adelie's Profile

Things adelie is Tracking:

17 Bills

S.1957 Design Piracy Prohibition Act
- adelie : After reading the fashion design blog, I had some other thoughts: As mentioned in the article, it is easy to tell a knock off from the original. Is there really so many problems with this 'piracy' that people don't want the newest trendy thing because it looks like the knockoff everyone else wears? I don't think so. Trademark law protects designers and consumers from these plagiarized works by uniquely allowing them to mark them in a way that will distinguish them. People know and respect Prada for their innovative and classy designs, with their superior craftsmanship, and it can't be mistake for the $10 slave labor knockoff. If people are copying their trademark, then there is STRONG legal protection that already lasts forever. A 3 year 'special' copyright would distort the intended scope of copyright (USC 17 SEC 102), and set a bad precedent, despite the understandably good intentions of the CFDA.
- adelie : Is there any reason why this can't be an extension of patent law? It is important that the scope of copyright is maintained and that there continues to be clear rules between copyright and patent. If there is a concern for 'uniquely identifying a product or service' authenticity, use a trademark. That is what trademark law is for. Are they really going to try to argue that name branding hasn't a positive impact on the sale of high end fashion items? The law is already there to protect them. Vote NO!
H.R.2597 Sanctity of Life Act of 2007
- Anonymous : When are we born? Does it occur when the umbilical cord is cut? When we take or first breath of air? When the top of our head is exposed to air? When mother's water breaks? When labor starts and the mother begins to push the child out? When the fetus's lungs are strong enough that it is capable of surviving just fine without the umbilical cord? You can see this is not a closed issue, and it seems harsh to answer these questions based on the convenience of the mother.
- HermeS : You moron. Everytime you squirt in your sock you are slaughtering umpteen million spermatazoan-Americans by letting them dry out and suffocate.
H.R.1908 Patent Reform Act of 2007
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- Sparhawk2k : How is this one different from S.1145? The EFF seems to be in support of that one and they seem to be for individuals and innovation... Though they also have reservations about it and see it more as just a step in the right direction.
- twodox : While this bill does several useful things, and coordinates our patent policy with that of the rest of the world, as required by treaty, it has a major flaw. It skews the patent law in favor of the large corporations, and reduces the likelihood and size of infringement actions. Thus there will be little incentive for a major corporation to pay attention to a patent held by a smaller entity or individual. This will stifle the inventiveness that has made our country great - and has come primarily from individual inventors and small businesses.
H.R.1524 Artist-Museum Partnership Act
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- Anonymous : what I don't understand is how my congressman, charlie gonzales, can co-sponsor this bill and not co-sponsor a bill that provides health care for ALL americans. especially when 69% of his Hispanic constituents living in Bexar county are UNINSURED.
S.2248 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008
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- Anonymous : The telecoms always had immunity. Congress took the power to do the work from the government. Telecoms can't do this work for the government anymore because they will be sued when Congress changes it's mind again. The CEO will be fired for incompetence.
- aaron : If the NSA believes it needs to conduct extra-legal datamining to do its job it needs to take that concern through the appropriate judicial channels - such as the FISA court - in order to make that happen. "Lagging behind the enemy" may not appeal to you, but I think the idea that there needs to be some separation of powers between the various branches of government is also worth protecting.
S.1025 Fair Tax Act of 2007
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- tjbray : With the inclusion of exemptions, comes the inclusion of exploitation of exemptions... you're dreaming if you don't think that every chance an individual gets to cheat the system , he will. Those with the money to do so will have every possible exploitation discovered before the first register in the country rings SALE.
- adelie : In the last few decades, the world, and particularly the United States have become members of a world economy where businesses have subsidiaries anywhere they like. Despite the criticism, taxing income made sense 50+ years ago where depending on what you do, and how you make money, it can be taxed. This has worked its way to a tax code that is 3.4 million words, the longest US code title. As businesses try to save money for consumers, our tax system effectively tells these businesses, in a very complicated way, to move all the labor and profits to other countries. We can't blame corporations for being drivin by the forces of supply and demand, only ourselves for creating a tax system that is contributing to rising foreign investment, unemployment, and ultimately a recession in the US economy. Take that power and burden away from corporations and tax at the level that will give businesses to bring jobs to the United States, and make profits that will encourage domestic business investment. No More nightmare trying to figure things out before each April 15th, and encourage businesses to spend their money on innovation, not tax lawyers (How long would it take you to read 3.4 million words?)
H.R.1118 Drug Trafficking Elimination Act of 2007
- adelie : I think this is a great example of the dissonance between the government and democracy. I would bet anyone checking out this site knows the issues, but the most important I think people need to think about are that prohibition = black market. Further, there are people that use illicit drugs to self medicate, and we make criminals out of people that want help and can not afford it. And yes, this goes beyond 'Marijuana'. The video below is an interview with a teacher / psychologist that advocates for the safe ingestion of marijuana for the treatment of ADD versus the more dangerous and addictive drug Ritalin. http://youtube.com/watch?v=yj72e5q61Fs This video doesn't have anything I feel is very new, b ut combines some important points I believe most people could agree with to come to this conclusion: If the drug is safe, which all the evidence points to, it should be legalized. If it is dangerous, it MUST be legalized so we can have some control over what is obviously completly out of control. http://youtube.com/watch?v=9KLy150NR_U With respect to the other illicit drugs mentioned, legalization would get rid of 'dirty' drugs (people would at least get the drug they think they are getting), and it would destroy an entire black market for these drugs, not to mention the violence and abuse that it is associated with. In the UK and other countries, special clinics give away clean, high quality drugs to addicts under the supervision of a doctor to keep them off the street, kill the black market, ensure proper / safe(r) dosages, and have available to the addict the resources to change their habits in their own time; none of the things these people would have available in a crack house / heroin den. If people will do drugs despite legal or health consequences, do you want them in the streets around your children, or in a hospital where they can get help? Further, where would you like your tax money to go? A prison or a hospital? We can inexpensivly give help, or waste all our time and money continuing to call these people criminals. VOTE NO! And please try to encourage the drafting of the RIGHT legislation that will take care of our nations drug problem. Too many other countries have proven it can work, and now we just need to catch up.
- pnind9 : People, we need to stop going after people for using and selling marajuana. It's a waste of out time and resources. It's important that we start treating it as a different problem, or not a problem at all. It's less lethal, less destructive, and less addictive than alcohol.
S.760 Four Corners Television Access Act of 2007
- adelie : As best as I can tell, this is just extending existing infrastructure to accommodate technology in an appropriate and managed way. Unless I hear otherwise, this sounds like a good bill to support... though I can't see why it would necessary have any opposition.
- adelie : As best as I can tell, this is just extending existing infrastructure to accommodate technology in an appropriate and managed way. Unless I hear otherwise, this sounds like a good bill to support... though I can't see why it would necessarly have any opposition.
H.R.1964 Freedom of Choice Act
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- mistahtom : The choice of a woman to have an abortion or not needs to be preserved. Just because it is legal to have an abortion, doesn't mean that people will have them, solely because it is legal, as some people think. Attempting to make a decision harder for a woman by legislating your belief, especially in a higher power is a violation of human rights, because you are taking away the choice of a woman whether or not to have a child.
- TX22 : All these people think they are GOD. They think it is okay for a woman in America to kill an American child before they are born. Vote every one of these suckers out of office in Jesus name. Amen May GOD bless all of us, U. S. John Wieder
H.Res.314 H.Res.314
- adelie : I look forward to hearing what other people have to say about this. It looked like a back door for the **AA into our public school system, but the organization itself looks conservatively informative. Unfortunately I don't see how this wouldn't get twisted into 'We love big media' day. Rep. Robert Wexler [D, FL-19] Appears reasonable, but not seeing what the real impact of this bill would be make me wish to abstain from voting at present.
7 more bills

4 Senators

Sen. Clinton
- lindalipscomb : Sen. Clinton must remain focused on her work as a NY Senator. We now know what Obama means by "Change" - flip flopping on campaign financing. A commitment means nothing to Obama when he needs something else. So much for Change! Senator Clinton must get her goals through by working in the Senate, no matter who gets in in the white house.
- Anonymous : Senator Clinton: Please take up the fight for an unemployment insurance extension. I am a NY constituent who has exhausted my benefits. Please don't allow this to get bogged down or die in the Senate. Thousands of Americans are in need. Thank you.
Sen. McCain
- Anonymous : This is what happens Sen. McCain when the Government cuts off people's unemployment and when the economy is weak and there are no good paying jobs. Is this the vibrant American economy that I hear the Republicans talk about so much? Are these the benefits of Free Trade Agreements? L.A. seeing more people living out of their cars By CHRISTINA HOAG, Associated Press Writer Mon Jun 23, 2:48 PM ET LOS ANGELES - Having lost her job and her three-bedroom house, Darlene Knoll has joined the legions of downwardly mobile who are four wheels away from homelessness. She is living out of her shabby 1978 RV, and every night she has to look for a place to park where she won't get hassled by the cops or insulted by residents. "I'm not a piece of trash," the former home health-care aide said as she stroked one of five dogs in her cramped quarters parked in the waterfront community of Marina del Rey. Amid the foreclosure crisis and the shaky economy, some California cities are seeing an increase in the number of people living out of their cars, vans or RVs. Acting on complaints from homeowners, the Los Angeles City Council got tough earlier this year by forbidding nearly all overnight parking in residential neighborhoods such as South Brentwood. But some people are just crowding into other parts of the city, including the seaside community of Venice, where dozens of rusty, dilapidated campers can be seen lined up outside neat single-family homes. The stench of urine emanates from a few of the vehicles, and some residents say they have seen human waste left behind. "They're nasty and gnarly," said Venice resident Jeff Scharlin. "We've heard about drug dealing and prostitution in them. I've never seen it, but visually they're a blight and they take up parking space." In Los Angeles, as in many other cities, it is illegal to live in vehicles on public streets. But the law is not easy to enforce. Police have to enter a vehicle to find signs that people are living there, such as cooking or sleeping, and occupants often refuse to answer when cops knock. An easier way is to restrict overnight parking. In L.A., a first offense carries a $50 fine, and subsequent violations can cost as much as $100. Parking-enforcement officers often give vehicle owners a warning and tell them to move on before issuing a ticket, and that usually solves the problem, said Alan Willis, a city transportation engineer. But other cities in the area are not as lenient. "I had my motor home towed in Culver City. It cost me $500 to get it out," said Desiri Hawkins, who lives in a small RV in Venice. "I got ticketed in Santa Monica and had to go to court." Tourist states with temperate climates, such as California and Florida, have long been magnets for the homeless. Los Angeles is the nation's homelessness capital, with an estimated 73,000 people on the streets. A survey of 3,230 homeless people last year in Los Angeles County found nearly 7 percent living in vehicles, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. "It's trending toward an increase," said Michael Stoop, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. "People would rather live in a vehicle than wind up in a shelter, and you can't stay on a friend's couch forever." People living out of their cars or campers tend to be more well-off than the homeless on the street. They usually have jobs or disability checks that enable them to maintain an old camper but do not allow them to afford rent. "For more working-class and lower-middle-class people, the car is the first stop of being homeless, and sometimes it turns out to be a long stop," said Gary Blasi, a University of California, Los Angeles, law professor and activist on homeless issues. Some Venice residents are clamoring for overnight parking restrictions. But parking limits in oceanfront neighborhoods are problematic because the California Coastal Commission requires communities to accommodate surfers, fishermen and other early-morning beachgoers. "The complaints are getting louder and louder," said Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl. For years, some cities such as Santa Barbara, Calif., and Eugene, Ore., have accommodated people who live out of their vehicles. Activists in Venice are looking at some of those ideas. Santa Barbara, for example, allows vehicles to stay from 7 p.m to 7 a.m. in church and city parking lots. Knoll said she can barely afford to drive around with the rising price of gasoline eating away at the $950 monthly disability check she receives because of mental illness. She said she is also sick of police waking her up in the wee hours by pounding on her vehicle with their nightsticks, and she is tired of fighting with residents who call her "lowlife scum" and hurl other insults. "We need somewhere we can have a safe haven, where we won't be harassed," Knoll said as the wind from a passing car rocked her RV. "I never thought I'd be living like this, but I'm stuck. This is it for me."
- Anonymous : Fire Charlie Black and close the Enron loophole before there is anymore offshore drilling. Bring gas prices down for Americans. We all know you have the power to. Will you stand up to Big Oil?
Sen. Obama
- kjnelan : While I may not agree with your issues, thank you so much for giving us your reasons and needs rather than rhetoric and junk.
- kjnelan : A bill should be passed based on the merits of the bill and not as a tribute to ANYONE!!!!!!!! Boy... Talk about personal ignorance.
Sen. Snowe
- americausa : I have been out of work since November 2007. My unemployment benefits have run out. My money has run out. I unable to obtain employment and need more time to continue my search for employment. I am at risk of losing my car. Gas prices continue to rise daily. I am highly skilled in my field. My State Rhode Island is one of the hardest hit with unemployment. I am 53 old and have worked hard all my life. I've paid taxes all my life, and this is how my country is treating me. Unbelievable. The Senate, House and President continue to play games as peoples life's are put in jeopardy. Totally disgusting. So all the extra time that I am not spending on looking for employment, I will dedicate to making sure any politician that votes nay on not extending unemployment insurance will be out of a job their next term by informing the public of their decision in every forum available. I will encourage others to do so as well. It is time in this country for the people to take control of their government again and take it out of the hands of the uninformed, out of touch, uncompassionate, ignorant, greedy, self absorbed fools that are the true terrorists ruining this country. Pass a fxxkxxg bill extending unemployment benefits or you will be out of a fxxkxxg job!!!!!!!!!
- Anonymous : THANK YOU FOR HAVING A VOICE .. WE NEED AN UNEMPLOYMENT EXTESION.

2 Representatives

Rep. Hastert
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- adelie : According to CNET: "Democratic Representative Bill Foster won a special election [March 8th 2008] in the 14th Congressional District of Illinois. This was the district that former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert held from 1986-2007. Hastert stepped down in November of 2007." Read the rest of the article at: http://www.cnet.com/8301-13739_1-9892829-46.html?tag=more Where is data on Bill Foster?!
- lerichards : Lawrence E Richards 352-585-5466 7272 Landsdale St. Brooksville, FL. 34601 law_richards@yahoo.com Mar. 01, 08 Satellites used in Home surveillance No citizen is entirely without danger of being harmed by the U S Governments’ Space Satellite programs using high frequency energy, lasers. Similar to the surveillance used during the Viet Nam War, these units are able to penetrate just about anything, characterizing human bodies as they walk though their homes. There are very few places within a home that cannot be spied upon, depending on where the systems are directed–bathroom, kitchens, bedrooms, throughout the home, spying and doing their dastardly thing. Mobil ground units operating in an equivalent way are able to penetrate walls of buildings doing surveillance and harming Citizens. Much like satellites, ground units assault using multifrequency energies, lasers, directed by coordinators, causing damage to joint and nerve tissue of any part of a heat generating body. Seldom, if ever, individuals who are harmed realize what’s happening to them. Doctors will treat the inflection as a common ailment. The suffering may go on for years without the government ever stopping it, in some cases causing death. Fortunately, the incoming satellite and ground energies can be detected and identified, by using an effective barrier partitions. It's a trail and error in most cases, a matter of using barriers, checking to see if the pain continues. The End
Rep. Linder
- lerichards : Lawrence E Richards 352-585-5466 7272 Landsdale St. Brooksville, FL. 34601 law_richards@yahoo. Com Mar. 01, 08 Satellites used in Home surveillance No citizen is entirely without danger of being harmed by the U S Governments’ Space Satellite programs using high frequency energy, lasers. Similar to the surveillance used during the Viet Nam War, these units are able to penetrate just about anything, characterizing human bodies as they walk though their homes. There are very few places within a home that cannot be spied upon, depending on where the systems are directed–bathroom, kitchens, bedrooms, throughout the home, spying and doing their dastardly thing. Mobil ground units operating in an equivalent way are able to penetrate walls of buildings doing surveillance and harming Citizens. Much like satellites, ground units assault using multifrequency energies, lasers, directed by ground coordinators, causing damage to joint and nerve tissue of any part of a heat generating body. Seldom, if ever, individuals who are harmed realize what’s happening to them. Doctors will treat the inflection as a common ailment. The suffering may go on for years without the government ever stopping it, in some cases causing death. Fortunately, the incoming satellite and ground energies can be detected and identified, by using an effective barrier partitions. It's a trail and error in most cases, a matter of using barriers, checking to see if the pain continues. The End

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