May 5th, 2011
Who is that suited man? Flashing onto the scene, with head held high, coming to save the day. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, its Superman… er, I mean, a bunch of lawyers? Life in the small towns of Texarkana and Marshall has become increasingly different the past few years and the majority of the population knows nothing about it.
These two towns have become a stopping point for teams of lawyers and legal representatives of big businesses. Many of the local businesses have taken notice because of the increase in patronage but the rest of the inhabitants of these quaint little towns can only scratch their heads and shrug their shoulders in wonder.
Unbeknownst to them, their home town has become battleground for patent infringement litigation cases of the heavy weights of the business world. The likes of Texas Instrument Cisco and TiVo have come to town to settle their cases versus “patent trolls” trying to make a buck off of them.
The oddity of seeing their favorite local restaurants full of suit and ties, of fax machines and copiers being loaded off of trailers and of long-time empty buildings in downtown being renovated has stirred up some questions, but for the most part, normal life continues on.
With the likes of hundreds of millions of dollars hanging in the balance in their court house, John and Jane Doe’s main concern is if “Law & Order” will be a rerun.
The phenomenon taking place in Marshall and Texarkana is the likes of a good western movie. Riding out of the Texas town triumphant, as the dust settles the townspeople look to one another and ask “Who was that suited man?”
Tags: Battleground, Business World, Copiers, Court House, East Texas, east texas lawyers, Empty Buildings, Fax Machines, Hanging In The Balance, Heavy Weights, Jane Doe, Legal Representatives, Litigation Cases, Local Restaurants, Oddity, Patent Infringement Litigation, patent trolls, Patronage, Rerun, Texarkana, Texas Instrument, Texas Towns
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April 30th, 2011
Having lived in the frozen Midwest for a number of years I can testify to the fact that seasonal effectiveness disorder is a real thing. It’s easy to get cabin fever, and generally depressed during the winter months in St. Paul. The sky is perpetually grey and as you drive through the city you can observe the steam pouring from any number of large buildings. The trick to living in those types of cold environments is to find winter hobbies and things to do that get you out of the house and keep you from becoming sedentary. One of the favorite hobbies up north is bowling. The first time I ever went was while living in that northern metropolis.
Growing up in East Texas the weather (even during the winter months) was never that bad. As such, my brothers and I were nearly always outside. Indoor “sports,” like bowling, were just not on our radar; consequently I’m a lousy bowler. Well thankfully, our uncharacteristically cold winter is over and spring is in full effect. But just because it’s beautiful outside doesn’t mean I can’t sacrifice a few spring morning hours to compete in King’s Academy’s third annual Bowl-a-thon.
Every year the staff, students and families of King’s Academy Christian School participate in a fundraiser to help with the School’s expenses and to provide scholarships to potential students who require financial aid. Participants seek pledges and sponsorships from individuals and area businesses. Each student has as their goal to raise one hundred fifty dollars in pledges. Sponsors usually promise a certain amount per pin that the participant can knock over, in three games. The event takes place on May 7th at Green Acres Bowling, and runs from nine to noon. Some of this year’s sponsors include: Primerica, Tech Serve Consulting, Townley Engineering, Write Way, UBS, and Jireh Sanitation. For more information on how to participate or for information on King’s Academy, visit the school’s webpage at www.kacs.net , or contact the office at (903)534-9992.
Tags: Aid Participants, Bowl A Thon, Bowling For Dollars, Cabin Fever, Cold Environments, Cold Winter, East Texas, Fifty Dollars, Full Effect, Green Acres, Indoor Sports, Pledges, Primerica, Sanitation, School Fundraiser, Sponsorships, Spring Morning, Staff Students, Three Games, Townley, Tyler Texas
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April 18th, 2011
East Texans love finding connections to celebrity, particularly when it’s a local girl (or boy), makes good story. I don’t suppose we’re any different than anyone else in this respect. But for some reason it means a lot to us to see others from our area appreciated by those from the country at large. This is especially true when the celebrity in question, maintains their connection to their East Texas roots.
Of course I’m referring to Miranda Lambert. The Lindale native has made it huge on the national country music scene in recent years. One can hardly drive through her home town without seeing her face half a dozen times, (ok that’s an overstatement), not that I’m complaining mind you. Better her face then Earl Campbell’s. I mean no disrespect, Earl’s a much beloved legend, and great ambassador for Tyler, but if I had to choose which face I’d want adorning the billboards in my home town, well come on… The artist has had a long string of hits and successes, and is currently said to be working on her fourth album. Personally, I can take or leave her music, but I respect the connection that she maintains with her home town and East Texas in general.
Obviously I’m not offering this review simply to fill space on the page. It happens that Lambert will be returning to Texas on April thirtieth, for the “On the Square” event in Tyler. Ticket prices are fairly high but proceeds go to an animal shelter / pet health and protection charity called “MuttNation Foundation.”I’m not a big social activist, but I’m sure Lambert’s appearance will be a big success, and I hope both the musician and our area continue to benefit from their association. For more tour information and ticket prices go to Lambert’s webpage at http://www.mirandalambert.com/.
Tags: Animal Shelter, Billboards, Country Music Scene, Disrespect, Earl Campbell, East Texans, East Texas, Great Ambassador, Half A Dozen, miranda lambert, Mirandalambert, National Country Music, Overstatement, Pet Health, Proceeds, Shelter Pet, Social Activist, Texas Roots, Ticket Prices, Tour Information, Tyler Texas
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April 2nd, 2011
Have you ever had one of those moments when you are watching a movie and there is a particular part that catches your attention and sticks with you until the right moment comes to apply it to your life? Well, mine is from National Treasure and this is the moment.
Remember towards the end of the movie and the good guys are being held hostage and forced to help the bad guys find the treasure? And as they are walking along held at gun point, the wise older father turns to his son, and says “You have to change the status quo.”
Well, imagine me as the wise older father and the court houses of Marshall, Texarkana, and Tyler Texas as the son, “You have to change the status quo.” because your being held hostage.
This trend of money-hungry patent trolls coming to these towns must stop. There has been a status quo established in the eastern district of Texas that has helped to intensify the illegitament business of making money off of bought out patents.
This status quo includes sped up court process specifically for patent infringement and a high percentage of victory for plaintiffs of these cases. Now there is not much you can do about the jury’s findings because jury tampering is illegal.
But one thing to consider is the manner in which the judges are handling the court process of these particular cases. A set of “no nonsense” rules have been established in which lawyers are given a limit of time to present all paper work and are timed by a chess timer when presenting their case in which they are abruptly stopped if the timer goes off.
These types of things are a major part of why their courts are found so appealing for this abuse. In order for these judges to continue their commitment to the betterment of our nation they must change the status quo held in their court houses.
Tags: Bad Guys, Being Held Hostage, Betterment, Chess, Court Houses, East Texas, East Texas Patent Trolls, Eastern District Of Texas, Good Guys, Gun Point, Jury Tampering, National Treasure, Nonsense, Patent attorneys in East Texas, Patent Infringement, Patents, Plaintiffs, Right Moment, Texarkana Texas, Timer, Trolls, Tyler Texas
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March 22nd, 2011
Oakhurst Golf Course is a non-membership golf course in Tyler TX. The clothing requirements are no jeans although shorts and slacks are allowed and a collared shirt.
The course is groomed and laid out well. They have enough golf carts for several large parties. The difficulty level is about medium with a good selection of holes with water and sand traps. I thought the management were professional and courteous and the bar and grill offered beers, drinks, snacks and food.
I look forward to going back to this clean professionally run golf course off Hwy 69 in Tyler Texas.
Golf Course coupons in East Texas
Tags: Beers, Clothing Requirements, Collared Shirt, Difficulty Level, Drinks, East Texas, Golf Carts, Golf Clothing, Golf Coupons, Holes, Jeans, Oakhurst Golf Course, Run Golf, Sand Traps, Slacks, Snacks, Texas Golf, Tyler Texas, Tyler TX, Water And Sand
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