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More On Why The Gas Tax Holiday Is A Bad Idea

2008-05-06T19:44:00.001-05:00

The Freakonomics blog continues on the hunt for a reason why the gas tax holiday is a good idea.

Last week I posed a simple challenge: Try to find any coherent economist willing to support the gas tax holiday proposed by candidates McCain and Clinton.

The challenge remains unanswered, but here’s some interesting commentary collected during the week:

As I indicated before, there are plenty of ideas why it wouldn't help your wallet, but not many why.

Gas Tax Holiday is a Bad Idea

2008-05-04T21:11:00.001-05:00

Hillary Clinton has come out in support of John McCain's gas tax holiday idea.

She is quoted as saying the following,

"All I hear about is gas prices. Gas and diesel, everywhere," Clinton said in Kinston, N.C. "Some people say we don't need to get a gas tax holiday at all, it's a gimmick ... I want the Congress to stand up and vote. Are they for the oil companies, or are they for you?"

Here's the problem with that statement. First, removing the gas tax will benefit the oil companies by selling more gas and hurt the government (and construction workers) by stopping the flow of money into the fed's coffers to pay for road projects.

Second, removing the gas tax will hurt airlines, Amtrak, and bus companies by encouraging people to drive instead of take a mass-transit system.

So what could be a golden opportunity for the United States to reduce it's obsession with driving, is instead going to result in less than 20 cents being taken off the price of a gallon of gasoline in Clinton/McCain world.

The best part is the oil companies would probably raise their prices in the absence of the tax because consumers would be willing to accept it in lieu of the absence of the tax.

Janesville and Amtrak

2008-03-26T21:39:00.001-05:00

Downtown Janesville in the Early Morning
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

A long, long time ago back in 2001 Janesville had an Amtrak route from Chicago. It didn't run frequently, it had a very poorly located station, and wasn't really promoted, so it didn't last long.

I managed to dig up a couple digital relics of the train online a couple days ago. First there are a bunch of pictures and a description of the terrible station.

Second, there is a detailed account of how one man took the Amtrak system across the country to get to Janesville. I bet he was sorely disappointed when he got to the end of the route.

Would the car culture of Janesville have used rail if there was a better located station and a mid-day run? I think so.

I Want Deepfish!

2008-03-18T12:47:00.001-05:00

I'm itching to get my hands on Microsoft's mobile browser Deepfish, but apparently they're not accepting new users at this point.

It's been almost a year since they have updated their product blog. Is this a sign that the technology preview is dead in the water? Please tell me no Microsoft, I really wanted to try it on my AT&T Tilt.

DrupalCampWI A Success!

2008-01-22T12:45:00.001-06:00

DrupalCampWisconsin was a smashing success. Held in the Milwaukee School of Engineering multipurpose room, DrupalCampWI was an all-day event on January 19th, 2008. The event was an unconference centered around the popular, open-source content management system Drupal.

Being sick all week, I wasn't sure how the event would go from my perspective, but I got on antibiotics at just the right time. I was feeling better and better as the event went on, albeit quite tired.

Anyway, my point in this post isn't to tell you everything that went on at the event, because Pete has that covered in a great write-up. My aim is to tout the continued emergence of the web technology community in Milwaukee.

A couple of years ago the notion of a BarCamp, a weekend conference where the attendees would present and share their passion for technology, seemed like a pie in the sky concept that would never happen in Milwaukee. Then came the incredibly dedicated work of a few people, and the building of a critical mass of individuals and BarCampMilwaukee actually happened.

That snow balled into increased attendance at a monthly meetup group and Web414 was born. A monthly gathering of those "who build the web", it kept getting bigger and bigger especially as BarCampMilwaukee2 got closer and closer. After an extremely successful BarCampMilwaukee2, plans were made for DrupalCampWI. DrupalCampWI came to pass, and as the title of this post exclaims, it also was very successful.

Sure the events have had their hitches, but it's getting easier and easier to throw bigger and bigger events.

While this community hasn't created any super successful technology startups yet, it's headed there. The amount of knowledge exchanged and creativity channeled by the community is astounding.

There still is a number of untapped groups and individuals in Milwaukee, who have yet to be exposed to an unconference or Web414 meeting. It's simply a matter of time before they're drawn in.

We pull-in a few new individuals at every event we as members of the community throw.

If you had told me there would be a technology scene like this in Milwaukee when I moved here three years ago, I would have laughed. But through the determination of a handful of individuals and the participation of a large number of people it's emerged. The future is written by those who show up and put in a small amount of work. This theory has been proven true in Milwaukee.

Dear Ken

2008-01-10T20:28:00.001-06:00

Ken Rheingans please hand over control of the BarCampMadison email group and domain.

I will gladly pull this post down, when and if that happens.

Love,

-Jeramey-

Windows Live Installer Is Really Slow!

2008-01-06T03:51:00.001-06:00

Power Microsoft
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

The installer for Windows Live Writer and what I assume is the same for the rest of the Windows Live products is painfully slow. It checks to see if you have other Windows Live products installed and simply takes forever on Windows XP. I've gone through this on two different computers now, and it's obnoxious. This program should install in a matter of seconds not 5 to 10 minutes.

Please someone fix this. I love the product, but hate the installer.

Facebook Data Being Mined

2007-12-21T20:54:00.001-06:00

Group Photo
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

Researchers at academic institutions all over the country are jumping on the bandwagon and learning how to use the Facebook to conduct social research. Their findings haven't been real notable so far, but I'm pretty close to the center of their studies so I'm certainly jaded to the issue.

As someone who's data is presumably being used to study social relationships, I'm perfectly okay with it. I don't think they're violating my privacy by looking at my connections to others. Their research will only help school counselors and administrators understand their students.

Snow and Darkness

2007-12-17T15:34:00.001-06:00

Snow Over Commerce Street
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

It's been snowing a lot in Milwaukee lately and it's dark a lot, the picture with this post illustrates that fact.

I like warm and dark, not cold, dark, and snowy.

Hell = Time Warner Cable

2007-12-09T19:51:00.001-06:00

Hell = Time Warner Cable
Originally uploaded by Doubletee

It would be great if Time Warner Cable was smart enough that when I called for internet connectivity issues (i.e. I'm pissed and want support) they wouldn't have their old audio loop trying to sell me more services.

Hey Time Warner Cable, I don't like you and don't want to buy more of your poor service.

Thank you.

Love,
-Jeramey-

Happy Monday, You're Screwed

2007-12-03T16:05:00.001-06:00

National Guards Colors
Originally uploaded by Adelaide_35

More than 3,000 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers received word Monday that they will likely be called up to serve in Iraq in 2009...

Thanks George Bush!

How Traveler Would Have Ended

2007-12-02T13:31:00.001-06:00

Lt. Buck COMPTON_Neal McDonough 2
Originally uploaded by Patrick Liu

The TV show Traveler to which I was absolutely hooked to for a couple of weeks (during which I watched all the episodes online to catch up, then watched the latest one on TV, and bam, then it was canceled) is not without an ending.

Show creator David DiGilio has a long blog post that details how the show would have ended, and how it would have got there. It's nice to see this kind of conclusion that so many canceled shows lack.

Having Your Content Used

2007-12-01T07:33:00.001-06:00

Milwaukee Intermodal Station
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

There is possibly nothing more satisfying than doing a search, going to look at the resulting pages found, and seeing your content being used to illustrate a point.

I was searching for any articles pertaining to the connection of Badger Bus and the Milwaukee Intermodal Station for a post I'm working on at Urban Milwaukee and was pleased to find that in talking about the new station, An Affair With Urban Policy had found it fitting to use my recently taken photos.

What makes this all possible? Creative Commons licensing.

Sun in the Morning

2007-12-01T07:21:00.001-06:00

Netzinger - Smith Wedding 059
Originally uploaded by Mark Riley

It appears the sun isn't actually up before 7 a.m. during the winter, which came as a bit of a shock to me this morning when I awoke to head over to the Badger Bus stop to visit a client in Milton, WI.

The things you forget with a late night lifestyle.

Amtrak Crash in Chicago

2007-11-30T14:56:00.001-06:00

Rocking the Amtrak
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

By the time you've read this you will have probably already heard about the Amtrak crash on the south side of Chicago.

To feel empathy for those on the train, sprint full speed into a wall and hit it head first. That's roughly what they experienced when they went at 15mph into another train that was apparently stopped.

Blogging Here, There, Everywhere

2007-11-25T02:27:00.001-06:00

The 6th Street Viaduct
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

You've probably noticed the lack of entries on this blog, but that doesn't mean I've gone underground. In fact, I'm probably doing more public work on the internet than ever before.

You can follow me on Flickr, Twitter, Urban Milwaukee, and The Bratwurst.

Also, if you ride the Megabus line between Chicago and Milwaukee, there is a good chance you'll see me every couple of weeks there.

Sharing The Sprint Card

2007-11-01T13:52:00.001-05:00

Rocking the Amtrak
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

Sam, Tad, and I always forget the little things when it comes to setting up an ad-hoc wireless network to share the Sprint EVDO Rev A card.

Things to remember... (blogging this so I won't forget)

1. Enable Client for Microsoft Networks on the shared connection
2. Make sure all services are go under the advanced tab on internet connection sharing
3. Disable firewalls (or get smart and make exceptions)
4. You share the internet connection, not the bridge to other computers

Natural Capitalism on Cars

2007-10-31T11:42:00.001-05:00

Orange Hub Caps
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

From Natural Capitalism (part of a series of ongoing posts)

Imagine a conversation taking place at the end of the nineteenth century. A group of powerful and farseeing businessmen announce that they want to create a giant new industry in the United States, one that will employ millions of people, sell a copy of its product every two seconds, and provide undreamed-of levels of personal mobility for those who use its products. However, this innovation will also have other consequences so that at the end of one hundred years, it will have done or be doing the following:

* paved an area equal to all the arable land in the states of Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania, requiring maintenance costing more than $200 million per day;
* reshaped American communities and lives so as to restrict the mobility of most citizens who do not choose or are not able to own and operate the new product;
* maimed or injured 250 million people, and killed more Americans than have died in all wars in the country's history;
* be combusting 8 million barrels of oil every day (450 gallons per person annually);
* made the United States increasingly dependent on foreign oil at a cost of $60 billion a year;
* relied for an increasing percentage of that oil on an unstable and largely hostile region armed partly by American oil payments, requiring the United States to make large military expenditures there and maintain continual war-readiness;
* be killing a million wild animals per week, from deer and elk to birds, frogs, and opossums, plus tens of thousands of domestic pets;
* be creating a din of noise and a cloud of pollution in all metropolitan areas, affecting sleep, concentration, and intelligence, making the air in some cities so unbreathable that children and the elderly cannot venture outside on certain days;
* caused spectacular increases in asthma, emphysema, heart disease, and bronchial infections;
* be emitting one-fourth of U.S. greenhouse gases so as to threaten global climatic stability and agriculture;
* and be creating 7 billion pounds of unrecycled scrap and waste every year.

Now imagine they succeeded.

This is the automobile industry - a sector of commerce so massive that in 1998, five of the seven largest U.S. industrial firms produced either cars or their fuel. If this industry can fundamentally change, every industry can. And change it will. This chapter describes how the world's dominant business is transforming itself to become profoundly less harmful to the biosphere.

Your Blog Might Suck

2007-10-31T11:36:00.001-05:00

Blogging for Cats
Originally uploaded by Vicki's Pics

From David Moe -> Your Blog Might Suck

Milwaukee Ale House Construction Cam

2007-10-25T18:45:00.001-05:00

JOY'S BUILDING
Originally uploaded by JoetheLion

After yesterday's announcement I did some investigating of the Milwaukee Ale House website and came across this handy little construction webcam cam of their new brewery on 2nd street..

Judy Robson Is Out

2007-10-24T19:46:00.001-05:00

Robson
Originally uploaded by WisPolitics.com

My former State Senator (before moving to Milwaukee) Judy Robson was removed from her position as Senate Majority Leader.

Sen. Russ Decker (D-Weston), who tried to oust Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) late Tuesday, says convicted felon and former party leader Chuck Chvala isn't behind his power play.

Asked on Tuesday night about that Capitol-conspiracy rumor involving Chvala, Decker said:

"I haven't talked to him -- man, a long time. He wasn't involved in this. That's a red herring. That's a ghost that's a long -- five years -- removed from this building."

Others aren't so sure, noting that four former aides to Chvala -- including his wife, Barbara Worcester, Decker's chief of staff -- are still Senate aides. They work for four different Democratic senators.

Seems a little fishy that he doesn't Chvala, but that his right hand person is Chvala's wife.

The word on the street is that the other Democratic senators weren't happy about the way negotiations went regarding the budget. I was unhappy to see my KRM train get dropped, however I'm not sure that you could trace that back to Robson and her negotiating or lack thereof.

Ironically, Robson is the only candidate I have ever donated money too. She sent out a letter to her constituents that mentioned her work on extending the Metra line from Harvard, Illinois to Janesville. I pulled out all the money in my pocket and mailed it back to her (all four dollars).

Facebook's Value

2007-10-24T17:55:00.001-05:00

Kevin
Originally uploaded by compujeramey

Facebook's value has skyrocketed. Microsoft bought 1.6% of the social network today for $240 million, valuing the whole thing at $15 billion. If you run the math on the 42,000,000 users, it comes out to value the network at $357 a user.

Flash black to March 29, 2006. Facebook was worth $2 billion in buyout talk rumors or $285 a user.

Crazy how fast things change.

Google Maps Advice

2007-10-21T18:07:00.001-05:00

Google Maps Ads
Originally uploaded by Si1very

If you're trying to setup Google Maps on a new website and you keep getting the "gray out" where it can't draw a map I have a piece of advice for you.

Check to make sure you're not calling for traffic information before you're centering the map.

map.setCenter() before map.addOverlay(trafficInfo); and you'll be a much happier camper.

The Air Force is Cruising Around With Nukes

2007-10-19T17:10:00.001-05:00

DEATH PLANET print release this Thursday
Originally uploaded by pure evil bunny

The Air Force apparently flew a bunch of active warheads from North Dakota to Louisiana and didn't notice until they landed. Oops.

They fired three senior officials deemed responsible, but I haven't seen any mention of firing any the pilot or crew that didn't notice they were flying SIX ACTIVE NUCLEAR WARHEADS across the United States.

Shooting nuclear-armed cruise missiles at New Orleans on approach would have been interesting. Bush would have been able to use it as a good cover for how poorly the reconstruction of New Orleans is going.

Dirty Sexy Money

2007-10-18T17:04:00.001-05:00

Dirty Sexy Money
Originally uploaded by crozette

If there was any doubt that Dirty Sexy Money was a good show, the fact that they used to Alexi Murdoch's "Orange Sky" in the background was a good sign.