The Road North from San Francisco to Mendocino Is Just Like Big Sur, Only Better
Go!
Bets on Oil Prices
Tyler Cowen summarizes a number of bets on energy prices. Cowen is buying an economy car next time around. T. Boon Pickens recently said that we’d see $70/barrel before $50.
The Road Not Taken
Sometimes, it pays to leave the Interstate for the Road Not Taken. Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County is well worth a visit. Life does not have to move at 100Mbps… Satellite view.
One of World’s Most Prolific Spammers Arrested
A Minnesota man considered one of the world’s most prolific e-mail spammers was indicted on more than a dozen federal charges related to the operation of his business, Xpress Pharmacy Direct.
The indictment against Christopher William Smith, 25, was unsealed Wednesday after he was arrested at his home in Prior Lake. Dr. Philip Mach, 47, of Franklin Park, N.J., and Bruce Jordan Lieberman, 45, from Farmingdale, N.Y., were also charged in the indictment, federal prosecutors said.
Slashdot discussion.
Senator Herb Kohl’s Re-Election Website Debut
We can hope for competition in the 2006 Senate race. Kohl has cast a number of anti-Wisconsin votes recently. Ideally, his opponent(s) will ask some questions. The usually reliable (for Herb Kohl) Capital Times recently criticized his support of the latest energy bill disaster. Joel McNally earlier asked why the Wisconsin Press gives Kohl a pass?
My own view is that after three terms, it is time for the good Senator to move on. He’s clearly become part of the club, with all of the trappings and required votes.
My favorite Kohl vote? “Present” on a large corporation tax giveaway. Why can’t the rest of us have a 5% tax rate?
www.herbkohl.com. WisPolitics announcement (PDF).
Isenberg: Predatory Pricing for Broadband in Utah?
In Utah, if you live in a UTOPIA (muni FTTH) city, you can get 10 megabit symmetrical Internet service for $40 a month. Or you can get Comcast Internet service for $29.95. If you don’t live in a UTOPIA city, Comcast Internet costs $45.95 a month. One thing is sure; Comcast can afford to lose money longer than UTOPIA.
More here.
BioBelt Could Be Wisconsin’s Future
BioBelt Could Be Wisconsin’s Future
By converting its energy-rich organic wastes into heat and electricity, Wisconsin could become the capital of the Midwestern BioBelt. That is the assessment of bioenergy experts who are planning the Renewable Energy from Organics Recycling conference at the Madison Marriott West from September 12 through September 14.
ATC on Armstrong’s 1999 Tour Blood Test
The French daily sports newspaper L’Equipe reported Tuesday that six urine samples taken from U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong during the 1999 Tour de France have recently tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug EPO, or erithropoietin. Armstrong won the Tour de France in 1999, the first of a record seven straight titles. Melissa Block talks to Charles Pelkey of the magazine Velo News.
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NYC: $212M on Surveillance Cameras
New York City is spending $212 million on surveillance technology: 1,000 video cameras and 3,000 motion sensors for the city’s subways, bridges, and tunnels.
Why? Why, given that cameras didn’t stop the London train bombings? Why, when there is no evidence that cameras are effectice at reducing either terrorism and crime, and every reason to believe that they are ineffective?
Costco Selling Health Insurance in California
Costco, the members-only discount retailer, is testing sales of individual health insurance policies. The pilot program launched last month in California. It targets mom-and-pop business owners, and those without a job or without job-provided health insurance.
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