Therein lies one of the problems with software, patent law, and our judicial process: if the jury doesn't understand the underlying technologies, how can they possibly make an informed and responsible verdict?

I'd also be curious to see the results of an unbiased survey covering the public's awareness and understanding of patent trolls.

If only I could change careers and go into patent law... And help fight the good fight.

The current running poll on Senator Sanders' site is relevant to the NSA leaks: http://www.sanders.senate.gov/polls/

This is just an opinion because my personal experience with protesting is null, but isn't the strategy of protesting in hundreds of communities ineffective?

It's easy to ignore or contain 50-1000+ protesters [1][2] at some 600 locations (see Occupy Wall Street), whereas a centralized protest (maybe in DC?) of 70,000+[3] will hear their voices ringing across the world.

It's easy to feel like your working together and making a difference with someone across the globe, but really to be heard you need to work together,as a team, in close proximity. Change isn't easy.

[1] Wrong: http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2011/ows_gallery_121...

[2] Meh, street performers pull bigger crowds: http://media.syracuse.com/news/photo/10265946-large.jpg

[2] Here we go: http://wakingamericaup.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/i-have-a-...

You're probably correct, however starting off, if you start with say 10 people protesting on a local public street you may get 10 new people to notice you.

After a time you can double, triple, quadruple, etc. your numbers. Then go to DC with 70-100,000 and get attention.

After giving this more thought, I agree. Large demonstrations don't happen over night, and it's necessary to start somewhere and gain traction, with the ultimate goal of snowballing into a large centralized demonstration.

Maybe what's needed is an agenda that clearly works towards such a demonstration, one that's broken up into attainable goals/milestones. If demonstrators don't feel that they're continually making progress, they lose interest -- or maybe its hope that they lose. And at some point, you need strong leadership to reign in all the pieces.

I tend to agree. I thought protests were going to be focused in state capitals for that reason. Maybe I need to pay more attention :)

I should add that: I don't think this idea is bad, it's great! And I certainly appreciate the organizers making the effort and taking the time to do this. I just fear for this cause sharing the same fate as OWS.