The blame for California's energy "crisis" in 2000 lies with one company - Enron. There are recorded conversations between Enron and the power plants where Enron asks the power plants to shut down for "maintenance" to reduce supply, thus driving up the price. Enron traders were recorded laughing at California's misery and mocking them for having to pay high prices. Once price caps were instituted, the energy "crisis" ended. California's deregulation was a joke to Enron who made billions at the expense of California residents. Watch "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room".

Did the local cable or phone company propose this bill? "When you have no other choice in broadband or telephone service, you'll pay what we say."

I'm using a stereo Bluetooth headset while on my laptop using 802.11g. I'm hearing the music clear as a bell and my internet surfing is going unimpeded.

I recently stayed in a Marriott that charged $12.95 a day (noon-to-noon) for Internet and long distance calling. I took my Pre, fired up Mobile Hotspot and went 'FU' to the hotel. In these days of free ubiquitous Internet, it is offensive that any place charges for Internet access, whether it be wired or wireless.

Hal was charged with embezzlement for allegedly bilking his company out of millions and placed under house arrest. Hal casually mentions to Malcolm that he has played hooky from work on Fridays for years. The evidence presented in court against him was that all the events occurred on Fridays. Once Malcolm realizes this, he has his father find all of his pictures and tickets of him playing hooky, which were time stamped on the Fridays that the embezzlement took place, thus showing that there was no way Hal could have been embezzling money. Of course, Lois was furious that he had been skipping work on Fridays and now since he had admitted to skipping work, had lost his job.

I seem to remember from school that a historically significant event happened in South Carolina that started a war....oh, right. The Battle of Fort Sumter which started the American Civil War.