In a message dated 97-03-13 23:09:54 EST, you write:

<<
 I've had enough warm feelings from the nice comments by people about my
 clock to more than make up for any lost millions. Really, I have a hard
 time thinking about patents. I pretty much think that there are so few new
 ideas that unless you have a huge staff and plenty of dollars to throw
 around, a patent is less useful than your average lottery ticket.

 The clock is cool because it pulls together lots of interesting details,
 but that makes it harder to patent. Just wait until I finish the code for
 the "simulated analog hands"! I've started on it. Is that patentable? I
 don't care.

 -Bob

 P.S. The address of my web server is still not resolving, and I finally
 tracked it down. The company that I get the connection from split into two
 companies, and somehow the wrong half got my internic registration, and
 cancelled it! I straightened it out today(I had to pay a second time) and
 it should work Friday or Monday. Until then, the number 208.199.97.202
 substituted for www.bobblick.com will get you in.

 http://www.bobblick.com/>>

Bob,
My feelings exactly!  Our lawyer advised us of the same thing when we went to
patent certain parts of our machine.  Our market is Asia and as such any
patents  we held would either be un-enforceable or too expensive to persue.

Cool project and keep it up.
I want to try my hand at that Sterling engine.  I am always looking for
things to amuse the kids.

Dave Duley
V.P. DreiTek Inc