Until the early 1930s, the only day of rest in America was typically the Sabbath (for Christians Sunday, for Jews Saturday).  During the Depression there was a demand for “sharing the work,” which resulted in codes of fair competition, which created the 40-hour, 5-day work week.  These codes were adopted in the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933.  This act was later deemed unconstitutional, but the practice remained.  In 1938 the Fair Labor Standards Act renewed the 40-hour week’s basis in law by stipulating that hours worked in excess of 40 were to be compensated at one and one-half times the normal rate.

Now I finally understand the lyrics of that one song…  “Everybody’s working for the weekend (thanks to the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, which, although unconstitutional, created the weekend that we are working for)!”

It’s in parentheses because only the background singers sing it.

This one comes up a lot in conversation around me.  Apparently, I am extremely territorial and materialistic.

A copyright is a form of protection given to authors for their original literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and/or other published or unpublished intellectual works.  The 1976 Copyright Act gives the author exclusive rights to the copyrighted work.  A copyright only protects forms of expression.  For example, a description of an invention can be copyrighted but it only protects other people from copying the description.  It would not give protection to the invention itself.

A trademark is a form of protection for a word, name, or symbol used to indicate a source of a good and to distinguish the actual product from others.  Trademarks prevent others from using similar symbols or logos, but do not prevent others from making the same product.

A patent gives the inventor a property right to his invention.  In the US, a typical patent lasts 20 years, and prohibits anyone from replicating, using, or selling the invention in the US.

This website is copyrighted to prevent others from using my posts to get rich.  Because if it wasn’t copyrighted, people would definitely be getting rich off this.  I know I am.

No, I’m not.  But suing someone over copyright infringement may lead to money.  Fingers crossed!

The 2-dollar bill was discontinued in 1966, but reintroduced 10 years later as a part of the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations (WOOHOO!!!!!…).  Currently, the usage of $2 bills is increasing.  For instance, strip clubs will hand out $2’s for change instead of singles, so the strippers get mo’ money.  I think most people I know have a $2 bill.  Either your grandma gave you one.  Or you are a grandma waiting to give your grandson one.  Or you are a stripper.   I really hope you are not both a grandma and a stripper… so does that 2 dollar bill.