Tag Archives: Laboratories Of Democracy

Bitcoin and Poker: Zynga’s Best Friends

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“Adding a new method of buying what amounts to little more than different colored pixels on a screen won’t likely add much revenue or bottom line profits, unless of course, the colored pixels are in the shape of poker chips. Last year Zynga added ZyngaPlusCasino and ZyngaPlusPoker to its lineup of games.  As more states bet that online gambling can help solve their budget woes, the opportunity for Zynga increases. The recent addition of New Jersey could prove to be a tipping point for other states looking to cash in.  Bitcoin removes the pesky credit card approval issues for both user and merchant and eliminates credit card fraud and disputed charges.”

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12251187/1/bitcoin-and-poker-zyngas-best-friends.html

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Oklahoma: Marijuana Legalization Measure Introduced

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“State Senator Constance Johnson (D-District 48) has introduced Senate Bill 2116, which aims to legalize the possession, cultivation, and retail sale of cannabis to adults. The proposed legislation removes all criminal and civil penalties for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and the personal cultivation of up to 5 marijuana plants by those over the age of 21. The bill would also create a system of retail cannabis outlets, cultivation facilities, and marijuana product manufacturers.  According to a 2013 ACLU report, Oklahoma arrests over 10,000 individuals for simple marijuana possession every year, at the cost of nearly 30 million dollars.”

http://norml.org/news/2014/01/21/oklahoma-marijuana-legalization

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New Hampshire General Assembly Approves Marijuana Legalization

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“After a heated and lengthy debate on the floor of the New Hampshire General Assembly, the lower chamber of New Hampshire’s legislature today voted 170 to 162 in favor of House Bill 492, which seeks to legalize under state law the personal use and home cultivation of marijuana by persons 21 years of age or older and establish regulations for the retail production and sale of cannabis.  The historic vote makes the New Hampshire House the first state legislative chamber to ever vote in favor of regulating cannabis.”

http://blog.norml.org/2014/01/15/after-lengthy-floor-debate-new-hampshire-general-assembly-approves-marijuana-legalization/

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Oklahoma state legislator introduces bill to banish NSA

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“On Monday, Oklahoma Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) filed a bill that would prohibit state cooperation with the NSA and limit some of the practical effects of its vast data collection program. The Fourth Amendment Protection Act addresses the relationship between the state and the NSA in four ways.  First, it prohibits state and local agencies from providing any material support to the NSA within their jurisdiction. This includes barring government-owned utilities from providing water and electricity. Second, it blocks state universities from serving as NSA research facilities or recruiting grounds. Four Oklahoma state schools currently have partnerships with the NSA.”

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/view-tenth/2014/jan/8/oklahoma-state-legislator-introduces-bill-banish-n/

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NY Governor to Establish Medical Marijuana Program

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“New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will use his State of the State address Wednesday to announce he will sign an executive order to allow the limited use of marijuana, the New York Times reported Saturday. The move comes as the state legislature is set to debate pending medical marijuana legislation in Albany.  The executive order will cite a 1980 law that allows for the use of controlled substances to treat serious illnesses. The narrowly-tailored program will allow only 20 hospitals statewide to provide marijuana to patients suffering from a short list of specified conditions. The Department of Health, in consultation with experts, will be charged with drafting regulations for the program.”

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2014/jan/06/ny_governor_establish_medical_ma

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Pot sales of $5 million in five days and no place to put the money

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“The inability of marijuana businesses to straight-forwardly stash their cash in standard financial institutions due to federal banking regulations aimed at stopping drug trafficking has been an issue in Colorado for years. But despite Obama administration statements about possible fixes and a request from Governor John Hickenlooper more than three months ago, nothing has been done. Now, however, with the recreational pot biz reportedly taking in more than $5 million in the first five days of sales, the Denver City Council unanimously passed a proclamation calling for the feds to rewrite banking regs to allow for state-legal weed operations to use banks like any other business.”

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2014/01/pot_sales_denver_5_million_five_days.php

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How should states fight the NSA? Turn off the water, say some

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“Two California state senators have introduced a bill that would stop state agencies from assisting the National Security Agency to collect ‘any electronic data or metadata… not based on a warrant.’  In addition to stopping state agencies and officials from helping with warrantless surveillance, it would ban corporations that do business with the state from offering such assistance. That could leave the large telecom companies in a legally difficult position: following orders from the federal Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court would put them them in violation of state law.  Another proposal pushed by the Tenth Amendment Center is the idea of barring the NSA from recruiting at public universities.”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/01/how-should-states-fight-the-nsa-turn-off-the-water-say-some/

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Marching Toward Smaller Government

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“A secession effort is afoot in my hometown, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Few people understand just how profound this movement is … for it speaks to why America’s days are numbered.  In November, five counties in Colorado voted to secede and create a new state. Exasperated citizens in southern Arizona want to create Baja Arizona. And just this month, a well-heeled venture capitalist in California submitted sober plans to break his state — the single most dysfunctional political body in America — into six separate and more manageable states.  These are not movements defined by race or money. They’re not tied to a particular political platform.”

http://thesovereigninvestor.com/2014/01/03/marching-toward-smaller-government/

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The 124 states of America

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“Secessionist movements are all the rage these days. A handful of counties in Colorado tried to secede from the rest of the state earlier this year.  There’s an attempt to create the State of Jefferson (northern California/southern Oregon) via ballot initiative in 2014.  And there’s plenty more.  What would the U.S. look like if all of the secession movements in U.S. history had succeeded?  Well, Mansfield University geography professor Andrew Shears built a map to answer that question. (It covers secession movements through the end of 2011.)  His 124 states of America is below.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/12/31/the-124-states-of-america/

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Utah Gets Ready To Do Without the Feds

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“Like most westerners, Utahns are pissed about federal control of land and purse strings. Unlike most, though, they seem serious about reshaping that relationship.  In 2012, Utah passed the Transfer of Public Lands Act, essentially demanding that the federal government surrender the two-thirds of the state controlled by Washington, D.C. Other western states are considering similar measures, but Utah paved the way.  But Utah is preparing to go a step further and plans for a future that isn’t funded by federal largesse. The state passed a series of bills as part of a Financial Ready Utah movement.  Utahns foresee a day when whatever they want done will have to be paid by local funds.”

http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/26/utah-gets-ready-to-do-without-the-feds

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