Entertaining and Educating Your Baby

After discovering you are pregnant, an overwhelming amount of questions pop into your mind. How you will you educate your baby is one of the myriad of questions you will have. Some parents choose to utilize tools such as video tapes and toys to help their babies learn, while others prefer personal interaction. It is important to consider how the human mind develops so you provide your baby an educational experience which is relevant to her level of development.

A 2-month-old baby spends most of their time eating or sleeping, and really won’t have much interest in rudimentary arithmetic no matter what the people trying to sell you the videos may say. There are things that will engage your baby’s interest and help him develop his or her brain and senses, however.

Firstly, young babies love faces. Your mouth moves and makes sounds, your eyes blink, your cheeks can puff out, your head can nod, and shake, and your tongue can move in and out. For baby, this is the best toy ever invented. For you, it is the most affordable educational toy ever invented. The words you speak, their inflection and intonation, all attract the baby’s interest as well. This is still the best education your baby can get in spite of the fact your baby is still quite a long way away from. Faces are fundamental to the human social world, and your baby will spend the rest of his or her life trying to interpret facial expressions. Forget all those dopey videos, the best educational entertainment for your baby is to watch your face and watch and hear you speak.

It is impossible to spend all your waking time talking to your baby and entertaining him. Most parents hang a mobile over baby’s crib. This kaleidoscope of shapes and colors engages their attention and hones the connections between their eyes and brain. It is possible for babies to get bored just like everyone else. You will want to change the appearance of the mobile, or maybe replace it with another mobile, at intervals. The changes can be small or large. For example, of baby’s mobile has horses, you can tie bows around their neck one day and bells the next.

When your baby can sit upright for long periods of time without falling over, it’s a great time to get a set of blocks. These blocks have to be small enough that your baby can hold them but big enough that they won’t try to swallow them. A good game to play with baby is “stack and tumble.” You stack the blocks, and your baby is charged with the task of knocking the blocks over. How many blocks can be stacked before baby knocks them down. This may seem rather pointless to you, but baby is learning something absolutely fundamental: cause and effect. This simple experiment says to baby: when I do something, it causes something to happen.

Baby eduction is quote simple, ultimately. Elaborate ‘educational’ videotapes are not needed; babies need to develop the basic connection between their senses and their brains.

Protecting Brands From Infringement and Knock Offs – Part II Advanced Techniques

1. Use Copyright Registration to Stop Knock-Offs

Too often, overseas and other low-cost manufacturers are employed to replicate successful products. This can be done by carefully making a mold of the product and then using that mold to make a replication. These knock-offs are imported into the U.S. and enter the stream of commerce through a variety of channels. A more sophisticated infringer will ensure that the product is marketed with a name that does not infringe the trademark. Most likely the name will be descriptive. Assuming that the product configuration/shape is not protectable as trade dress or by design patent and there is no trademark infringement of the product name, it is very difficult for the brand owner to police these knock offs. One strategy is to incorporate a registered copyright into the product. A registered trademark, particularly a logo, similarly can be incorporated. With either strategy, a copier is likely to copy “too closely” picking up the copyright or logo into the mold, thereby including it in the knock-off product. This provides grounds for copyright and trademark infringement claims, both of which support injunctive relief as well as impoundment/destruction of infringing articles (Sections 34, 36 of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1116, 1118; Sections 502-03 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C.). The copyright claim (Sections 412, 504, and 505 of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C.) also allows for the recovery of attorney’s fees and statutory damages if the work is registered pre-infringement.

2. Protecting Consumables from the Gray Market

Parallel or gray market imports are products marketed by the rights owner, or with the rights owner’s permission, in one country and then subsequently imported into another country without the rights owner’s permission. Typically gray market goods are sold in the U.S. at a considerable discount, because the importer is able to purchase the products abroad at a lower price. Thus, brand owners are better able to control the prices of their goods when the gray market cannot serve as competition.

Rights owners can take proactive steps in educating the public as to gray market goods and deterring importation of such goods. Rights owners should implement product control and tracking procedures for their foreign manufacturers and distributors to prevent unauthorized “back door” transactions. If goods not authorized for sale in the U.S. continue to find their way into the U.S. marketplace, the rights owner should take necessary action, including terminating ties with the associated foreign manufacturer/distributor. Rights owners may also pursue an exclusion order under § 42 of the Lanham Act when they become aware of gray market goods. Further, monetary relief, including disgorgement of profits, is available under § 32 and § 43 of the Lanham Act.

Additionally, brand owners should take advantage of a potential strategy employing an important exception to the first-sale and exhaustion doctrines, which allow rights owners to enjoy more control over their foreign manufactured products than their domestically manufactured products. These doctrines, which limit a rights owner’s control and allow a purchaser to sell or otherwise dispose of a lawfully made copy, do not apply when goods are manufactured abroad. Essentially, a rights owner may seek to protect its consumables from gray market importation by incorporating its registered copyright into the product, without the first-sale and exhaustion doctrine hurdles. A product bearing a registered copyright cannot legally be imported into and resold in the U.S. without permission of the rights owner. Additionally, as stated above, the copyright infringement claim also allows for the recovery of attorney’s fees and statutory damages if the work is registered pre-infringement.

Finally, gray market goods can be sold domestically as well. This frequently occurs where a legitimately branded product priced for one market channel is sold by a third party into another market channel. This is often seen with OEM software, which is sold at a deep discount and bundled with a new computer. Third parties will sell that software as a stand-alone retail product, but at the deep discount. Gray market sales also occur with high-end products. These types of sales are controlled through contract and assertion of trademark or copyright rights.

3. Use Pre-Suit Depositions to Obtain Early Discovery

Texas law is unique in that it allows a litigant to file a petition to seek pre-lawsuit depositions. Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 202.1, a person may ask the court for an order authorizing the taking of a deposition for use in an anticipated suit or to investigate a potential claim or suit. This process can be extremely useful in acquiring information regarding the infringement, the parties involved in the infringement, the sales volume, and other useful information that is necessary in order to determine the amount of potential damages and the strategy for a case.

4. Stopping Infringement on eBay and Social Networking Sites

Although not required by the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA), eBay has employed a Verified Rights Owner Program (VeRO) that provides a procedure for handling not only copyright disputes, but also claims of trademark and patent infringement. Typically, the property rights owner first registers with eBay and upon knowledge of an infringing article being offered for sale on eBay, the rights owner fills out a Notice of Claimed Infringement (NOCI) form. The seller is given an opportunity to provide a sworn Counter-Notice in response. According to eBay policy, the rights owner will have 10 days to institute a legal action to restrain further sales. If the rights owner fails to take timely action, the listing may be reinstated.

While Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social marketing sites provide innovative ways for brand owners to connect to new and existing clients and grow their business, as with any interface that operates on user-generated content, these sites can also be hot spots for infringement. It is important for rights owners to monitor these sites and take action to stop infringement. Sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter all have procedures in place to assist rights owners in handling infringement. It is critical that rights owners take full advantage of these safeguards in order to protect their brand. Similar to cybersquatting, third-party registration of a user name/handle is a common way brand owners trademarks are infringed on social networking sites.

5. Employing the New PRO-IP Law

To combat copyright and trademark counterfeiting, Congress recently passed the “Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (“PRO-IP”). This legislation includes significant enhancements in civil actions. For example, PRO-IP requires courts to award treble damages and attorneys fees where a violation results from the intentional use of a counterfeit trademark, or where one provides goods or services that intentionally assists others in counterfeiting. Also, the range of statutory damages for trafficking in goods bearing counterfeit trademarks was increased to $1,000 – $200,000 per mark. For willful violations, the statutory damage ceiling doubled to $2 million. Additionally, for both civil and criminal acts of counterfeiting, PRO-IP allows for the seizure and forfeiture of: (1) the counterfeit goods, (2) instrumentalities and tools used in the counterfeiting process (which would include, for example, a home computer used in infringing file sharing or copying), and (3) profits derived from the sale of counterfeit goods. The Act also contains a provision whereby, for the first time, U.S. criminal law will explicitly prohibit the transshipment or exportation of counterfeit goods or services, deeming it a violation of Section 42 of the Lanham Act.

6. Stop Infringement at the Border

Record trademark and copyright registrations as well as trade names with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (the “CBP”) and upload a Product Identification Guide, if applicable. Once recorded, the CBP will monitor the import of products for these trademarks, copyrights, and trade names. The Product Identification Guide allows field officers to more quickly identify and authenticate counterfeit goods. If discovered, the counterfeit products will be detained and the CBP will inform the rights owner of the attempted importation. If the rights owner does not agree to allow the counterfeit goods to be released, the goods may be seized, forfeited, and destroyed and the importer may be subject to substantial fines. Further, the CBP will provide the rights owner with detailed information about the parties involved in the importation so that the rights owner can pursue legal action against all involved in the counterfeit operation.

With respect to U.S. patents, patent owners can petition the International Trade Commission to initiate Section 337 exclusion proceedings against imported products that infringe on their patent rights.

Conclusion

The above 6 techniques provide an array of tools to protect brands from counterfeiting, knock offs, and trademark infringement. Best practices are to use of multiple techniques to safeguard br

Attending the School of Hard Knocks

Learning by Experience can be Tough, and the Tuition is High

Being a beginner in any endeavor is always challenging. The beginning note investor has many important decisions to consider and evaluate. Investing in mortgage notes and promissory notes is profitable when done correctly. Learning to do it right, the first time, is safer and cheaper than learning by making your own mistakes. The school of hard knocks charges a high tuition.

Just like every serious activity, note investing requires preparation, education, training and experience. Obtaining these essential requirements can be costly if not done carefully. Since investing involves putting money at risk, it should be done with care and caution. It should not be done without experienced guidance. It is not recommended it be done as “on-the-job-training” or “earn-while-you-learn”.

Types of Accounts-Tax Deferred, Tax-Free and Ordinary Plans

There are many types of investment account available; each has benefits and drawbacks. Let’s take a quick look of some of the most popular types. In the retirement account group there are:

Traditional IRAs (Individual Retirement Account) where specified deposits are allowed annually that are tax deductible. These are invested in publicly traded assets-stocks and bonds. The distributions and withdrawals from the account are subject to taxation.
Self-Directed IRAs that invest in non-publicly traded assets such as real estate and promissory notes. The tax consequences are the same as for the traditional IRA account.
Roth IRAs can be invested in publicly traded assets or non-publicly traded assets. The tax is paid when the investment is funded; withdrawals and distributions are tax-free.
Rollover IRAs are IRA accounts receiving assets from another IRA account.
401(k) Plans are company retirement plans having government and company rules.
403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans (TSA plan) is a retirement plan offered by public schools and
SEP Simplified Employment Plans. A SIMPLE IRA plan provides small employers with a simplified method to contribute toward their employees’ and their own retirement savings.
The Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, and the Department of Labor make the rules for all retirement investing accounts. You will need information and guidance to select the plan best for you. To invest in non-publicly traded assets, such as mortgage notes and promissory notes, selecting the right self-directed IRA administrator is an important step. Be certain that the administrator you select can handle non-publicly traded assets.

IRS Tax Code allows you to invest your IRA dollars in almost anything, expect life insurance and collectibles. Collectables include works of art, rugs, antiques, metals, gems, jewelry, stamps, coins, alcoholic beverages, and certain other tangible personal property.

If using an IRA account is not right for you, consider doing your investing using an ordinary bank checking account.

Doing Due Diligence-Tips that Avoid Investing Mistakes

Due diligence is a phrase meaning “doing your homework” or “investigating before you invest”; it amounts to understanding the investment. Here are some key steps:

Don’t rush the investing process-allow no one to rush you into a decision

Don’t invest all of your capital into one investment-diversify

Understand the asset you are investing in-how does in actually work

Understand how that asset will repay your investment-from where will the money come

Understand the down-side risk of loss-all investments bear some risk of loss

Understand what happens if the investment develops problems

Understand the rules and laws govern your rights and your duties

Understand any contract or document you sign, before signing it

Understand who you are doing business with-get acquainted

Beware of scams and cons-be skeptical

Get rich slowly. A swindler always promises “quick profits,” “fast money,” or “easy money.” Consider this: if quick, easy and fast profits were available, would a stranger be offering them to you? The stranger would keep those quick, easy and fast profits for himself, his friends and family. Rarely will you be able to pay a low price for a high-value asset; rarer yet is when a stranger provides you with such a bargain.

Be wary of promoters and salesmen who claim loyalty to your group or your organization. The group may be your religious organization, your community volunteer organization, your school alumni organization, or any other group you like and trust. In our world of complexity, many people feel they need a quick way of deciding who to trust. Deciding who to trust takes on serious considerations in the world of investing. Investigate before investing.

Be wary of unusually high returns. All investments carry risk. Normally, high returns are created by high risk. Examples of high risk are speculative stocks, speculative real estate, speculative bonds, start-up companies, new ventures, etc. Examples of low-risk investments that pay proportionately low returns are FDIC insured savings account, U.S. Government bonds, blue chip stocks and bonds, etc.!

Summary

Investing without understanding is like playing poker without looking at the cards. Successful promissory note and mortgage note investing, like all serious matters, requires education, training, time and effort. As a beginner or inexperienced note investor, initially engage an experienced specialist to work with you and guide you-that’s like paying an insurance premium to protect against a large loss.

Lawrence (Larry) Tepper specializes in the valuation and appraisal of promissory and mortgage notes, and other cash-flow financial instruments nationally. Nation-wide services for banks, trust companies, self-directed IRA accounts, estates, attorneys, CPAs, and individual investors.

Consulting Services-Free Appraisal Price Quotes

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Law Degree /Accounting Minor University of Denver

Managing Colorado Real Estate Broker– Promissory Notes Specialization

Certified Commercial Investment Member from the National Assoc. Realtors (CCIM)

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

35 + years of national promissory note and mortgage note appraisal and valuation for Banks, Trust Companies, Attorneys, CPA’s, Estates, Trusts, Executors, Administrators, and Financial Advisors.

“No charge” review and discussion of your file and documents–Fee appraisal quotes– Call or email.

Lawrence (Larry) Tepper

The Marketing Formula: EDUCATING Your Prospect Is Key!

In sales our team members often look for the ‘quick win’ or ‘low hanging fruit’. But the reality is that in order for these quick wins to occur, someone – likely marketing – has been nurturing your prospect.

What really does this mean?

Education of the prospect is a critical function for a marketing team. In fact, it is at this point that the company builds enormous credibility with the prospect.

Education is not about talking about all the bells and whistles on your particular product. Nor is it pointing out why someone should do business with you or talking all about your company and how you are unique (which is rarely true anyway). I’ll tell you a little secret. Your customers care more about their own situations than they do about your service or product.

Well if educating the prospect isn’t about product specification sheets, the wonderful services you offer, or the wonderful PowerPoint that shows all the companies you work with, what is it?

Put simply, education is taking the time – with no expectation of return – in sharing solutions to customer’s problems. It is information – freely given – that adds value for the customer and helps them understand both the dynamics of the problem they are facing and the potential benefits and pitfalls of many different solutions.

This education is not a one time event either. Your marketing team should be planning a series of educational pieces that continue to share information that is relevant to your customer. It won’t always be solution centric either. At times you may want to share specific information about your industry. Or share special case studies that detail solutions to problems that other customers have faced.

Why would you bother doing this, you ask? Isn’t it just easier to hire more salespeople and send them ‘knocking on doors’?

Let me share some psychology with you. There is a psychological law called the law of reciprocity. If you and your company are the ones sharing information in a non-pressurized environment and you continue to do so over several months (or in some cases years), then when the customer decides to buy something that you offer where do you think they will go? Will they buy from the fresh faced salesperson knocking on their door from your competition? Or is it possible that they will take a closer look at your organization? Remember, you have been training the prospect. You have proven yourself as the expert.

Educating your prospects is likely the best way to keep your prospects active in your sales funnel.

Todd Ramsey is a strategist, innovator and leader who focuses on developing leaders within his teams/client’s organizations – whether they are at technology, telecommunications, or energy companies. His success is built upon understanding the real issues in a situation and approaching these with integrity, passion, focus, and driving results in a professional manner where the client (internal or external) feels valued and respected.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Todd_

Older posts »