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Warren Tuttle new book “Inventor confidential” – Inventors BEWARE!

“Inventor confidential” by Warren Tuttle.
I recently received a new book to enlarge my understanding of the Intellectual property landscape in the U.S.
After reading and initially finding the book light and informative, I stumbled on a few sentences, suddenly changing my opinion about the book and its author.
I think one more of the long line of pretenders clinging to public support but representing the opposite interest. Trojan horses or wolf’s in sheep’s skin.
Idea theftAre you Inventor? Beware
After reading this book, I see two points bringing attention.

1) Inventor commission based on NET company profits?

2) Patent Assignment?    WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both create a disadvantage for the Inventor.
The NET?
After subtracting all expenses, I would not be surprised that the Inventor owes money to the licensee.
The talk about “ethical corporations” is not worth the paper it is written on.
There is a paper with numbers, and God only knows what is behind all listed “expenses.”
2) The forced Assignment?
It shows the true face represented by the author corporations.
In short, the Inventor is losing their invention in exchange, not for payment but a promise.
“The Assignment” creates more problems than it solves. For example, as described in this book, the author suggest that the Inventor may take advantage of the assignee’s purchasing power by buying the product from the manufacturer.
Really? After the “Assignment,” Inventor cannot do that without licensing the patent from the new owner. All the possible venues to bring in additional licensees are gone.
In essence, the author is telling us that it is normal when you rent a house to expect the owner to sign the title of the house to the renter.

The author tells us that inventors normally expect to give up their ownership in exchange for a promise, not a payment. Of course, it appears “Lifetime Brands.” requests an “assignment.” every time from the vulnerable Inventor, but this is an expression of their arrogance and lack of consideration for The Inventor.
Even a quick internet search of the term “assignment.” results in the warnings that the Inventor may lose their rights to the invention forever.
Signing up for the “assignment” is not the most fantastic Advice!!
Also surprising is that so well-informed authors lack knowledge about The PTAB.

The official number of invalidated numbers revealed by PTAB (USPTO-Patent trial and Appeal board) during the 2019 USPTO Invention con is not 60% but 84%. Virtually any patent that proved valuable is revoked so the Big tech and Chinese corporations would not worry about competition in the U.S.

The talk about the author Warren Tuttle being outside counsel for a bunch of the corporations, unfortunately, after reading this book, appears to be just a smokescreen since there cannot be the slightest doubt about genuine interest behind it. The text in this book shows that he is not outside independent counsel, but the whole arrangement is to create an appearance… when he represents the corporation’s interest.
Wolf in sheep’s skin is probably the best description.
The book is well written and light, but I cannot recommend it or the author when it comes to the essence. The fact that he is involved in the United Inventors Association, sponsored by USPTO and financed by Google, is undoubtedly helpful for his business, but when it comes to Real Inventor’s representation? There are quite a few quasi-pro invention organizations in the U.S., for example, Electronic Frontier Foundation talking in derogatory terms about patents posing at the same time as fighting for your consumer rights, but this is a separate and quite extensive subject.

(PS The scale of the problem created by PTAB illustrates that one Chinese Corporation, Huawei used the PTAB over 700 times to invalidate United States Patent Office-issued patents.)

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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Always traditional Highly Polished meaningless Religious ART

the Meaning of Sacrifice

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, among others, shows some great religious art examples. You can spend hours and be always impressed by each next piece there. Simultaneously, looking for an example of great art in churches in the U.S., you see only an ersatz of art. Disappointment, to be exact. There is no original art. Pieces are ordered from a catalog. The art is not first-class; rather, it is no class following centuries-old recipes and without any live aesthetical impact. Frozen in the past and the fear of the creators of the subject. There is a lack of intellectual ability to develop new interpretations—the same disease as in contemporary art. Same time many US-based artists are taking on the subject. For example, I saw crosses painted by Roger Brown Chicago and quite a few samples created by other artists.
Located near Pittsburg, PA, every 2 years, St Vincent college organizes a “Religious Art Competition” started by now-deceased brother Nathan as his project to attract several artists. Since no art trying to be relevant can avoid the universal subject of human suffering, I was trying to capture some meaning in my work. And when I learned about an opportunity to show it and was faced with the task of packing and shipping instead, I jumped into my car and drove 550 miles overnight from Chicago to deliver my oversized piece. Of course, I enjoy such trips to see new places and people with the taste of an adventure.

I noticed this and a few other times that the choice of “wining” artworks were related not to the criteria like the ability to interpret the subject or even technical and artistical quality but, most of all, to the juror’s background and upbringing. Simply the personal preferences of a juror who preferred primitive art shunning other much better technically and artistically pieces, plus a case of a person who was brainwashed during her study to prefer nonrepresentational art.
Religious art is unavoidable about the subject, and an unarticulated piece of twisted metal that received one of the commendations was not expressing anything about the subject.
The juror felt under pressure to recognize what is currently in fashion—a piece of dead junk.
I appreciate people taking on religious subjects regardless of current trends.
They do it regardless of dead prospects, just because of the love of the subject.

But there is too much religious fear freezing artists’ hands to expect fresh new interpretations.
The artist’s educational, and cultural background is one more limiting factor pushing some of us to, for example, toward dark backgrounds.
In Chicago, you may see first (and online 2020 ) a small exhibition of religious art. The outcome of a Religious art competition 2020 organized by the “Catholic art Institute” https://www.catholicartinstitute.org/competition

A couple of submitted pieces showed a more free/ artistic approach to the subject but were not displayed on the website. What I regret is that we can not see all submitted artwork to see more diversity.
The final selection, in my eyes, is limited to traditional interpretation.
It is a pity that we see only a small fraction of the 400 pieces of submitted art.

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“Effects of marihuana use on ZEBRA pop up cards”

The bee

This is a title I found in their blog – cutpopup.com
For a long time; I wished to have social media BIG disapproval button.
It is the first thought I have looking at their page.
Their “About” and “Contacts” info pages reveal the Great pretenders quickly behind.
Pretenders, because claiming that their work is the work of numerous designers, there are no names in sight, and quite monolithic design sets do not show individuality. Plus, 3 locations on three continents leave no doubt.
Big (Chinese) Money trying to cash out on a trend.
I was looking at their designs.
The overwhelming feeling I have looking at is sadness. Somehow in my mind, I see an image of countless Estate sales in the US populated by always the same unimpressive merchandise. Among them, these Popup cards that supposed to be cute, but where even the passing time did not reveal the familiar atmosphere of past time. Infinite sadness of lives that passed dressed in mass-produced things pretending to be highlights of their lives. There is nothing special. Not even the tiniest treasures bring joy to your heart. Instead, there is the grey feeling of a desert. Run-of-the-mill merchandise.
The biggest surprise awaits you when you check their blog and comments.
Of course, I am biased, expecting some extra effort from the designer, not this picture of neglect.
Checking their post:
“What is a popup card? All you need to know.”
In recent comments:
Clicking on one of them (Alanya Escort Bayan”)reveals some pornographic pictures of young women exposing themselves, advertising escort services in Turkey.
Another one leads to a website (In the Polish Language) with some statistical information about the United States.
The third one I checked with the enticing subtitle “effects of marihuana use on ZEBRA pop-up cards” leads you to a page with a surprise: ZEBRA.
Nobody cares. Nobody checks the comments.
The reviews you can find there….. each contains their advertisement.
The image here has a link to their website. cutpopup.com
Checking their return and refund policy brings up another surprise (or maybe not a surprise). I saw it already a couple of times with Chinese sellers on Amazon or elsewhere. There is a restocking fee of $10. So the postage cost plus the $10 “restocking Fee” makes you richer with one more experience. The return cost of the $12.50 item is more than the purchase cost, and since nobody checks such details the seller made sure that there are no returns ever.
My Advice? Stay away. there are enough nicer cards you can find elsewhere without the additional entertainment of dealing with their “Return or other Policies.”

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poplifecards.com or not every pop-up card is cute.

A new website carrying pop-ups is showing on the horizon. After the quick inspection is clear to the viewer that there is no slightest effort to distinguish themselves from the competition. there is NO invention, No dedicated designer behind. Just repetition of medium quality designs so well known from offerings by other sellers. There is no way to distinguish their cards from any other Vietnam (Or China) importer. The generic website offers no info about the people behind it, but after a closer inspection is clear that this is the website of one of the Vietnam-based makers as it points to their pricing policy and the number of rather unimpressive designs. However, there is some extra effort since the manufacturer offers printed cards instead of single-color colored papers used by others. As a result, some of the cards are a little bit neater than the competition.

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Fresh Cut Paper? popup cards with no so fresh interpretation

FreshCut Paper Dear Dahlia comes with its very own festive pink vase that allows it to sit on any flat surface. Our paper flower bouquets never wilt, never fade and never lose thier color. More than a greeting card, it's a keepsake for years to come for any recipient. There is a new website on the paper horizon. “FreshcutPaper”
On the first sigh, impressive, nice graphics and designs.
But after 3 seconds, there is also a reflection.
Looking at the subject of the designs, the viewer starts thinking.
I saw it already somewhere.
Of course, it’s the new trend of paper flowers we call among us the “Mee too movement.”
It has nothing to do with the well-known social movement against sexual abuse and sexual harassment.
It is about designers impressed by others who start the same subject.
This time I dare say they follow our Paperbee.net pop-up flowers.
ME too, I too, screams their web pages suddenly featuring a bunch of paper flowers.
I like the subject, and I can do it too.- screams the page.
Can you?
1) The designs are SO BIG. At least 24″(60cm) high. The size alone physically prevents any attempts to have them on display Longer. Small is beautiful. Not BIG.
Who is going to keep it on display, requiring so much space?
There is no certain intimacy we develop with small and beautiful.
2) Stylized Designs are well done, but… It is quite clear that the artist cannot bring his own interpretation of the subject, and that’s why he sticks to realistic renderings.
Lack of creativity and, in my opinion, understanding of the medium shows up when we look at the string of the designs. He is changing flowers but they look all the same. BORING in effect.
God-given spark is not present.

On the positive side. I can congratulate the designer that he is trying to bring his own voice to the growing paper flowers Field.

With so many web site pushing China/Vietnam-made and design pop-ups, his work is a welcomed addition.
Frankly, I am afraid after the initial push; he may not last very long. Small sizes and an interesting variety of interpretations are needed.

The cultural background (US raised) emphasizing repetition (not developing interesting variety) works against the designer. Of course, looking at his website, he totally disagrees with our assessment.

The image has the link to their website.

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Printed Matter Art Book Fair

Over a year ago (2019) Prompted by my family’s desire to see the newest indie-independent art we went to Chicago’s “Printed Matter Book Fair”. After finding parking on Wabash Ave short stroll brought us to the Michigan location of this glorious event. Old buildings on Michigan Ave destinations by themselves showing to the visitor quite an interesting 19-century approach to architectural design. There is a certain charm preserved in the old interior decoration. A crowd of mostly young people filled the stairs and walkways on 3floors of the building.
Crowded Floors filled with exhibitors and viewers with little space in between on the first sight offered plenty of interesting things to see. But after a while searching for the new, beautiful, and unexpected there was a sort of disappointment. Clearly, we expected more. The first thing which struck my practical mind was a discovery that no independent bookseller present on these 3 floors was offering something I would purchase, read and cherish for at least for a while.

Books exist not only in their physical form but at least to me as the frame for an interesting message. The message was the ingredients missing. The main message emerging from seeing the fair was a message of the author’s loss and confusion. Focusing on form, printed pages without a clear intellectual path produced nothing memorable. Even a few pop-ups I saw, did not bring to me this kind of satisfaction or curiosity to prompt me to purchase one since they are bound to sit on the shelves forgotten because of the sin of not carrying a message.
Message It is the ingredient missing from contemporary US American art. That’s why Manga Books and similar foreign inventions dominate the U.S. market. They bring the message – excitement.
In a culture focused on the financial aspect, simple seeds of imagination and creativity have no chance to flourish. The young generation of makers is trying but since there were born and raised in this environment there are trying, but falling short.
Coming back to my family we came to the conclusion that our time could be better spent.
Unfortunately.
But I think we should keep watching. true art comes unexpectedly and in small portions.
This February 2021 Printed Matter will launch its first Virtual Art Book Fair (PMVABF)
https://pmvabf.org/

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Patent Office invalidate issued patents to satisfy the Big Tech drive to stiff competition.

Can you imagine a situation where you invested your money and time, developed in a few years new product or technology? Applied for and received (after five years wait) USPTO patent. Started a company or licensed the idea. Then the PATENT issued by USPTO is invalidated by the same USPTO as “low quality,” “unenforceable,” or because of “Ineligible subject” or other similar sounding BS.

The same institution that Issued the PATENT, worked with you, collected from you patent fees, examination fees, renewal fees, and other FEES now decided to CANCEL your patent.

What did you do wrong? Were tricked into believing that the US constitution elevating patents as this Nation opportunity is enforced?

And there is a whole 84% chance that they will cancel your patent in every instance when your competition decides to raise their voice and pay the FEES to USPTO to invalidate your rights.

IF THE ISSUED PATENT IS “LOW QUALITY,” WHY DID YOU ISSUED THE LOW QUALITY IN FIRST PLACE!!!!

You feel betrayed. There is nowhere to turn since the courts play lengthy and costly games that very few people can afford. It comes to situations where you are barred from recovering your legal expenses (To discourage you from trying)
If you are looking for justice in higher places, Supreme Court only adds fuel to the fire damaging your livelihood by issuing consistently antipatent decisions further damaging private property rights (Patent Rights)
No wonder that Courts interpret garage Door opener as “Abstract IDEA” ineligible for a PATENT in the United States (eligible anywhere abroad)

Besides, Supreme Court issued a series of confusing guidelines rendering most patentable inventions as “PATENT INEGLELIBLE.” In doing so, they broke the laws encroaching the Statues making duties of US Congress.
New patent attorney learns the law, and there is the part he/she has to learn, which is not in the US laws but still. It is forced illegally on us by Supreme Court.
WHY the USPTO ISSUED YOUR PATENT to invalidate it few years and thousands in Fees later as “LOW QUALITY”?
Isn’t it a fraud?
Can we TRUST public Institutions?
The idea is simple. Passing the 2011 America invents act Congress of the United States decided to lower the patent protection to “SPURR INVENTIONS.
.”Under unrelenting pressure and a falsehood campaign, a story created by BIG TECH about “Patent Trolls.” described as a “Nonpracticing entity” demanding unjust licensing fees from Hardworking “Big tech” companies.

Big tech snake
Big tech snake

Of course, If it comes to that, I would like not to pay any fees or taxes, etc. myself.
The only difference I do not have the means to find gullible lawmakers and influence not really wise Supreme Court judges.

Suddenly the owner of a legally issued Patent is described as a “Patent troll.”
Is it “Illegal”? Why do you issue PATENTS in the first place?
Everything is done to stiff startups and competition, satisfy the BIG TECH interest.

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Slow Down you creazy.

Few of us ever noticed that time we measure in relative units. Of course, hours, days, etc but they have different measurements depends on the place we live. Traveling outside of the United States US tourists tend to do things most of the world looks at with AWE. 5 countries in 3 days. The whole of Italy in 30 minutes including the treasures of the Vatican. No wonder our nation is first in speed to the Moon. Leaving the confinements of US borders, we encounter a world so different than ours. We hardly notice the difference wrapped in our bubble. Unfortunately, it takes plenty of time to cool off and start appreciating things we can not see from the windows of our cars on US highways. So if you have an opportunity go out, stay down, and cool off. You may discover what life is actually about far away from the assembly line. Flowers that actually smells. Days and weather you enjoy and many other things you never dreamed about.

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

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Cove 19 vs Cholera Pandemics of 19 Century.

An 1883 illustration of the Grim Reaper draped in a cloth labeled "cholera," arriving in America on a British ship. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

The year 1876 start of Hopkins University, is one of the rare moments where the scientific approach started preparing the U.S. for the modern world’s challenges. Yet big chunk of our population still lingers in the 19-century approach disregarding scientific knowledge. No wonder so many of us do not believe in natural diseases, preferring conspiracy theories. Observing popular culture is not hard to conclude. I think the reason our public is more susceptible to it is, in general, disregard for intellectuals and knowledge.
Yet, there are several Viruses, pandemics not yet invading our reality but waiting to happen.
Nipah Virus (From bats), listed currently as one of the 10 most dangerous viruses, has a 10% survival rate and 45 days incubation rate. Already experienced on a few occasions in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and India with fatal consequences for humans.

There are more like, for example, MERS – Middle Easter Respiratory Disease 10- times more deadly than Cove 19 first experienced in Saudi Arabia in 2012, 4 different swine flu viruses with the potential to develop the ability to infect humans, MARBURG VIRUS DISEASE, EBOLA, LASSA FEVER, SARS, ZIKA, CRIMEAN-CONGO HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER, RIFT VALLEY FEVER, MONKEYPOX, and many more.

1918 Influenza with estimated worldwide death tool between 50-100 million was erased from collective memory. Nobody is talking about priests cruising the street of Philadelphia in horse-powered wagons announcing the public to bring out their dead. Bloody nose bleeds are not part of today’s reality.

The first cholera pandemic (1817–24) began near Calcutta and spread throughout Southeast Asia to the Middle East, eastern Africa, and the Mediterranean coast.


The second cholera pandemic (1826–1837), also known as the Asiatic cholera pandemic, reached from India across western Asia to Europe, Great Britain, the Americas, and east to China and Japan.

1855. Wikipedia: “The third plague pandemic was a major bubonic plague pandemic that began in Yunnan, China, in 1855 during the fifth year of the Xianfeng Emperor of the Qing dynasty. This episode of bubonic plague spread to all inhabited continents and ultimately led to more than 12 million (perhaps 15 million) deaths in India and China, with about 10 million killed in India alone, making it one of the deadliest pandemics in history.”

Please do not forget the 1866 cholera outbreak in New York and many other cities.
And the fact that Cellular Connection, WI-FI, and 5G blamed by some for today Cove 19 could not have such explanation hundred or more years ago. The high speed of the 19-century new invention Steam locomotives in Great Britain over 20 miles per hour did not prevent pregnancies, and Early Trains Were Thought to Make Women’s Uteruses Fly Out.
So WEAR THE MASK!

The top Image credit “An 1883 illustration of the Grim Reaper draped in a cloth labeled “cholera,” arriving in America on a British ship. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive”

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uwpluxe.com – O, such painfull name

Do you know them? Interesting! But not quite Original pop-up cards.
The cryptic name “uwpluxe.com” ensures that you are going to forget it quickly.
Straightforward construction. It catches my attention for two reasons.
1) They supply a nice selection of pop-up cards to MOMA NY “Museum of Modern Art.”
2) Simplicity of the construction of the cards on the border of boredom.

No, they are quite nice but seeing the selection of available cards, I put them above the Chinese/Vietnam-designed cards (Too ornamental) and below the British ones.
What attracts my attention is that one of the designs mimics one of my first ever designs (Green wardrobe). Of course, this is their own (White Color) interpretation, but I think the designer may have difficulty coming out with their own new subject.

Surprisingly I see one of their best designs in the “sale” section of their website. “Dream Big” card.

I think this “Southwest Skull” subject may play well in the EU but not in the United States of America where people subconsciously avoid subjects referring to the painful areas of American Lives and the feeling of guilt.
The world “stockists” used on their site suggests that the owner of the web site is from the other shores, a lucky escapee from the abyss of Brexit
So we wish them good luck but, overall we are not impressed.

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Amazon Amazing steal

The story of US-based small and not so small business put out of business by Amazon copying their product itself or pushing made in China Fakes is not universally known.
An article published by “The Wall Street Journal” describes one aspect of the well known Giant. As the article states: “Amazon Has Ceded Control of Its Site. The Result: Thousands of Banned, Unsafe or Mislabeled Products”
The most Amazon-Amazing fact is that such a giant can exist despite our antitrust (another Paperweight) laws.
To ensure its market dominance not only engaged in direct theft of intellectual property of others but also joined its resources with other Big Tech companies to successfully push the 2011 Legislation “Reforming” our patent laws. The first Success of the “2011 Leahy–Smith America Invents Act” was a 50% average drop in US patents’ value. Now 10 years later, we deal with several problems. There is no problem with IP (Intelectual Property) theft because patent issued by USPTO has no value, and it may be freely taken by competition from startup or individual inventor without any consequences thanks to the “Efficient Infringement” doctrine telling them that it is cheaper to steal than to pay licensing fees to the inventor. The cost of any patent-related lawsuit in the US is in millions what rarely any inventor or startup can afford. Plus, if the inventor misbehaves, the new USPTO arm PTAB, known as “Patent Death Squad,” will invalidate His/her Patent. ( 84% chance). It leads to a situation where the Patent owner is often forced to pay ransom to an entity applying to invalidate his/her patent. Entities hunting for patents with juicy infringement awards. Also, several Supreme Court decisions subsequently weakened the position of the Patent owner.
Thanks to such an arrangement, Big Tech has guaranteed no competition Market.
Shame on us.

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The quality of your Greeting card goes long way

The Face By Jacek Alfac.us

Have you ever thought about how your greeting card is received?
Is it quickly put away?
You bought run-of-the-mill cards and they are recognized as such by recipients?
Lost opportunity since a better, memorable piece of paper art may keep your name longer on display and bring you either some love or some new business.
It will not cost you a dime more, just some attention to where to spend your hard-earned money and get a better product. There are some significant differences in how cards are received.
3-dimensional cards stay on display While flat greeting cards?
Usually, they disappear quite quickly. Some remain on display for a few days. Especially during the holiday season. After that? Most of us discover flat cards during big cleaning projects; years later tucked away.
3D pop-up cards hold more staying power with some differences.
1) The one in the “book” form requires two hands to open and face a similar fate. They are exposed to the viewer just for the moment. Not a big difference compared with the flat one.
All of them are Almost or let’s say simply IDENTICAL.

Sold, for example, by Lovepop, Hallmark, Americangreetings, Chinese companies on E-bay, and a number of other sellers under different names.
2) and then really original Free-standing cards remaining open on their own, at the TOP of the Pack.
Like Santoro, Paper D’Art, Graphics3inc, or us, Paperbee.net



They stay displayed by the recipients for DAYS., and months to come.
Take it into account when you decide which of the little ambassadors you will employ.

The quality of your card goes long way.

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Rothko religious art – Chapel of Death

the devil dancing on your grave by DanielWagesSep 22 2014

A few years ago, I learned about a Chapel described as “Catholic” decorated with the art of Rothko. Upon seeing the “art,” it is not hard to conclude that there is something amiss. Huge pieces covered with black paint dominate the space. The symbolistic meaning of the black color is obvious and doesn’t demand an explanation.

Looking for the logic behind it, there is no explanation why any “Catholic” institution would accept art showing black surfaces without any indication about the subject.
Faith, Christ in religious tradition, is a synonym for Light, happiness, and knowledge, not about the night.

Of course, I saw it as dumbness of people to finance this “ART” The explanation of why the canvases are black surfaced quickly after taking into account the painter’s background. There is the view of Christ as a false prophet. Historically, some Jewish writers and scholars have considered Jesus as the most influential “false prophet,” and their traditional views of Jesus have been mostly negative.
Apparently, the painter painted it that way as a “false prophet,” darkness, I think unintentionally taking advantage of the rather dumb sponsors, or maybe he was not creative or wise enough to stay away from his habit of flatly painted plain canvases.

Is his interpretation intentional? This art interpretation is apparently the reason behind why the Chapel is labeled as non-denominational.
I do not think any religion would accept images of deity as a plain black surface. Also, I do not know any priest who would use it.
Regardless of your religion. Would you pray to the piece of black canvas?
Unless you are a SATANIST.
The artist committed suicide a year after painting this “ART,” still displayed in Houston, Texas, since 1971.

In your opinion who or what depicts this “art”?

“Literary historian William E. Cain observed in the Southwest Review that it is said of these canvases that they “are saturated with death; they are representations of the void, stark and remorseless but, somehow, uplifting evocations of emptiness: they absorb us into themselves the longer we gaze at them.”

The top Devils gif image of the devil dancing on your grave
is by DanielWagesSep 22 2014
The bottom GIF Source
clterryart’s Tumblr post

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Paper Bee Pop-up mania

bee popup card


Have you noticed people’s unusual fascination with pop-ups? Grown men and women long past their teenage years are attracted to small paper buildups opening another world up the front of their eyes.
I think their attraction to such toys shows that everybody caresses a playful Child inside regardless of age. Our normally shown outside is Knight’s armor to defend ourselves from intolerant people without imagination and low self-esteem. This playfulness makes unbearable days easier and brings unquestionable benefits because people with smiles live longer, healthier, and happier lives. So Do not limit your happiness regardless of how silly the reason may appear to others.

Because of the health benefits a smile brings shouldn’t I consider myself a Healthcare provider? And charge people accordingly. I mean out of the blue and sky-high. If U.S. Congress a few years ago recognized pizza as a vegetable… in our country anything is possible.

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Santoro – British pop-up cards.

santoro card

Santoro is one of the most innovative publishers of pop-up greeting cards. Engineered, designed, and printed in the UK.

First, they searched for their soul, trying a few different design types before settling on a few proven ones.
Since they ventured outside of the pop-cards realm, I would not expect major changes in their offer.
Their energy is now applied in other directions. (Among other Real estate development)
But their selection is first class.
One of my observations is that their cards are divided into two parts.
!) Self-assembly (by the recipient – of course)
2) More complicated and elaborate Buildups.
All of them containing something movable, free-hanging elements.
I am a big fan of their (simple) “Swing Cards,” but when it comes to their “Pirouettes” and “Poprocks” and “Pendulum” cards, I think that they may be too complicated and too big to enjoy on everyday displays of their recipients. I think small is more beautiful than BIG. More intimate and better equipped to reach the hearts. But their popularity is telling me that I am wrong. One of the lessons I learned in the past is: do not underestimate your lesser achievements because they may be the top ones in public eyes. I still remember Chicago Art Institute Buyer, who chose, to my surprise, not the best-designed Glass Flowers, when to enlarge my offering. I included some (In my eyes) lesser designs in a bunch of my samples they requested.
Going back to the Santoro. They are an excellent destination for your gift offerings.

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Up with Paper. Pop-up simplicity.

When I first saw “Up with Paper” greeting cards I was impressed with their small square cards. Their traditional book format was something new in the right size, and they were a success story with virtually no competition. Graphic3D existed much longer but was and still is invisible, focusing on a steady business market. Far away from the hustle and bustle of retail. I think “Up with Paper” initial success was not justified for a period of time because their made in China cards did not stand out exactly with their quality. Their rough-cut pieces glued together did not make an impression when inspected close up. It changed, and now you can enjoy well made and designed cards with nice simple artwork. I do not see any new concepts, but as with every established business, they focus on their proved holdings. A nice choice for occasional mailings to your friends and family. They also try their hands on a small collection of pop-up books. I am less impressed with it, but they addressed it to kids, and apparently, some kids enjoy their work.

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With Me&McQ pop up card you will not dare loose Christmas Cheer.

Me&McQ is in its 30th year publishing groundbreaking greetings cards. What I admire are the illustrations. Painstakingly rendered details with a big dose of imagination.
I do not favor that the cards are overflowing with too many details, and their technical construction is based on the basic trellis construction. Of course, my personal taste or distaste should not stop you from loving the cards. They are charming. Exactly the type of item to bring Christmas cheer to any household. Highly recommended. Designed in Great Britain produced in China. Their designs are 90% original. However, I saw a couple of identical cards sold by others. The reason behind this is that some Chinese manufacturers sell overruns of some designs produced for a particular company and also like for example bird cages are produced independently for several customers at once.

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Your Christmas Card may pay you well.

December is the time we can see collections of Christmas Cards posted all over the offices. I never asked what is happening to this display after Christmas time is over. Mostly this is a missed opportunity to keep your name up the front of your client’s eyes.
Nobody keeps them and there is no reason to do that. The usual generics with simple messages and very simple designs are not exactly eye and heart catchers.

Smart Marketers know well that 3-dimensional mail has an unusually high 25 to 50% response rate. and that’s why smart companies like graphics3inc  are selling pop-ups almost exclusively to business customers.

Every few years they refresh their existing contraptions with new graphics and with a limited number of designs they serve their customers for more than 20 years. You can grab some of their designs right away from their website.

If you like something original there is the option. Contact us with your requirements and we will provide an original design with original art and higher impact than any generics.

Pop-up cards

1. Grabs authentic attention2.
3. Create an instant positive impact

4. Have very high response rates.
5. They leave a lasting impression.

 

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Smart paper cuts. Florida

A Christmas Tale
A Christmas Tale pop-up book by Vojtech Kubasta

When my wife and kid enjoyed the warm beaches during our annual Florida vacation, an active person like me scouting for unusual and beautiful, found in the local museum collection of pop-up books by Vojtěch Kubašta. Paper “Umelec”(Artist In the Czech language) put the old-world’s overwhelming charm into the pop-up world. In Florida, unexpectedly, I was back in Prague still remembering the charm of the Old City, The antiquariat where I was buying the 19 century, old human anatomy books with wonderfully illustrated pop-up cut out of organs you can move to see the next layer of the human body. The “Wlasky salad” and “housky” buns I was buying in the neighborhood store every morning.

Vojtech Kubasta was able to transfer the charm of the old-world into the pages of his books. For me, it was a sudden transfer into the charming and long-forgotten world.

The language I was able to master enough to start reading books in Czech quickly. Places where everybody wishes you a Good day regardless if you know anybody there. The strange way the coffee is served and people keep utensils when they are eating. During the fall, the dark sweet cherries I was eating sitting among the branches of huge cheery tries in an old palace park—the dark memory of the day I had to leave this newly discovered and charming world behind. After so many years, it still hurts.

Hej, Wake up. I have heard the voice of my wife. The curator of the Fort Lauderdale museum asked about the Vojtech Kucasta books’ collection agreed to show to us, my family, the treasures in his possession. I wish you the same experience.

But please do not go to Prague for the Beer drinking trip. Lucky I was able to enjoy the old city before the era of tourist invasion. There still were old antique cars on the streets, dark cities after sunset, and beer number 10 showing without question automatically up the front of every new guest in the local “Wycep” (Pub)

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The end of the Reign of the Ring Binder.

 Friedrich Soennecken inventor of the Ring Binder should certainly wake up from his well-deserved final rest knowing that finally there is something/ somebody good enough to challenge his invention “Ring-binder” 133 years long reign in every office on the earth.

To my surprise, the new solution comes not in form of a complicated mechanism but as a single, flexible sheet of material cut a certain way. All rings and metal parts are eliminated. And it works. There is no sticking-out spine always taking the same space on the shelf even if empty. The New Ring-Less Binder is flexible and quite pleasant to handle, the same as the rest of this new family serving the same binding functions.

The Challenger has no worldwide ambitions currently trying to find a licensee for his invention in the U.S. and then eventually in the E.U.

This is not the first time the Reign of the Ring is challenged. There are numerous challenges to its rule sponsored by many companies. None of them were successful, lingering on the fringe of the Office market mostly due to the fact that they introduce their own sets of problems.

In the U.S. there is an additional problem with the office market dominated by very few big players with immense financial resources not taking any risks when it comes to the introduction of a product competing with their well-established best sellers.

To make things more palatable for inventors the 2011 Leahy–Smith America Invents Act effectively makes U.S. patents worthless and unenforceable by a small player not having financial resources to finance legal challenges. Leahy-Smith’s act sponsored by Big Tech effectively enables “Efficient Infringement” practiced by already established companies barring entry to the market for eventual startups/competition. Introduced by this legislation PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board ) enjoys well-deserved fame as a ” Patent killing squad” invalidating by own admission 84% of all challenged patents. The effect: Invention exodus to more promising lands already caught politicians’ attention in Congress. The problem is that the incoming Biden administration is already (11/29/20) hiring people from Big Tech with a cozy relationship with the Obama White House.

5 Ring-Less binders by Alfac.us
Ring vs Ring-less
compare Ring-Less with empty Ring binder