Aug 21 2009
On Betting, D-Day, Credit Cards and Newspapers
I hope you’re having a great weekend. Here are some of the search engine terms people used recently to visit Politics 2000.
delaware sports betting
The major North American professional sports leagues and the NCAA have filed a lawsuit against Delaware in hopes of stopping the state’s planned return to sports betting. The leagues think gambling brings a criminal element to their sports. They also fear a perception the events will be subject to bettors’ whims, rather than clean competition. Delaware believes legalizing something many people want to do–through the Internet, office pools, corner bookmakers or trips to Nevada–will generate revenue every state desperately needs. Regulating gambling, according to state officials, will also help curb the unsavory concerns feared by the leagues. The lawsuit is pending.
erepublik
eRepublik is a social simulation Web site. I’m not sure who referred me. The username, Ace Ventura, isn’t familiar to me. If you consider registering, look for my user name, Con Dingo. I’m living in Israel.
d-day commemoration 2009
The 65th anniversary of D-Day was emotional to watch. The efforts of the brave men who stormed the November beaches that day helped ensure the Axis powers would not be able to maintain their conquest of continental Europe. Perhaps Italy, Germany and Japan would have collapsed under their own weight. The Roman Empire fell so anything is possible. I think D-Day was the catalyst to make sure the fall happened sooner rather than later.
credit card reform law
Credit card companies are squeezing all the possible revenue from customers before new regulations take effect next year. Credit limits are being slashed. Interest rates are rising. Accounts are being closed due to lack of use. Even top-notch customers are struggling to deal with credit card companies. I hope things get better after the new law is in place.
california special election
California’s special election May 19 helped spark the budget debacle that lasted into the summer. The deal negotiated between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders fell apart after voters rejected five of the six initiatives on the ballot. Residents clearly wanted political leaders to make long-term solutions with their available resources. A budget was finally approved after warrants were issued for two months. State employees are not happy. Expect work stoppages and legal challenges to come.
seattle newspapers close
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ceased its print edition this spring. The newspaper is now a Web-only production. The print journalism industry remains in deep trouble as costs rise, circulation sinks and advertising plummets. Rupert Murdoch hopes to earn money by making his media Web sites–such as the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal–into pay sites. However, it’s clear that people will happily go the extra mile to find what they want for free. It’s hard to believe a pay-per-view news site will work.
Sunday, I’ll highlight some of my favorite posts from the past year. Until then, may you have a great Saturday.
