My Google alerts this morning were full of bits and pieces attempting to speculate on what Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden as a running mate means to the online gambling industry. As the publisher of news services that are highly competitive in this space, I have to strongly consider whether IGN needs to be tackling this topic with comparable vigor. Our coverage of US developments is usually prompt and expansive, so if this is important news, we want to be on it like stink on a monkey.

The US Department of Justice carries the same malice toward adult entertainment that it does toward interactive gambling, and the story of Ray Guhn (not to be confused with "Reagan" or "ray gun") suggests that the government is open to reinventing its anti-online gambling enforcement philosophy in the porn space.

I like to think I'm in pretty good shape. I was at the doctor last week and she asked me if I was a runner. I said yes and inquired as to why she asked; she said because I had a strong heart. That was welcome news, considering that through jogging I have completely chewed up the bottom two discs in my spinal column, and I'd like to believe there's a benefit or two to ruining my back.

That's it for NGG 1. This is the part where as an employee of the producing company I talk it up as the premier I-gaming event of the universe.

I’ll reserve that moniker for EiG.

As for NGG, I was pleasantly surprised. The content was there, as always, but I like to assess these events by gauging the enthusiasm of the audience. I was worried going in that the transition from 600 delegates at GIGSE '07 to 100 delegates at the new event would be depressing, but it was actually just the opposite.