Could One Patent, A Trend ?

[moi621 (imported)]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/throwing_shoes

"LONDON – For a few days, he was famous the world over — an Iraqi TV journalist who became an instant hero for millions when he hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush's head and called him a dog.

Little has been heard out of Muntadhar al-Zeidi since he left Iraq and started a charity in Switzerland last year. But his odd moment in the spotlight has, to the chagrin of world leaders and their bodyguards, left behind an enduring legacy.

Throwing shoes at the mighty has become a global phenomenon that shows no sign of fading away.

Since that infamous Baghdad press conference on Dec. 14, 2008, shoes have flown at the prime ministers of China and Turkey, the chief justice of Israel's Supreme Court, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, a Ukrainian politician who favored joining NATO, and a string of Indian politicians.

Just this month, shoes flew at Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and the top elected official in Indian-controlled Kashmir. . . . "

What a trend ! Has it happened in the Western Hemisphere yet?

Will this offer Americans an alternative to rotten vegetables and tomatoes?

And shouldn't, Muntadhar al-Zeidi , be able to "patent or copyright" this resurrected trend.

Big "Bravo !" to Muntadhar al-Zeidi and I do hope he finds a way to personally profit from his brave act of defiance, now a trend without stealing from his new, "charity in Switzerland".

Moi

Whatever happened to a pie in the face?

[Riverwind (imported)]

As much as I liked the idea of tossing shoes at Bush from a fun spot in my sole, this was over the top, it was assault, NO this is not a good thing Moi, its a bad thing he should never profit from it.

River

[gareth19 (imported)]

As much as I liked the idea of tossing shoes at Bush from a fun spot in my sole, this was over the top, it was assault, NO this is not a good thing Moi, its a bad thing he should never profit from it.

River

Throwing shoes is not assault, it is a sign of contempt in Near Eastern countries. the way unruly children are punished much like washing mouths out with soap. Everyone in every country should have the right express unmitigated contempt for their contempible leaders.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Throwing shoes is not assault, it is a sign of contempt in Near Eastern countries. the way unruly children are punished much like washing mouths out with soap. Everyone in every country should have the right express unmitigated contempt for their contempible leaders.

You may call it contempt it is still assault and in my opinion still wrong. I remember a band teacher picking up an eraser and throwing it at a student, my friend Steve waited and when the teacher was looking the other way sent it back, he hit the teacher in the head and everybody cheered. The teacher left the room. Both acts were assault, both had contempt for each other, both were wrong.

River

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

You may call it contempt it is still assault and in my opinion still wrong. I remember a band teacher picking up an eraser and throwing it at a student, my friend Steve waited and when the teacher was looking the other way sent it back, he hit the teacher in the head and everybody cheered. The teacher left the room. Both acts were assault, both had contempt for each other, both were wrong.

River

Customs change with the years. When I was in high school, teachers were famous for tossing erasers at unruly or sleeping students. It was accepted back then. Nowadays however, teachers have few rights and would be sued or dismissed for throwing anything at a student. It's sad.

[moi621 (imported)]

Customs change with the years. When I was in high school, teachers were famous for tossing erasers at unruly or sleeping students. It was accepted back then. Nowadays however, teachers have few rights and would be sued or dismissed for throwing anything at a student. It's sad.

At my Junior High, the teachers had

Swatting Boards.

Some used them.

Kids would create new ones in wood shop and rarely, a teacher would accept.

Unruly minors or

lying politicians deserve such receptions. Physical but, not bruising.

Moi

still missing the fifties

[A-1 (imported)]

Shoes.

moi,

It sets a DANGEROUS precedence to allow shoes to be hurled at leaders. What if instead just like what (almost) happened on the Christmas flight when (now Supreme Court judge) Elena Kagan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDXnsZWy_es) was in the Chinese Restaurant the shoe was in fact, a bomb? (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/902338/posts)

moi, if the goal is about drawing attention to your cause, more appropriate methods could be used. Of course, in the culture of Muntadhar al-Zeidi he WAS showing significant restraint. However, the whole world does NOT have a Middle Eastern culture. What could be called reserved and controlled in that context is really NOT acceptable outside of that societal context.

Is that too Postmodern for you?

...Or would you rather join the HATERS as they gather here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOVGyhyWNTo)?

Your choice, my friend. What looks like a Populist movement here, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOVGyhyWNTo) is in fact not much better than a lynch mob.

...and another thing, Don't Confuse us with the FACTS... (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65P0MA20100629)

The Populist movement also exists in THIS CONTEXT... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2kTh1Uf ... ature=fvwp)

[bobover3 (imported)]

Can you patent a trend? Paul Allen thinks so. The billionaire co-founder of Microsoft has just brought a patent infringement suit against Google, Facebook, and E-Bay, among others, claiming that they are using software without license developed at his private research lab. He didn't write the software, but he owns the patents. Patent infringement suits are becoming more common, and are now a routine feature of the technology business.

Another example - web sites need to register their domain name, e.g., "eunuch.org" is a domain name. No registered name, no web site. The internet is now afflicted with "domainers" - businesses that buy thousands of domain names that people are likely to want. They sell these names for as much as they can get, which may be several thousand dollars per domain. Their only contribution is to buy the names first.

[A-1 (imported)]

So?

Parker Brothers patented MONOPOLY...

So now any business that has one has to either buy it from Parker Brothers, or buy the rights to use it.