I sent an angry letter to my congresswoman a while back and this afternoon received the reply. I don’t recall why exactly I sent the letter but at the time it had me pissed off I’m sure. I gathered from “her” response that it was regarding intellectual property laws of some kind but who the hell knows.

I enjoy the email back, for laughs if nothing else, but the typical political side-step hardly fills me with confidence. Oh well, not as if I could do any better, read on if you dare!

Thank you for emailing me regarding intellectual property licenses in federal government contracting. It is good to hear from you, and I apologize for the delay in my reply. As you know, government funded research and development (R&D) ranges from basic research in the sciences, mathematics, and biology to computer technology to military applications. Most funding is through grants, cooperative agreements and contracts. Under most circumstances, when the government funds R&D, it receives non-exclusive licenses to use the intellectual property while the contractor retains title and can use the intellectual property for commercial purposes.Some have proposed altering this R&D structure to allow companies to retain greater intellectual property rights. The House Government Reform Committee’s Technology and Procurement Policy Subcommittee held a hearing in May 2002 on the topic of Intellectual Property and Government R&D for Homeland Security. Information about that hearing can be found at: http://reform.house.gov/tapps/hearings.htm. I am skeptical about proposals to fundamentally change the current structure of federal R&D. I am a member of the House Judiciary Committee’s Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee, which has primary jurisdiction over intellectual property law. Rest assured, I will keep your views in mind should any legislation come before the House of Representatives or the Judiciary Committee.

Again, thank you for sharing your views. Your opinion matters to me. If I can be of service to you in any other way, please do not hesitate to let me know. Sincerely,

Tammy Baldwin

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin’s 2nd District

Wisconsin Office:
10 East Doty St., Suite 405
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-258-9800
Fax: 608-258-9808

Washington, DC Office:
1022 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2906
Fax: 202-225-6942

http://tammybaldwin.house.gov

So I was browsing Blues this morning and I came upon this doozy… Not for the faint of heart or people with > 5 brain cells.

ABC News is reporting that “U.S. Army Recruits Teens With Internet Game” that involves both “Simulated Sniping ” and “putting kids in the role of being shooters and snipers.”

Short response: Fuck you Mr. Thompson.
Long response: RAISE YOUR OWN FUCKING CHILD AND STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY COMPUTER. If you don’t want your child to play a game that by and large is one of the most interesting things to hit the FPS genre in years - fine, you do that. But don’t play this bullshit “I’m a father and that means my vote is > you” game.

Yes, America’s Army (AA) features true-to-life gun play and realistic warfare scenarios, including *gasp* BLOOD. Sweet Jesus Almight! Alert CNN…er ABC.

If you actually knew anything about AA you’d realize that at it’s core this “game” is nothing more than a recruitment tool for our ailing armed forces. The game treats you just like a new recruit with all the responsibilities therein. I for one am very happy to see the Army rolling with the times we live in and putting forth actual effort to introduce concepts like honor and responsibility. Oh, you mean Jacky boy forgot to mention that the game actually ENDS if you conduct yourself dishonorably? What a shocker.

You sir, are a douche.