Gromicko

link removed

The Certified Master Inspector 6,500-lumen flashlight with a yellow lens... yes I said 6,500 lumen.

http://www.inspectoroutlet.com/spectoscope.aspx

Already moot. InterNACHI made it go poof.

O.K. Thank you Mike. I'll wait.

No questions for me?

Any other questions for me? Something other than this patent topic?

If I'm ultimately the sole owner of the patents, this won't be an issue. Actually, the validity of the patents is not an issue at all. A specific, unique process can be patented. One of InterNACHI's full-time technical document translators is a patent attorney. She works for us. The patents are valid and have already been awarded. It's the defense costs to the individual inspector who has to prove in court that he/she isn't using the patented process that is the issue. Ask any E&O insurance company... defense costs, not claim merit, is the issue. Anyway, as a plan B, I've underwritten a defense fund should the steps I've already taken to protect members fail and another member gets sued. For the time being, this issue is resolved.

Any other questions for me?

I don't know. By the time a coalition forms, Home Safe may no longer own the patents. Although it's unlike InterNACHI to remain neutral in a fight... this whole thing is currently a non-issue for InterNACHI members.

Bill Loden writes: No, you broke the agreement with your press release. With the exception of taking the immediate action I told you I had to take to help my member (not yours) who had been sued personally, who had a home that was at risk, who publicly explained he could not financially afford to fight, who asked for my help, and who was required by the court to file a response quickly... I did nothing but work on my own IR patent application. I have experience writing standards (see www.nachi.org/comsop I am the lead author of that standard) and experience with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (I do all of InterNACHI's Trademark applications ). I am also in a uniquely strong position to author and apply for our own patent without risk of being accused of copying Home Safe's process, because I actually have never read their process and can testify under oath that I've never read it. You can imagine my surprise when you violated our "gentlemen's agreement" and put out an industry-wide press release regarding Home Safe that criticized me personally for helping my own member by having the suit withdrawn. Kurt posted your press release in his post #19 dated September 1, 2013, should you need to refresh your memory. You will note that in your post #97 Bill, you claim that I broke my word and unilaterally made a deal with HomeSafe (see your exact quote above). This is a lie. I did no such thing prior to ASHI putting out that press release referencing me. As evidence, you will note that ASHI's press release makes no mention of any such deal, because at the time, no such deal existed. You released me from our gentlemen's agreement when you breached it by unilaterally blasting out a press release to everyone. You gave me your word (which you admit to doing on this message board)... and then you immediately broke it big time with an industry-wide press release referencing me in an unflattering way. Until today, I made no public complaint of this. You brought it up, not me.

Any other questions for me?

I'm not sure which questions are for me. If you have a question for me, start the question with my name so that I know that I am to answer. I think this one is meant for me: Because there is no coalition and my attempts to form one failed. For example, I asked ASHI if they would help and they turned me down explaining that they couldn't even commit $1,000 toward it because they have a 21-member board of directors that has to approve everything. Both major manufacturers turned me down too. So, I had to go it alone.

Any other questions for me?

Scott Patterson asks: With regard to your first question, I took actions to accomplish three goals: The first was to have the lawsuit against the inspector withdrawn. I achieved that goal just in time on the morning the inspector's response was due to be filed. I believe I had 6 hours left before he could potentially have lost by default. The next concern was to protect my members from immediate subsequent lawsuits and legal threats. I was able to achieve that goal, at least for now. The last goal was to provide a safe haven for all inspectors, not just InterNACHI members. When Bill Louden first called me about this issue (he called me last month, I didn't call him), I promised him and Frank Lesh that I wouldn't leave ASHI members out on a limb and that I would try to find a way to provide this safe haven for ASHI members who use IR cameras as well as InterNACHI members. I kept my promise. As for your second question, I just don't see your premise about being "spiteful" as having any truth relative to the comments made on this message board and when held against this message board as a backdrop. If you search back through this message board you will find plenty of spiteful and disrespectful comments about InterNACHI and me personally. Let me support this contention without wasting too much of your time using the search button. Let's take the first 3 pages of this very thread as a small sample of the comments made about InterNACHI and me. I leave them to the individual readers of this thread to judge: Post #15: Post #16: Post #22: Post #24: Post #25: Post #26: Post #27: Post #28: Post #43: Post #45: Post #45: Post #50: Post #53: Post #53: Post #53: Post #53: Post #53: Post #53: Post #53: Post #53: Post #55: Post #56: Post #56: Post #57: Post #64: Post #65: Post #69: Post #69:

No sooner does Kurt throw down his "cut and run" insult... he ends up having to unexpectedly leave the forum for a week. That's the trouble with assuming I "cut and run" (Kurt's words, not mine) just because I couldn't get over here immediately. Sometimes other things in life take priority. Anyway, I'll return in a week to answer any questions. Thanks.

Yep. I accepted his challenge and his terms and he ran out of the ring. In a puff of smoke, Kurt was gone.

Agreed. Where is the thread? I'll answer any questions you have. Or have you "cut and run?"

Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore this thread. It looks as though we have drifted off topic. If you start a thread titled "Questions for InterNACHI" I promise to answer every one of them. Feel free to ask anything you want, even personal questions if you like. If you ask more than one question per post, number them please. If I don't have the answer, I'll find someone at InterNACHI who does.

Kurt, I take it from your reply that you have not successfully found what you said you "missed" in your post #50. Let me refresh your memory. Here was your question: And here was my reply: "Right column of www.nachi.org/education.htm 1,200+ governmental accreditations and approvals. Before you click on that link though... be prepared to scroll. LOL Kurt, I see that you are in Illinois. Click on this link: www.nachi.org/even-more-illinois-approv ... ourses.htm and again, scroll down." -- I have two reasons for suspecting that you failed to click on the links I provided. The first is that I couldn't help notice that you did not acknowledge that I satisfactorily answered your question with those links. The second is that you reflect on what appears to be a classroom-style course. Here is a segment of your post: This is perplexing to me as the two links I provided to answer your question about "CE's for the State" lead to a long list of state-approved online courses, not classroom courses that you would "ride back into the city" from as you say. Let me give them both to you again. The first link is to a list of courses with links to the governmental accreditations and approvals they have been awarded. Scroll down the right column to view. The second link is to a list of CE approvals awarded to InterNACHI by your state of Illinois. And again, scroll down after clicking on them: www.nachi.org/education.htm www.nachi.org/even-more-illinois-approv ... ourses.htm You mentioned "the presentation" and the "instructor." Our state-approved courses are online. InterNACHI's online course development often includes collaboration among many experts and inspectors from around the world. For example, it is not unusual for InterNACHI’s online courses to be the product of dozens of contributors. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by often lacking in international collaborative development. InterNACHI's online course developers can hire many experts to contribute to each course. Often, in online video courses, the instruction is presented by one or more renowned experts. In contrast, classroom instructors, though perhaps competent to teach a particular subject, are rarely international experts. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by denying renowned expertise instruction to inspectors and limiting them to a local pool of talent. InterNACHI's online courses often utilize more than one instructor, with more than one area of expertise. In contrast, most classroom courses are taught by only one instructor. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by limiting the number of expert instructors per course. InterNACHI's online courses are reviewed for accuracy before being released. Online courses are also subjected to industry-wide peer review forever. In contrast, classroom instruction is rarely reviewed by anyone. The author of this article personally knows of a physics professor who had been teaching the use of an incorrect formula for over 30 years before the error was caught. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by failing to correct misinformation given to inspectors in a timely fashion. InterNACHI's downloadable, printable online course material is reviewed, edited and improved over time. In contrast, classroom texts are less frequently updated. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being less able to provide inspectors with current course material. InterNACHI's online courses contain pictures and on-location video that permit the inspector to virtually accompany the instructors on inspections of many actual structures and components. In contrast, classroom courses can’t take inspectors into crawlspaces or on roofs. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by failing to provide inspectors with virtual, real-situation training. InterNACHI's online courses move at each inspector’s desired pace. Online courses can be stopped and re-started. Online video can be paused. In contrast, classroom courses move at only the instructor’s speed. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being unable to teach at each inspector’s own pace. InterNACHI's online courses are edited to cut out set-up time, off-topic discussions, bathroom breaks, lunchtime, etc. In contrast, classroom courses contain much wasted time. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by diluting the training time with things that don't increase inspector competence. You also mentioned: InterNACHI's online courses are available all the time, anytime, from anywhere. In contrast, classroom courses for the inspection industry are few and far between. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by limiting access to education for inspectors. InterNACHI's online courses are available all the time, anytime, from anywhere. In contrast, classroom courses for the inspection industry are few and far between. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by limiting access to education for inspectors. InterNACHI's online courses are available when each inspector wants to take them. In contrast, classroom courses have inflexible schedules that require inspectors to attend when it is inconvenient, when the inspector is ill, when the inspector is tired, etc. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by forcing inspectors to study and learn at a preset schedule. InterNACHI's online courses contain numerous short quizzes that assure the inspector has learned each section before moving on to the next. These quizzes are graded instantly, and often alert the inspector to incorrect answers immediately. Some even have built-in intelligence, which recognizes each inspector’s unique areas of weakness, and reviews those areas until the inspector grasps them. Classroom courses typically have fewer quizzes, without instant grading. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being less diligent about assuring that each inspector has learned and understands every concept being taught. InterNACHI's online courses permit inspectors to go back and review areas of weakness. For example, InterNACHI’s online video courses permit the inspector to rewind and replay them over and over. In contrast, classroom material is typically covered only once. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being unable to allow inspectors go back and repeat material to strengthen his/her particular areas of weakness. InterNACHI's online courses permit inspectors to take the course over again. In contrast, classroom courses are typically taken only once. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being all but impossible for inspectors to re-take over and over. InterNACHI's online courses contain quizzes and final exams that are graded instantly. Instant grading permits the inspector to be alerted to areas of weakness while still engaged in the course. In contrast, classroom courses typically don’t grade instantly. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being unable to instantly grade each quiz and exam. InterNACHI's online courses and quizzes are graded consistently over time and around the world. In contrast, classroom courses grade easier or harder, depending on where and when the inspector takes each course. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being unable to grade inspectors consistently. It is financially feasible to offer advanced courses online. An online course need be developed only once, yet can run for years. In contrast, classroom courses usually must be of an introductory nature to attract enough students to pay for an instructor each time it is offered. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being unable to financially sustain advanced course offerings. It is financially feasible to offer specialty courses online. An online course need be developed only once, yet can run for years. In contrast, classroom courses usually must have a common enough appeal of subject matter in order to attract enough students to pay for an instructor each time it is offered. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being unable to financially sustain specialty course offerings. InterNACHI's online courses offer inspectors a wide variety of choices in both level and subject matter. In contrast, classroom courses are fewer and farther between. Compared to online courses, classroom courses harm consumers by being less likely to offer the training inspectors need, when and where they need it. InterNACHI's online courses often provide an Internet forum for all current students, graduates, instructors, experts, developers and interested parties from around the world to interact with each other and discuss the course. These course-specific forums provide continuing education to inspectors long after completing the course. Classroom courses harm consumers by rarely providing such widespread, post-course interaction. In summary, InterNACHI's online courses allow inspectors to study and learn at little or no cost, without having to travel or lose business, when and where they want, with well-developed, accurate courses taught by experts, using updated course material, pictures and video, at their own pace and schedule, with the ability to review and repeat, and with the assurance they'll end up with a thorough understanding of the chosen topic. In response to your question about where our state-approved CE courses are, I posted links that lead to our many state-approved online courses, to which you responded with a post about a bad experience you had at some classroom presentation. Thank you. Your detailed recount of some instructor's live, classroom presentation supports my contention that the 1,200+ governmental accreditations and approvals that InterNACHI has been awarded for its online courses, without any help from a "lobbyist" are well deserved. And in case you missed that link again, here it is one more time: www.nachi.org/education.htm Don't forget to scroll down!

Right column of www.nachi.org/education.htm 1,200+ governmental accreditations and approvals. Before you click on that link though... be prepared to scroll. LOL Kurt, I see that you are in Illinois. Click on this link: http://www.nachi.org/even-more-illinois ... ourses.htm and again, scroll down.

www.nachi.org/benefits.htm has that effect on inspectors. Welcome. I see you are in Louisiana. You can now get all your Louisiana-approved continuing education online for free: http://www.nachi.org/lousiana-approved- ... ourses.htm

Here are a few of the membership benefits: www.nachi.org/benefits.htm Welcome.

Note my signature line.

I met with Home Safe and the other patent owners today. The lawsuit will be withdrawn tomorrow.