StudioGlyphic

Super Tuesday 2008!

President: Barack Obama

Prop. 91: No

Prop. 92: No

Prop. 93: Yes

Props. 94-97: Yes

Measure R: No

Of course, I actually voted by absentee ballot about a week ago, so hopefully my vote’s already been tallied for my precinct.

Auto fleet averages are going up to 35 mpg by 2020 (25 mpg today) and standard light bulbs are being phased out in favor of fluorescents and LEDs.

Washington Post: President Bush Signs Energy Bill

President Bush on Wednesday signed into law legislation meant to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil by raising fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles, ordering a massive increase in the use of biofuels and phasing out sales of the ubiquitous incandescent light bulb popularized by Thomas Edison more than a century ago.

The bill, the product of a year of rhetoric, lobbying, veto threats and negotiations, won final approval yesterday in the House of Representatives on a 314 to 100 vote, and Bush moved quickly to make it official. At a signing ceremony, Bush said the bill would “address our vulnerabilities and dependence” on imported oil, saying that the bill offered the country a chance to cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and even reduce the likelihood of terrorist attacks.

Lawmakers said the energy bill will reduce America’s heavy reliance on imported oil and take a modest step toward slowing climate change by cutting about a quarter of the greenhouse-gas emissions that most scientists say the United States must eliminate by 2030 to do its share to avert the most dire effects of global warming.

I’d gladly switch my S2000 for an electric S2020.

Glasstrack sent along this story from yesterday’s LA Times:

DWP plan would give Valley a rate break

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has assembled a plan to charge many households in the San Fernando Valley lower rates for electricity during the summer compared with the rest of the city, on the grounds that those who live in a hotter climate deserve a break.

…

For example, Valley households would begin paying a higher rate for power once they have exceeded 1,000 kilowatt-hours on their bimonthly bills.

By comparison, households in the remainder of the city would begin paying a higher rate once they passed 700 kilowatt-hours on their bimonthly bills.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has backed the rate-restructuring plan, saying he sees no contradiction between the effort to encourage conservation and the extra consideration for the Valley.

“Their temperatures are so much more extreme, so you have to take that into account,” he said Monday. “It would be unfair otherwise.”

In other news, State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner held a joint press conference with representatives from AAA, Allstate, Geico, and State Farm insurance companies to announce that the major insurance companies would be adjusting their rate tables so that policies for Lamborghinis and Ferraris wouldn’t cost much more than a policy for a top-end Lexus.

“Their maintenance and other expenses are so much more extreme, so you have to take that into account,” he said Monday. “It would be unfair otherwise.”

In a separate press conference, State Controller John Chiang announced a plan to introduce a graduated tax collection system at the fuel pump. The high-tech solution would automatically reduce the state excise tax and sales tax by 50% after the 20th gallon has been pumped, and by 75% after the 30th. Primary beneficiaries of this plan would include drivers of the Ford Excursion.

“Their fuel consumption and average vehicle miles traveled are so much more extreme, so you have to take that into account,” he said Monday. “It would be unfair otherwise.”

I wrote a letter to my representative in the House. I modified the PPA template and sent it from the form on house.gov. I hope he doesn’t mind if I share our personal correspondence:

To the Honorable Henry Waxman,

As a voter in your district, I am writing to ask you to support and co-sponsor HR 2046 – the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007, sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

In 2006, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was introduced at the 11th hour as an amendment to the SAFE Port Act without debate on its merits. As no Congressional representative worth his or her political salt would vote against the SAFE Port Act, the UIGEA slipped through and was signed into law by Mr. Bush, effectively gutting the online gaming industry’s presence here in the United States. The methodology of the Republican leadership, and the blatant attempt to appeal to the conservative right-wing of its party, disgusted me and much of poker-playing America, regardless of political affiliation. It was seen as an assault on personal liberties by a minority’s definition of morality.

Now that the Democrats have gained control of both houses, there is an opportunity to correct the mistakes of the previous majority party in the form of HR 2046. If HR 2046 passes into law, online poker and other forms of gaming would become safe, secure, and regulated. The bill creates stringent licensing regulations for operators, so it will protect players from fraud and other risks.

The bill also has rigorous protections against illegal gambling, underage gambling, and compulsive gambling. However, the bill does not force any state to accept online gaming – it will simply allow any currently legal gaming to take place online. States and sports leagues can opt out completely if they wish.

Bringing online gaming under the supervision and regulation of the US government also creates great financial opportunties in terms of both tax revenues and licensing fees. As it is, the United States receives nothing of online gaming revenues. In fact, gaming revenues from Americans are going overseas to countries like Gibraltar, Antigua, and Bermuda.

Tax revenues and global trade issues aside, online gaming represents high growth, high-paying jobs. As a leader in technology, California would benefit disproportionately from the legalization and regulation of online gaming. This $13b high-tech, cutting edge industry needs software developers, network engineers, marketing managers, sales representatives–the whole gamut. It is a fact that one such software development house moved its Westwood headquarters overseas due to the uncertain and increasingly risky business climate within our borders. We need those jobs and the money they inject into the local economy.

I hope you will agree with me on the importance of passing HR 2046 into law and help Rep. Frank by co-sponsoring and supporting this bill. I look forward to your actions on this matter.

Sincerely,
glyphic

I also sent him my affiliate links for PokerStars and FullTilt. Sorry, Mr. Waxman, but no rakeback for you.

Just received this today from the Poker Player’s Alliance:

Dear Fellow PPA Member:

I have wonderful news to report! On Thursday, April 26, Rep. Barney Frank introduced HR 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act of 2007. HR 2046 will lift the prohibition on playing poker online. Your efforts are making a difference!

Representative Frank is the Chairman of the important House Financial Services Committee. And he understands the injustice that we have suffered. When he introduced the bill, he told reporters that “The existing legislation is an inappropriate interference on the personal freedom of Americans and this interference should be undone”.

But he can’t do this job alone. Now, we need to help Congressman Frank build support for his bill.

You can regain your right to enjoy safe, secure online poker – but only if you stand up for your rights. And PPA is here to help you do just that.

This is a landmark day for freedom. But it is only the first step of the process. Join me in celebrating this milestone – and take action to build support for HR 2046.

Click here or below to make your voice heard in our nation’s Capitol.

Sincerely,
Michael Bolcerek
President
Poker Players Alliance

Please take a few minutes to write your Congressman using the form provided by the PPA above. Even a douchebag Congressman will do the right thing if he knows his constituents are watching.

Hu’s on First? starring President Bush and Secretary Rice…

More Videos

Humanity Lobotomy, a short advocacy piece on net neutrality:

Created by Four Eyed Monsters.

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

Democrats have taken back the House and the coming days (weeks?) will tell us if they manage to eke out a Senate victory. Still, it’s troubling to think that this was all they managed to do while facing the best of circumstances. Where are the leaders among the Democrats who can orchestrate and deliver decisive victories for progressive causes? I can only hope that their successes tonight embolden the Party. For fuck’s sake, give people a reason to vote for you and not just against the other guy!

I was listening to NPR this morning when I heard this gem of an interview with a Republican congressman: GOP’s Reynolds Doubts Anti-Incumbent Mood. He basically shunts responsibility for the war over to the President and the generals, then gets really pissy when the reporter presses him on the issue.

Jesus Camp

More Videos

I shudder.