text:
T 0576/89 (Moulding process) of 29.4.1992
C08L 23/04
Decision text in EN (PDF, 1.026M)
BASF, AKZO
When an opposition seeking the revocation of a patent results in its being upheld on the basis of an auxiliary request, both parties clearly have a right to appeal. If in fact only one appeals, with the consequence that the Respondent becomes a party to the appeal by virtue of Article 107 EPC, the Respondent does not need to file a cross-appeal as a condition for being entitled to request (depending on which party has appealed) that a broader claim should be allowed, or that the patent should be revoked in its entirety.
Cross-appeal - no necessity to file
Inventive step - no
Promising prior art pointing to the solution claimed
No unexpected effect
I. The mention of the grant of the patent No. 0 087 210 in respect of European patent application No. 83 300 257.9 filed on 19 January 1983 and claiming the priority of 9 February 1982 from an earlier application in Canada, was published on 13 November 1985 on the basis of 21 claims, of which Claim 1 reads as follows:
"A composition comprising polyethylene having a density of 0.920 -0.970 g/cm3 and a melt index in the range of 10- 35 dg/min, 0.3-1.3%, by weight of the polyethylene, of a bis(tert. alkyl peroxyalkyl) benzene, 0.2-1.5%, by weight of the polyethylene, of a co-curing agent selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, triallyl isocyanurate and 1,2-polybutadiene, 0.01-0.05%, by weight of the polyethylene, of a hindered phenolic antioxidant and 0.01-0.2%, by weight of the polyethylene, of a secondary antioxidant selected from the group consisting of di(stearyl)-pentaerythritol diphosphite, tris di(tert.-butyl phenyl) phosphite, dilauryl thiodipropionate and bis(2,4-di-tert.-butylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite."
Claims 2 to 14 are dependent claims directed to preferred compositions according to the main claim. Claim 15 is a formally independent claim concerning a rotational moulding process for the manufacture of articles of compositions of polyethylene, wherein compositions as defined in Claim 1 are used. As to Claims 16 to 21, they deal with preferred embodiments of the process according to Claim 15.
II. On 26 June 1986 Opponent 1 filed a Notice of Opposition against the grant of the patent and requested revocation thereof in entirety for lack of inventive step under Article 100(a) EPC.
On 10 July 1986 Opponent 2 lodged an opposition to the granted patent and requested revocation thereof in entirety on the ground that the requirement of inventive step under Article 100(a) EPC was not met.
These objections, which were emphasised and elaborated in later submissions as well as during oral proceedings, were based essentially on the following documents:
D(a) US-A-4 267 080
D(g) US-A-3 876 613 p. D(h) DE-A-2 440 597
D(i) Derwent Abstract No. 40612C/23 (JP-A2-55 056 142).
It was agreed between the parties that documents D(a) and D(i), which correspond to parallel applications having the same priority date (19 October 1978), should be regarded as a pair and read together.
III. By an interlocutory decision delivered orally on 6 December 1988, with written reasons posted on 20 July 1989, the Opposition Division held that there were no grounds of opposition to the maintenance of the patent in amended form on the basis of the set of 6 claims submitted on 6 December 1988, which corresponded to the original process Claims 15 to 20 and wherein, additionally, the new main claim had been completed as follows: "... and ensuring in the resultant product a gel content of at least 75% by weight."
It was stated in that decision that the gel content of at least 75% by weight was an inventive feature, since it conferred improved low-temperature impact strength properties to the objects obtained by the rotational moulding process. That effect, which was regarded as surprising, was thus the basis of a selection invention.
IV. The Appellant (Opponent 2) thereafter filed a Notice of Appeal against that decision on 4 September 1989 and paid the prescribed fee at the same time. In the Statement of Grounds of Appeal filed on 17 November 1989 as well as during oral proceedings held on 29 April 1992 the Appellant essentially argued that the identification of the desired gel content on its own could not confer an inventive step on a composition suggested by the combination of two teachings. The determination of the appropriate gel content resulted from the mere optimisation of a process and could have been made by anyone of ordinary skill in the art; it was nothing more than the known and accepted method of expressing the degree of cross-linking of polyethylene, as evident from the additional documents:
Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 12, pp. 1355 to 1364 (1968), "Gel in Polyethylene" by G.A. Mortimer, and,
Journal of Polymer Science, Vol. XXXI, pp. 127 to 153 (1958), "Peroxide Crosslinked Carbon Black Polyethylene Compositions" by E.M. Dannenberg,
filed together with the Statement of Grounds of Appeal. Moreover, the requirement in the main claim that the gel content should be at least 75% raised the issue of insufficient disclosure, since nowhere in the specification was it specified how one went about ensuring that minimum.
V. In its written submission filed on 5 March 1990 as well as during oral proceedings, the Respondent (Patentee) sought the maintenance of the patent in suit in the form granted, with the exception of Claim 21, the features of which had been incorporated into Claim 15, as its main request, and in the amended form, i.e. limited to the process Claims 1 to 6, as its auxiliary request. The Respondent submitted also that the Opposition Division had been incorrect in rejecting the patent on the basis of the main request submitted at the oral proceedings before the Opposition Division. To support the patentability of the claimed subject-matter as defined in the independent claims, the Respondent put forward, first, that the teaching of documents D(i) and D(g) would not even be considered by the skilled man since there was no reference to impact resistance properties, secondly, that there was no reason to suppose that the antioxidants or antioxidant mixtures mentioned in document D(g) would be effective when used with a different curing agent, and, thirdly, that the claimed compositions ignored the clear teaching of document D(a) that large amounts of elastomer were necessary to achieve desirable properties. Regarding the requirement of a gel content of at least 75%, the Respondent added that this lower limit, the achievement of which posed no difficulty to the skilled man, was in fact critical if the drop test was to be satisfactory.
VI. In its reply filed on 29 June 1990 to the Respondent's statement requesting the Board of Appeal to consider both the main request and the auxiliary request as they both had been before the Opposition Division, the Appellant raised a procedural point, objecting that it was not open to the Respondent, itself not having filed any appeal, to raise the issue of the allowability of the main request in the present appeal.
VII. By letter received on 11 November 1991, Opponent 1 informed the Board that it would not attend the oral hearing to which, as a party to the proceedings, it had been duly summoned.
The Appellant requested that the decision under appeal be set aside and that the patent be revoked entirely.
The Respondent requested that the decision under appeal be set aside and the patent be maintained on the basis of Claims 1 to 20 filed on 5 March 1990 as its main request, or, alternatively, that the appeal be dismissed.
1. The appeal complies with Articles 106 to 108 and Rule 64 EPC and is admissible.
2. As set out in point III above, the decision of the Opposition Division did not deal with the main request, but was confined to what it described as "the final request of the Applicant during the oral proceedings". At the oral proceedings before the Board the Respondent's representative pointed out that he had not formally abandoned its main request, but had simply pursued the auxiliary request after the Opposition Division had stated orally that it would not grant the main request. The minutes of the oral proceedings before the Opposition Division confirm that, after an interruption of half an hour for deliberation, it rejected the main request, but regarded the auxiliary request as embodying an inventive step; however, whether subsequently the main request was formally abandoned or not is not specified. The Appellant could not provide any information in that respect either, since it did not attend the oral proceedings before the Opposition Division.
The Board is thus not in a position to decide exactly what took place at the oral proceedings before the Opposition Division. However, beside the fact that the Respondent agreed with the text sent with the communication of 2 March 1989 pursuant to Rule 58(4) EPC (cf. reply of 30 March 1990) and did not itself file an appeal against the decision of the first instance, it did not raise any complaint against the procedure adopted by the Opposition Division. If it had objected that the Opposition Division had failed to comply with the requirements of Rule 68 EPC, by not giving reasons for its rejection of the main request, the Board would have had to consider referring the issue back to the Opposition Division. However, in the circumstances of the present case, it is clear from the reasoning given in paragraph 4 of its decision why it regarded features A to F of the main claim under consideration, i.e. the combination of features of Claim 1 of the main request, as being non-inventive, and that it was only feature (G), i.e. a gel content of at least 75% by weight, which distinguished the auxiliary request from the main request, which it regarded as inventive. Moreover, nothing suggests that the Opposition Division required the Respondent to choose between (a) revocation of the patent on the basis of the main request, and (b) withdrawal of the main request and prosecution on the basis of the auxiliary request. Consequently, in the view of the Board, the requirements of Rule 68 EPC are met.
3. The Appellant raised the procedural issue whether the non- appealing party, i.e. the party to the appeal by virtue of the provisions of Article 107 EPC, is entitled nonetheless to challenge that part of the decision against which he could have appealed, but did not.
3.1 The first matter which the Board needs to consider is the effect on an appeal of proposals for amendments made by a Patentee in the course of an opposition procedure, in particular whether a Patentee may support broader claims on appeal than were accepted by the Opposition Division. This topic is already the subject of a number of earlier decisions.
In the Decision T 123/85 "Incrustation inhibitors/BASF" published in OJ EPO 1989, 336, the Board took the view that in requesting that his patent be maintained in a limited form the Patentee was merely trying to delimit his patent to meet objections expressed by the EPO or the Opponents. However, by virtue of such limitation the Patentee did not irrevocably surrender subject-matter covered by the patent as granted. It followed that a Patentee, having offered a restrictive amendment in order to overcome an opposition, was entitled to reintroduce into his claims subject-matter which it had previously offered to delete, provided that such amendments did not constitute an abuse of procedure (Reasons for the Decision, points 3.1.1 and 3.1.2).
In the present case, the request that the patent be maintained as granted having been made by the Respondent at the first opportunity, i.e. in reply to the Statement of Grounds of Appeal, it cannot be regarded as an abuse of procedure.
The same line was explicitly followed in two later decisions, T 155/88 of 14 July 1989 (cf. point 2) and T 506/91 of 3 April 1992 (cf. point 2.4). In both, the right of a Patentee to revert to the subject-matter of the broader claims was confirmed, unless the circumstances make it absolutely clear that it was the real and unambiguous intention of the Patentee to abandon the broader subject-matter of the previous claims.
The next matter for consideration is whether it makes any difference if the Patentee, seeking a broader claim on appeal, has not itself appealed, despite the fact that as the main request was refused, and the patent maintained on the basis of an auxiliary request, it was entitled to do so.
In the present case, the Board took the view that there was no requirement for the Respondent to have filed a cross-appeal and considered the issue of the inventiveness of the subject-matter of both the main and auxiliary requests in the appeal.
It has come to the attention of the Board, however, that a decision, which although later in date was issued in writing earlier, took an opposite view on the need for a cross-appeal (T 369/91 of 15 May 1992). The Board relies on the case law and reasoning set out below in support of its decision on this issue.
In the decision T 89/84 "Reimbursement of appeal fees/TORRINGTON" published in OJ EPO 1984, 562 the Board came to the conclusion that there was in fact no "procedural necessity" for a party to file an appeal against an adverse finding in a decision which, in its overall result, was favourable, since a Board of Appeal is required to examine the facts of its own motion and may consequently re-open any matter decided by the first instance (Reasons for the Decision, point 5).
That approach was confirmed in the decision T 73/88 of 7 November 1989 (to be published). According to point 1 of the Reasons for the Decision, if a Patentee in opposition proceedings has had his request that the patent be maintained upheld by the decision of the Opposition Division, he may not file an appeal against reasoning in the decision which was adverse to him, because he is not adversely affected by the decision within the meaning of Article 107 EPC. If, however, an appeal is filed by an Opponent and the Patentee wishes to contend that such adverse reasoning was wrong, it should set out its grounds for so contending in its observations under Rule 57(1) EPC in reply to the Statement of Grounds of Appeal, by way of cross-appeal (cf. as well Headnote III, published in OJ EPO 5/1990).
3.3 Apart from existing case law, the fact that a Respondent to an appeal can raise issues in the appeal other than those raised by the Appellant is justified by reference to the provisions of the EPC.
Article 108 EPC imposes a stringent time limit for the filing of an appeal, without there being any provision in the Convention or the Rules thereunder for the filing of cross-appeals, or time limits for filing cross-appeals. This suggests that those who formulated the EPC took the view that the only procedural matter which needed to be regulated was whether or not an appeal was in being.
Once an appeal is in being, the Boards of Appeal have a discretion under Article 114(1) EPC to consider issues other than those raised by the parties. Thus, a party, whether Patentee or Opponent, faced with a decision from an Opposition Division upholding a patent on the basis of an auxiliary request, is fully entitled to take the view that it is satisfied with the decision, to the extent that it does not wish to be troubled with an appeal. If, however, the opposing party puts it to the trouble of re- arguing the case on appeal, it is then entitled to challenge that part of the first instance decision which was adverse to it.
This interpretation is consistent with the general policy of the EPC, which avoids, as far as possible, deciding issues bearing on the substantive rights of the parties on the basis of procedural technicalities.
If the issues open to argument on appeal were to be limited to those raised in the Grounds of Appeal, subject to the opposing party having a right to argue other matters if, but only if, a cross-appeal had been filed within the basic time limit set by Article 108 EPC, there would be an incentive to file an appeal on the last day of the two-month time limit, so as to deny the opposing party the opportunity of filing a cross-appeal. The notion of allowing procedural tactics to have a decisive effect on the substantive rights of the parties is alien to the whole system of the EPC.
Taking as an example the common situation which arises when an opposition results in the patent being upheld as amended and an appeal is then filed by the Patentee, but no cross-appeal is filed by the Opponent, it is clear that the Board still has a discretion, if appropriate, to take a different view of the case from the Opposition Division, and to revoke the patent in its entirety. It would be anomalous if the Board, contemplating revoking the patent, had to exclude any argument on that issue by an Opponent (Respondent), a party to the appeal by virtue of Article 107 EPC, solely because there was no cross-appeal, while at the same time dealing with precisely that issue of its own motion.
3.4 In the present case, the Board, therefore, felt it had every justification for dealing with the main request having regard to the fact that any decision on the auxiliary request had implicitly to deal with the issue of the inventiveness of Claim 1 according to the main request. In fact, although it was necessary for the Board to give its ruling on the procedural position at the beginning of the oral proceedings, the ultimate decision was not affected by that ruling.
4. As noted above (point IV), the Appellant relied on additional documents to support his arguments of lack of inventive step, in particular to illustrate, on the one hand, the correlation between the degree of cross-linking of polyethylene and gel content, as well as, on the other hand, the direct relationship between the degree of cross- linking of polyethylene and the mechanical properties of the composition.
The Board has considered these documents, which were obviously cited after expiration of the nine-month opposition period, in order to determine their relevance, namely their evidential weight compared with that of the documents filed in time, and has found that none of them was relevant in the above sense. It has, therefore, decided to disregard them pursuant to Article 114(2) EPC.
Main request
5. The wording of the claims does not give rise to any objections under Article 123 EPC.
Claims 1 to 14 and 16 to 20 correspond to the version of these claims as granted and originally filed. As to Claim 15, it can be regarded as the combination of Claim 15 and 21 as granted and originally filed.
6. The patent in suit concerns polyethylene compositions for rotational moulding processes. Such compositions are disclosed in document D(i), which the Board, like the Opposition Division, regards as the closest state of the art. More specifically, that citation describes particular combinations of cross-linking agents and cross-linking assistants for polyethylene compositions. The former are defined as being bis(tert.-alkyl peroxy) alkanes or bis(tert.-alkyl peroxyalkyl) benzenes, in particular alpha, alpha'-bis(tert.-butyl peroxyisopropyl) benzene, incorporated in an amount of 0.1 to 5% by weight of polyethylene; the latter are selected from the group consisting of triallyl cyanurate, triallyl isocyanurate and 1,2-polybutadiene, and are incorporated in an amount of 0.5 to 5 times the weight of the cross-linking agents. Although the articles produced by rotational moulding processes of these compositions exhibit a desirable combination of advantageous properties, in particular excellent mould- parting properties, surface gloss and size stability, their low-temperature impact strength properties cannot be regarded as satisfactory.
In the light of this shortcoming, the technical problem underlying the patent in suit can thus be seen to be the provision of polyethylene compositions suitable for rotational moulding processes having improved low- temperature impact strength properties.
According to Claim 1 of the main request this problem is to be solved by incorporating an antioxidant system consisting of a hindered phenol as main antioxidant and of di(stearyl)-pentaerythritol diphosphite, tris di(tert.- butyl phenyl) phosphite, dilauryl thiodipropionate or bis(2,4-di-tert.-butylphenyl) pentaerythritol diphosphite as secondary antioxidant, these compounds being added respectively in the proportions of 0.01 to 0.05 and 0.01 to 0.2% by weight of polyethylene. In view of the experimental results in the patent in suit, in particular the report in Examples III to V of impact tests carried out at -21°C and -40°C, the Board is satisfied that the above-defined technical problem has been effectively solved.
7. After examination of the documents relied upon by the Appellant and Opponent 1, the Board has come to the conclusion that this technical teaching is not disclosed in any of them and that the subject-matter of the patent in suit as defined in the main request is, therefore, novel. Since the issue of novelty has not been raised at any stage, it is not necessary to consider this matter in detail. 8.It still remains to be decided whether that subject-matter involves an inventive step having regard to the teaching of the documents relied upon by the Appellant and Opponent 1.
8.1 Document D(g) describes ethylene polymer compositions suitable for the production of hollow articles by rotational moulding having high impact strength at low temperature (column 1, lines 5 to 50). These compositions are formed by incorporating into an ethylene polymer a hexyne or octyne diperoxy compound as cross-linking agent as well as between 0.02 and 0.1 weight percent, based on the weight of polyethylene, of an ester of thiodipropionic acid; the polymer of ethylene, which may be an ethylene homopolymer and/or a copolymer of ethylene and at least one acyclic straight or branched chain alpha-olefin hydrocarbon having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, has a melt index of at least 10 dg/min and a density in the range of 0.920 to 0.970 g/cm3 (Claim 1; column 1, lines 52 to 60). The ester of thiodipropionic acid may be used alone or in combination with 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methylphenol (column 4, lines 34 to 41 and lines 60 to 67).
It is first stated in general terms that high values of impact strength at low temperatures are obtained in those samples made with dilaurylthiodipropionate alone and with the combination thereof with 2,6-di-t-butyl-4- methylphenol, but not with conventional antioxidants (column 4, lines 60 to 67). The experimental data in the Table in columns 5/6 confirm that dilaurylthiodipropionate (antioxidant F) is overall a more effective antioxidant than any other conventional additive, even if in run 15 comparable results are obtained with such additives at - 20°F; at the temperature of -80°F, however, the combination of dilaurylthiodipropionate and 2,6-di-t- butyl-4-methylphenol (antioxidant E) gives even better results than dilaurylthiodipropionate alone (compare runs 3 to 5). In the Board's view, that teaching looks so promising that it would represent an incentive for the skilled man to adopt a solution along the same lines in order to solve the above-defined problem.
In fact, the temperatures to be considered for the outdoor applications envisaged by the Respondent being somewhat lower than -20°F, the skilled man is more likely to choose the antioxidant known to be the most effective at the hardest testing conditions, i.e. antioxidant combination E, than to follow a teaching which gives good results at sub-minimal temperatures, i.e. antioxidant F. For this reason, the choice of the antioxidant combination E must be regarded as obvious.
8.2 This conclusion becomes all the more evident if one considers the teaching of document D(a), which deals in its introductory section with the difficulties associated with the use of organic peroxides in polyethylene compositions for rotational moulding applications.
The first difficulty is the adhesion of the organic peroxide to the mould which increases as cross-linking of polyethylene advances, so that the resulting solidified moulded article cannot be removed from the mould without using a release agent, which in turn gives rise to several difficulties in practice (column 2, lines 5 to 26). The second difficulty is that the organic peroxide decomposes to produce low molecular weight radicals which take hydrogen from the polyethylene to form low boiling point substances, which causes bubble formation in the moulded articles (column 2, lines 27 to 34). When, according to a later development in the art, acetylenic peroxides are used, this can be overcome by incorporating a diolefin polymer; when reacting with the latter, the low molecular weight radicals will form high molecular weight radicals, which do not cause bubble formation in the moulded articles (column 2, lines 35 to 49). Beside the fact that the use of a release agent is still unavoidable, a potential health hazard to operators is still involved in the manipulation of hexyne peroxides.
The compositions described in document D(a) can be regarded as an attempt to overcome the problem of adhesion of the fused polyethylene composition to the mould surface, as well as the problem of bubble formation in the moulded articles without using acetylenic peroxides and release agents (column 2, lines 51 to 57). This is achieved by using a cross-linking agent as defined in document D(i), a cross-linking aid as defined in document D(i), and an elastomer in an amount of 5 to 50% based on the weight of polyethylene (Claim 1). It is explicitly stated that only this particular combination of cross-linking agent and cross-linking aid is able to fulfil the dual function of suppressing the bubble formation during rotational moulding and enhancing the release characteristics (column 5, lines 16 to 22).
From document D(a) as well as the technical developments analysed therein it appears thus that the choice of a given peroxide is determined less by considerations of efficiency in cross-linking than by the side-effects one seeks to avoid or to obtain. In other words, a major influence of the antioxidant on the cross-linking activity of the peroxide is not to be expected; it follows that no prejudice had to be overcome to combine the antioxidant known from document D(g) with the basic composition disclosed in document D(i).
8.3 This is confirmed in document D(h), discussed again by the Respondent in both its written and oral submissions. That citation relates to the preparation of a cross- linkable polyethylene composition from a polymer of density between 0.940 and 0.965, and a premix comprising an organic peroxide, an antioxidant and optionally an UV stabiliser (Claim 1 in conjunction with page 3, lines 2/3). This composition is suitable for rotational moulding applications (page 1, paragraph 1; page 5, paragraph 4). The only three peroxides mentioned are 2,5- dimethyl-2,5-di(tert.butylperoxy)-hexyne-3; 2,5-dimethyl- 2,5-di(tert.butylperoxy)-hexane and 1,3- bis(tert.butylperoxy-isopropyl)-benzene (Claim 2); it is essential to observe, first, that the acetylenic peroxide falls under the general formula of the hexynes envisaged in document D(g) and is even identical with one of the hexynes exemplified therein (see Column 3, line 25), and, secondly, that the last-mentioned aliphatic and aromatic peroxides correspond to the curing agents used in document D(i).
Thus, the three peroxides according to document D(h), being disclosed in the framework of the same composition, may be regarded as having a broadly comparable curing activity in the presence of the antioxidants mentioned there; conversely, this means that the action of a given antioxidant is more or less the same with these three peroxides. This is supported by the fact that the aliphatic and aromatic peroxides are still described in equivalent terms in document D(a) and D(i), which can only mean that the activity of the other additives in the composition described in these two citations is not substantially affected by the choice of the curing agent. Furthermore, this is in line with the teaching of document D(g) that the low-temperature impact strength is determined by the antioxidant (column 3, lines 52 to 56; column 4, lines 34 to 38 and lines 62 to 67; columns 5/6, Table); even if no alternatives are envisaged to acetylenic peroxides, there is no evidence from that citation or the Respondent's submissions that the efficiency of the antioxidant combination E could be influenced at all by the peroxide.
8.4 The Respondent's argument that the elastomer is an essential ingredient of the compositions disclosed in document D(a) to obtain satisfactory mechanical properties and that, consequently, the skilled man would not even consider documents D(i) and D(g), where such compound is not even mentioned, cannot be accepted. In the Board's view, this is a restrictive analysis of document D(a), which leads to considering the low-temperature impact strength properties in isolation and, thereby, to overlooking other essential properties.
This applies, in the first place, to the luster properties as well as to the release characteristics of the moulded articles. From Table IV it clearly appears that compositions containing 50 parts by weight based on the weight of polyethylene of an ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer (elastomer A) or of a styrene-butadiene copolymer (elastomer B), both within the scope of that document, are not satisfactory in terms of their luster properties and release characteristics. This must be regarded as a significant shortcoming, since the ethylene-alpha|-olefin copolymers are supposed to be the preferred additive among all rubbers and elastomers in that respect (column 3, line 66 to column 4, line 13).
This also applies to the mechanical properties tested in Table IV at two different temperatures. It appears that cracks are formed at 20°C as well as at -30°C when the moulded article specimen prepared from a composition containing 5 or 10 parts by weight of ethylene-butene-1 copolymer elastomer per 100 parts by weight of polyethylene is subjected to the hammer impact resistance test at these temperatures; further, even when no cracks are formed when the moulded object is struck five times at 20°C, great distortions are observed at -20°C when 30 parts by weight of ethylene-butene-1 copolymer elastomer are incorporated into 100 parts by weight of polyethylene. The properties are even poorer when a styrene-butadiene elastomer is incorporated, since none of the three compositions tested, which contain respectively 5, 20 and 50 parts by weight of that additive, gives results which are satisfactory both in terms of surface properties, i.e. luster properties and release characteristics, and mechanical properties, i.e. Izod impact strength and hammer impact resistance.
Although it is not disputed that the incorporation of a rubber and/or elastomer into the polyethylene compositions tends to improve the above-mentioned surface and mechanical properties, these properties overall cannot be regarded as optimal. The definition of the problem under- lying the patent in suit on the basis of that teaching would thus involve the improvement of several properties and, therefore, be more complex than on the basis of document D(i), from which it follows that only the improvement of the low-temperature impact strength properties is desired. For that reason, document D(i) represents a closer state of the art than document D(a).
In fact, the approach advocated by the Respondent is based on the assumption that the rubber or elastomer ingredient present in the compositions described in document D(a) is absent from the claimed compositions. In the Board's view, this difference is merely formal and, in any case, is not reflected in the wording of the composition claim; the main claim, on the contrary, is defined as "comprising", which leaves open the possibility of incorporating further additives, thus in particular a rubber or elastomer within the terms of document D(a). For this reason, too, the Respondent's argument cannot be accepted.
8.5 In conclusion, the claimed subject-matter as defined in Claim 1 of the main request is nothing more than the modification of the compositions disclosed in document D(i) in accordance with the teaching of document D(g). That step being obvious in view of the technical problem to be solved, no inventive step can be acknowledged.
9. Claim 1 not being allowable, the same applies to the dependent Claims 2 to 14, which are directed to preferred embodiments of the subject-matter of the main composition claim and thus fall with it. The same applies to the process Claims 15 to 20, since a request can only be considered as a whole.
Auxiliary request
10. No objection to the wording of the claims arises having regard to Article 123 EPC.
As stated in point III above, Claims 1 to 6 correspond to the process Claims 15 to 20 as granted and originally filed, with the exception that Claim 1 as the main process claim has been completed as follows "... and ensuring in the resultant product a gel content of at least 75% by weight". This feature is supported by Claim 21 as granted and originally filed.
11. In comparison with Claim 1 of the main request, Claim 1 of the auxiliary request differs by being formulated as a process claim and by the requirement of a minimum gel content of 75%. Since during oral proceedings the Appellant no longer maintained the objection raised in the Statement of Grounds of Appeal (see page 3, paragraph 2) that the skilled man would not know how to obtain such a gel (Article 100(b) EPC), it remains to be examined whether the change of category of claim and/or the condition regarding the gel content involve(s) an inventive step.
From the Respondent's submissions it does not appear that the combination of compositional features known from document D(i) and D(g), i.e. the use of dilaurylthiodipropionate together with 2,6-di-t-butyl-4- methylphenol as special additives in the basic composition known from document D(i), results in the improvement of properties other than the low-temperature impact strength of the rotationally moulded articles. This effect being expected, the fact that the main claim is now formulated as a process claim does not change the negative conclusion reached by Board regarding the patentability of the composition claim.
Although neither explicit values of gel content, nor even a suitable range for that parameter are to be found in the documents relied upon by the Appellant, document D(a) underlines nevertheless the positive influence of an enhanced degree of cross-linking on the impact resistance properties of rotationally moulded articles (column 2, lines 57 to 65). This statement can only be interpreted as meaning that the gel content should be high enough if the properties of the articles obtained by a rotational moulding process are to be satisfactory. The quantitative feature introduced by the Respondent is no different from that condition expressed for the compositions used in the claimed process. As pointed out by the Board, the existence of such a limit is self-evident and the determination thereof does not give rise to particular difficulties. In a sense, that parameter is even superfluous in that it represents the conditions which the skilled man would self-evidently choose in order to obtain moulded articles having good general properties; as such, it is nothing other than a functional definition of the claimed compositions corresponding to optimal properties. It follows that the lower limit of gel content does not represent an inventive feature and that the argument that there is an inventive selection invention cannot be accepted.
The subject-matter of the main process claim, therefore, does not involve an inventive step.
12. Claim 1 not being allowable, the same applies to the dependent Claims 2 to 6, which are directed to preferred embodiments of the subject-matter of the main process claim and thus fall with it.
1. The decision under appeal is set aside.
2. The patent is revoked.


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7:02 a.m. Alan Michael Harrison, 34, Laguna Hills, was arrested on a warrant for lodging in a public place. Bail was set at $2,500.
1:07 a.m. A 43-year-old Irvine man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
1:04 a.m. A 30-year-old Santa Ana man was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
12:19 a.m. A 23-year-old Ladera Ranch woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
9:22 p.m. Feinai Saipani Eli, 44, Laguna Beach, was arrested for trespassing (no bail was set) and for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (no bail was set).
2:16 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to "an injured sea lion on the beach at Shaw's Cove with barbed wire around it." According to the report, the sea lion was three feet in length and weighed approximately 50 pounds. PMMC was called and enroute to rescue the sea lion.
12:46 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to an unknown snake on the right side of the caller's driveway in the grass, along the bushes. The RP requested it be removed.
7:54 a.m. LBPD received a report regarding a sick sea lion. PMMC went on scene and rescued the sea lion.
7:04 a.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a sick seal on the beach. "People are trying to take pictures with it. The seal is not friendly," reads the report. PMMC responded to the scene and took in the seal.
12:11 a.m. Jovanny Nava, 21, Aliso Viejo, was arrested on a warrant for speeding. Bail was set at $1,500.
12:09 a.m. Jerald Jerrod Cousian, 51, Laguna Beach, was arrested for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. No bail was set.
10:42 p.m. Andrew James Eastin, 30, Costa Mesa, was arrested for taking a vehicle without owner consent (bail was set at $20,000) and for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (bail was set at $500).
9:58 p.m. Leonard Gonzalez, 37, Long Beach, was arrested for taking a vehicle without owner consent (bail was set at $20,000) and for possession of burglary tools (bail was set at $500).
9:22 p.m. A 46-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
9:35 p.m. A 46-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
9:21 p.m. A 52-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
10:58 p.m. A 37-year-old Irvine woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
7:29 p.m. A 27-year-old Costa Mesa man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
9:45 a.m. Moises Rodrigo Castrorodriguez, 32, Huntington Beach, was arrested on an undisclosed warrant. Bail was set at $30,000.
4:49 a.m. Konrad Hanes Peikar, 28, Laguna Niguel, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $500.
1:27 a.m. A 47-year-old Henderson, NV woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) reported a record 12 pinniped rescues from Friday, April 12 to Monday, April 15, with six rescues on Friday alone.
The first rescue, at 7:04 a.m. on Friday, April 12, was an elephant seal pup at the 1300 block of Circle Way. The female seal, named Moscow, was rescued and brought back to PMMC. The seal was malnourished and dehydrated and is now resting at PMMC.
The second case PMMC looked into, at 7:54 a.m., turned out to be an adult female sea lion at Thalia Street Beach. Since these animals are partially aquatic, sometimes they rest on non-crowded beaches. Because it was the early morning, not many people were at the beach yet.
"PMMC went out to investigate and determined the animal did not need to be rescued and encouraged it back into the water as to not get harassed by pets and people," PMMC's Krysta Higuchi said.
The third rescue on Friday occurred at Shaw's Cove at 2:46 p.m. following reports of a pinniped with a neck injury.
"This would be the fourth out of six rescues we would perform that day. When we first got the call, our team was already out on two other rescues," Higuchi said.
The PMMC team was able to pick up the animal and bring back it to PMMC. Once back at the center, a full exam was performed and it was determined a ratfish barb was in the elephant seal pup's neck.
"Our animal care team was able to remove the 4-inch barb. The animal has other wounds; a full X-ray and other exams will be performed to determine the full extent of the animal's injuries," Higuchi said.
Unfortunately, PMMC is also still without Internet and phones, which went out after a car hit a pole on Saturday night near PMMC. All phone calls to PMMC's main line are being rerouted to a cell phone.
To contact PMMC or report an injured pinniped, please call (949) 494-3050.
To make a donation to PMMC, visit www.pacificmmc.org.
On Monday, April 15, at 7:55 a.m., LBPD officers responded to South Coast Highway and Anita Street for a vehicle versus motorcycle traffic collision involving two local residents.
The motorcycle rider, 55-year-old Laguna Beach resident Scott Thompson, sustained major injuries, according to Sgt. Cota. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz is an 82-year-old Laguna Beach resident.
Thompson, owner of Sweetwater Car Wash, remains in critical but stable condition, according to Sgt. Cota.
On Saturday, April 13, at 8:17 p.m., LBPD officers responded to a report of a possible residential burglary in progress at the 1100 block of N Coast Hwy. According to police reports, a neighbor called to report that she saw someone enter her neighbor's backhouse, after seeing the lights go on and off.
According to Sgt. Jim Cota, LBPD officers arrived and observed two subjects inside of the residence.
Clare Elizabeth Whitaker, 46, of San Bernardino, and Mark Anthony Ornelas, 51, of Laguna Woods, were both arrested for violation of burglary, according to Sgt. Cota. Whitaker was found to have an outstanding warrant and Ornelas was found to be on parole for previous arrests and convictions of burglary. Both subjects have no fixed address, according to Sgt. Cota.
Bail was set at $25,250 for Whitaker. No bail was set for Ornelas.
On Thursday, April 11, at 9:59 p.m., LBPD officers were advised of a stolen vehicle from Newport Beach PD.
According to police records, the stolen vehicle was a white 2016 Ford Fusion. The car was reportedly unlocked and the keys left inside the vehicle.
Andrew James Eastin, 30, of Costa Mesa, and Leonard Gonzalez, 37, of Long Beach, were arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, and possession of burglary tools.
Bail was set at $25,000 for both Eastin and Gonzalez.
On Saturday, April 13, at 6:24 p.m., LBPD officers were dispatched, along with LBFD, to a cut and rescue traffic collision at the 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Road, near Pacific Marine Mammal Center.
A traffic alert was sent out due to traffic being reduced to one lane for approximately 45 minutes. Edison arrived on scene and secured their portion of the wires. The pole belonged to Verizon, according to Sgt. Cota.
On Saturday, April 13, at 12:21 p.m., 28-year-old Laguna Beach resident Maxwell Carlton Post allegedly began calling dispatch and making lewd comments and inappropriate requests to the dispatchers over the phone.
Officers responded to Post's residence and arrested him for making annoying/obscene telephone calls and the parole hold.
On Monday, April 8, at 8:20 p.m., LBPD officers responded to the Bus Depot, at the 300 block of Broadway Street, in reference to a male subject allegedly peeping in the women's restroom.
Rogelio Molohua, 31, Laguna Beach, was arrested for violation of peeping and public intoxication.
Bail was set at $1,000.
On Tuesday, April 9, at 9:50 a.m., dispatch advised LBPD officers of a stolen vehicle heading northbound on South Coast Highway from Nyes Street. The vehicle was a Cadillac Escalade recently stolen from the City of Costa Mesa.
Gary Michael Archuleta, 55, of Laguna Hills, was arrested for being in possession of a stolen vehicle and being in possession of burglary tools.
He was booked and transported to OC Jail.
A Laguna Beach High School lacrosse coach was arrested on Tuesday, April 8 on suspicion of inappropriately touching female students, according to LBPD Spokesperson PIO Sgt Jim Cota.
Three female student athletes reported that Robert Sant, head coach of the girls' lacrosse team, had inappropriately touched them in non-intimate areas of their bodies, the department said.
"On Friday, April 5 at 1 p.m., School Resource Officer (SRO) Cornelius Ashton was advised by two female LBHS students that their LBHS lacrosse coach, Robert Stewart Sant, Irvine resident, inappropriately touched them in non-intimate areas on their bodies. The most recent [alleged] incident happened on a school bus on April 4 on the way home from a lacrosse game. SRO Ashton's investigation led to a third female victim who was interviewed. LBUSD leadership was notified and took appropriate action," Sgt Cota said.
Sant, who was in his first season as head coach of the team, is no longer an employee of LBUSD.
"He is no longer an employee of LBUSD as of April 5. The District is cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation," said Leisa Winston, LBUSD Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources and Public Communications.
On Tuesday, April 9 at 1:07 p.m., SRO Ashton and LBPD detectives responded to the city of Irvine and arrested 37-year-old Robert Stewart Sant on suspicion of three counts of Lewd & Lascivious Acts with a Child.
Bail was set at $100,000, which Sant posted, according to Sgt Cota.
"This investigation is still ongoing," Sgt Cota said.
5:54 p.m. Konrad Hanes Peikar, 28, Laguna Niguel, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $500.
3:57 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a rattlesnake. According to police records, a caller reported seeing a rattlesnake near the entry of their home. They called to see if Animal Services would do a welfare check for the snake because, according to the report, it looked like the tail of the snake was damaged.
3:21 p.m. Kyle Albert Winton, 39, Laguna Beach, was arrested on two warrants for disorderly conduct related to alcohol (bail was set at $10,000 for each) and for disorderly conduct related to alcohol (bail was set at $500).
1:07 p.m. Robert Stewart Sant, 37, Irvine, was arrested on suspicion of committing a lewd and lascivious act with a minor (three counts). Bail was set at $100,000.
9:50 a.m. Gary Michael Archuleta, 55, Laguna Hills, was arrested for being in possession of burglary tools (bail was set at $500) and for being in possession of a stolen vehicle/vessel (bail was set at $20,000).
9 a.m. Daniel Paul Schneider, 53, Laguna Beach, was arrested for two undisclosed warrants. Bail was set at $1,500 and $2,500.
8:15 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to an alleged LBMC violation. According to police records, a caller reported that at the Camel Point Beach access there was "a substantial fire and subjects were throwing firewood." LBPD went to the scene and contacted the four subjects.
8 p.m. Rogelio Molohua-Molohua, 31, Laguna Beach, was arrested for a warrant for disorderly conduct related to alcohol (bail was set at $500) and for loitering (bail was set at $500).
6:14 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a subject defrauding an innkeeper. According to police records, a caller reported that a male had skipped out on his bill. The approximate loss was $400. A WhatsApp notification was sent out.
6:14 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a rattlesnake. According to police records, a caller reported seeing "a large rattlesnake in their front lawn moving around." Later, the snake was reported to be gone.
8:45 p.m. Laura Lynn Vinyard, 51, Fullerton, was arrested on a warrant for being drunk in public. Bail was set at $2,500.
7:24 p.m. Jorge Antonio Zepedanarvaez, 27, Los Angeles, was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance (bail was set at $500) and driving with a suspended license (bail was set at $500).
2:43 a.m. Jonathan David Begay, 30, Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of DUI with one prior. Bail was set at $10,000.
1:18 a.m. A 41-year-old Irvine man was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
12:21 a.m. A 39-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
12:02 a.m. A 47-year-old Huntington Beach woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
10:54 p.m. Christopher Ryan Haro, 37, Santa Ana, was arrested on an undisclosed warrant. Bail was set at $2,500.
2:34 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a live bat. According to police records, the caller reported that there was a live bat in his home. It turned out to be a moth.
12:59 p.m. Kyle Albert Winton, 39, Laguna Beach, was arrested for resisting arrest (bail was set at $500) and trespassing (bail was set at $500).
2:03 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a sick sea lion. According to police records, the caller found a sea lion on the beach that appeared to be "struggling." The sea lion was located just north of the stairs.
10:48 a.m. A 46-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
3:34 a.m. A 25-year-old San Juan Capistrano woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
2:57 a.m. A 19-year-old Orange man was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
1:43 a.m. Jonathan Avila Barron, 20, Lynwood, was arrested for possession of a controlled narcotic substance. Bail was set at $500.
1:31 a.m. A 28-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
12:13 a.m. A 25-year-old Laguna Niguel woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
10:02 p.m. A 62-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
9:50 p.m. LBPD received a report regarding fireworks at the beach. According to police records, the caller reported that a group of young kids were lighting M80 fireworks at the beach. LBPD went to the location and the teens were gone on arrival.
1:47 p.m. Brian Kieth OConnor, 56, Laguna Beach, was arrested on an undisclosed warrant. Bail was set at $10,000.
7:59 a.m. Miriam L Gonzalez Orozco, 26, Bell Gardens, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $500.
7:01 a.m. Terry Dwayne Sanders, 44, Laguna Beach, was arrested for resisting arrest. Bail was set at $500.
10:07 p.m. Jacob Edward Gildart Matany, 29, Santa Ana, was arrested on a flash incarceration (no bail was set), resisting arrest (bail was set at $500), and vandalism (bail was set at $500).
7:39 p.m. Matthew Peter Rogers, 61, Los Angeles, was arrested for resisting arrest (bail was set at $500) and trespassing (bail was set at $500).
2:03 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to three males in their teens smoking marijuana on the trails.
1:51 p.m. Gary Wayne Horton, 73, Laguna Beach, was arrested on an undisclosed warrant. Bail was set at $10,000.
4:58 a.m. Hector Sanchez, 29, San Diego, was arrested for vandalism of less than $400. Bail was set at $500.
2:31 a.m. Gordon Lawrence Weider, 71, Laguna Beach, was arrested on a warrant for being drunk in public (bail was set at $10,000) and on a second warrant for being drunk in public (bail was set at $10,000).
12:31 p.m. A 53-year-old woman from Van Horne, IA was arrested on suspicion of DUI (bail was set at $2,500) and driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.08% or higher (bail was set at $2,500).
3:55 p.m. A 53-year-old Dana Point man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
5:48 p.m. A 37-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
2:25 p.m. A 56-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
2:10 p.m. A 37-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
2:03 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a baby seal. According to police records, the caller stated they found a baby seal on the sand during low tide. Animal Services went to the location, found the seal deceased, and removed it from the beach.
12:43 p.m. A 46-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
12:36 p.m. A 26-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for disorderly conduct related to alcohol. Bail was set at $500.
10:38 a.m. Jeffery Joseph Noon, 64, Laguna Beach, was arrested for trespassing. Bail was set at $500.
7:20 a.m. Reese Mitchel Westenberger, 53, Lake Forest, was arrested on an undisclosed warrant. Bail was set at $7,500.
3:45 a.m. Brian Douglas Ricker, 39, Merritt island, FL, was arrested on an undisclosed warrant. No bail was set.
"The residents believe she may be casing the area," LBPD PIO Sgt Jim Cota said.
The incident could be what is being called "flocking," a new burglary tactic targeting affluent neighborhoods that seems to be on the rise.
Over the last couple of years, celebrities, singers, and athletes in Los Angeles have experienced being flocked such as actor Emmy Rossum, singer Alanis Morissette, and former LA Dodger Yasiel Puig, who now plays for the Cincinnati Reds. Victims have reported losses ranging from $150,000 to $2 million.
Now it seems that some flockers have migrated south to Laguna Beach.
Remember to just say "no" to strangers. Always put safety first and call LBPD at (949) 497-0701 if you believe you have been flocked or have seen suspicious flockers in your neighborhood.
On Saturday, March 30, at 11:39 p.m., LBPD received a report in reference to kids ringing a man's doorbell and knocking on his window.
According to police reports, the caller stated that kids ran up ringing his doorbell three times and banged on the window. Approximately six kids, all boys between ages 11 and 14 years old, were reported. The incident occurred about 35 minutes prior to the report.
Then, on Wednesday, April 3, at 6:59 p.m., another occurrence of kids playing ding dong ditch was reported in town.
On Friday, April 5, at 10:05 p.m., at the 300 block of S Coast Highway, LBPD responded to a call in reference to someone yelling underneath the boardwalk. According to witness reports, a male was underneath the boardwalk yelling obscenities, repeatedly "dunking" in and out of the water and refusing to come out.
According to Sgt Cota, "Officers made contact with the subject, who required paramedics for possible hypothermia. The subject was ultimately transported to Mission Hospital Laguna Beach for medical treatment."
3:26 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to juveniles playing "Senior Assassin." It was reported that two females in a gray VW Wagon were driving around speeding in the street. One male was reportedly running on the street with a water gun.
3:13 p.m. Alan Dean Fabian, 64, Hacienda Heights, was arrested on an undisclosed warrant. Bail was set at $50,000.
2:49 p.m. LBPD received a report regarding a rattlesnake. According to police records, a baby rattlesnake was found near the caller's gate in their driveway. The snake was reportedly taken into custody and relocated.
1:02 p.m. Ralph Francis Bowers, 48, Huntington Beach, was arrested for trespassing (bail was set at $500) and violating parole (no bail was set).
12:36 p.m. Edward Patrick Schillizzi, 63, Long Beach, was arrested on a warrant for trespassing. Bail was set at $50,000.
4 p.m. LBPD received a report regarding a rattlesnake. According to police records, a resident stated there was a rattlesnake at the bottom of the steps to her residence. The woman called requesting assistance from Animal Control.
Feinai Saipani Eli, 44, Laguna Beach, was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $500.
6:17 p.m. Marc Anthony Trotter, 49, Los Angeles, was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance (bail was set at $500), possession of a controlled narcotic substance (bail was set at $2,500), and on a warrant for possession of methamphetamine (bail was set at $3,500).
12:13 p.m. LBPD received a report regarding a rattlesnake. According to police records, the rattlesnake was in the caller's backyard.
1:18 a.m. Ryan Michael Connor, 28, San Diego, was arrested for domestic violence with minor injury. Bail was set at $50,000.
9:56 a.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a rattlesnake. According to police records, there was a baby rattlesnake in the middle of the street, not moving at all. The caller was unsure if it was dead or alive. The RP stated she would be standing by with her dog until Animal Services arrived.
5:42 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to grand theft. According to police reports, a kayak was stolen, estimated to be worth $1,000.
4:19 p.m. LBPD received a report in reference to a beehive. According to police records, the caller stated there was a huge beehive outside at the location, which was not private property. The RP stated the bees were everywhere and that they were concerned for people who are allergic. The property owner was contacted and was reportedly in the process of removing the bees.
12:02 p.m. Diandre Lamont Lopez, 45, Santa Ana, was arrested on a warrant for driving with a suspended license due to a DUI. Bail was set at $10,000.
6:11 a.m. Douglas Henry Smith, 65, Laguna Niguel, was arrested on a warrant for making criminal threats. Bail was set at $15,000.
1:59 a.m. A 51-year-old Anaheim man was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $2,500.
It seems that throngs of people are trying to get to our goats in Laguna Beach. Stu News heard from one source that they had seen over 40 people at one time up on the trails watching the goats, and also that people were trying to feed and touch them.
Recent police records substantiate these reports.
Personnel took action, arrived on scene, and escorted the subjects away from the goats.
Merely 48 hours later, on Tuesday, April 2, at 7:48 p.m., again at Dartmoor Street and Dunnegan Drive, LBPD received additional accounts of the goats being interfered with.
According to police records, a caller advised LBPD about an incident that had occurred earlier in the day at 5:50 p.m. The RP and her daughter were looking at the goats when she noticed "four male juvies messing with them." The boys reportedly scattered after they saw her.
The caller also advised that when she went back later, there was a baby goat that appeared sick. Having worked with goats before, she picked up the goat and wanted to take it to the hospital in the canyon.
At one point during her reported do-good rescue efforts, the RP was carrying the goat, when she encountered the City's goat herder.
According to Jim Beres, LBPD Civilian Services Administrator, Animal Services Officers responded to both calls and no action was taken.
Animal Services advises residents and visitors not to approach the goats, no matter their intention.
Beres advised, "The fire goats are there for a specific reason, to eat the overgrown weeds and vegetation that could develop into a fire hazard. People should leave the goats alone, they are working goats.
The grazing goats are on the job and don't appreciate harassment at the workplace. It's not a petting zoo.
According to a FEMA report, "Laguna Beach has been using goats as part of its fuel reduction and vegetation management program since the early 1990s. The program was expanded after a wildfire burned across 14,000 acres, destroying or damaging 441 homes in the beach community in 1993.
Because of the climate, types of natural vegetation, and expansive wildlands in Southern California, including wildlands that reach into the city, there is an ongoing risk of wildfires.
Fully aware of the risk, Laguna Beach Fire Department is very proactive in vegetation management. One of the best ways to control wildfires is to control the amount of fuel available to feed the flames. These areas can be difficult to reach by most vegetation management equipment due to the nature of the terrain – rocks, canyons, and steep inclines. The introduction of goat herds in these areas has proven to be an ideal solution to the problem.


Well Thing's are slowey getting setteled back in our family life very slowey Back living with mum, since dad's passing.
I just could not write For awhile it was too painful I miss my dear Dad every day.
The light of my family.
Shuch a beautiful person and soul.
It's been the first time in neally 3 months that i saw my mum smile.
And really laught we where having fun and giggeling at each other trying to do Yoga moves.
Well next year i am going to try for the second time to get my EEN's done I'm more Perpered this time and i know what I'm in for.
I feel i have more time and emoshional and psyhical help before i did not and so many people what to help me which i think is nice.
More serport Just got to see if it's ok with work first then it's all go from there .


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Tag: bergama
Welcome to Asklepion, possibly the earliest hospital of the ancient world.
This site is close to Pergamon/Bergama. In the ancient world, the healing power of water was well known. The hospital was made at this place, which had 3 different waters that were used for treatment of various sicknesses. This place was dedicated to the God of healing, Asklepios.
For my photo gallery, please follow this link
The Asklepion gained in prominence under the Romans in the 2nd century AD, but a sacred site existed here as early as the 4th century BC.
Many of the treatments employed at Pergamum, in complement with a sacred source of water that was later discovered as having radioactive properties, have been used for centuries.
The treatments included psychotherapy, massage, herbal remedies, mud and bathing treatments, the interpretation of dreams, and the drinking of water.
Below is the main treatment building, which is circular in shape, with the inner cylinder for storing the health water.
Quite unlike modern hospitals, everybody was dying to get in to the Asklepion: patients included Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, and Caracalla.
But then again, the Asklepion was more like a modern spa than a hospital: therapy included mud baths, music concerts, and doses of water from the sacred fountain.
Hours of therapy also probed the meaning of the previous night's dreams, as patients believed dreams recounted a visit by the god Asklepios, who held the key to curing illness.
Galen, the influential physician and philosopher who was born in Pergamum in 129 AD, trained and then later became an attendant to the gladiators here.
And here is the general view of the Theatre and the Library area.
Categories: Sites from Turkey
Tagged: Asklepion, bergama, pergamon
Link to the photo gallery is here: link.
One of Pergamon's ?notable structures is the Serapis Temple (Serapeum) which was later transformed into the Red Basilica complex (or Kizil Avlu in Turkish), about one kilometer south of the Acropolis. It consists of a main building and two round towers. In the first century AD, the Christian Church at Pergamon inside the main building of the Red Basilica was one of the Seven Churches to which the Book of Revelation was addressed (Revelation 2:12). The forecourt is still supported by the 193 m wide Pergamon Bridge, the largest bridge substruction of antiquity.
It is beleived that this was a "Temple of the Egyptian Gods". And the architects were Egyptians. A ?temple in western Anatolia devoted to Egyptian gods is not something to be expected.
This building had one of the biggest domes of the time, but unfortunately most of the ceiling has been destroyed probably by earthquakes.
A site that must be visited while you are at the Pergamon (Bergama) in Turkey.
Tagged: bergama, pergamon, red hall
Bergama, Ancient Pergamon
The gallery link is here. More photos will be added in a short time.
Pergamon, Pergamum or P?rgamo (in Greek, ????????) was an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey, in Mysia, today located 16 miles (26 km) from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus (modern day Bak?r?ay), that became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 281?133 BC. Today, the main sites of ancient Pergamon are to the north and west of the modern city of Bergama.
The Attalid kingdom was the rump state left after the collapse of the Kingdom of Thrace.
The Attalids, the descendants of Attalus, father of Philetaerus who came to power in 281 BC following the collapse of the Kingdom of Thrace, were among the most loyal supporters of Rome in the Hellenistic world. Under Attalus I (241-197 BC), they allied with Rome against Philip V of Macedon, during the first and second Macedonian Wars, and again under Eumenes II (197-158 BC), against Perseus of Macedon, during the Third Macedonian War. For support against the Seleucids, the Attalids were rewarded with all the former Seleucid domains in Asia Minor.
The Attalids ruled with intelligence and generosity. Many documents survive showing how the Attalids would support the growth of towns through sending in skilled artisans and by remitting taxes. They allowed the Greek cities in their domains to maintain nominal independence. They sent gifts to Greek cultural sites like Delphi, Delos, and Athens. They defeated the invading Celts. They remodeled the Acropolis of Pergamo after the Acropolis in Athens. When Attalus III (138-133 BC) died without an heir in 133 BC he bequeathed the whole of Pergamon to Rome, in order to prevent a civil war.
According to Christian tradition, the first bishop of Pergamon, Antipas, was martyred there in ca. 92 AD. (Revelation 2:13)
The Ottoman Sultan Murad III had two large alabaster urns transported from the ruins of Pergamon and placed on two sides of the nave in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
The Great Altar of Pergamon is in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin. The base of this altar remains on the upper part of the Acropolis. It was perhaps to this altar, believed dedicated to Zeus, that John of Patmos referred to as "Satan's Throne" in his Book of Revelation (Revelation 2:12-13).
Other notable structures still in existence on the upper part of the Acropolis include:
* The Hellenistic Theater with a seating capacity of 10,000. This had the steepest seating of any known theater in the ancient world.[2]
* The Sanctuary of Trajan (also known as the Trajaneum)
* The Sanctuary of Athena
* The Library a.k.a. Athenaeum[citation needed]
* The Royal palaces
* The Hero?n – a shrine where the kings of Pergamon, particularly, Attalus I and Eumenes II, were worshipped.[3]
* The Temple of Dionysus
* The Upper Agora
* The Roman baths complex
Pergamon's library on the Acropolis (the ancient Library of Pergamum) is the second best in the ancient Greek civilization.[4] When the Ptolemies stopped exporting papyrus, partly because of competitors and partly because of shortages, the Pergamenes invented a new substance to use in codices, called pergaminus or pergamena (parchment) after the city. This was made of fine calfskin, a predecessor of vellum. The library at Pergamom was believed to contain 200,000 volumes, which Mark Antony later gave to Cleopatra as a wedding present.
Lower Acropolis
The lower part of the Acropolis has the following structures:
* the Upper Gymnasium
* the Middle Gymnasium
* the Lower Gymnasium
* the Temple of Demeter
* the Sanctuary of Hera
* the House of Attalus
* the Lower Agora and
* the Gate of Eumenes
Tagged: bergama, mysia, pergamon, turkey

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Permit (NOD) approved for 9-23 Mackenzie St, Melbourne. 38 floors, $120m investment creating hundreds of bldg jobs.
With a vision to create projects that become valuable additions to the city skyline, this 37 level residential development promises both an architectural and environmentally responsible contribution.
The 9-23 Mackenzie land, which measures about 2030 sqm, is situated in the eastern precinct of the Melbourne CBD, at the corner of the 64-acre Carlton Gardens, which houses the World Heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building.


Jonestown Rd. (US 22) & Devonshire Rd.
Harrisburg East is located on the east shore of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, directly on Route 22 (Jonestown Road), which is the major retail corridor for the area.
Kimco redeveloped Harrisburg East Shopping Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Kimco subdivided two parcels from the parking lot for two new tenants. CVS now occupies the signalized busy corner at the intersection of Devonshire Road and Hampton Court Road. CVS handled their own construction and approvals. For Mission BBQ, a popular and patriotic eatery, Kimco obtained land development approvals and constructed a graded and paved pad with utilities and the tenant built their own building. In the former Gander Mountain space, a new Giant store now operates. Kimco paved and restriped the entire parking lot, upgrading the landscaping and site lighting and renovating the facade of the additional retail in the center.
Opening date set for new Giant Food Store in Lower Paxton Twp.


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Published on The National Interest (https://nationalinterest.org)
Home > North Korea's Ancient Biplanes are a Real Threat (Think Swarm Attack)
North Korea's Ancient Biplanes are a Real Threat (Think Swarm Attack)
August 10, 2020 Topic: Security Region: Asia Blog Brand: The Reboot Tags: North KoreaAir ForceBiplaneKorean WarAir Defenses
The An-2s have reportedly been maintained to a higher standards of readiness than the KPAF's dilapidated fleet of jet fighters.
by Sebastien Roblin
Here's What You Need To Remember: Surging dozens or hundreds of difficult-to-detect An-2s could easily overwhelm the air defenses on the DMZ, even if the losses sustained in doing so might be considered unacceptable to a Western military mentality.
The North Korean People's Air Force is predominantly composed of Soviet jet designs from the 1950s, or at least their Chinese clones, plus a smaller number of aircraft from the 1970s and 1980s. However, the most numerous aircraft in North Korean service is even more antiquated: a single-engine biplane transport that first flew in 1947. North Korea operates over three hundred An-2 and Y-5 biplane transports in at least six regiments, and they play a key role in its military strategy.
How could these chunky biplanes pose a threat to adversaries fielding guided missiles and supersonic stealth fighters? North Korea has a found a way, banking on its own experience in the Korean War.
Even when the first An-2 prototype was unveiled in the Soviet Union in 1947, its biplane configuration seemed anachronistic. Aircraft with two wings exhibit more lift, lower stall speeds and superior maneuverability—but the extra drag created by the second wing imposes steep limitations on maximum speed. This led biplane designs to rapidly fall into obsolescence by the start of World War II.
However, renowned air transport designer Oleg Antonov had appreciated how slow two-seat Po-2 utility biplanes had proven highly successful at harassing German troops at night, and landing supplies and secret agents behind enemy lines; they were difficult for fast fighters to detect and intercept, and their excellent low-speed handling allowed them to operate from very short, unprepared fields. Antonov's idea was to basically scale the Po-2 up to a light transport for agricultural and civilian use from primitive airfields across the USSR's vast, lightly populated frontiers.
The basic An-2 has a single, throaty one-thousand-horsepower ASh-62r radial engine that rattles like a tractor. This can push the fabric-and-aluminum aircraft to maximum speeds of little more than 160 miles per hour and out to a range of 560 miles. Its cargo compartment can accommodate up to twelve passengers, or between one or two tons of cargo. Though a bit of a tail dragger, the An-2 is a remarkably forgiving aircraft, as the added lift from its biplane configuration and two sets of full-wing length flaps means it can operate at speeds as slow as thirty miles per hour without stalling.
In fact, if flown into a sufficiently strong headwind, an An-2 can almost hover in place, or even briefly fly backwards. These low-speed characteristics give An-2s an almost helicopter-like ability to take off or land from short and very rough, unprepared airfields, as you can see in this video. Of course, helicopters are even more flexible and fly at comparable speeds, but they are also considerably more expensive and maintenance-intensive. An-2s on the market typically cost between $30,000 and $100,000.
Soviet economic and military planners caught on to the An-2's potential after Stalin's death and it became a global hit, with exports to more than fifty countries and production eventually moving to Poland. China also license-built thousands of An-2 clones, called the Y-5. More than eighteen thousand of the pokey biplanes were eventually built, with Polish factories not ending production until 2001. China is still building Y-5s, and I have frequently observed the biplanes overflying dusty rural regions in northern China.
Although most renowned for civilian service as passenger liners, air ambulances and crop dusters—the An-2 was nicknamed Kukuruznik ("Corn Eater")—the An-2 also had plenty of useful military applications (NATO codenamed it "Colt"), ranging from logistics to parachute training, artillery observation and infiltrating special-operations troops. Dozens of specialized variants were developed, including An-2V floatplanes and even ski-equipped Colts for arctic operations.
By one count, An-2s were used in over forty conflicts, primarily in transport, observation and occasionally light attack roles. A quartet of North Vietnamese An-2s once attacked a secret U.S. base in Laos with rockets and mortar shells dropped out a side door—though one was shot down by small-arms fire from a Huey helicopter. In 1991 the newborn Croatian Air Force used an An-2 to ferry supplies to the besieged city of Vukovar, and even attacked Serb forces using barrel bombs made out of boilers and fuel drums.
Recommended: How North Korea Could Start a War
Recommended: This Is What Happens if America Nuked North Korea
Recommended: The Colt Python: The Best Revolver Ever Made?
During the Korean War, North Korea had used Po-2 utility planes in a similar fashion as the Soviets had in World War II to launch night raids behind UN lines, which sometimes inflicted considerable damage. U.S. ground-based radars struggled to detect the slow and low-flying intruders, while sophisticated radar-equipped night fighters only succeeded in shooting down thirteen.
The KPAAF received its first An-2s before the war's end, but it's not clear if they saw action. However, the KPA clearly saw the potential for the An-2 to pick up where the Po-2 had left off. The An-2's capabilities synergized especially well with the emphasis North Korea accords to infiltrating its special-forces branch—the largest in the world, numbering around two hundred thousand personnel—deep behind South Korean lines to create a "second front."
Ground-skimming An-2s would offer a useful platform to parachute or air-land elite commandos to attack key bases and installations, disrupt supply lines and generally spread chaos. Indeed, in 2015 the KPA conducted three separate large-scale parachute exercises involving fifteen thousand commandos. The An-2s have featured prominently in state media; for example, in 2015, Korean Central News published a photo of Kim Jong-un sitting in the cockpit of a "new" An-2, which he ostensibly had tested personally.
The same year, the press proudly announced the An-2s had received a new camouflage scheme (green on top, blue on the bottom) to make them hard to distinguish from both the ground and air. In fact the An-2s have reportedly been maintained to a higher standards of readiness than the KPAF's dilapidated fleet of jet fighters.
Wouldn't such primitive aircraft be vulnerable to South Korean air defenses and fighters? Yes, but only to a point. The An-2 already has a reduced radar profile due to its fabric surface, which is less radar reflective. The KPAF has reportedly replaced additional aluminum surfaces on its An-2s with canvas and fabric, and even installed wooden propellers to further reduce the signature. Additionally, the An-2's ability to hug the terrain of Korea's famously rugged mountains would help mask it from the radars of ground-based surface-to-air missiles, and pose a challenge to airborne radars. Finally, the Kukuruznik's slow speed may cause some radars to eliminate it from the track as background noise.
This is not to say that the An-2 is an invulnerable stealth plane. Some will inevitably be detected, and they would be exposed to any short-range air defenses, including heat-seeking shoulder-fired Stinger missiles, heavy machine guns and rapid-fire autocannons. However, surging dozens or hundreds of difficult-to-detect An-2s could easily overwhelm the air defenses on the DMZ, even if the losses sustained in doing so might be considered unacceptable to a Western military mentality.
North Korean An-2s have also been modified to fire unguided rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and bombs, perhaps to provide air support for the special operators after they have been dropped off. You can see a video from 2014 of Kim Jong-un looking on as a rocket-equipped Il-2 blasts a target on a grassy field here—followed by a similar demonstration from a Yak-18 two-seat trainer, which was employed successfully as a night intruder during the Korean War.
The Drive's Tyler Rogoway has also suggested An-2s could serve as a delivery system for a small nuclear bomb, although this would only be possible if North Korea develops a sufficiently lightweight nuclear warhead. Furthermore, given the dicey odds of any one individual An-2 penetrating the air-defense gauntlet, such a strategy would likely require warheads redundantly deployed on multiple aircraft.
The threat of being swarmed by low-observable biplanes has apparently led South Korea to acquire two An-2s of its own, so that its F-15 fighters can practice interceptions, according to this article in NK News. The reality is that, while an An-2 infiltration swarm would be difficult to repel, it would still likely be a suicide mission for many of the pilots. However, the aircraft are expendable, costing less than most of the guided missiles that might be fired at them, and North Korean infiltrators have exhibited a willingness to sustain heavy casualties and fight to the death during their many previous misadventures.
Pyongyang's antiquated combat aircraft have limited prospects in a head-to-head confrontation with South Korean airpower, let alone that of the United States. The KPA's continued investments in its An-2 is an example of how it has put considerable thought and effort in finding ways for its outdated hardware to project a credible asymmetric threat.
The An-2 will remain in service for many more years in the twenty-first century, largely in peaceful civilian roles. Hopefully, a bloody conflict on the Korean Peninsula will not become part of its colorful history.
Sébastien Roblin holds a master's degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. He has also worked in education, editing and refugee resettlement in France and the United States. He currently writes on security and military history for War Is Boring. This first appeared last year.
Source URL:https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/north-koreas-ancient-biplanes-are-real-threat-think-swarm-attack-166565


Introduced in 1950, the Chevrolet Bel Air is really a vehicle that spoke of youth and freedom. It absolutely was provided getting a six-cylinder engine, offering 115 h . p .. It absolutely was fancy, bearing a couple of-tone fresh fresh fresh fresh paint plan in addition having a fantastically personalized, two-tone interior. Since the '50s advanced, the Bel Air ongoing to thrive since the 'All-American car' it elevated in magnitude, and elevated being provided with lots of engine dimensions, like the V-8, which was normally limited to the effective Corvettes.
Chevrolet re-named its series in 1953 together with the Bel Air title was placed on the premium model range. In 1955, Chevrolets acquired a V8 engine option,new styling that acquired it the "Hot One" designation by fans. Models were further distinguished while using Bel Air title script in gold lettering.
Chevrolet's styling was considered crisp and clean.
The vehicle incorporated features on cars inside the lower models ranges plus interior carpet, chrome headliner bands on hardtops, chrome warrior warrior warrior warrior spears on front bumpers, chrome window moldings, and full wheel covers.
The Bel Airs were probably most likely probably the most identifiable American cars ever.Spacious, fuel-efficient, with with taste restrained using tail fins and chrome, they are seen by plenty of as greatly much better than the additional-large and overdecorated full-size mixers would unveil of Detroit for the following two decades.
From 1955-57, output of the-door Nomad station wagon was designated for your Bel Air series, although its body and trim were unique compared to that specific model. Before just like a regular production model, the Nomad first showed up in this area like a Corvettes-based concept vehicle in 1954. Chevrolet has since revealed two concept cars bearing the Nomad title, most recently in 1999.
The most famous Chevrolet Bel Air convertible saw 47,562 models produced.When using the optional 245 H . p . 283 CID small block V-8 fitted with two four barrel carburetors, this Bel Air Convertible provides a hearty purr inside the dual exhausts.
These popular cars elevated being symbol as time passes. The entire generation become most likely probably most likely probably the most desirable and collectable publish war cars of. 47,000 Bel Air convertibles were produced inside the 1957 model year.
The Bel Air experienced some drastic styling changes to be capable of boost sales in 1957. The Bel Air was decreased by 1.5 inches making 2.5 inches longer.Obtaining a completely new unshakable look with, dramatic tailfins and jet-inspired coffee coffee coffee coffee pods to assist the headlamps, sales skyrocketed.


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Q: Under what circumstances, if any, would an executable ELF file (type == EXEC) not have section headers? Reading the ELF specification, it seems that for an EXEC type ELF file, the section header table is listed as "optional". Under what circumstances would it be omitted?

A:
Under what circumstances would it be omitted?

Section info is not needed at execution time, and traditionally is only kept for debugging (e.g. you can get a backtrace for a crash from an executable compiled without any debugging info).
You should be able to remove them with e.g. strip --strip-all, but that doesn't appear to work.
You could also binary-patch the the file -- e.g. zero out .e_shoff and .e_shnum in the ELF header.
Related answer.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Finished with a faux fur trim, the Elaine Faux Fur Knit Coatigan is the perfect transitional outerwear for everyday wear. The loose-fitting knit is crafted from a wool-blend lending a cosy feel to the relaxed piece. Finished with a faux fur trim on the cuffs, the thick cardigan has a sumptuous look. Pair with slim fit trousers for comfy office style.


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Home News Forget door-opening bots, give us robot cockroaches, say boffins
Forget door-opening bots, give us robot cockroaches, say boffins
NEWSBYTE: A team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and Pennsylvania State University, have suggested that robot designers should take inspiration from cockroaches.
Cockroaches are renowned – if not hated – for surviving floods, fires, and even nuclear disasters. But while their indestructibility might be overstated, there's no doubt that these sturdy creatures are natural selection superstars.
Now the academic team has suggested that these qualities could be replicated in the design of new robotic systems.
Read more: Robot swans to measure water quality in Singapore
Tackling the problem head-on
A closer look at a cockroach's 'high speed transition strategy'.
As detailed in the researchers' study, cockroaches have a knack of bumping into things and using the environment to their advantage:
"Instead of avoidance, animals can use their passive body shape and compliance to negotiate challenging environments. […] The cockroaches' 'terradynamically streamlined', fusiform shape causes them to execute a novel roll manoeuvre – a form of natural parkour – facilitating rapid traversal of vertical gaps narrower than half their body width."
In other words, rather than learn to avoid objects, robots should scale them, bump into them, adapt to them, and use them to their advantage.
The research, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, shows how robots modelled on cockroaches could climb walls and navigate safely through complex environments and terrains.
A soft exoskeleton can act like a bumper, said the boffins, allowing for the kind of movement that could provide the foundation for the "next generation of running, climbing, and flying robots, where the use of the body can offload the demand for rapid sensing and actuation," said the researchers.
The study is timely, given the hysteria following the release of yet another eerie clip from Boston Dynamics (see below). But if you thought a robot dog capable of opening doors was creepy, just wait until the robot cockroaches start climbing the walls.
Journal of the Royal Society Interface
robot cockroaches
robot dogs
Malek Murison


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About Gujarat
Why Gujarat
Located in the western part of India, the State of Gujarat shares its border with Rajasthan and Pakistan (northeast), Maharashtra (south), Madhya Pradesh (east) and Arabian Sea (west). The State has the longest coastline in the country and has unique geographical features.
After India attained its independence in 1947, Gujarat was divided into three regions Saurashtra, Kutch and Bombay. The State of Gujarat was formed in 1960. While, Ahmedabad was the first capital of Gujarat, the capital was moved to Gandhinagar in 1970.
© 2017 Welcome to Gujarat. All Rights Reserved.
Conceptualized by: Innovative Council of Indian Tourism
Designed, Developed & Maintained by: Shiv Technolabs Pvt. Ltd.


The 6th & 7th; I'm so happy and excited. — In one of the stars I shall be living.
The 6th of June. An eventful day! I woke up to an almost immediate power cut which lasted for about an hour and a half, so I had to have bread and flora for breakfast. Felt like I was in an orphanage or something. Thankfully, because of me, we are on the priority list, so I think we were one of the first properties to get our power back, and the company rang later on to check that we were okay.
After reading all of the paper and having lunch, we had a family outing to a mobility centre in Dudley where they sell the Foldawheel so I could try it out before we spent all the money. I tried it and two others that can be taken apart but weigh a lot more and take up a lot of space. I had a whizz round the showroom and out in the car park a bit, and I am pleased to say I was right. Every other chair feels much bigger, makes me feel a bit like a robot, more disabled than I actually am, and feel like they encroach upon others' personal space.
It'll be delivered on Tuesday or Wednesday. The donor wants to remain anonymous, but it's safe to say it's known how grateful I am to them and everyone who originally donated, whose money has now been returned. I'm so happy and excited.
Having been hunched over for the past couple of weeks coughing, I literally can no longer stand up straight. I spent a good half an hour on the floor trying to stretch myself out this morning but it wasn't very successful, I'm still walking a bit like Quasimodo.
After lunch, Mommy washed my hair, then the afternoon has just involved watching athletics and trying to shift into more comfortable positions. This doesn't bode well for my chiropractic appointment tomorrow.
Tonight is the Channel 4 Comedy Gala so it'll be fun to share what Christine, Kim and I saw with my parents. Also interesting to see how it's been edited.
That is all, really! I really miss the gym, I need to get better and start working out again. At least I have clinic on Wednesday so if I'm still dreadful then, I am sure they'll give me something. Please.
Jun 10 The 8th & 9th; I've given myself whiplash.


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John Bolton Praises Jamie Glazov's New Book, "Jihadist Psychopath"
President Trump's National Security Adviser gives a glowing thumbs up.
Frontpagemag.com
[Order Jamie Glazov's new book: Jihadist Psychopath: How He Is Charming, Seducing, and Devouring Us.]
We are excited to announce that Frontpage Editor Jamie Glazov's new book, Jihadist Psychopath: How He Is Charming, Seducing, and Devouring Us, has received glowing praise from President Trump's National Security Adviser, John Bolton. [See Jamie's video about this great honor here,]
Jamie's new book, as indicated in the screen shot/graphic to the left, has also recently hit Amazon's #1 Best Seller in the "Medical Mental Illness" category. It has been distinguished as Amazon's #1 New Release in the "Islam" category as well.
Perhaps it is really no surprise, therefore, that Jihadist Psychopath has been targeted by Twitter and Pakistan for violating Islamic blasphemy laws.
As the front cover of this new book reveals, Dennis Prager has affirmed that Jihadist Psychopath is "...one of the most important books of the present time."
And as announced above, President Trump's National Security Adviser, John Bolton, has also given glowing praise. Bolton states about Jihadist Psychopath:
Hard as it is to believe, many in the West simply will not take the time and trouble to understand the threat posed by radical Islamicist terrorism. James Burnham once wrote of a similar problem with international Communism in his masterful Suicide of the West. Now, Jamie Glazov has written this century's counterpart to Burnham's classic work and will doubtless upset those determined not to analyze for themselves the nature of the underlying phenomenon.
To learn about Jamie's unveiling of the Jihadist Psychopath's plantation -- and how we can escape from it, CLICK HERE.
Below is the new video of Jamie Glazov's recent appearance on Governor Mike Huckabee's TBN Show to discuss his new book:
And make sure to tune into Jamie's recent talk at the Freedom Center's Wednesday Morning Club about his new book, below:
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @JamieGlazov.