Abstract: A human foot sole protecting apparatus is disclosed. Various embodiments provide a foot covering apparatus that guards and protects the soles of the human feet from the elements, debris, adversities of the environment, ground textures, temperature and the like. Moreover, the sole protecting apparatus enables consumers to enjoy the freedom of being barefoot with the security of having a protective barrier between the soles of their feet and the elements/debris on the ground.

Abstract: A method for managing a stored digital asset on one or more computers independently of a plurality of media sources. The digital asset includes a plurality of characteristics including at least one alterable characteristic, and includes one or more of a virtual character, virtual property, or a game asset. The method includes sending at least a first portion of the digital asset data to one or more of the media sources including at least one characteristic, whereby performance of media by the one or more media sources is affected by the at least one characteristic, receiving data from the one or more media sources for altering the at least one alterable characteristic, and altering the at least one alterable characteristic in the stored digital asset based on the received data.

Abstract: A method for managing a stored digital asset on one or more computers independently of a plurality of media sources. The digital asset includes a plurality of characteristics including at least one alterable characteristic, and includes one or more of a virtual character, virtual property, or a game asset. The method includes sending at least a first portion of the digital asset data to one or more of the media sources including at least one characteristic, whereby performance of media by the one or more media sources is affected by the at least one characteristic, receiving data from the one or more media sources for altering the at least one alterable characteristic, and altering the at least one alterable characteristic in the stored digital asset based on the received data.

Abstract: A base (108) for supporting a pole puller (110) utilized to manipulate a pole (186) includes first and second bearing arms (112, 114) configured to rest on a surface (60) with the pole (186) located between the first and second bearing arms (112, 114). A cross member (128) interconnects the first and second bearing arms (112, 114) and a housing (138) extends from the cross member (128) into which the pole puller (110) is seated. A flexible member (62) coupled to a ram (174) of the pole puller (110) encircles the pole (186). An upward force (72) is imposed on the flexible member (62) via the ram (174) to extract the pole (186) from a fixed, upright position in the ground (60). The support provided by the base (108) prevents the pole puller (110) from kicking into the ground as the upward force (72) is imposed.

Abstract: A writing instrument is provided in which assembling thereof can be finished by inserting a writing medium advancing mechanism into an outer barrel from the rear end side thereof, in which the outer appearance thereof is not injured and the assembling thereof is easy.A lead advancing mechanism 10 has a chuck 13 connected with a front portion of a front tank member 12a, a chuck ring 14 surrounding an outer surface of the chuck 13, a sleeve 15 disposed so as to be able to contact a rear end of the chuck ring 14, a chuck spring 16 interposed between the sleeve 15 and a front end of the front tank member 12b to force the front tank member 12b backward. The sleeve 15 is formed with engaging projections 15a and with slits 15b each of which surrounds three sides of each engaging projection 15a, respectively, in such a manner that a resilient engaging means 15c is constructed, which can be resilient in radial directions of the sleeve.