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Stop patent trolling, boycott Marshall!

December 21st, 2010

marshall texas patent attorneysStop patent trolling, boycott Marshall! That’s right, don’t go to see the Christmas lights or visit the Fire Ant festival this year. I mean, people like Sheryl Crowe do it right? Remember, she was the one to tell us how she only uses two squares of toilet paper per sit down in order to save the trees.

Or what about the freedom fry idea? Oh you remember, when France questioned our invasion of Iraq, we decided to boycott using “French” as a label for something. So, if we are to stop the unethical business performed by “patent trolls” we should boycott Marshall, because, well, they are the reason for it, right?

Well, before you cancel that yearly trip to check out the lights, let’s think about it a little more. The increase of patent infringement cases that has taken place in Marshall has been a little… disturbing, but the practice by patent trolls of utilizing bought patents to sue for patent infringement long before the good citizens of Marshall were found to be favorable to these types of cases.

The increase of cases in Marshall has taken place the past 5 to 6 years, the termology and practice of patent trolls can be traced back to 1993. No, to blame Marshall and the people that serve on the juries of these cases is like blaming the rich guy for having a nice car to be stolen.

Bad people do bad things because they are bad, not because they are tempted into it by ideal circumstances. So, sorry Cheryl, we will have to save the boycotting idea for something else.

Taking in the Lights in Tyler Texas

December 12th, 2010

I have always enjoyed the sport of people watching, whether in Jackson square or Trafalgar. Well now that preparations for Christmas are well under way I’ve discovered another hobby closely akin it. I call it house watching. Now before you draw comparisons between my new pastime and stocking, allow me to explain. A few nights ago I took my son and my nephew out for what turned out to be quite a long walk to look at Christmas lights. Like going to an off Broadway play, we strolled the nicer neighborhoods between Holly Tree and the mall, barely on the west side of sixty- nine.

Not all of the homes were decorated of course, but a number had some really nice displays that quite captivated the boys. I was slightly surprised to find some really beautiful homes in the area that actually, in my opinion, rivaled those in even more upscale neighborhoods like Holly Tree and the Cascades. While I admit it is a little shameless, I found myself catching glimpses in the windows of Trees, decorations and even the homes themselves. I suppose it’s natural to wonder and speculate about the folks who live there. I felt a bit like a Hugo or Dickens character, wandering through the wealthier districts of town at night, in the cold December air wondering about other men’s families and how they celebrate the holidays. It was enough to send me reaching for a copy of A Christmas Carol upon my arrival home.

At any rate Tyler is a fine city in which to spend the Christmas holidays. It’s cold, but tolerably so. A wool coat and a scarf, (if you’re into that sort of thing), is usually sufficient and you can still experience the traditional Christmas nostalgia as you take the kids “house watching” though the decorated neighborhoods with cups of coffee or hot chocolate.

So what’s my point? Simply this: Enjoying the Christmas Season in Tyler doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money in these tough financial times. Maybe it just means taking a cool walk down a brightly lit street and finding that you’re pretty thankful for the blessings that are already in your life. Merry Christmas Tyler! Enjoy the Holidays, and don’t forget to take in the lights!

Downtown Tyler Square, What Does it Offer?

December 7th, 2010
Downtown Tyler Texas

Tyler Texas Square

The downtown Tyler Texas square used to offer Jack King Jr. screaming “downtown Tyler” but he is no longer there and people would prefer to impersonate him now rather then hear him do that anymore.

But beyond Jack King Jr.’s TV commercial memorable pitch downtown Tyler has quite a bit more to offer. When I go downtown I usually am stopping at Don Juan’s Mexican Restaurant or I am taking my wife on a fancy date to Jake’s.

When going into Jake’s be sure to let the hostess know you want to go sit up on the roof top. If the weather is good the roof top offers the best experience while eating here. The food at Jake’s is very good and they have a finer dinner menu selection to choose from compared to Chili’s or even Outback.

Jake’s offers an experience of local Tyler Texas dining in one of the many old buildings that still have survived the square.

Just about one year ago a few of these old buildings were destroyed in a fire. In fact a remodeled store converted to a coffee shop/ music venue was taken out as well as a law firm and architecture business. This area is now being turned into a park thanks to the generosity of Brookshire’s grocery store company.

When in downtown during Christmas be sure to stretch your legs by walking in the square. The city of Tyler lights up the square with Christmas lights although any sign of a cross, nativity scene and so on is unfortunately missing. Times do change and political correctness is what you will see now during Christmas. The square is still very pretty and enjoyable and worth a stroll around.

The square also offers Tyler Citizens a fun place for kids as the Discovery Science Place is in walking distance. This place provides something along the lines of a interactive science center for kids in the age range of 2 – 9 and will easily take up a good 3 hours if you decide to experience everything there they have to offer.

Christmas Tree in Tyler Texas

Official Tyler Texas Downtown Square Christmas Tree

You can also find the very large First Place building at the Tyler Square. The First Place building houses Regions Bank and offers the best commercial real estate offices in town. Many businesses would not accept anything less than the premier facilities you get in this building.

If you are looking for commercial real estate in Tyler I definitely recommend riding the elevators and checking out the offices in this building first hand. Both the view, looks, and spaciousness in these commercial offices can’t be found anywhere else in Tyler.

Finally consider that the Tyler downtown square has several unique antique shops as well as a few very old traditional churches. You can find Marvin United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, and Christ Episcopal Church all in downtown Tyler and very close to the square.

Santa Land

November 18th, 2010

As the Holidays are just around the corner one of the biggest attraction off of I-20 will open its gates November 1st. Santa Land is a drive thru display of Christmas lights. As you enter the magical land you are asked to turn your radio to their channel and listen to the music matching the light display.

Every time you drive thru Santa Land you discover something else. Santa Land has all different displays; your kids will love the tunnels of colorful lights, mermaids, elves, reindeer, and Santa’s workshop.

Santa Land has become a huge tradition for many families in East Texas. There is nothing like seeing a little kid’s face light up with excitement when they see the flashing, colorful lights. Many families will drive a truck out there, and after they park their other cars, their family will pile in the back of the truck with blankets and hot chocolate.

After you drive thru the first few light displays you will enter the displays of Precious Moments angels. Each “angel” is a remembrance of a child that had passed away. Santa Land has all different displays of the story of Jesus Christ from His birth, to His death on the cross, to Him raising from the dead.

You pay half way thru the display and pay either according to amount of people, or size of van or family car. After you have gone thru the light displays you can stop by the shop to find all different Christmas decorations and hot drinks. Santa Land is a great way to spend time with your family and celebrate Christmas together.

Hollytree’s light displays

November 18th, 2010

Tyler Texas Christmas LightsIf you do not feel like paying money to see Christmas lights, than you can take your family to the Hollytree gated neighborhood. The fancy houses are each decorated with amazing displays of colorful lights. A couple houses even have a radio station that you can tune into to and watch a light display that goes along with the music. Many of the house’s Christmas light display are amazing.

But there is one huge down side to going to the Hollytree neighborhood, and that is traffic. Every year as you first pull into the neighborhood you are greeted by an extremely long line of cars and horrible drivers. I always feel bad for the people that live in the neighborhood that are just trying to get home.

One of the first houses you will see when you drive into Hollytree in Tyler Texas does one of the biggest light displays every year. They rent out a radio station that goes along with their colorful and vibrant Christmas lights. My kids love to go here and see all the different lights! I think that going through this neighborhood is a fun and free way to celebrate Christmas and spend time as a family.