it.
Although the Bill was discussed last Friday – and a copy of the Bill obtained only then – Parliament adjourned before voting, but will continue this week. Action, therefore, is urgently required.


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VENLO – September, 19, 2018 – After a period of more than 4 years leading Solarus, the role of Leen Zevenbergen in the management board of the company ended per July 2018. The company acknowledges him for his pioneering leadership in the funding, market and technology development of the company. In April 2018 Zevenbergen already handed over the CEO position to Jacko D'Agnolo who was COO at that time. He did this after a request from the Supervisory Board of the company to map the potential for Solarus in North and South America. With a small team Zevenbergen conducted an extensive market scan and before the summer he presented his go to market plans to the Supervisory Board who recently decided to postpone the development of the Americas market. Upon this decision it was mutually agreed that Zevenbergen was released from his leadership role. Zevenbergen will stay involved as a shareholder in the company.
Zevenbergen took the lead as CEO of the company in December 2013 when the company urgently needed to make a turnaround in funding, marketing and technology development. He immediately saw the potential of the Solarus hybrid solar technology and at the same time he realized that it was as he calls it 'a bleeding edge technology'. "It is in these first difficult years where I can add value to a company with a disruptive new technology. Building up the story, getting people on board to substantiate and to fund it, that's my game," says Zevenbergen.
During his leadership Zevenbergen constantly was able to find funding for the turnaround from early investors, two crowd funding campaigns and finally, from a number of larger investors. The company also scaled up from a Proof of Concept production into a fully automated production facility as the company moved from the R&D centre in Gävle, Sweden to its actual production plant in Venlo, Netherlands. And over the last 4 years markets where developed with presence and partnerships in Europe, South-Africa and India. International hotel chains, production companies and real estate developers applied the Solarus PowerCollectors. This all happened simultaneously with the development of the core technologies of Solarus which was strongly supported by an Eureka EuroStars grant that the company won in 2015.


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2017 National Meeting
New York, NY April 21, 2017 - April 22, 2017
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On April 21-22, the Adam Smith Society gathered over three-hundred MBA students and alumni from the nation's top business schools, rising professionals, and prominent business and thought leaders to discuss free markets and institutions. Click to learn about the Society's featured speakers and annual awards - the Principled Leadership Award, presented to Kenneth Griffin, the Howard P. Milstein Fellowship and Student Chapter Awards, presented to MBA students.
A touchstone theme for the 2017 meeting was living in a time of political and economic change, and how the institutions and individuals that drive capitalism forward can best deal with these changes. Successfully coping with a changing business environment was a focus of the Friday evening program. Opening remarks by Marilyn Fedak, Vice Chair Emeritus of AllianceBernstein, and Founder of The Marilyn G. Fedak Capitalism Project, reminded attendees of the challenges faced by capitalism's institutions and its practicioners, as she extolled the attendees to be forceful defenders of the free market system. Next, the Howard P. Milstein Fellowship, honoring Howard P. Milstein, the President and CEO of the New York Private Bank & Trust, was awarded to NYU Stern MBA Gabriel Ng, for his essay on the utility of the frameworks of corporate social responsibility.
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Anthony Scaramucci, Founder of SkyBridge Capital, then interviewed Kenneth Griffin, the Founder and CEO of Citadel, after presenting Griffin with the Adam Smith Society's Principled Leadership Award. Griffin discussed his belief in the value of entrepreneurship, how these principles guided him and his firm during the Financial Crisis of 2008, and how he approaches business in the current environment.
On the second day of the National Meeting, discussions of political, technological, and cultural change were front and center. In the morning's first panel, "The Future of the Republic," Henry Olsen, Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, moderated a panel featuring Tom Bevan, Co-Founder and Executive Editor of RealClearPolitics, Charles Kesler, Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute, William Kristol, Editor-At-Large of the Weekly Standard, and Anthony Scaramucci, Founder of Skybridge Capital. The panelists discussed the factors behind the election of President Donald Trump, his prospects for success, and the larger issues of whether we are seeing a political realignment and a reconfiguration of the two major parties.
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In the afternoon, the Adam Smith Society welcomed, J.D. Vance, #1 New York Times Best-selling Author of Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of Family and A Culture in Crisis. Vance shared his background story of growing up (a major focus of his memoir), offered observations on what has caused a culture of crisis to emerge in the Rust Belt and Appalachia, and what he believe the best course of action would be for capitalists, conservatives, and the Republican Party in helping to ameliorate the situations faced in many blue collar communities.
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Chronic respiratory failure in neonates
Eduardo Bancalari, Nelson R Claure
The original publication on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by Northway and collaborators described a group of preterm infants who after prolonged mechanical ventilation developed chronic respiratory failure and characteristic radiographic findings (Northway et al. 1967). The lung damage was attributed primarily to the use of aggressive positive-pressure ventilation and high inspired oxygen concentrations. Today, with the widespread use of antenatal corticosteroids and the use of postnatal surfactant and less aggressive mechanical ventilation, this severe form of BPD has been replaced by a milder form that presents in the more immature infants who frequently have only mild initial respiratory disease (Charafeddine et al. 1999; Parker et al. 1992; Rojas et al. 1995). Therefore, these infants are not exposed to the very high airway pressures or oxygen concentrations, the two main factors in the pathogenesis of the original form of BPD. This milder form of the disease has been described as "New BPD." This new presentation has created some inconsistencies and confusion in the definition and the diagnostic criteria of BPD (Bancalari et al. 2003).
Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice
Dive into the research topics of 'Chronic respiratory failure in neonates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Respiratory Insufficiency Medicine & Life Sciences 75%
Artificial Respiration Medicine & Life Sciences 30%
Oxygen Medicine & Life Sciences 22%
Positive-Pressure Respiration Medicine & Life Sciences 18%
Surface-Active Agents Medicine & Life Sciences 16%
Adrenal Cortex Hormones Medicine & Life Sciences 12%
Bancalari, E., & Claure, N. R. (2015). Chronic respiratory failure in neonates. In Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice (pp. 1267-1277). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01219-8_48
Chronic respiratory failure in neonates. / Bancalari, Eduardo; Claure, Nelson R.
Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2015. p. 1267-1277.
Bancalari, E & Claure, NR 2015, Chronic respiratory failure in neonates. in Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 1267-1277. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01219-8_48
Bancalari E, Claure NR. Chronic respiratory failure in neonates. In Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 2015. p. 1267-1277 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01219-8_48
Bancalari, Eduardo ; Claure, Nelson R. / Chronic respiratory failure in neonates. Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2015. pp. 1267-1277
@inbook{5f8c4fa78ea94ce0a07b76880c913de7,
title = "Chronic respiratory failure in neonates",
abstract = "The original publication on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by Northway and collaborators described a group of preterm infants who after prolonged mechanical ventilation developed chronic respiratory failure and characteristic radiographic findings (Northway et al. 1967). The lung damage was attributed primarily to the use of aggressive positive-pressure ventilation and high inspired oxygen concentrations. Today, with the widespread use of antenatal corticosteroids and the use of postnatal surfactant and less aggressive mechanical ventilation, this severe form of BPD has been replaced by a milder form that presents in the more immature infants who frequently have only mild initial respiratory disease (Charafeddine et al. 1999; Parker et al. 1992; Rojas et al. 1995). Therefore, these infants are not exposed to the very high airway pressures or oxygen concentrations, the two main factors in the pathogenesis of the original form of BPD. This milder form of the disease has been described as "New BPD." This new presentation has created some inconsistencies and confusion in the definition and the diagnostic criteria of BPD (Bancalari et al. 2003).",
author = "Eduardo Bancalari and Claure, {Nelson R}",
doi = "10.1007/978-3-642-01219-8_48",
booktitle = "Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice",
publisher = "Springer Berlin Heidelberg",
T1 - Chronic respiratory failure in neonates
AU - Bancalari, Eduardo
AU - Claure, Nelson R
N2 - The original publication on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by Northway and collaborators described a group of preterm infants who after prolonged mechanical ventilation developed chronic respiratory failure and characteristic radiographic findings (Northway et al. 1967). The lung damage was attributed primarily to the use of aggressive positive-pressure ventilation and high inspired oxygen concentrations. Today, with the widespread use of antenatal corticosteroids and the use of postnatal surfactant and less aggressive mechanical ventilation, this severe form of BPD has been replaced by a milder form that presents in the more immature infants who frequently have only mild initial respiratory disease (Charafeddine et al. 1999; Parker et al. 1992; Rojas et al. 1995). Therefore, these infants are not exposed to the very high airway pressures or oxygen concentrations, the two main factors in the pathogenesis of the original form of BPD. This milder form of the disease has been described as "New BPD." This new presentation has created some inconsistencies and confusion in the definition and the diagnostic criteria of BPD (Bancalari et al. 2003).
AB - The original publication on bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by Northway and collaborators described a group of preterm infants who after prolonged mechanical ventilation developed chronic respiratory failure and characteristic radiographic findings (Northway et al. 1967). The lung damage was attributed primarily to the use of aggressive positive-pressure ventilation and high inspired oxygen concentrations. Today, with the widespread use of antenatal corticosteroids and the use of postnatal surfactant and less aggressive mechanical ventilation, this severe form of BPD has been replaced by a milder form that presents in the more immature infants who frequently have only mild initial respiratory disease (Charafeddine et al. 1999; Parker et al. 1992; Rojas et al. 1995). Therefore, these infants are not exposed to the very high airway pressures or oxygen concentrations, the two main factors in the pathogenesis of the original form of BPD. This milder form of the disease has been described as "New BPD." This new presentation has created some inconsistencies and confusion in the definition and the diagnostic criteria of BPD (Bancalari et al. 2003).
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-642-01219-8_48
DO - 10.1007/978-3-642-01219-8_48
BT - Pediatric and Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation: From Basics to Clinical Practice
PB - Springer Berlin Heidelberg


text:
How BCG expanded video content creation during COVID-19
Monthly Output
Founded in 1963, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and a pioneer of business strategy. The firm's Marketing team uses Socialive to produce live video content that showcases the thought leadership of its 1,400 partners and in-house experts.
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for efficient, high-quality video content creation grew across the firm. Leveraging Socialive, the Marketing team was able to meet the moment, accelerating the production of branded video content for its digital channels.
"Socialive is intuitive and easy to use. You don't have to be a video expert to learn it."
Benjamin French Cobb | Sr. Manager, Global Digital Marketing
How To Create High-Quality, Timely Video Content
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Marketing team sought to use live video content to generate awareness of the firm and its partners, humanize the BCG brand, and drive engagement. In the process, BCG encountered three key problems:
Complexity of video production
Low production value of typical live video content
Inability to scale video creation
These challenges were magnified by the pandemic and the global transition to virtual work. As video became an essential lifeline to maintain business continuity, the ability to produce high-quality, timely video content emerged as a firm-wide priority.
Using Socialive To Produce Live Video Content
BCG adopted Socialive as a solution to produce live and live-to-tape video content for its digital channels, particularly LinkedIn (2.3 million followers), Facebook, and YouTube. Over two years, the team has broadcast:
Roundtable discussions highlighting the subject-area expertise of its partners
Key moments, such as its annual commencement speech
Short-form insights on the sidelines of events like the World Economic Forum at Davos
By leveraging features of the Socialive platform—especially real-time production, video capture from remote guests, and on-screen graphics—BCG's Marketing team was able to efficiently create branded video content to engage its online audience.
BCG live streams key powerful moments, as shown in this commencement speech from their CEO Rich Lesser on LinkedIn Live. Leveraging a firm head in their organization to participate in this cultural moment humanized BCG.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the team didn't miss a beat. Leaning on Socialive's remote video capture and cloud-based video production, BCG increased its video output, inaugurating its Leading in the New Reality Live weekly series, featuring panel discussions with BCG thought leaders on subjects ranging from the gender imbalance gap to global mobility.
BCG launched a weekly LinkedIn Live series hosted by their own experts to share unique perspectives on topics that are top of mind for business leaders.
"Having a solution like Socialive allows us to enhance the quality of our live video content seamlessly. It has been powerful from day one."
Benjamin French Cobb | Senior Manager, Global Digital Marketing
BCG Accelerates Video Creation with Socialive
Using Socialive has enabled the team to produce high quality, timely content more efficiently while humanizing the brand and increasing awareness. Ultimately, the team was able to leverage the engagement power of live video to generate:
From its authentic live video content featuring leaders behind the brand, to the way in which it leverages real-time audience interaction during timely moments, BCG's use of Socialive illustrates how a brand can successfully utilize live video to advance its objectives.
"When we work with Socialive it feels like we are working with an extension of our own team and we greatly value their expertise and support."
All-in-one cloud video production platform
Learn how you can record, produce, distribute and repurpose studio-quality video, all with Socialive's cloud video production platform


Kinesio Taping (KT) is a taping technique developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase, a Japanese Chiropractor, in the 1970's. This technique has been used very successfully in Japan for 30 years, but received tremendous exposure over the last two summer olympics. KT has been used by several elite athletes including; Kerri Walsh, Phil Dalhausser, Ernie Els, David Beckham, Robby Ginepri, Patty Schnyder, Bret Booneand Lance Armstrong (none of whom have endorsement deals with KT). In fact, in Lance Armstrong's 2003 book, "Every Second Counts," he refers to KT as "a special hot-pink athletic tape that came from Japan and seemed to have magical powers." The tape actually comes in four colors; tan, black, pink and blue with each tape being exactly the same except for the color (in Eastern medicine different colors have different healing properties).
The tape is designed to have the thickness and stretch properties of normal human tissue. After having the tape on for approximately 15 minute sit feels like a layer of skin. The tape moves with the body allowing normal human biomechanics. In addition, it has a lifting property which helps relieve pain and improve blood flow. Unlike typical athletic taping which is used to stabilize a joint, KT is used to enhance normal human motion, improve blood and lymph flow and reduce pain. These physiological effects enhance the body's healing processes providing a better environment for tissue healing to take place.
Dr. Zeitler is one of only a few certified kinesio taping providers in Connecticut. Although you do not have to be certified to use the tape, certification gives the treating physician knowledge as to direction of tape application, percentage stretch of tape, type of tape cuts, and what type of tissue for which the tape should be applied. These are very important factors to increase the success of kinesio taping. For more information go to www.kinesiotaping.com.


This is my Intro but first I have a few questions.
and Also I was wondering what fourm software you use. On Mine I have MyBB.
My Xbox is displayed on a Computer monitor as well but a different one it is a : Samsung Syncmaster 932b 19"
I live in New Jersey and I work for apple.
No I do not Fist Pump.
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As GODAE prototype systems transition to operational systems, international collaboration on product standardization and interoperability between systems must be maintained and developed. The joint WMO/IOC Technical Commission JCOMM provides an appropriate intergovernmental mechanism for the coordinating role and has established an expert team on operational oceanographic forecasting systems (ET-OOFS) within its Services and Forecast Systems Program Area (SFSPA) for this purpose.
The GODAE OceanView Science Team will report to ET-OOFS on scientific and operational developments, while ET-OOFS will provide recommendations on service provision (for instance standardization) based on user needs. The GODAE OceanView Task Team on intercomparison and validation will provide inputs and recommendations to the ET-OOFS on standardization of validation activities (e.g. a minimum set of metrics that should be implemented in operational systems to monitor the quality of analyses and forecasts). We anticipate that the two groups (GODAE Ocean View Science Team and ET-OOFS) will work very closely in the coming years: the ET-OOFS chair will be de facto member of GODAE Ocean View science team; and GODAE OceanView systems will be represented in the ET-OOFS.
Develop and maintain 'The Guide to Operational Oceanographic Forecasting systems of the World"


Bucket of sand to contain a spill (available from hardware store or from your custodian). Remember sand is a poor absorbent.
Bucket of plain kitty litter (absorbent), available at a grocery store.
Bucket of vermiculite (absorbent). Be sure it is asbestos-free.
Bucket of sodium carbonate (Na2C03) for neutralizing an acid spill.
Vinegar to neutralize alkaline spills.
Acid or base absorbent pillows, booms or pads (available from your science supplier).
Mercury spill kits are NOT to be used. Follow DOE procedures for mercury spills.
Plastic broom, dust pan, plastic bags.
Paper towels, news papers, old rags.
An over pack container with a lid. This would be a container in which you place the neutralized materials for the custodian to remove.
A marker for labeling waste.
Gloves, apron, face shield and any other personal protective equipment that may be required.
Keep your school safety plan easily accessible in case of emergencies.
Use these instructions to assemble a spill control kit.


I'm back guys. After I had decided to leave the forums, I found two forums that I had already left and found one forum that I'm still staying in. But still, I feel that the community still wasn't as good as the one here. After many talks to Dr. Zoidberg on Steam and self thought, I have now decided to come back. By the way, I would also like to mention that OH MY GOD TELLTALE IS MAKING MONKEY ISLAND FIVE HOW IN GOD'S NAME DID I MISS THIS.
Eyyyyy! I remember you! You're like a legend around here! Well, not really. But some guy made a thread asking where you (and some other inactive users) were.
Actually, I made that thread . It was around the time that Trogllama came back to the forums. Is he still active around here, or did he stop posting again?