Get Ur Geek On

The Governator's new appointment as head of the DMV, Joan Borucki, has suggested that instead of a gas tax, all cars in California be equipped with a GPS device so that they can be taxed by miles travelled on California roads instead, because more efficient cars mean less gas sold and less revenue from gasoline taxes. As Joshua Fruhlinger of Engadget points out, "Larry David would be charged as much to go 10 miles in his Prius as the Governator would in his Hummer." And just ask Scott Peterson - those GPS things make it really hard to get across the border ahead of the law.

Verizon Wireless has begun offering Ringback Tones, or audio clips that play when someone's calling you instead of the standard ring, to select markets in California. By select markets they apparently mean everywhere but the Bay Area. Wonder if we'll hear Randy Newman when we call LAist? Gizmodo has posted an anonymous tip that Sprint and T-Mobile are also about to jump in the game shortly.