Trade Secrets
Posted by Michelle Moquin on August 31st, 2010
Shhh: Ten Make-or-Break Trade Secrets
By BRUCE WATSON
Every company promises a better product — a better burger, a better search engine, a better hotel room. For the companies below, the secret to a superior product is worth millions — or even billions. To protect their secrets, companies have built vaults, hired detectives and gone to court. And as the technologies used to protect trade secrets advance, so do the technologies of the secrets themselves. Once, the Carthusian monks’ blend of 130 mystical herbs gave Chartreuse a distinctive flavor and a valuable brand; today, the ones and zeroes of Google’s superior search algorithm reside in a virtual reality that is less tangible, but no less valuable.
Here are ten of the most valuable and representative trade secrets today:
Coca Cola’s Secret Recipe: It’s common knowledge that the world’s most famous secret recipe once contained cocaine; what’s less known is that Coke still uses a coca leaf extract made by the Stepan Company (SCL), the only company in the U.S. that is allowed to process cocaine. Coca Cola (KO) also admits to using African kola nuts, lime extract and vanilla, and various reports suggest other exotic ingredients, including lemon extract, orange extract, nutmeg and neroli. The true recipe remains a mystery, as Coke decided against patenting it. A risky move, the soft drink behemoth’s decision has paid off, protecting its distinctive taste from competitors, who could have made their own version when the patent information was made public, 20 years after its filing. Unfortunately, the decision to avoid a patent didn’t protect Coke from two of its own employees who tried to sell the formula to Pepsi. Luckily, they were turned in by Coke’s competitor.
KFC’s Fried Chicken: Every fast food ad promises a special sauce or the best burger in the business, but when it comes to secret recipes, KFC (YUM) has the lock — literally. The company’s still uses Colonel Sanders’ original, hand-written list of eleven herbs and spices, and its security precautions put the Pentagon to shame. In 2008, when the company updated its headquarters, it gave reporters a glimpse behind the curtain. The ingredient list is kept in a computerized vault with two separate locks, alongside vials of the eleven seasonings, and only two executives have access to the full recipe. By comparison, when McDonald’s (MCD) substituted a cheaper version of its classic Big Mac “special sauce” in the 1980′s, it lost the original recipe, only finding it in 2004, when it decided to switch back to the original.
WD40: When Norm Larsen invented WD-40 in 1953, he was looking for a compound that would protect Atlas rockets from rust. The ultimate creation, Water Displacer-40th attempt, has never been patented; the company, like Coca-Cola, wants to protect its formula from the prying eyes of competitors. A few years after he started selling WD-40 directly to consumers, Larsen sold the recipe along with the rest of his company for $10,000. Today, the distinctive spray, with thousands of uses, is used by an estimated 80% of all American homes.
The New York Times Best Seller List: In continuous publication since 1942, The New York Times’ (NYT) best seller list is the top book-rating system in the U.S. While it is known that the paper polls thousands of chain bookstores, independent bookstores and wholesalers, the actual mechanics of the list are unknown, as release of the details could enable publishers to manipulate sales data. Over its history, the best seller list has run into a few battles with authors and retailers: in 1983, Exorcist author William Peter Blatty unsuccessfully sued the Times for $9 million, citing lost revenues when the list refused to acknowledge his novel Legion. Sixteen years later, the Times again found itself in court when online retailer Amazon began using the list to promote its sales. The two ended up settling: in return for sharing its sales figures with the Times, Amazon got to use the best seller list.
Auto-Tune: When engineer Andy Hildebrand originally developed software for mapping underground oil deposits, he had no idea that it could correct pitch a musical recording. Yet, since its the 1990′s, the program has become a popular tool for producers. Originally employed for creative effects — as in Cher’s 1998 hit, “Believe” — it is now largely used to perfect the pitch of off-key singers. Some musical acts, including Loretta Lynne and Death Cab for Cutie, have refused to use pitch correction, but Auto-Tune has become almost ubiquitous in the music industry, yielding huge revenues for its owner, Antares Audio Technologies.
Chartreuse: Many alcoholic beverages claim a unique recipe, but few have the complexity or history of Chartreuse, the pale green liqueur produced by France’s Carthusian monks. Made from distilled alcohol and 132 secret extracts, Chartreuse dates back to 1605, although the recipe has changed over the years. The monks’ biggest competitor has probably been the French government, which expelled them in 1793 and again in 1903. The second time, the monks moved to Spain and began making a version of their famous liqueur; meanwhile, a corporation took over the monastery and began churning out an ersatz “Chartreuse” before going out of business. In 1935, the monks came back to France, and have been making Chartreuse continuously since then. To this day, only two monks are allowed to know the recipe at any given time.
Mrs. Fields’ Chocolate Chip Cookies: Secret recipes often inspire urban legends: Coke, for example, has been said to contain bugs, while McDonald’s once had to deal with a rumor that they used chopped worms in its burgers. One of the most persistent rumors, however surrounds Mrs. Fields’ cookies: according to the tale, a customer asked for the company’s recipe and was told that she would have to pay “two fifty” for it. She agreed, assuming that she would have to pay $2.50, only to find that she was actually billed $250. In revenge, she allegedly passed the recipe around in order to devalue it. Later, the company’s owner, Debbie Fields, publicly denounced the rumor, stating that she has never sold her recipe and it remains secret. Today, the urban legend has shifted slightly, claiming that Neiman Marcus is the overcharging culprit.
Starwood Hotels: Sometimes, a secret recipe isn’t a single ingredient, but rather the perfect balance of hundreds of little details. At least, that’s the claim of Starwood Hotels and Resorts (HOT): the company, which owns the upscale Westin hotel chain, filed suit in April 2009 when two of its former employees jumped ship to work for competitor Hilton. According to the suit, which is still in court, the two executives stole over 100,000 files that would enable Hilton to duplicate Westin’s luxury style.
Thomas’ English Muffins: On the surface, it doesn’t seem that hard to reverse-engineer Thomas’ recipe; after all, the famous nooks and crannies are basically the product of flour, water, and yeast, with assorted other well-known ingredients thrown in for flavor and texture. Yet the company takes its trade secrets very seriously, and recently went to court to protect them. In January 2010, Chris Botticella — one of only seven Thomas’ executives who knows the exact combination of dough, humidity and baking technique necessary to reproduce the muffins — left Thomas’ for a new job at competitor (and Wonder Bread manufacturer) Hostess. The case is currently on appeal, and Botticella has been barred from accepting his new job until the case is settled.
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Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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August 31st, 2010 at 7:38 am
Interesting, I didn’t know there were any trade secretes left anymore.
August 31st, 2010 at 7:50 am
A Man’s Guide to Dressing Well for Less
Stephen Kempson
Many men have trimmed their clothing budgets these days because of the weak economy, but this is no time to look shabby.
Wearing old or low-quality suits can create the impression that you are old or low quality. Fortunately, you can get a great look without paying a lot…
WHERE TO SHOP
High-end department stores’ private label suits offer the best value for the money. These suits typically are comparable in quality to the designer suits sold at that store but at a fraction of the price.
Top department stores employ skilled salespeople and tailors, which greatly increases the odds that you will wind up in a suit appropriate for your body type.
Among the best department store private label suits…
Nordstrom’s John W. Nordstrom and Broletto labels.
These suits in the $600 range can be just as handsome as Hickey Freeman suits costing $1,000 or more, and Nordstrom’s sales staff is excellent. There is arguably no better value in men’s suits.
Saks Fifth Avenue label. Saks’s private label suits also compare favorably to those costing much more. (Suits start at $695.) Saks, too, employs very qualified salespeople.
Clothing discounters offer attractive deals as well, but they typically do not provide high-quality customer service.
Shopping for suits at discounters is appropriate only if you already know which suits and sizes tend to look good on you… and you have a tailor you trust to make alterations.
SUIT SELECTION
If your budget is limited, it’s better to purchase one or two high-quality suits than three or four less expensive suits.
Not only do well-made suits look better, they last longer, making them a smart long-term investment. Cheap suits can start to show wear after just a few trips to the dry cleaner.
Choose timeless styles that won’t look dated in a few years. That means dark gray or blue fabric… and subtle patterns, such as solids or barely visible stripes.
One- or two-button suits can be the right choice for short, stocky men who look boxy in three-button suits. Double-breasted suits are a good choice for very slender men.
Select suits made from medium-weight 8.5-ounce to 10-ounce fabric. Such fabric is appropriate year-round, eliminating the need to purchase different suits for each season.
Air-conditioning and heating make very heavy or light fabrics impractical for modern life anyway.
SHIRTS, SHOES AND ACCESSORIES
To finish off your look and wear with your suit…
Dress shirts. Conservative white or light blue dress shirts are timeless and especially popular now.
A subtle stripe or small check pattern on a dress shirt is acceptable as well, but avoid bold patterns.
Most men look best in dress shirts that have spread or semispread collars, rather than button-down collars. Classic French cuffs paired with a simple cuff link add a touch of elegance.
Example: Charles Tyrwhitt dress shirts with French cuffs are an excellent value. Most are $59, or two for $99 (866-797-2701, http://www.ctshirts.co.uk).
Ties. Understated ties, featuring solid colors or subtle stripes, have replaced the bold stripes and complex designs of years past.
Pocket squares. Pocket squares provide inexpensive elegance. White linen or white cotton pocket squares always are a good choice — they look fresh and classy with just about any suit and tie.
Avoid matched pocket-square-and-tie sets — these can seem too by-the-numbers.
Socks. Men’s fashion always becomes understated when the economy falters, but many men still are injecting fun and color into their office apparel through their socks. Diamond-patterned, polka dot and argyle socks are quite popular.
Shoes. It’s worth spending a few extra dollars to buy good shoes. Many people will form a first impression of you based on the quality of the shoes that you wear.
Dark brown shoes now are considered more stylish and elegant than black, even paired with blue or gray suits. (However, black suits still require black shoes.)
Favor lace-up shoes when wearing a suit, and avoid shoes with tassels, which look dated. And, of course, always keep your shoes well-shined.
Example: Allen Edmonds makes excellent men’s shoes in a relatively affordable $195-to-$350 price range (877-817-7615, http://www.allenedmonds.com).
Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Stephen Kempson, a Saville Row–trained tailor and founder of Stephen Kempson London, a custom tailor and clothier located just off Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Kempson has outfitted leaders in business, entertainment and the media. http://www.stephenkempson.com.
August 31st, 2010 at 8:10 am
Hafa adai
Peter that comment about the archbishop took courage. Most catholics on the island act as if he is god. They see the salvation of their souls as being in his hands. They would rather sacrifice their children to him than to risk losing their place in heaven.
What God are they praying too? Jesus is does not need the archbishop to approve His selections.
Yse
August 31st, 2010 at 8:32 am
Love the Chartreuse story. It is my favorite liqueur.
August 31st, 2010 at 8:45 am
I’ve been under a bit of stress lately. I thank my special person for sending me this and I am passing it on.
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Stress and rejection linked to disease
It’s no secret–stress and sickness usually go together like doctors and prescription pads.
And now, researchers think they understand why… and they’re seeing firsthand how closely linked the mind and body really are. In fact, a new study shows that emotional distress can actually trigger immediate inflammation in the body.
Researchers recruited 124 healthy young adults and put them through weird and stressful situations. For example, the recruits were asked to give a five-minute speech on why they think they’d make a good administrative assistant– and all the while, clipboard-toting panelists in white coats would stare at them coldly in an effort to intimidate.
Then, the subjects were asked to count backwards by sevens, starting with the number 2,935. Once they screwed up–I tried it myself, and it didn’t take long–they were asked to start over, this time counting backwards by 13s (I didn’t even bother with that one).
Meanwhile, the panelists would tell them to hurry up, and appear exasperated by the volunteers’ inability to efficiently count backwards.
The researchers collected saliva samples before and after the experiment… and, as it turned out, the markers for inflammation increased dramatically after the exercises in social rejection.
And they didn’t stop there.
The researchers also asked 31 of the participants to play a computer game while undergoing an MRI. The volunteers believed they were playing with two other people, but these others–who didn’t actually exist–eventually stopped playing with the volunteer.
Sure enough, the centers of the brain associated with rejection, fear, and stress lit up on the MRI. And those with the biggest reaction in those brain areas were the ones who had the highest levels of inflammation after the earlier tests, according to the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In the short term, inflammation helps the body fight off a threat. Inflammation levels rise, for example, when we battle a virus. But long-term inflammation is unhealthy and linked to illness and diseases such as asthma, heart problems, arthritis and cancer.
What does this mean for you? It’s pretty simple: Recognize stress and your body’s reaction to it.
If you’re easily hurt–emotionally–teach yourself some better (and drug-free) ways to deal with it, especially if your mental pain comes in the form of anxiety or depression.
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See, I can share too.
Love you
August 31st, 2010 at 8:47 am
Michelle
What happened to your comment section? I looked forward to your tete a tetes with my morning coffee.
Fred
August 31st, 2010 at 8:50 am
Me, I’m hooked on Mrs. Fields cookies. I didn’t get the point of the recipe rumor. But the cookies are sooo goods
Sandy
August 31st, 2010 at 8:58 am
I love the Chartruese story also…I love Framboise also, both make for good sipping and both bring back some memories that are making me smile right now : )
I’m passing this along, was just chatting about patents and trade secrets and intellectual property last night, like Henry, my partner questioned whether there were trade secrets anymore hmm, well yes I said and bc just like anything else, big companies can and will either knock off your new product (change to make it better or cheaper and boom, there it is) or want to buy it off you quickly (to either produce it or shelf it), stay tuned, I’ve got a tried and true that will change your life, right now I am working with a few peeps to take care of the ‘secret’ and though it’s been a tried’n'true (but not marketed in the US) I am conducting my own unofficial ‘life changing’ experiment on myself and select others, so far my results outweighs all prior supporting articles (bc I am a trust and verify type and I don’t apologize for that anymore either : ) though the inventor is a woman, which makes me very happy…for a variety of reasons.
Robert, you’re an intellect, do you understand why I wrote my comment directed to you and to Fran, I’m betting you do and that you’re smiling rather than being offended in any way : )
I’m wondering if all the originals of the exercise and healthy eating team cannot get in bc I have so much more info to get into in year 2 – want to hear from you re:L what worked, what didn’t and what you’d like to hear more about first though. I’ll add this though – for the working woman who sits, get up as often as you can to take a 10 minute walk, clench that g note in your crack and engage your muscles, innner and outer thighs and try to ‘take 10′ every 2 hours. I’ve got a fix for mild knock knee and bow legged types also : ) you’ll be stokin’
Luv, Zen Lill
August 31st, 2010 at 8:59 am
I’ll fix you, you tightwad!” screamed the woman. “If you won’t increase mu allowance for clothes, I’m going on a bedroom strike!”
Go right ahead, “responded her husband calmly. “My secretary has the tightest little strikebreaker in town.”
August 31st, 2010 at 9:06 am
Zen Lill
We have been doing your exercises. I have not heard any complaints. I have lost about 13 pounds and have kept them off. I want to lose about 3 more so I continue to read for any new moves you offer.
Thanks for your help.
Lola
August 31st, 2010 at 9:18 am
The Rki have requested an audience with President Obama. They are a very tiny race of beings. Their space ship landed on back center of the crown of his head, slightly closer to his right ear.
He has the beginnings of a bald spot there. So it makes for an excellent spot for them to depart their craft in that location. He does not use much hair dressing so it would be safe.
I am suggesting a brief time of observation, before I figure an appropriate way and time to begin introductions.
Xur
August 31st, 2010 at 9:20 am
So Michelle
Just when can we expect to see some parts belonging to Zen Lill?
August 31st, 2010 at 9:20 am
Zen Lill
No offense taken.
Robert
August 31st, 2010 at 11:40 am
AS I continue to remind people who read this blog the telling factor about white people is how tolerant of the bigots and racists among their race they are.
Take Mr. Beck for example. Here is a man who has called The President of the United States of America a racist, someone who is against white people. Here is a man who has donned a Nazi uniform on the cover of his books to appeal to the raacists of his race.
But all is forgiven by Huffington Post because he “drew a big turn out on Martin Luther King’s day. If Reverend Wright, or Malcom X, or even Martin Luther King in his day drew thousands more they would have been branded evil or racists and nothing nice would have been said about them.
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Arianna Huffington: As a senator, Barack Obama spoke eloquently of Americans deciding that “their work, their possessions, their diversions, their sheer busyness, is not enough.” But the hunger for a larger purpose in public life remains unfulfilled. And the big turnout at Glenn Beck’s rally on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is more evidence of this unmet yearning. Beck delivered a speech noticeably devoid of partisan rhetoric — talking instead about values and morals and God and the power of individuals to change the world. In 2006, Obama warned that if progressives didn’t “reach out to evangelical Christians and other religious Americans and tell them what we stand for,” others would “fill the vacuum.” In 2010, the president’s stepping back from his promise to call us to a higher form of civic engagement means that a vacuum has been left during this historic moment of transition in America. Click here to read more.
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But Beck is white so the white controlled media gives him a pass. As long as some whites will listen to him, as long as he voices white america’s concerns, he is okay in the white controlled media’s eyes. Is there any wonder the Confederate flag still flies proudly?
White america is do a reminder that the rest of America have feelings too. Not today, because today they still have the majority, but their day will come. I live to see it.
Robert
August 31st, 2010 at 11:46 am
TOXIC CHEMICAL OVERLOAD — YOU, TOO?
Appalling as it has been to see the grand-scale toxic contamination resulting from the BP oil spill, in some ways it’s even more horrifying to consider that the sad truth of modern life is that we’re all soaking up dangerous chemicals all the time.
Studies show that the vast majority of us harbor traces or metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, bisphenol A, heavy metals and other hazardous substances in our bodies.
This toxic load contributes to a wide range of maladies ranging from “mere” confusion and fatigue to diabetes, lupus and cancer.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless in the face of information like this — but don’t. Most people can achieve real health benefits by incorporating detoxification into their health routines, said Walter J. Crinnion, ND, chair of the environmental medicine department at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in Scottsdale, Arizona, and author of the just-published Clean, Green & Lean, a book about getting healthy and slim by cleaning up your diet.
Dr. Crinnion’s suggestions for how to clean up your system aren’t extreme — you’ll barely notice you’re making an effort, but I bet you will take note of how much better you feel!
CONTAMINATED AT BIRTH
Toxic exposure begins in the womb and worsens over time as chemicals accumulate in your body.
A recent study detected 232 chemicals foreign to the human body in the umbilical cord blood of 10 newborn babies from the US! The Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization report that about 85,000 different chemicals are currently registered for use in manufacturing and 800 new ones are introduced each year, many of which have little or no data on toxicity.
According to Dr. Crinnion, toxic chemicals can attack three primary body systems:
Your immune system. By weakening your body’s defenses, toxic chemicals contribute to allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, chronic viral or fungal infections, chemical sensitivity, cancers, etc.
Your nervous system. Chemicals can affect mental function, leading to fatigue, confusion, poor concentration, memory disturbances, mood swings, anxiety, depression, headaches, nerve pain, balance problems, tremors, muscle weakness and more — even, potentially, Parkinson’s disease.
Your endocrine system. Damage to the hormonal system can potentially cause early puberty and reproductive difficulties, ongoing hormonal problems, diabetes, obesity and cancers, such as liver cancer and leukemia.
PURGE YOUR BODY OF TOXINS
To stimulate excretion of toxins, Dr. Crinnion recommends…
Drink three cups of unsweetened organic green tea daily — it’s rich in antioxidant polyphenols, which help flush the toxins from your body.
Eat organic brown rice several times a week — its fiber helps move toxins out in your stool. If you don’t like brown rice, take a rice bran fiber supplement.
Include more chlorophyll in your diet. Known as “nature’s cleanser,” chlorophyll neutralizes destructive chemical pollutants and prevents the build-up of toxins.
Good food sources include green, leafy vegetables… seaweed… and green drinks such as wheat grass juice “shots” available at health-food stores. Another option: Blue green algae supplements such as spirulina and chlorella, also available at health-food stores.
The less sugar you eat, the better. It suppresses your immune system and your liver’s ability to purge toxins.
Sweat it out. With your doctor’s okay, take a sauna (about 135°F) several times a week to release toxins in your sweat. Enhance your ability to detoxify by using a loofah to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores.
DO YOU NEED A DETOX EXPERT?
Dr. Crinnion suggests everyone should follow the above strategies — but if, after giving this detox lifestyle a try for two months, you still find that you are experiencing problems such as allergies, brain fog or fatigue, consult a physician who is knowledgeable about environmental toxins.
You can find a list of physicians who have studied with Dr. Crinnion at his Web site, http://www.CrinnionMedical.com/referral.php. A trained and experienced doctor will help you identify and eliminate toxic exposures and cleanse harmful chemicals from your body with a personalized program that may include diet, supplements (e.g., magnesium, vitamin B-6, selenium and glutathione), hydrotherapy and other strategies.
August 31st, 2010 at 11:50 am
BOOST ENERGY, CURE ALLERGIES AND GET HEALTHY BY PURGING TOXINS FROM YOUR LIFE
To assure good health, Dr. Crinnion advises also committing yourself to reducing your exposure to toxins.
Some of these are strategies that you’re familiar with, but they’re definitely worth a reminder… while others will almost certainly surprise you…
REDUCE YOUR CHEMICAL EXPOSURES
Don’t wear your outside shoes indoors. Along with the dirt and dust from outdoors comes residue from diesel auto exhaust, lead, pesticides and other toxins.
For floors, choose wood, tile and stone, which are less likely to harbor and generate toxins than carpets.
Keep your house clean, minimizing dust-collecting knickknacks so environmental toxins don’t have the chance to accumulate.
Filter, filter, filter. Filters should be changed every six weeks in homes with a central forced-air heating/cooling system. If you have a different type, consider installing a portable air-filter system. Filter your tap water, too.
Minimize use of products that contain harmful chemicals. Buy unscented, eco-friendly cleaners and laundry detergents.
Drink and serve food from glass containers — many plastic ones are made with toxic chemicals that can leach into your food.
DON’T EAT TOXINS
Organic fruits, vegetables and meats contain the fewest toxins. It’s especially important to buy organic apples, bell peppers, blueberries, celery, cherries, imported grapes, kale, collard greens, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, spinach and strawberries, as these in nonorganic form are most likely to be drenched in pesticides.
Generally less toxic produce (meaning it’s not as important to buy organic) includes asparagus, avocado, cabbage, cantaloupe, eggplant, grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi, mango, onions, pineapple, sweet corn, peas, sweet potato and watermelon.
Be picky about fish. Farmed fish can contain significant levels of toxic PCBs, chemicals that can wreak havoc with your health, so eat only wild salmon and other varieties.
(This rules out most of what’s sold in restaurants and supermarkets.) Avoid fish with a high mercury content, including swordfish, shark, tuna and orange roughy — check http://www.ewg.org/safefishlist to see what’s safe to eat and what’s not.
Buy organic butter. Nonorganic butter can be high in PCBs!
By minimizing exposure to toxins and supporting your body’s innate healing processes, you can gradually take control of toxins and restore your health.
In just weeks, expect increased energy, less brain fog and fewer allergy symptoms such as congestion. Over time, if you keep up the good work, it will only get better.
Source(s):
Walter J. Crinnion, ND, professor of naturopathic medicine and chair of the environmental medicine department, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Crinnion has been in practice since 1982 with a special focus on treating chronic diseases that are caused by environmental toxins. He is author of Clean, Green & Lean (Wiley). More information is available at http://www.CrinnionMedical.com.
September 1st, 2010 at 7:19 am
Hafa adai
Peter what’s your take on the Calvos’ trying to move this case to California?
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GUAM – Right here on Guam and nowhere else.
Local Attorney David Lujan and his wife have filed an opposition aiming to block the Calvo and Clark law firm from moving a specific case to California.
That’s where ‘Champ’ Calvo of Calvo and Clark wants to take it. The case against Calvo and Clark is about the law firm’s alleged unjust enrichment, breach of contract and fraud when Lujan and his wife were their clients.
According to today’s filing, there is no reason to litigate this case anywhere but on Guam.
All parties to the case are Guam residents, both Calvo and Lujan’s law practices are on Guam, the contract for Calvo’s representation was negotiated and signed on Guam. And all of the legal bills generated by Calvo and Clark included Guam’s gross receipts tax and were billed in accordance with Guam law.
Lujan feels the case should be scrutinzed by the Guam courts.
Guam News Watch will bring you more as this story develops.
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Inez
September 1st, 2010 at 8:01 am
Tonight marks the end of the American combat mission in Iraq.
As a candidate for this office, I pledged to end this war responsibly. And, as President, that is what I am doing.
Since I became Commander-in-Chief, we’ve brought home nearly 100,000 U.S. troops. We’ve closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of our bases.
As Operation Iraqi Freedom ends, our commitment to a sovereign, stable, and self-reliant Iraq continues. Under Operation New Dawn, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain to advise and assist Iraqi forces, protect our civilians on the ground, and pursue targeted counterterrorism efforts.
By the end of next year, consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, these men and women, too, will come home.
Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest — it is in our own. Our nation has paid a huge price to put Iraq’s future in the hands of its people. We have sent our men and women in uniform to make enormous sacrifices. We have spent vast resources abroad in the face of several years of recession at home.
We have met our responsibility through the courage and resolve of our women and men in uniform.
In seven years, they confronted a mission as challenging and as complex as any our military has ever been asked to face.
Nearly 1.5 million Americans put their lives on the line. Many returned for multiple tours of duty, far from their loved ones who bore a heroic burden of their own. And most painfully, more than 4,400 Americans have given their lives, fighting for people they never knew, for values that have defined our people for more than two centuries.
What their country asked of them was not small. And what they sacrificed was not easy.
For that, each and every American owes them our heartfelt thanks.
Our promise to them — to each woman or man who has donned our colors — is that our country will serve them as faithfully as they have served us. We have already made the largest increase in funding for veterans in decades. So long as I am President, I will do whatever it takes to fulfill that sacred trust.
Tonight, we mark a milestone in our nation’s history. Even at a time of great uncertainty for so many Americans, this day and our brave troops remind us that our future is in our own hands and that our best days lie ahead.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
September 1st, 2010 at 10:18 am
[...] Fred: I was quite busy; it happens sometimes :) And yes, I look forward to it too. Thanks for saying so. [...]