PublishAmerica guy invented hexadecimal abacus, qualified to work at Goldman Sachs

Lawrence A. Clopper III is not only co-founder and co-owner of PublishAmerica, a controversial vanity press based in Frederick, Maryland, he is also co-inventor of the hexadecimal abacus. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Clopper and a colleague were granted patent number US4812124 in March 1989 for inventing the hexadecimal abacus. Here’s the abstract from the USPTO:

Hexadecimal Abacus

This abacus is an accurate instrument that is capable of performing complex arithmetic functions in the hexadecimal number system. Primarily, it consists of a frame having a multiple number of rods extending through a cross bar member, and eight beads are provided below the cross bar and three beads are provided above the cross bar. The value of the beads above the bar is eight and the value of the beads below the bar is one.

Presumably, inventing this revolutionary financial instrument means Clopper is well-qualified to work at Goldman Sachs.