In the State of Washington. This is worrisome.

The new law echoes a federal law that already makes Internet gambling illegal and upped the crime to a felony.

The Poker Players Alliance is a non-profit Las Vegas-based lobbying group that formed a few months ago with the primary purpose of combating an online betting ban under way in Congress. It is gaining membership and some measure of respect. They keep their members informed on the latest news concerning legislation that affects online poker. If you play poker online they need your support to help with the lobbying efforts to fight the ban on Internet Poker.

Rick Day, director of the Washington State Gambling Commission, said most people don't need to worry. The state isn't out to get gambling aficionados who blog about casinos or post tips on how to beat the dealer at blackjack, he said.

But he said links or references to online gambling conceivably could spell trouble for Web site owners[emphasis me].

One fellow whose website only reviewed online gambling sites has already shut down. There was never any betting at his site.

Posted by: LauraW. at 08:03 AM | Comments (23)
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Dear Internet Friends, Readers, Commenters, and Blogospheric Warriors:

Today is Sunday, a day that is traditionally reserved for rest, religious observances, or simple quiet contemplation. It is in that spirit that I come to you today to ask for your indulgence.

For you see, I am concerned about the amount of bitterness and bile that seemingly has become much more prevalent in recent days. We have already seen it begin to take its toll. For example, our host at this site has announced that, in the lag time between all of his future posts, he has quit blogging altogether. Can we afford to let good people be driven out of the game by such an acrimonious atmosphere? If you are like me, you can answer this question in only one way; with a resounding "No!".

Now, I know what you are thinking. "Jack M.", you are saying to yourselves, "what can we possibly do to clean up the atmosphere on the Intertubes?"

The answer my friends is simple: rather than focus on the negative, spend your time dwelling on the positive! After all you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. At least I think that's how that gay thing my Grandmother used to say goes.

OK. See, how pervasive this whole "attack dog" mood in the blogosphere has become? I just did it myself. I took a perfectly nice platitude and demeaned it as "gay" for no apparent reason. As you can tell, I need to start taking my own advice. So I will. Change that last sentence to "At least I think that's how that thing my Grandmother used to say goes, not that there is anything wrong with that." See, much better. Much more civil.

Now, as proven by my personal example, withdrawing from the bitter pools of snark and bile may not be easy. That is why I come to you with some starter tips. Consider the information presented after the jump to be your starting point for dealing with bloggers or commenters who get under your skin. Just remember, the goal is to focus on the positive. more...

Posted by: Ace at 06:27 AM | Comments (112)
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Something Ace has neglected to tell all you nice folks... more...

Posted by: Ace at 05:59 AM | Comments (24)
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It's hot outside, I think I'll watch racing on the tube.
Formula 1 on Speed at 8:00 am (repeats at 12:30 pm).
Rolex Sports Car Series on Speed at 3:00 pm.
Champ Car on NBC at 3:30 pm.
Indy Car on ABC at 3:30 pm. All times Eastern.

Here's a lap of Le Mans from 1995 in a McLaren F1.
God Bless Youtube.

Posted by: Ace at 05:06 AM | Comments (12)
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In an act of shameless promotionalism, I link to my own site. Why? Well, this stuff is a little geeky, and I got a little long winded.

But Ace had a good series on the Big Dig a few weeks ago, and it bears discussion. Especially in light of this new article. Project management is not my thing, really, although I've done quite a bit of it. But it is appalling to me that the standards for big projects have just slid into the ditch. Can you imagine what would have happened to the Mercury program if these jack asses were running it.

In spite of what I said at my blog, there is clearly a way to run big projects and to make them work. What's different now than 50 years ago? What ingredient is missing? Is it enough to just say "Welfare State", "Socialist", and "Public Education"? Or is there more to it?

Posted by: Ace at 08:32 PM | Comments (13)
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I'm askin' myself, how much country music has been featured at AOSHQ?

None. That's how much.

I'm going to fix that.

UPDATE: Yes, I've been hitting the Jack again.

UPDATE 2: BTW, Ace, we pwned your average Saturday traffic numbers.

Posted by: Ace at 08:18 PM | Comments (35)
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Oh man, Gene Roddenberry was right again.

An enormous amoeba-like structure 200 million light-years wide and made up of galaxies and large bubbles of gas is the largest known object in the universe, scientists say.

Oh it gets better ...

Some of the gas bubbles are up to 400,000 light years across, nearly twice the diameter of our neighboring Andromeda Galaxy. Scientists think they formed when massive stars born early in the history of the universe exploded as supernovas and blew out their surrounding gases. Another theory is that the bubbles are giant gas cocoons that will one day give birth to new galaxies.

Giant frickin' pregnant gas cocoons.

Posted by: Ace at 07:53 PM | Comments (14)
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When I saw who ace, in a drunken frenzy had let post on his blog the wonderful slate of guest-bloggers from IB, I immediately wondered whether my login still worked.

I guess so - at least, until ace realizes that I'm still listed and corrects the oversight.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to alert all of you to some breaking news from Maine, because I care, and know you were all worried.

And yes, Maine has its share of moonbats. But they're sincere moonbats. I mean, one of the people in this story has gone a whole 16 hours without food to protest the war in Iraq.

I have a novel idea. Instead of fasting over the war, maybe some people in this state should fast because we're freaking huge up here.

Just a thought.

Posted by: Slublog at 06:38 PM | Comments (9)
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LOS ANGELES - She was once Pamela Anderson Lee. Now actress Pamela Anderson is Mrs. Kid Rock. The former "Baywatch" babe wed the rock star Saturday in St. Tropez, Anderson's spokeswoman, Ann Gurrola, told The Associated Press. She said more details on the wedding would be available Monday

All my best to the happy couple. Hope it works this time.

Anderson, 39, and Kid Rock, 35, were engaged in Las Vegas in 2002 but split up the following year.

The two were photographed together earlier this month in St. Tropez, and two weeks ago, Anderson wrote in her online diary that she was "in love" and planning to marry again.

"I'm happy," she wrote. "I see the light. Sounds dramatic but it's true."

She also seemed to allude to her on-again-off-again relationship with Kid Rock when she wrote, "I've raised my kids alone in hope of a miracle."

"Well my miracle came and went. And came back and back because he knew that I'd wake up one day and realize that I was waiting for nothing," she said.

See, that's what I like about Pamela. She's obviously talented and intelligent, but still romantic and poetic. One look at the happy bride in St. Tropez and I'm sure you will see the intelligent-yet-romantic look in her eye that makes her so appealing.

Posted by: Ace at 06:36 PM | Comments (17)
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Victor Davis Hanson pens "The Vocabulary of Untruth" to assist you in your news consuming.

“Disproportionate” means that the Hezbollah aggressors whose primitive rockets can’t kill very many Israeli civilians are losing, while the Israelis’ sophisticated response is deadly against the combatants themselves. See “excessive.”

Anytime you hear the adjective “excessive,” Hezbollah is losing. Anytime you don’t, it isn’t.

Go and read.

Posted by: Ace at 06:35 PM | Comments (5)
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