THE USA ONE UPS CHINA - US CITIZENS SUBJECT TO ONLINE POKER BLACKOUT - FBI REPORTEDLY SEIZES ... POKERSTARS.COM

It's a day out of a novel by George Orwell, "Nineteen-Eighty four", only now it's 2011... the week of April 10 -16. It's a week where after a bone-chilling, devastating Winter, the temperatures are finally rising, the snow is melting...

Problem is, our elected officials, are playing a game of "Russia Roulette" with our futures... Republicans in general appear to be doing everything possible to cut programs to the poor and needy, while providing extended tax cuts to the wealthy 3% of Americans... people like Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, Charlie Sheen...

Today, whether Washington knows it or not it has cast a blind eye to an event that will forever change/harm/blemish this country. It has ignored it's citizens by todays actions.... as much, if not more, than the Chinese Gov't offends it's citizens. We really, today, are no different.

Between 2.5 million to 8 million Americans play online poker, at sites like Poker-Stars, Full-Tilt Poker, and Absolute poker and others. Today the FBI allegedly "seized" ownership of those company sites and domain names.

Millions of Americans play poker online, and today they lost it all...

It all began with:

H.R.4954 - Port Security Improvement Act of 2006

Texas Holdem Poker at the time was a world-wide phenomenon, very popular, especially in the United States. This was a direct result of an average American, early 2000's, who with a couple of dollars and a computer won himself a seat, online, to the World Series of Poker Tournament, and WON!!!

Today players from the United States are unable to play online poker. Some people have gotten FBI Warnings when connecting to the sites like PokerStars. Others get a message as follows when they're able to log on and try to play a game:

I am logged in when I receive this message. And then when I go to sign up for a game:

As you can see players from many countries are signed up and about to play. So the companies aren't "SHUT-DOWN". Instead, players in the US are being censured from playing... and why? My opinion is those republicans I mentioned earlier that included that clause that caused all this poker problem in the first place, are terrorists, as they have effectively put millions of Americans in PANIC MODE right now, and not that it will happen... but it would be nice if a Federal Judge in Boston would review the indictments handed down in NY, and file/judge whatever he/she needs to, if warranted, to put a stop, if only temporary, on the indictments.

It is not fair to put American citizens through this HELL, like this, on a Friday afternoon. Now into the weekend!

IT IS NOT ILLEGAL TO PLAY ONLINE GAMES WHICH INVOLVE MONEY... and for some players millions of taxable dollars are at stake, about to be seized.

This sounds like China that recently passed laws against a citizens right to view anything related to "Time Travel, Reincarnation, X-Files, UFO's... Chinese Government Bans Television Time Travel

But we have to do better... so ban poker to americans while the rest of the world plays, and laughs at us...

Senator John Kyl, of wherever said... "Anything I say doesn't have to be factual" - Article/Link: Sen. John Kyl Mocked for "Not Factual" Remarks And that's just fine... lets govern Americans based on fantasy and lies.

That's the problem with Washington... seems FACTS don't matter... like the budget bill... screw the have-nots, reward the haves!

TO SUMMARIZE:

The Justice Dept of the United States has infringed on the rights of US citizens to play an online game that involves money. It is obvious most other countries ARE NOT subject to censure, and that these companies and their domains have not been seized, albeit, except by the US targeting US citizens. This is no different than actions we abhor in China.

The only way what happened was made possible was because certain of our elected officials decided to insert this poker clause in an important Port security bill. What tees me off the most is the politics... underhanded and distinctly targeted towards a group of people with a specific legal interest.... people who enjoy playing online Texas Holdem, and why not??? It is a great sport, even better than betting on the horses, which is considered "more legal".

What's legal is called the US Constitution... and this final straw to clamping down on a personal individuals rights, is inexcusable. Today, the federal government played it's hand of cards... and lost, as US Citizens LOST, and the federal government works for it's citizens, not it's own special interests, nor those of certain right-wing politicians who think poker is immoral. Today, the indictment heard 'round the world was thrown. An assault on Americans no different than those heaped on Chinese or Libyan citizen's.

I urge the UN to review the indictment, and to consider, are other's around the world still enjoying online Texas holdem at PokerStars? If so, this is a violation of our Constitutional Rights and I hope the UN intercedes. A country's Constitution outweighs any laws passed that violate said Constitution.

UPDATE; APR_16:

I followed up on the comment left by "BlackLuck", and no surprise, we have a white-knight in the Republican ranks, who is dead against poker!!!

Introducing, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Virginia, 6th district.

WIKIPEDIA LINK:

Apparently Bob, hates online poker. Why is that, I wonder? Is it simply Republican Insanity Syndrome? Or was the pot he smoked in the '70's tainted with paraquat???

Add to that Bob's powerful committee connections in Congress:

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS:

***Committee on Agriculture (Vice Chair)
Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
***Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet (Chairman)
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security

So WHO elected this guy??? If his views on poker are like his views on other personal freedoms, including cannabis, and he's on the Judiciary Committee, then Bob is exactly sort of politician that doesn't represent a "Free America", but rather, he represents the exact opposite. Corporate Special Interests!

Read what Bob "thinks" about online poker here, at Wikipedia:

Goodlatte is a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online gambling. In 2006, he sponsored H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.[1] In September 2006, working with now defeated Iowa Congressman Jim Leach, Goodlatte was a major House supporter of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. The Act was passed at midnight the day Congress adjourned before the 2006 elections. Prior to it being added to the bill, the gambling provisions had not been debated by any Congressional committee.[2] The bill was made sure to exclude online horse racing gambling. They claimed moral reasons for pushing for a ban on Internet gambling, but critics charge that it was due to campaign contributions from the horse racing industry.

"Prohibition"! What is it about federally sponsored acts of prohibition??? Poker, cannabis, prostitution... Are we not a free society? How can laws based on theological premise make their way into our society? Or laws based on hysteria and misinformation? People talk about Capital Punishment and how an innocent man could be executed, but do we consider the number of people cut off from freedom in this country everyday because some of our laws are archaic and draconian, and Washington does nothing to correct these issues.

How can President Obama, Senator Ayotte ignore the seriousness of these issues, infringements on citizen's rights?

It's simply a very sad state of affairs in this country right now. Things suck! And they might just as well outlaw baseball!!!

WAKE UP WASHINGTON!

SPECIAL REPORT: HOW NH CANNABIS/MARIJUANA LAWS VIOLATE THE NH CONSTITUTION

Edited April 26, 2011

My opinion, how the current laws in the state of NH violates it's Constitution. I'm open to the possibility that some open-minded attorneys in NH, or the ACLU will consider acting on the information I am about to provide. It is information that has come together over 20+ years of research - I did not come up with all this overnight!

23 years ago I moved from MA to NH, and got a job at a public school. I worked the night shift, as a custodian. I should add, a custodian with a BA degree in English, and I did the work partly by the consequences of past events, and because I actually loved the work. I loved the work provided I was working in a place of education, ie, colleges, schools.

One of the benefits of working in a school or college was the resources available. Books, teachers, professors, students learning, books, archives, educated people.

Around about 1990 I became concerned that my interest in cannabis might get me in trouble... not just that I used it after work, but because I was considering writing a book on the subject, and already had 20 more plus years that I'd researched the topic.I began my research into cannabis prohibition around 1975; back then, extending into the 1990's, the only way to research a subject was through books, micro-fiche, and books.

The school in NH I worked at had a library complete with everything I needed to do a splurge ahead in cannabis research, specifically, prohibition. I was paranoid though, that if my topic of study was discovered, I'd be in big trouble, unlike if I was caught researching UFO's, or Zombies. It didn't seem right that researching cannabis would be a problem, but I'd been raised to understand in the US we have freedoms, profound freedoms, unlike anywhere else in the world; but with limitations, like not shouting FIRE in a crowded theater, or empty,nor walking naked down Main Street, or studying the effects of tobacco on frogs.There were things you couldn't do. So, yeah, I was paranoid.

My first step was to study the Constitution of the State of NH. It seemed logical to understand my rights under the Constitution. In many ways State Constitutions mirror the US Constitution. However many have interesting variables and additions. All are extremely important, but the oldest that survive with little change, those are the ones that are a strong root into a states past.As it turned out, I found exactly what I was looking for, couldn't believe my eyes, and an Article unique to New Hampshire. Article 83 of the NH Constitution:
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Established October 31, 1783 Effective June 2, 1784 As Subsequently Amended and in Force January 2007

[Art.] 83. [Encouragement of Literature, etc.; Control of Corporations, Monopolies, etc.] Knowledge and learning, generally diffused through a community, being essential to the preservation of a free government; and spreading the opportunities and advantages of education through the various parts of the country, being highly conducive to promote this end; it shall be the duty of the legislators and magistrates, in all future periods of this government, to cherish the interest of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries and public schools, to encourage private and public institutions, rewards, and immunities for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and natural history of the country; to countenance and inculcate the principles of humanity and general benevolence, public and private charity, industry and economy, honesty and punctuality, sincerity, sobriety, and all social affections, and generous sentiments, among the people: Provided, nevertheless, that no money raised by taxation shall ever be granted or applied for the use of the schools of institutions of any religious sect or denomination. Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of t he people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it. The size and functions of all corporations should be so limited and regulated as to prohibit fictitious capitalization and provision should be made for the supervision and government thereof. Therefore, all just power possessed by the state is hereby granted to the general court to enact laws to prevent the operations within the state of all persons and associations, and all trusts and corporations, foreign or domestic, and the officers thereof, who endeavor to raise the price of any article of commerce or to destroy free and fair competition in the trades and industries through combination, conspiracy, monopoly, or any other unfair means; to control and regulate the acts of all such persons, associations, corporations, trusts, and officials doing business within the state; to prevent fictitious capitalization; and to authorize civil and criminal proceedings in respect to all the wrongs herein declared against.

June 2, 1784
Amended 1877 prohibiting tax money from being applied to schools of religious denominations.
Amended 1903 permitting the general court to regulate trusts and monopolies restraining free trade.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

The first thing I took from that was my Contitutional right to study cannabis prohibition, free from fear of reprisals:

Knowledge and learning, generally diffused through a community, being essential to the preservation of a free government; and spreading the opportunities and advantages of education through the various parts of the country, being highly conducive to promote this end; it shall be the duty of the legislators and magistrates, in all future periods of this government, to cherish the interest of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries and public schools, to encourage private and public institutions, rewards, and immunities for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and natural history of the country.

But I was stunned to learn something extra in Article 83:

Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of t he people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it. The size and functions of all corporations should be so limited and regulated as to prohibit fictitious capitalization and provision should be made for the supervision and government thereof. Therefore, all just power possessed by the state is hereby granted to the general court to enact laws to prevent the operations within the state of all persons and associations, and all trusts and corporations, foreign or domestic, and the officers thereof, who endeavor to raise the price of any article of commerce or to destroy free and fair competition in the trades and industries through combination, conspiracy, monopoly, or any other unfair means; to control and regulate the acts of all such persons, associations, corporations, trusts, and officials doing business within the state; to prevent fictitious capitalization; and to authorize civil and criminal proceedings in respect to all the wrongs herein declared against.

Specifically: "...to encourage private and public institutions, rewards, and immunities for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and natural history." plus: "...or to destroy free and fair competition in the trades and industries through combination..."

Cannabis is a plant with several naturally occurring benefits. It can be used as a "safer" recreational substance, when compared to alcohol and tobacco; it can be made into industrial strength rope; it can be used for the seeds in food production, oils, food-butters, birdseed; it can be used as biomass; it can be beneficial as a medicine.

It is a commodity, and was established firmly as such in 1937 with Congressional passage of the "Marijuana Tax Act". Such an act could not have been made if cannabis wasn't a commodity, a source of value, an agricultural commodity. At the time cannabis was also included in the US Pharmacopedia, as a medicine. Henry Ford was experimenting with hemp oil as a bio fuel, others as a form of nylon, as in nylon stockings (source: "The Emperor Wears No Clothes", by Jack Herer - see my media list for details*).

Several Commercial Giants at the time, America Oil, DuPont, the newly revitalized alcohol industry found cannabis research and use as a threat. It also happened to be the case that DuPont had strong links with the Federal Gov't, and literally owned the state of Delaware with it's industrial monopolies. Between 1937 and 1940 several vital events that formed our future occurred... cannabis was subject to what was deemed (by the Supreme Court in 1971) an unconstitutionally taxable commodity; cannabis research and it's use as a medicine was squashed, except for a brief period during WW2 when 4H Clubs were urge to grow hemp for the war, without paying the tax; and changes in the federal gov't led to lawsuits against the monopoly DuPont had in Delaware and they were "forced to split" to enable fair market competition.

Present Day:

Cannabis is an agricultural and medical commodity, with additional uses in education, and personal well-being. It is my opinion, current laws against growing cannabis, research into cannabis, and prohibition of cannabis are a violation of the NH Constitution. Current laws reflect an ignorance of the potential of cannabis to benefit society, as well as a knee-jerk complicity to federal laws, which in essence violates NH's heart and soul, which Senator Ayotte invoked in her first senate speech: "Live Free or Die".

Either a state's Constitution means something, or it doesn't. To enact laws providing often severe penalties for possession or use of the cannabis plant is a violation of Article 83, of the NH State Constitution. If it doesn't mean something, then a a state invites anarchy, since it's laws and regulations in a democracy must abide by it's Constitution Oath. NH claims today that Federal law shapes their position on cannabis; I say the NH Constitution already clearly outlines how NH should regulate cannabis. And it's not doing so!

Currently NH is the only state in NE with seriously draconian laws against cannabis use, growing, possession; not that the laws in other NE states are completely fair, but NH leads the pack in states that issue harsh penalties for cannabis. This is unacceptable when considering the state's Constitution! The Constitution provides for redress of grievances where violation of the Constitution occur. I am officially demanding such redress, and suggest the laws prohibiting cannabis in NH are Unconstitutional.

Yes, I have written to my elected officials, including a e-mail to the NH Judiciary... I have e-mail responses on record. So, NO, I'm not just spouting off... I have put many years into this subject, and have done all I can to correct a wrong in our society - what I believe to be a wrong. The next step is up to my elected officials... either put up or shut up and reform current laws prohibiting use and possession of cannabis. NH could be the model of reform... but will they act? Will they do the right thing? Will they recognize state laws are unconstitutional and correct those laws? Or will they continue to pretend that current regulations and laws are just?

LIVE FREE OR DIE!

UPDATE! News from Canada - "ONTARIO JUDGE DECLARES CRIMINALIZATION OF POT UNCONSTITUTIONAL". "Ontario is one step closer to the legalization of marijuana after the Ontario Superior Court struck down two key parts of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that prohibit the possession and production of pot."

Now if only New Hampshire will recognize being conservative means what Senator Ayotte reminded us - NH government does not intrude with the rights of it's citizens, meddle in their personal lives, create laws that either put them in danger or, prevents them from achieving their full potential. Not an exact quote, but I'm beginning to understand Politics.

KELLY AYOTTE, NH SENATOR, "MAIDEN SPEECH" INVOKES "LIVE FREE OR DIE"

Kelly Ayotte, the new Senator in Congress from NH gave her first speech today on the Senate floor. In it she spoke from the Heart and Soul of NH, invoking the State Motto in her speech - "Live Free or Die".

Kelly Ayotte:

NPR LINK: She took the opportunity to highlight the nation’s lingering fiscal problems and started by reminding her colleague’s of New Hampshire’s state motto. “We believe strongly that government cannot and should not be able to get in the way of each of us reaching our full potential – that’s what ‘live free or die means.’”

Lest you think I'm taking what she said out of context, you need to read the article. Sure, she was speaking about fiscal responsibility in Congress. But by invoking the NH Motto she said far more than I think we yet realize. She described "spending" in the federal government as an "addiction", and in the following link: from the Nashua Telegraph news, she said: “With limited resources, they (NH) make hard choices to distinguish between ‘wants’ and ‘needs.’ It’s time for the federal government to do the same”.

It sure is...

I have to tell you I didn't vote for Kelly Ayotte. I voted for Paul Hodes who had much more experience and an ability to make sound decisions in the US Senate. Kelly Ayotte was/is a former Attorney General from NH, who, by all accounts put personal success above the interests of the citizens of NH. I especially was offended when she squashed all hopes for a MA family who's daughter disappeared in Woodsville NH in 2004, first claiming Maura Murray ran away, and giving back to the family all evidence related to the case, and then doing a reversal in which AG Ayotte instructed state police to repossess all evidence, including Maura's personal computer, and refuse any access to the family, or other interested parties, any access to information and evidence the state held.

AG Ayotte refused numerous requests from Maura Murray's family, her father in particular, for cooperation and assistance in finding his daughter, whom he had always been very close to.

The state made all information pertaining to Maura Murray off limits, except to state law enforcement, claiming, "maybe there was foul-play", maybe not; but until we know for sure, all evidence is available only to local and state officials, not the family. Her father went to court twice to secure access to his missing daughter's evidence and personal computer. Both times, AG Ayotte made sure he was denied access.

Since AG Ayotte gave up her roll as AG, and became a state Senator, the case of Maura Murray was accepted as one of a select few "cold cases" the state created a special dept. to investigate. Although good news, the fact seems to remain that the state in no way ever cooperated with the family.

More...

When at a straw poll in Aug. 2010 Kelly Ayotte met with a disabled Navy Vet who needed medical marijuana for relief of symptoms and a better life, she pretty much felt he should be prosecuted instead of understanding his needs and showed zero knowledge of the benefits of cannabis; least of all that it is safer than most currently legal medications and those legal recreational drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. LINK: "Disabled Vet Gets His Answer from Kelly Ayotte" - NH Compassion.ORG

How can a person who attains the ultimate job of representing the people of this country attain such status with such ignorance? Ah, Sarah Palin and the Tea-Party?

Regardless... the thing that irks me the most is that she had the gall to invoke NH's Motto; “We believe strongly that government cannot and should not be able to get in the way of each of us reaching our full potential – that’s what ‘live free or die means.’”

For 30+ years I prospered able to use cannabis to suppress hyperactivity, anxiety, and more. I became the best i could become, earning several college degrees, finding the ability to overcome personal limitations to be socially active, and felt inspired to explore nature and conduct extensive research in many personally important areas - such as medicinal plants, electronics, computers, and helping my fellow human. Since turning 50, my access to cannabis is non-existent and I've taken to drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking a lot of tobacco, and overall, have found my quality of life plummet downwards. Ahh, but in 6 years one would think i would prosper not having cannabis available. Not so. And there's a good deal of research that explains why.

The most poignant suggestion is that prohibition of cannabis actually causes more harm, and I'm NOT FREE to prosper, to reach my full potential, to be what I feel is my best, and my best is happy and productive. The state of NH has passed some amazing bills in the House to legalize cannabis for personal use, but has been shot down every time either by the NH Senate, or Governor Lynch... and Kelly Ayotte. So much for invoking our State Motto, or for endorsing the fact that "...government should not get in the way"!

Government is bought and paid for by special interests, not the prosperity of it's citizens. If Kelly Ayotte truly believes in what she says, she will do everything she can to end the War on Drugs, and persecution of the cannabis culture.

I'll not hold my breath however, though death seems the part of the motto meant for me.

APRIL FIRST 2011 - Day Of Fools; The Day Of Rage

Happy Fools Day :>

edited 11/04/04

Onion Storm hits the Northeast... no joke... another day off from work. I don't mind, except it's one more vacation day I don't have this year, and it's been one of those years with winter storms.

It's been one of those years, period.

A few posts ago I designated today "The Day of Rage" for those of us here at home in the US. That day has come. So let's see what I can Rant and Rage about - whether you agree or not, well that's why you can post COMMENTS!

We are not a country "isolated" from the rest of the world - that is more obvious and apparent everyday; from the emergence of SUPERBUGS like MRSA, Tuberculosis and much more to come, to radiation drifting here from a crippled Japan. If you're not aware of what's going on in Japan right now and for the past few weeks shame on you - must be nice living in a hole in the ground. Their disaster is our disaster, same as with Libya, which fortunately, UN Resolution 1973 actually is a victory not only for civilians in Libya, but me too, as I called for action in a previous post to help civilians (rebels, they're called) in Libya.

Well President Obama has taken quite a beating over his actions in Libya, though I'm not surprised. Sure, he seemed slow on the action necessary to intervene in Libya, but, and this is a BIG BUT, for the first time in American history we have a President who worked with the international community before jumping into an overseas conflict. France actually got the ball rolling, and President Obama and SoS Hilary Clinton worked with France, Briton and the UN to establish a legal intervention... and of course our Congress is upset!

A little background: Our Congress supported former President George Bush in his hasty decision to wipe out Iraq... while a more rational war raged in Afghanistan. Iraq was unnecessary in my opinion, and Pres. Bush didn't get a UN mandate.He was more like a kid with a hand grenade eager to throw it... and Congress was an incapable parent who couldn't stop him. As a result, liberals now cry about how we're entrenched in two major wars, and how we shouldn't help rebels in Libya.

Well, hate to say it but if our elected officials had acted appropriately then, the war in Afghanistan would be over, and Iraq wouldn't have happened. We'd then be able to assist rebels in Libya without concerns of yet another war and the cost.

Can't wait to see what Tea-Party Republicans do to balance the National Debt... all I know is it won't be pretty.

I support President Obama and his actions in Libya. Just want to make that clear.

Other Fools news that is for real...

The other day I caught a news story - CNN, a statement by American Cancer Society, strongly warning, of use of medical marijuana for cancer patients. They claimed much more research needs to be done to determine marijuana is safe to use if you have cancer. What I found shocking was that "marijuana" has been used medicinally now for decades. And they are only now waking up???

Cannabis, akamarijuana, has been used since pre-history. It only got to be known as marijuana in the 1930's. Something I've already covered in a previous post.

I would give anything to see our country become the next step in the Master Plan for the human race. An awakening. 2012.

We are the pot with the boiling broth of nearly every "race" in the world. I put race in quotes as there aren't races, except in socially; there is diversity, a birthright, that what you're born with, you inherit at birth.

I found it ironic that our current Homeland Security Advisor, Janet Napolitano emphasized that the violence caused by the Mexican Drug Cartels has not crossed our borders. But how can that be??? The US population is one of the largest consumers of "illegal drugs" like cocaine and marijuana. The whole purpose of the War on Drugs is to stop the violence those drugs cause - yet the violence isn't here??? Are they, she, suggesting "pot-heads" just sit around and smoke marijuana peacefully? I think she is!

So why the WAR?

Why were three Filipino citizens put to death recently for drug trafficking? Image and additional subject matter courtesy CNN:

The irony of this whole death sentence is that the Philippine government mostly was passive about the deaths, with government officials stating that the three, two women and one man got what they deserved. To say otherwise, they said they would appear "soft on drugs". Well, drink up and smoke your tobacco.

Meanwhile, several Chinese citizens benefited from the deaths of the three due to strict regulations the Chinese gov't has imposed on organ donors. The following story highlights that scandalous news... in that, those put to death are legal fodder for involuntary organ donation... the goal, arrest more drug traffickers, put more to death, and hopefully provide much needed organs for transplant. The following link courtesy MSNBC: Chinese Man Wakes Up - Minus His Kidney!

The preceding wasn't a joke - it's us who are the fools!!! Reality Check!!! STOP THE HURT!!!!!