Sometimes you have to go deep to get the mouses.
Archive for November, 2006
Cat Blog
Wednesday, November 22nd, 2006Weather–Yuk
Tuesday, November 21st, 2006A week or two ago someone asked my daughter on her blog about golfing locally the meaning of “Canaswacta” . I answered for her that I thought it was the Iroquois word for 300 days of clouds. Now I’m not too sure. For about a month the only place in New Yorks State that has had any weather radar blimps has been directly over us. It seems as though there is a constant swirling storm that has just hovered in place here for most of October and November keeping the sky gray, temperatures from rising/falling and the ground damp from a continuing mist/drizzle. Just last Thursday a storm that dropped 4.25 inches of rain on the area in less than 4 hours did a tremendous amount of damage because the ground was so saturated there was no place for the water to go except through peoples’ houses.
Several years ago there was a local meteriologist who, after a lifetime of study, claimed it was nearly impossible to predict the weather in this area given the various geological features and the way wind patterns converged. We are effected by the winds off the Great Lakes, coastal storms that come up from the South, the Nor’Easters that blow in from the Atlantic and the westerly movement of patterns up the Ohio Valley from the southwest. Everything seems to converge here and, as often as not, even the most experienced weather forecaster misses about half of their 5-day predictions and many shorter ones. (The best one happened a number of years ago when the local tv weatherman, after a “partly cloudy” forecast turned into a foot of snow, showed up with a bag over his head.) In the comic strip “Lil Abner” there was a character, Joe Btfsplk , that used to walk around with a constant rain cloud overhead, sometimes we feel like we are he.
Golf Season is Still Here
Monday, November 13th, 2006My daughter took the photo of Karen and me on the 8th green of the Canasawacta Country Club Saturday afternoon.
For those in the south who think we’re covered with ice and snow now, my wife, daughter, grand daughter and I went golfing on Veterans Day. Kirsten bloged about it. The weather was great for 17 holes–temperatures set a record of 67–but the rain hit while we were on the 18th tee and we were a bit soaked when we finished. All but my grand daugher, whose mother wisely packed along her raincoat.
David vs Goliath and David Wins again
Thursday, November 9th, 2006For years the Union Pacific Rail Road’s paint schemes and logos have been one of the biggest sellers in the toy train hobby. My first O-guage train was a UP diesel in their famous yellow and grey. However, in 2005, someone at UP decided that the manufactures of toy trains were stealing UP’s logo and designs and profiting from these trademarks. So UP sued each and every manufacture for royalities both past and future. After some negotiation some of the manufactures settled and signed licensing agreements with UP–the cost of which would most likely be passed on to the buyer. One, Mike’s Train House, and its founder, Mike Wolf, did not but took UP to court. This week UP, more or less, capitulated, giving all hobby manufacturers free use of their logos and trademarks. This was due entirely to Mike Wolf’s stubborness and suit.
From MTH’s press release on the settlement:
November 8, 2006 – M.T.H. Electric Trains and Union Pacific Railroad are pleased to announce that they have amicably settled the trademark infringement case that U.P. filed against M.T.H in Omaha, Nebraska federal court. The settlement benefits both parties, as well the entire model railroad industry. It allows Union Pacific to continue to protect its intellectual property, and authorizes M.T.H.’s use of Union Pacific’s trademarks and paint designs on model train products and accessories. Union Pacific has also decided to change its trademark-licensing program so that model railroad manufacturers will no longer have to pay a royalty, and will enjoy a perpetual license to use Union Pacific trademarks and paint designs on model railroad products.
In reacting to the end of the year-long legal battle, M.T.H. recognized the commitment of U.P. to make a change. “UP deserves a lot of the credit here,” M.T.H.’s founder and President Mike Wolf stressed. “UP’s willingness to reconsider its position with regard to model train manufacturers’ use of its trademarks allowed a deal to be struck. UP has long been a friend and a steward of the hobby and this new license reflects that.”
Wolf added that the case was a big drain on M.T.H.’s resources but worth the effort. “For seventy years, Union Pacific and the other railroads have worked with our industry to develop and nurture the model-railroading hobby. The UP license that had been in effect did not properly reflect that mutually beneficial and rewarding relationship.”
Bob Turner, Senior Vice President Corporate Relations for Union Pacific, said, “Mike Wolf is to be commended for his commitment to the model railroad industry. His energy and passion helped us find a solution that will better reflect the positive relationship that Union Pacific and the model train industry have enjoyed for many years.”
What is interesting to note is that this agreement benefits all toy train manufacturers, even those who caved in and signed licensing agreements with UP. Mke’s state purpose was to get an agreement with UP that include all manufacturers so as not to give him a competitive edge–something that is interesting in this day and age. Mike should be congratuated for this win and the toy train buyers should thank him for saving their money.
Voting
Tuesday, November 7th, 2006I voted today, not because I’m sure the people I voted for will win or, if they do, that my vote will make the difference. I voted because I know a guy whose political leanings are the exact opposite of mine so, by casting my vote, I’ve cancelled his out. On the other hand, had I not voted and he did, his side would get one more vote than mine whereas, if he doesn’t vote, my side will have one more. It’s not the win or loss, it is who scores the points that is important.
Syracuse Train Fair
Monday, November 6th, 2006I took my wife and grandson to their first Syracuse Train Fair at the NYS Fair grounds yesterday. From the looks of things a good time was had by all
There were a lot of layouts of every size from G through Z in two large buildings. My grandson was especially impressed with the Flower City Trackers O-gauge layout because there were buttons that allowed you to operate accessories–in this case planes flying around a pylon.
Again, this circus tent is just a part of the Flower City layout–the amount of detail on these layouts is amazing. If one had time they could spend an hour just on one layout. Circuses are a big thing, by the way, and there were some layouts devoted just to them.
