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Invention Mysteries
TM
Self-syndicated
weekly newspaper column |
Necessity is NOT always
the
mother of invention
By Paul
Niemann
"It is really through her that I
have become competent in the subject (of relativity)."
-- Albert
Einstein, speaking of Emmy Noether |
[APRIL
3, 2003]
Who is Emmy Noether, you ask? She's the woman who devised the
mathematical principle called Noether's theorem, which helped form
the basis of quantum physics. Einstein formulated his general theory
of relativity based upon her calculations.
|
Ladies, you're going to love this article … and guys, in this
article you might learn a thing or two about the fairer sex as well.
We'll take a look at the importance of female inventors, including
the ways in which they're different from male inventors and how
they're similar.
First, consider these lopsided statistics about women inventors:
--In 1890, less than 1 percent of U.S. patents were issued to
women.
--There have been over 300 recipients of the Nobel Prize in the
sciences in its 102-year history (one award is presented annually
each for chemistry, physics and medicine). Only 10 recipients --
about 3 percent -- have been women. Marie Curie was the first
woman to win the Nobel Prize in physics.
--In 2002, only 15 percent of the 100,000 utility patents issued
to independent inventors that year were issued to women.
This last stat reflects a dramatic improvement over the last
hundred years. This is based partially on the fact that during parts
of the 1800s, women were not allowed to own property -- including
patents -- once they got married. There were other factors that
contributed to this disparity as well. Fewer women than men went to
college in the 1800s and early 1900s, and women, to this day, face
the stereotype that they are not inventors, even though this is
constantly being proven to not be true.
There is no evidence to suggest that men are better inventors
than women. In fact, just the opposite may be true, as women have a
higher percentage of SUCCESSFUL patents than men do. By success, I
mean that the patent produced a profit for the inventor. Why is
this?
One possible reason, according to Joanne Hayes-Rines, who has
been the editor of Inventors' Digest
magazine since 1987, is that women tend to be better at marketing their
inventions and in working with others. "Women inventors succeed more
at getting their products to market because they're more practical,
they define the need better, and they package it better than men.
They see the big picture better," says Hayes-Rines.
[to top of second column in
this article]
|
Whether you agree or disagree with her, there aren't too many
people who have more experience working with inventors than Hayes-Rines,
as she has made herself into an expert on the subject of inventions.
It's hard to tell who in her family knows more about inventions,
because her husband, Bob Rines, is a successful patent attorney and
inventor himself. He founded the Franklin Pierce Law Center and is a
noted expert on the mystery of the Loch Ness monster. He's
well-known for developing the sonar that led to the creation of the
technology used in sonograms and the technology that was used to
discover the Titanic and to hunt for Nessie.
One thing that female inventors have in common with male
inventors is that they both create solutions to problems. Having
worked with inventors for the past five years myself, I've noticed
that people tend to invent products in the industries in which they
work -- their areas of expertise. Among women, nurses invent
products that help them provide better care for their patients,
stay-at-home moms invent products that help them raise their kids
better, and female hair stylists tend to invent products that
pertain to hair. Among men, mechanics invent new tools, carpenters
invent new construction-related products, and coaches invent new
products to help their athletes perform better.
Albert Einstein was impressed with the contributions made by
women inventors, and I think you should be impressed, too.
In next week's column, we showcase three well-known products that
you might not know were invented by women.
[Paul
Niemann]
Paul Niemann is a contributing author to Inventors' Digest
magazine, and he also runs MarketLaunchers.com, helping people in
the marketing of their new product ideas. He can be reached at
niemann7@aol.com.
Last week's
column in LDN:
"We might have lost World War II
if not for this little-known 'invention'"
|
|
Local organizations support
city and county tax increases
[MARCH
28, 2003]
Expressing a commitment to
the future of Lincoln and Logan County, local organizations have
announced their endorsement of two tax measures on the April 1
ballot.
|
The Logan County Farm Bureau, the
Lincoln/Logan Chamber of Commerce and the Logan County Regional
Planning Commission support the Logan County economic development
tax. They also favor the one-half percent increase (from 6.25
percent to 6.75 percent) in the Lincoln
sales tax for infrastructure improvements to benefit economic
development.
Logan
County Economic Development tax
"Lincoln and Logan County need new jobs
which can be created by business expansion and the attraction of new
businesses," said Jim Drew, Logan County Farm Bureau Executive
Director. "These jobs are necessary for many residents, including
farm families who often find that family members need to bring in
income from non-farm jobs," he said.
According to Dale Voyles, chairman of
Logan County Board, "The economic development tax will be used for
salaries and promoting economic development."
"If we don't bring in new business to
share the tax burden, it will rest on the shoulders of the
residents," said Bob Pharis, Farm Bureau board member. "The one
thing we know for sure, if Lincoln and Logan County does not
encourage growth and new business, taxes for all residents will
increase to cover increased cost of services needed."
[to top of second column in
this article] |
"These taxes are an investment in
the future of our community," said Bobbi Abbott, executive
director of the chamber. "They will provide the means to
expand opportunities for growth."
Lincoln
sales tax
"A 'yes' vote for the city of Lincoln
sales tax increase will assist our city in accomplishing much-needed
infrastructure projects which won't be realized anytime soon if the
tax increase is not approved," said Mayor Beth Davis.
"Logan
County communities will be paying tribute to the past 150 years with
sesquicentennial celebrations," said Abbott. "At the same time, we
need to focus on our future by voting 'yes' to the tax proposals on
April 1."
[Sponsored by the
Lincoln/Logan Chamber of Commerce and the Logan County Farm Bureau
in support of a Lincoln and Logan County tax increase]
|
|
New and used book
store
opens on square
[MARCH
27, 2003]
Now & Then Books, which
stocks a mix of new and used paperbacks and hardbacks, is open for
business at 107 S. Kickapoo, next door to The Treasure Chest in the
Griesheim Building.
|
"I guess you have to love reading first
of all," said co-owner Venetia Shaffer in explaining why her family
went into the book-selling business. "Half the fun is buying the
books to put in the store."
With husband Paul and son Philip,
Shaffer opened the business on Feb. 17. She and Philip run it during
the week. Paul, who has been a consultant for State Farm Insurance
almost two years, works with Venetia on weekends. Daughter Sarah,
14, a high school freshman, completes the family. Eventually, plans
are for Philip to run the store almost exclusively.
Hours for Now & Then Books are 10 a.m.
to 5 or 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. A hand-lettered sign in the
window reads, "If the light's on, come on in." Other notices promote
instructional books for spring projects and "Coming soon: Handmade
hemp bracelets/chokers. Made to order."
The store currently stocks
approximately 8,000 books arranged by subject matter and sometimes
by format. Children's books are in the front of the store. Other
sections feature history, horror, fiction, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy,
romance, humor, psychology/sociology, action, Westerns, crafts and
New Age. A few music CDs are also in stock. Because of shelf size,
larger books are placed in special sections or on top of shelving
units. A former changing room at the rear of the store houses
hardback fiction.
New books comprise about 10 percent of
the current stock. Venetia Shaffer said she plans to increase that
percentage. "I'm finding they're the ones that are going out the
door," she explained.
The majority of paperbacks and many of
the hardbacks are offered at half price. It all depends on what the
Shaffers have to pay. They buy from a variety of sources, such as
wholesalers and auctions. "Anyplace that sells books," Venetia
Shaffer commented. "If we can get them at a reasonable price, we buy
them." She said she has accepted a few books on consignment and
would consider more.
The Shaffers' first stock came from
wholesalers in Oregon and Maryland. At that time they bought books
by the pallet but sometimes found they had half a dozen copies of
the same title. Now they hand pick to fill particular slots and
avoid duplicates.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
[Photos by Lynn Spellman]
Venetia Shaffer
The Shaffers entered the book business
about 10 years ago in Bedford, Pa. At that time they were operating
a bakery-delicatessen. Paul Shaffer got the idea of stocking books
along a long hall that led to the bathroom. Eventually, the books
sold better than the food, so the family closed the bakery-deli and
opened a bookstore.
After about three years in the book
business in Pennsylvania, the Shaffers moved to Brown Deer, Wis.,
near Milwaukee, and put their books in storage. When Paul moved to
Illinois to work for State Farm, they started to look for a place in
the area to live, checking out Bloomington, Normal and nearby towns.
Venetia said as soon as she saw Lincoln's courthouse square, she was
a goner. "I fell in love with the town," she exclaimed. "I don't
know why, but this reminds me of Mayberry."
Philip Shaffer graduated from high
school in Wisconsin in 2002, Sarah began at Lincoln Community High
School in the fall, and in January Venetia quit her job in Wisconsin
and moved permanently to Lincoln, glad to be done with the four-hour
commute. In January also the family rented 107 S. Kickapoo from
Harris & Harris and began moving in stock. It took a month and a
half to get set up.
The biggest sellers so far have been
small activity books for children, put out by Dover. These go for $1
apiece or five for $4. Instructional books have also sold well.
Venetia Shaffer said several types of books are particular targets
on buying trips. For example, craft books are a specialty, and she
is looking for more cookbooks. The family is also working on the
history collection but finds the books difficult to come by.
"Mystery is my husband's baby," Shaffer added, and he has amassed
quite a number.
Not all the 8,000 books in the store
are on display. Duplicates and some older volumes are warehoused at
the back.
All the
Shaffers are book lovers, and that is a major motivation for opening
a bookstore. Another is meeting people. Venetia Shaffer said that
she enjoys talking with customers and meeting new people in the
community.
[Lynn
Spellman]
|
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Announcements
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Honors
& Awards
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Leisinger honored
[APRIL
3, 2003]
James D. Leisinger, CFP™, a
senior financial advisor with American Express in Lincoln, has been
selected for the company’s Premier Club for his outstanding service
to clients in protection planning.
|
The Premier Club recognizes American
Express financial advisors who have consistently provided balance
for their clients through high-quality investment and protection
planning advice to clients within their practice. Leisinger is being
recognized for his service in the 2002 calendar year. He has been with American Express for 20 years.
His American
Express office is located in the Griesheim Building, 101½ S.
Kickapoo St. in Lincoln. |
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|
The
Chamber Report
|
Lincoln/Logan
County Chamber of Commerce
Bobbi
Abbott, Executive Director
303
S. Kickapoo St.
Lincoln,
IL 62656
(217)
735-2385
chamber@lincolnillinois.com
www.lincolnillinois.com
|
The
local chamber of commerce is a catalyst for community progress, bringing
business and professional people together to work for the common
good of Lincoln and Logan County.
|
|
Main
Street Corner News
|
Main
Street Lincoln
Cindy McLaughlin, Program Manager
303
S. Kickapoo
Lincoln,
IL 62656
|
Phone:
(217) 732-2929
Fax:
(217) 735-9205
E-mail:
manager@mainstreetlincoln.com |
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