Powerful remarks from Congressman Ron Paul on ending the war in Afghanistan. Whether you’re a democrat or republican, it’s hard to take sides with this video. They aren’t any. Enjoy it. Share it.

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As an Amazon associate, it’s unfortunate to see this notice, but it’s warranted. Colorado, like most states, is turning to new taxes to solve its budget and revenue challenges. The solution for balancing budgets and attracting more revenue isn’t in taxation, but efficiency. States, like the federal government, are wasteful spenders and incompetent managers of existing revenue streams. Now is the time for governments everywhere to cut, expel and improve its operations like any corporation, family or individual.

Burdening corporations and small business owners with more taxes won’t erase the challenges here in Colorado or elsewhere. Doing so will force other Internet retailers to follow Amazon’s lead. Colorado’s governor and legislators are doing more harm to the state’s economy than they realize.

States cannot use the recession as a scapegoat. It’s time people everywhere stand up and force their political leaders to do what’s right. If the everyday business owner must live within the confinements of his revenue, then so must state governments across America.

Dear Colorado-based Amazon Associate:

We are writing from the Amazon Associates Program to inform you that the Colorado government recently enacted a law to impose sales tax regulations on online retailers. The regulations are burdensome and no other state has similar rules. The new regulations do not require online retailers to collect sales tax. Instead, they are clearly intended to increase the compliance burden to a point where online retailers will be induced to “voluntarily” collect Colorado sales tax — a course we won’t take.

We and many others strongly opposed this legislation, known as HB 10-1193, but it was enacted anyway. Regrettably, as a result of the new law, we have decided to stop advertising through Associates based in Colorado. We plan to continue to sell to Colorado residents, however, and will advertise through other channels, including through Associates based in other states.

There is a right way for Colorado to pursue its revenue goals, but this new law is a wrong way. As we repeatedly communicated to Colorado legislators, including those who sponsored and supported the new law, we are not opposed to collecting sales tax within a constitutionally-permissible system applied even-handedly. The US Supreme Court has defined what would be constitutional, and if Colorado would repeal the current law or follow the constitutional approach to collection, we would welcome the opportunity to reinstate Colorado-based Associates.

You may express your views of Colorado’s new law to members of the General Assembly and to Governor Ritter, who signed the bill.

Your Associates account has been closed as of March 8, 2010, and we will no longer pay advertising fees for customers you refer to Amazon.com after that date. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned prior to March 8, 2010, will be processed and paid in accordance with our regular payment schedule. Based on your account closure date of March 8, any final payments will be paid by May 31, 2010.

We have enjoyed working with you and other Colorado-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program, and wish you all the best in your future.

Best Regards,

The Amazon Associates Team

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It’s always a lot of fun to get in the kitchen and make something delicious. Here are a set of photos from breakfast. Lisa made the bacon and toasted the muffins, while I seasoned and watched over the home fries. It’s probably the best breakfast sandwich we’ve made.

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

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I love Cracker Barrel. Great place to dine. But I really love their biscuits and corn muffins. So recently, we picked up a box of their corn muffin mix. I hoped I could duplicate the experience at home. I think I was pretty successful. They’re delicious! The recipe was similar to others I’ve used in the past (including my grandmother’s), yet this one really stands out!

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

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Lisa and I enjoy baking and cooking very much. She’s a whiz at making cookies, cakes and other treats. I generally ‘wing it’ with things, while she uses recipes for her masterpieces. We’re a great team in the kitchen. While making breakfast recently, I decided to take pictures. Here’s the result of our labor. As the pictures show, we did an awesome job. It was a wonderful meal!

If you want more pictures, see the slideshow or the album.

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

From In The Kitchen

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Enjoy the live performance of ‘Knock on Wood’ by Michael McDonald and Phoebe Snow from 1990’s Rock & Soul Revue — Courtesy of Lala.

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During a day layover in Kansas City (on our way to Nashville), Lisa and I discovered that the Downtown Hyatt doesn’t use fitted sheets. She caught this detail while we were making the bed. We chuckled, because it was surprising that a four-star hotel would use sheets that 1) didn’t properly fit the bed, 2) weren’t fitted and 3) easily disrupted a night’s sleep.

Until now, I never paid attention to this. So, I’m wondering, has anyone else experienced this, too? Share your thoughts.

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My ticket  (pictured below): 06 17 20 26 31 PB: 11
January 17 drawing: 06 15 20 26 31 PB: 09

What are the odds of matching so closely a drawing three weeks earlier? No, this doesn’t mean I’ll become a regular player, but I think it’s interesting. Quick picks aren’t a bad choice if you’re a regular player.

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Great video of congressman Ron Paul explaining — in plain English — the Federal Reserve to CNBC’s Erin Burnett. If America needs an example of how their elected officials should behave, this video is a good start:

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A recent CNN poll has concluded that 86% of Americans believe government is broken. You weren’t reading that incorrectly. And with all the finger-pointing that is going on in Washington and around America, we can only blame the dysfunction of party ideology and America’s lack of a constitutional government for all our troubles.

This poll serves as a wake up call — especially to those Americans that continue to straddle the fence as a Republican or Democrat. As I’ve mentioned before, both parties have created massive deficits and debts for America. Why continue contributing to the problem? Now is the time for us to unite around common sense and throw away our diehard loyalty to parties that do not represent the founding principles of America.

If Americans wish to do their part to fix all that’s broken, we must first start by firing those we’ve elected. We cannot afford to wait another election cycle.  It’s time to waltz down to Washington and peacefully remove those who took oath to respect the constitution and serve the constituents.

What will you do to help fix America?

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The RSS feed is changing. Currently, it’s http://feeds.feedburner.com/ronsnotebook, but this will change to http://feeds.feedburner.com/ronaldlewis. The switch shouldn’t disrupt anything (FeedBurner will convert you to the new URL), but just in case, you’ll know the correct URL for subscribing via RSS.

Thanks for being a loyal reader!

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42,000 page views, 4,000 Twitter followers and 720 RSS readers.

These are the latest numbers I’ve compiled. I’m really surprised, because I’m not a prolific blogger (a few articles a month, but I’m planning to do 1-3 a week soon.)

To everyone who reads my blog, tweets and RSS feed: Thank you! The numbers are proof that you enjoy diverse content. I would probably be bored if I wrote or tweeted about one topic. It’s so hard to do! Thanks again!

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If you are a democrat or republican, it’s time to ask yourself some tough questions. In the last twenty years — under the leadership of democrats and republicans — Americans have been dragged through recessions, bubbles, and endless wars that were never constitutionally declared or in the best interest of the people.

Both parties have failed to serve America and protect the U.S. Constitution. We deferred our responsibility to maintain a moral government to corrupt politicians and showbiz politics. We were bamboozled by the spin and image of both parties.

Ultimately, it is we the people who must pay for the recklessness of D.C. politics in the form of decreased purchasing power, freedom, and liberty. Is this what you stand for as an American? The “real war” is right here at home and we’re losing to incompetent and corrupt politicians we’ve allowed to lead us.

We have reached a critical juncture in America’s history. The problems we face cannot be solved by the current crop of “leaders” or voting for the same people each election. We must think openly and rationally about the damage both parties have done to our beloved country. Our job as citizens does not end at the voting booth — that’s only the start of it.

Democrats and republicans in Washington have given Americans plenty of reasons to defect and chart a new course in American politics. The leaders of both parties have had ample time to prove their love for America. Instead, they chose to give us a whopping $12 Trillion debt and a $2 Trillion war.

Are the policies and actions of your elected officials acceptable to you?

If you care anything about your country, leave your party, or prolong the pain we’ve yet to experience.

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I am giving away one invite to Google Voice (formerly Grand Central). For a chance to win, leave a comment about why you like the service and how you think it will make your life better. The best comment wins and will be announced below this post in mid November.

Good luck!

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Just found some time today to get my site back online. My server encountered a glitch during updates and fixes that I didn’t have time to address (most of my time recently has been spent working and sleeping.) Being unplugged from the world was actually a good thing. Expect a lot of changes around here to reflect what’s going on in my life and where I’m going.

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I will be appearing on Mancow’s popular and nationally syndicated radio show on August 31st to discuss my new book, “Stick It To The Man.” This is the largest radio program I’ve done so far and I look forward to chewing the fat on government and other topics. Tune in starting at 6:10AM Mountain on August 31st!

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Unprecedented development here, America! The Federal Reserve has just LOST an UNPRECEDENTED suit to Bloomberg to disclose detailed records regarding its response to the global recession — a crisis it’s largely responsible for. This is a big development and one which could open the door to full transparency and the ultimate dismantling of this unconstitutional institution.

Aug. 24 (Bloomberg) — The Federal Reserve must make records about emergency lending to financial institutions public within five days because it failed to convince a judge the documents should be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.

Manhattan Chief U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska rejected the central bank’s argument that the records aren’t covered by the law because their disclosure would harm borrowers’ competitive positions. The collateral lists “are central to understanding and assessing the government’s response to the most cataclysmic financial crisis in America since the Great Depression,” according to the lawsuit that led to the ruling.

Read the whole story

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For several months, I have struggled with the difficult decision to end my fourteen year run as a technology consultant, the “bread and butter” of my technology career. A number of factors were considered, including the recent release of my book, my revised roadmap (personally and professionally), the recession, etc. I started consulting with businesses and individuals at the tender age of fifteen. I’ve worked with small business owners and the world’s largest corporations on a diverse range of projects. I’ve worked with a lot of great people and have learned so much. I am certainly a fortunate guy.

I have reached a critical juncture in my life that demands the freedom and attention necessary to focus on my reinvention as an author, speaker, journalist, and activist. I am no longer the “man behind the scenes.” Recently, motivational speaker Les Brown told me, “You have a wonderful voice,” and so I plan to use it and my other gifts to inform, inspire, engage, and lead people around the world. I believe strongly in my ability to bring a unique and refreshing approach to books, public speaking, digital media, activism, and more.

To prepare for the biggest transition of my life, I will wrap up remaining projects, help transition existing clients, and yes, find a non-tech job for the interim to earn a decent living. I am incredibly excited to get things underway.

Many thanks go to my clients for the challenging and rewarding projects over the years. I am also grateful for everyone who were patient enough with me as I attempted to balance projects, demands, challenges, and setbacks over these last few months. You kept me from going hungry and for that, I am indebted to you.

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Exciting news! David Lazarus, business/consumer columnist for the Los Angeles Times, has invited me to appear on his radio program, “The Money Show,” this Saturday, July 4th, at 9 PM Pacific / 10 PM Mountain. If you live in San Francisco, change your dial to KGO AM 810. You may also listen online.

According to David, we’ll talk about my new book, “Stick it to The Man,” my blog, and other topics. Be sure to tune in!

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Here’s a rush of images taken today at the afternoon signing for my new book, “Stick It To The Man.” The main launch event happens in the evening. What an exciting day!

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