On this day in 79CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted, destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum. Nearly 2,000 years later, archeologists continue to make discoveries at the site.
Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash.
On the Lighter Side
September is National Mushroom Month. The annual Kennett Square Mushroom Festival is set for September 10-11.
Here’s a new incentive to take a road trip: North Carolina has introduced an Oyster Trail.
Another reason to travel (or maybe to stay home): Martha Stewart is opening a restaurant in Las Vegas, her first anywhere.
Apparently, it is not too early to think about next year’s Girl Scout cookie offerings, including the new Raspberry Rally, available only online in 2023.
Intellectual Property in the News
IP litigation continues to generate headlines. The U.S. District Court for the Federal Circuit has confirmed that AI systems cannot patent inventions. Google is suing Sonos again, this time for the alleged violation of a voice command patent. Meanwhile Harpo, which owns Oprah’s trademarks, has sued the podcast Oprahdemics for infringement, dilution, and other claims.
If you need help with financial advice concerning your IP, consider contacting Asterion.
FYI
Former judges in the Kids for Cash cases have been ordered to pay more than $200 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
Trends We’re Watching
Following the lead of several other states, Colorado is considering allowing licensed non-lawyers to handle family law matters.
What’s Puzzling Us
What’s up with pizza bowls? Isn’t the crust the best part?
What Doesn’t Surprise Us At All
Mariah Carey’s effort to claim a trademark as the Queen of Christmas is being challenged.
Thread Recommendations
White Ibis have moved into rookeries along the New Jersey shore.
Astronauts took photos of last week’s auroras from the International Space Station.
NASA has set August 29, 2022 as the pendinglaunch date for Artemis 1, the first step to establishing a long-term presence on the moon. The rocket will carry 120 pounds of extra cargo. Alternate launch dates are September 2 and September 5. NASA will livestream the launch.
Asterion Out and About
On Friday, August 19, 2022, Asterion Consultant Stephanie Hyland, ASA, CFE participated in a Family Law Roundtable as part of the NACVA/CTI Business Valuation and Financial Litigation Hybrid & Virtual Superconference. Discussion topics ranged from identifying the expert’s level of involvement in a case and determining the appropriate work product to describing often-observed analysis errors, as well as the do’s and don’ts of report writing and expert testimony.
Spotlight on Family LawAsterion, Inc. has extensive experience providing forensic, valuation and consulting services to family law attorneys and their clients.