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    <p>What Richard said.  So many layers to the incompetence.  <br>
    </p>
    <p>When I get ready to do a transition of a system (let's say
      writing new software to replace legacy software, to accompany the
      swap-out of underlying hardware) I spend about as much time
      devising a transition plan as I do on the actual work of doing the
      transition.  </p>
    <p>The transition plan might use a trick of running the two systems
      in parallel until I have arrived at a confidence level that the
      new system is working correctly in relevant respects.  Usually
      this is not actually possible to do, but sometimes it is possible
      to do it.<br>
    </p>
    <p>The transition plan often includes intermediate pause points at
      which I check to see if some particular sub-part is working as I
      had hoped, and if the answer is no, then I back off and do a
      restore to the way it was before the most recent change of that
      sub-part.<br>
    </p>
    <p>For writing of new software where a team is involved, one of the
      important steps will almost always be a walk-through talk-through
      by the entire team, walking and talking through the new code
      verbally.  The idea being that some team member might notice some
      mistake that was made by some other team member, a mistake that
      gets noticed before the new code is placed into production
      service.</p>
    <p>Where a team is involved, one of the important steps will almost
      always be a walk-through talk-through by the entire team, walking
      and talking through the transition plan verbally. This
      walk-through takes place some days in advance of the pushing of
      the "go" button for the transition.</p>
    <p>These things are tedious, tedious, tedious.  And it means that
      instead of saving money by cutting corners in the process, one
      must (heaven forbid) actually incur the cost and suck up the
      people-time of doing it right.</p>
    <p>But when these tedious things are carried out, one reduces
      greatly the risk of the entire thing going wrong in a big way that
      imposes bigger costs on whoever is affected by or uses the
      system.  So the overall cost of the transition works out to be
      less than what the overall cost would have been.  <br>
    </p>
    <p>But when these tedious things are carried out, on average there
      are far fewer bugs that need to be fixed later.  So the bug-fixing
      cost is reduced, on average.</p>
    <p><br>
    </p>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/12/2023 7:40 AM, Richard Schafer
      wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:SA1PR05MB7983254CE58F78C4A9D3FD5C8E8EA@SA1PR05MB7983.namprd05.prod.outlook.com">
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      <div class="WordSection1">
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Goudy Old Style",serif;color:#1F497D">Still
            broken today after three days of outage.
            <o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Goudy Old Style",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Goudy Old Style",serif;color:#1F497D">This
            is significant egg-on-face territory for the PTO and
            reinforces the opinion that the PTO’s IT department and
            their contractors are incompetent.
            <o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Goudy Old Style",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Goudy Old Style",serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span>
        <div>
          <div
style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
            <p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> E-trademarks
              <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com"><e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
              <b>On Behalf Of </b>Carl Oppedahl via E-trademarks<br>
              <b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, December 12, 2023 1:43 AM<br>
              <b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for
              laypersons to seek legal advice.
              <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com"><e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
              <b>Cc:</b> Carl Oppedahl <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:carl@oppedahl.com"><carl@oppedahl.com></a><br>
              <b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] Thanks for the six
              hours warning on Friday evening that I can't save my draft
              form...<o:p></o:p></p>
          </div>
        </div>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
        <p>Thank you for posting.<o:p></o:p></p>
        <div>
          <p class="MsoNormal">On 12/11/2023 12:35 PM, Tim Ackermann via
            E-trademarks wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
        </div>
        <blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
          <div>
            <p class="MsoNormal">Evidently, this is still broken -- you
              cannot save many of the TEAS forms. No ETA on repair.
              <o:p></o:p></p>
            <div>
              <p class="MsoNormal"><a
                  href="https://www.uspto.gov/blog/ebiz/"
                  moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">https://www.uspto.gov/blog/ebiz/</a><br
                  clear="all">
                <o:p></o:p></p>
              <div>
                <div>
                  <div>
                    <div>
                      <div>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                                      style="font-size:12.0pt">Tim
                                      Ackermann<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                                      style="font-size:12.0pt">The
                                      Ackermann Law Firm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                                </div>
                                <p><span
style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">E:  <a
                                      href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com"
                                      target="_blank"
                                      moz-do-not-send="true"
                                      class="moz-txt-link-freetext">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
                                    P:  817.305.0690<br>
                                    F:  214.453.0810<br>
                                    W: <a
                                      href="http://ackermannlaw.com"
                                      target="_blank"
                                      moz-do-not-send="true">ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
                                    O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100<br>
                                         Grapevine TX 76051</span><o:p></o:p></p>
                              </div>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                      </div>
                    </div>
                  </div>
                </div>
              </div>
              <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
            </div>
          </div>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
          <div>
            <div>
              <p class="MsoNormal">On Sat, Dec 9, 2023 at 3:10 PM Tim
                Ackermann <<a href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com"
                  moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a>>
                wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
            </div>
            <blockquote
style="border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in">
              <div>
                <div>
                  <div>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1B1B1B">Posted
                        at </span><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#444444"><a
href="https://www.uspto.gov/blog/ebiz/entry/planned-events941"
                          target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><b><span
                              style="color:#005EA2">06:24PM Dec 08, 2023</span></b></a></span><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1B1B1B"> in Planned
                        Events  | </span><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#444444"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </div>
                  <div>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#444444">Friday
                        Dec 08, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </div>
                  <div>
                    <p
style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:22.5pt">
                      <a name="m_-3019616059707130393_planned-events941"
                        moz-do-not-send="true"></a><span
style="font-size:17.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#333333">Planned
                        Events<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p
style="margin:0in;line-height:15.75pt;box-sizing:border-box"><b><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1B1B1B">Trademark
                          Electronic Application System (TEAS) Save
                          Feature Temporarily Disabled on Some Forms</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1B1B1B"> <br>
                        The USPTO will be updating the TEAS forms below
                        which requires us to disable the save feature on
                        those forms
                        <b>beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday</b>,
                        December 9 ET. An update will be posted on this
                        page once the save feature is restored.   You’ll
                        still be able to: <br>
                        <br>
                        <o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <ul type="disc">
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Save
                          certain forms, including initial applications <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Upload
                          data from previously saved forms <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Submit
                          all TEAS forms as usual <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                    </ul>
                    <p
style="margin:0in;line-height:15.75pt;box-sizing:border-box"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1B1B1B"> Saving
                        will be temporarily disabled on the following
                        forms: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <ul type="disc">
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Change
                          Address or Representation Form  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Combined
                          Declaration of Continued Use/Excusable Nonuse
                          and Incontestability under Sections 71 and
                          15  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Combined
                          Declaration of Use and Incontestability Under
                          Section 8 and 15   <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Combined
                          Declaration of Use and/or Excusable
                          Nonuse/Application for Renewal of Registration
                          of a Mark under Section 8 and 9  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Declaration
                          of Incontestability of a Mark under Section
                          15  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Declaration
                          of Use and Excusable Nonuse under Section 71  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Declaration
                          of Use and/or Excusable Nonuse of Mark in
                          Commerce Under Section 8  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Letter
                          of Protest  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Petition
                          for Expungement or Reexamination Form  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Petition
                          to Revive Abandoned Application - Failure to
                          File Timely Statement of Use or Extension
                          Request <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Petition
                          to Revive Abandoned Application - Failure to
                          Respond Timely to Office Action  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Petition
                          to the Director  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Post-Publication
                          Amendment  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Request
                          for Express Abandonment  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Request
                          for Extension of Time to File a Response  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Request
                          for Permission to Withdraw as Attorney of
                          Record    <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Request
                          for Reconsideration after Final Action  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Request
                          To Delete Section 1(b) Basis, Intent to Use   <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Response
                          to Office Action   <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Response
                          to Office Action for Post-Registration
                          Matters/Response to Office Action for
                          Post-Registration for Expungement or
                          Reexamination Form  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Response
                          to Suspension Inquiry or Letter of
                          Suspension  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Section
                          7 Request Form  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">SOU
                          Extension Request  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Trademark/Service
                          Mark Allegation of Use  <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                      <li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box">
                        <span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif">Voluntary
                          Amendment Not in Response to USPTO Office
                          Action/Letter Form   <o:p></o:p></span></li>
                    </ul>
                    <p
style="margin:0in;line-height:15.75pt;box-sizing:border-box"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1B1B1B"> Thank
                        you for your understanding. If you have
                        questions, email <a href="mailto:teas@uspto.gov"
                          target="_blank" title="mailto:teas@uspto.gov"
                          moz-do-not-send="true"><b><span
                              style="color:#005EA2">teas@uspto.gov</span></b></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p
style="margin:0in;line-height:15.75pt;box-sizing:border-box"><span
style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI",sans-serif;color:#1B1B1B"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
                  </div>
                </div>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><br clear="all">
                  <o:p></o:p></p>
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                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                                        style="font-size:12.0pt">Tim
                                        Ackermann<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>
                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                                        style="font-size:12.0pt">The
                                        Ackermann Law Firm<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <p><span
style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif">E:  <a
href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank"
                                        moz-do-not-send="true"
                                        class="moz-txt-link-freetext">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
                                      P:  817.305.0690<br>
                                      F:  214.453.0810<br>
                                      W: <a
                                        href="http://ackermannlaw.com"
                                        target="_blank"
                                        moz-do-not-send="true">ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
                                      O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100<br>
                                           Grapevine TX 76051</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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              </div>
            </blockquote>
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          <p class="MsoNormal"><br>
            <br>
            <o:p></o:p></p>
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