Week 6: The Black market

In week 6, we watched a documentary on the world of illicit trade and the black market. We were then asked to give a description of what we saw and how we felt on the subject matter.

My thoughts on this are all over the place. It is quite astonishing how this market can generate 5 trillion dollars in revenue every year. From everything between the counterfeit of Prada merchandise and money, to the trade of people, weapons, illegal drugs and even pharmaceutical drugs.

This trade has its ups and downs. The ups, for one, it creates millions of jobs for people, like in China. It is rumored that 25 million people are employed in the recreation process of fashion merchandise. However, the downs of this market are when it comes into the trade and transport of dangerous material, like drugs and weapons. Everyone knows that the trade of drugs and weapons are especially bad, but how about the trade of these “knock-of” pharmaceutical drugs? People are buying cheaper pharmaceutical drugs online because of the save of embarrassment or price, only later to become serious ill or even die. It was said in the documentary that some of these drugs contain extremely piousness substances like led from the paint that they use to get the color of the drug right and in some cases even rat poison.

Week 3 - Questions

In week 3, we were asked to make questions to support our jeopardy game that we would be playing in the upcoming week. Here are a few of mine.

1) This term is generally described when the USPTO awards a patent to the applicant.

            - What is Allowance?

2) This term describes anyone who makes a creative contribution to the invention.

            - What is a Co-Inventor?

3) This is a phrase for patents on inventions that are combinations of prior existing inventions or technology.

            - What is a Combination Patent?

Week 4 - Jeopardy game

In week 3, we were asked to make a “jeopardy game”, where we were each individually tasked with making the answers and questions with terms and definitions in the first part of our patent and copy law book. The goal of this exercise was to help educate us with the massive amounts of information covered in this book.

I personally believe this exercise was a great way to help learn these terms. There are about 160 pages of pure definitions and trying to memorize each one by the midterm would be nearly impossible. So by doing this game, each person picked about 25 terms/definitions, then in week 4 we were asked to submit the assignment, so we could play it in class, and further our knowledge on these terms even more.

We split into teams of 5, where we worked together in a competitive struggle for points. This game intertwines competition, fun, and learning all into one exciting process, which I’m sure I will be using for future classes to privately study. 

Week 2

Today in class, we watched bits and pieces to the movie, “Erin Brockovich”. Where in this story, a lady (Erin Brockovich) goes to work for a law firm, where she starts off as a filing assistant. Then through hard work, determination, and going beyond her “call of duty” she digs up massive amounts of useful information on PG&E proving that they not only had dangerous chemicals in the water they were supplying people, but that they also knew about it, and lied about it.

The chemical in the water they were providing to people was known as Chromium-6.  “The chemical comes chiefly from industrial pollution – it's used for production of stainless steel, textile dyes, wood preservation, leather tanning and as an anti-corrosive” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/15/california-drinking-water_n_1777732.)

PG&E used this chemical as part of their water production process; subsequently, it caused many people to become ill with horrible diseases like cancer, consequently, leading to a massive lawsuit against the company.

“In 1996 PG&E settled the case for $333 million. This was the largest settlement ever awarded in a direct-action lawsuit in the history of the United States. The lawyers received forty percent, which was a little over $133 million. As in the film, attorney Ed Masry rewarded Erin Brockovich with a $2 million bonus. The more than 600 Hinkley plaintiffs, many of whom had become seriously ill, were in the end left with $196 million to be divided between them. On average, each victim received $300,000.” (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195685/faq#.2.1.4)

I believe the amount awarded seems fair, however I wonder if the amount that the firm kept (133 million) was too much. Yes I think the firm should be awarded for the work they did, but where is the line between greed and reward drawn?

My Voice

My name is Blaine Sullivan, I was born Jan. 3^rd 1991, in Las Vegas, Nevada. I went to Cimarron memorial High school, during which time I participated in football, baseball, track & field, and other activities. I always had a large passion for music; however, I never pursued mastering an instrument, as I was always busy with sports. Once I blew out my knee, I picked up the hobby of Disc jockeying; however, I knew that if I wanted to advance with my passion for this I would have to seek higher education in the musical production industry.

Upon graduation, I enlisted into the United States army in November of 2009, where after completing four months of basic, AIT, and airborne training, I was stationed with the 101^st airborne 2/502 infantry division. My plan, was to spend four years in the army; consequently, leading me to a free college education.

Once retiring from the army in January of 2012, due to medical issues gained while deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan, I enrolled into the Audio Production program here at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. This is my second quarter and I am very motivated and eager to lean everything I can about the musical industry and its counterparts.

While attending the school, I plan on learning multiple audio production soft wares; including, ProTools, Logic, and Ableton suite live. I understand the main Audio production course, focuses mainly on ProTools; however, I plan on absorbing as much online information that the school provides on the other two soft wares.

I believe this school will be a great foundation for my musical career, I am ready to start this new chapter in my life, and excited to get the Ball rolling. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.