Let your mouth speak archive

We can only hope the feds make viable regulations for online games.I doubt that I will ever use a phone tho,its just too small for me to see n play for very long,lol

Would be pretty sweet on an I Pad whilst waitin' at the registry and such....

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue understands the need to help bridge budget gaps in the next couple of years, and when lawmakers need money quick, they turn to gambling. Perdue is expected to back a plan next week that would bring more regulated gambling to North Carolina.

Currently, video gambling is played at many establishments in North Carolina. The activity is being touted as sweepstakes halls, and state law enforcement officials have long believed the sweepstakes halls are illegal.

The fear for the owners of these gaming establishments is that the state will leave them out of the equation if video gambling became regulated. After years of battles over the legality of their business, it is not likely the government would turn to these operators for licensing.

Anti-gambling lawmakers are already beginning the rhetoric about why increased gambling could be bad for the state. They cite the usual talking points of more crime and not enough regulation. In recent years, the anti-gaming legislators have been losing the battle all across the US.

Law enforcement officials are against the video gambling because they feel it would make officers work harder. Officers are in the group that believes that more crime is a given when gambling is expanded, but it is a point that has been proven incorrect in several states.

If lawmakers changed the video gambling laws, it would be a complete turnaround from their stance the past decade. Lawmakers have been trying to weed out the sweepstakes halls and the video gaming by creating laws that make it harder to bring customers into the establishments. Limits on what prizes could be given out were part of the strategy.

The plan to minimize gaming has not worked, and now lawmakers are starting to realize that it may be better to regulate the industry and gain the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.

Gambling interests in Alabama have been searching for the perfect candidate to come along and push for the regulation of electronic bingo machines. That candidate finally arrived last year when Ron Sparks ran for Governor.

Gambling interests poured money into the election, hoping that they would finally be free from the assault that former Governor Robert Riley had launched, but their efforts came up futile. Sparks lost the election to Republican Robert Bentley, and the gaming interests appeared to again be left out in the cold.

According to analysis by the Birmingham News, over 140 political action committees dealt with donations from various gaming interests. It was not only those seeking electronic bingo regulation, but also Indian tribes who had their own agenda.

The gambling interests may not be as bad off under Bentley as they would have assumed heading into this year. When Bentley turned over the Task Force on Illegal Gambling to Attorney General Luther Strange, it was speculated that was for the reason of continuing the Task Force.

Shortly after, however, Bentley and Strange decided to shut down the Task Force. The attorney general warned that it did not mean that gaming facilities could re-open. Strange did acknowledge that he would be willing to allow the state Supreme Court to finally make a ruling on whether or not the machines are legal under Alabama law.

Are you looking to unload your sins? The Roman Catholic Church has just approved the use of a new application called Confess, allowing all Catholics to confess their burdens through their iPhones. The creation of the app is meant to connect the church to modern times and possibly help those who have strayed from their church to reconnect. Let’s just hope you’re on a secure network….

The app is simple and takes the user through the motions of an actual confession and will give priests around the world a whole lot of free time. According to Time Magazine, the app costs $1.99 and while it does save you from a trip to the old confession booth, users are still required to eventually make a trip to their church for absolution. Users can also read other people's confessions, confess anonymously and even vote on confessions.

So it looks like times are changing for the Catholic community especially since the Vatican has given its blessing and approves of social networks. “It is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact with people at every level of our lives,” said Pope Benedict XVI.

The app claims to want to bring people back to the church but with the convenience of confessing in between checking their Facebook messages and sending of tweets, couldn’t this possibly have an opposite effect?

If you are Catholic, would you confess to an iPhone app? This is great material for a Saturday Night Live skit.

I confess im not catholic.,lol.i guess it would work for peeps that want privacy.i wouldnt use but this is the new age of modern stuff.

Atlantic City casinos have experienced about every possible problem when it comes to gambling revenue over the past three years. First it was the recession, then it was competition from other states, and now it is the weather that has done in the casinos.

Revenue figures were released for the month of January, and again the news was not good for casinos in New Jersey. Revenue dropped to $255.4 million in January, that represented a decrease of 13.2% over the same period the previous year.

January is not known for producing high revenue figures for casinos throughout the US. Gamblers tend to use January as the month they catch up on their bills from the holidays, and that does not leave much extra spending money for gambling.

This year, the weather has played a major part in the declining revenue figures. All over the country, the weather has caused problems this winter. Snow storms have pummeled the East Coast, and gamblers have been unable to travel to the casinos for much of January, even if they had the funds to do so.

Slot gambling took the biggest hit at AC casinos in January. Slot revenue was down 15.6%, to $164.9 million. Table game revenue dropped to $90.5 million, down 8.3%. All eleven casinos in Atlantic City saw their revenue decline in the first month of the year.

Governor Chris Christie has signed legislation that he hopes will help revive the gaming industry in New Jersey. Lawmakers in the state have also passed a bill that would regulate online casinos. If Christie signs the legislation, it could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into AC casinos.

Senator John Kyl played as big a part in creating the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act as any lawmaker in the US back in 2006. The senator has been one of the most outspoken legislators when it comes to Internet gambling, and with Kyl in office, it looked as though the UIGEA would remain. Millions of online gamblers have been unhappy with the way the law has played out, and financial institutions have complained about the UIGEA as well, claiming that it is too difficult to block online gambling transactions. Now, both the financial institutions and the gamblers may have some hope that the laws will change sooner rather than later. Senator Kyl announced today that he will not seek re-election in 2012. That means that his seat will be up for grabs, but no matter who fills the seat, it is unlikely that person will harbor as deep a hatred for online gambling as Kyl held. "This is great news for the online gaming industry," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "While there is still a lot of work to do before the laws change, weeding out old school lawmakers who were stuck in the last decade always helps the cause." Kyl has also been the one that has urged groups to fight against Internet gaming regulations. Lawmakers such as Representative Barney Frank, a gambling advocate, have battled for years on the issue. Kyl briefly won the debate back in 2006, when a Republican-led Congress pushed through the UIGEA on the heels of a must-pass port security bill. Legislators in Congress have been starting to turn in favor of online gambling regulation instead of prohibition. Senator Harry Reid introduced legislation before the new year that would have regulated online poker. The bill was unlikely to pass at the time, and Reid pulled back on his effort. Senator Kyl will retire as the second ranking lawmaker in the Senate. Several legislators have attempted to pass Internet gaming regulations in the Senate, but ultimately Kyl thwarted those efforts. It is unknown if pro-regulation lawmakers will wait until Kyl is out of the Senate before they introduce new gaming regulations.

He wants to “pump you up” even while you’re in drunken stupor, he’s Lady Gaga’s on-again off-again boyfriend, Luc Carl and he’s releasing a book based on his personal blog Drunkdiet.com: Memoires of a Badass where he will tell the tale of his own personal struggles with weight loss and how it is absolutely possible to mix booze and fitness and still lose weight.

His blog with no question will make you laugh and you’ll get a kick out of reading some the guy’s struggles to lose weight which we don’t really hear much about. Luc Carl is a nightclub manager, musician, runner, semi-pro bowler, DJ, bartender and the list of his talents goes on and from his glam-rocker look you wouldn’t think he was one really interested in watching his weight, but his memoirs give you some real insight into the man behind chiseled arms and poofy mullet.

Luc’s book, The Drunk Diet, which has been picked up by publishers St.Martin's Press, takes you on his journey from an out of shape, bloated asshole (as he claims) to the sexiest, most delightful man on the planet. His blog offers a few laughs and sets the tone for his book which he claims does not include “don’t do this, don’t do that” statements and offers more of an inspirational and humorous story about his goal to lose the belly fat.

Will this diet work for most guys? If you drink a six-pack before 10 a.m. and have dreams of possibly one day getting in shape, then just maybe it may be worth a read. This guy claims that he can run up the Empire State Building in NYC in 17 minutes, so I guess he must be doing something right.

Hallelujah ixgames 😄

It's a great forum :thumbsup

I do 10 push ups a day. I guess that makes him 10 times the man I am, lol.

I used to walk 3 to 6 miles a day to keep my belly weight in check. Now I have better luck with my weight just watching what I put in my mouth. It also helps that as I have gotten older, alot of foods now upset my stomach and are not worth the pain and indigestion of eating them. Pizza and Church's chicken are two foods that come to mind that I have had to back off of.

Some pretty funny stuff there.

Nokia is – for all its conspicuous fall from grace – a company that still sells millions of phones a day. In an age where the latest touchscreens and tablets hog all the headlines, the mass market doesn’t care much which “OS” they’re using: operating systems are simply there to make a phone work.

So when Nokia’s new chief executive Stephen Elop stood on a stage at London’s Intercontinental Hotel to announce that Microsoft would be Nokia’s new partner for smartphones, he was not talking to the punters in Carphone Warehouse. This was an announcement aimed squarely at the stock market. Nokia’s share price plunged by 13 per cent.

In essence, Mr Elop’s decision acknowledged, however, what every interested amateur has known for two years: Nokia’s current phones are already outdated and the company was treading a long and winding road to obscurity. In a quickening technology cycle, a company’s lifespan is getting ever shorter, and constant reinvention is a necessity.

Mr Elop said that the company had talked extensively to Google, the other candidate for a deal, but that there was insufficient opportunity for Nokia to “differentiate” its products from others such as those made by Motorola – a Google-only smartphone manufacturer – or HTC or Samsung. There was also, with Google's strength in mapping, little chance for Nokia to get much out of its own strength in maps.

So Mr Elop acknowledged that Google didn’t need Nokia, and that Nokia could not add much to Google. Looking at Windows Phone 7, however, Nokia can offer Microsoft’s offering a much needed focus on hardware, he said, and it can also enhance the mapping powers of Microsoft’s Bing search engine. Although Nokia will have to pay Microsoft a licence fee, it will also have new access to potential revenue streams, such as advertising.

So Nokia’s pact with Microsoft was not really a choice. Earlier this week, Mr Elop wrote an internal memo comparing his company to a man standing on a burning oil platform: by jumping into the icy waters of the sea, the man saved his life, he said. What’s most revealing about that analogy is how deep it runs: Nokia is better off now because it has not been badly burnt by staying where it is, but it is also fighting for its life in an uncomfortable ocean. The 13 per cent drop in shares would probably, therefore, have been far worse had Nokia not jumped yesterday. Mr Elop’s analysis of his problems, therefore, is astute. The changes that need to be made to Nokia seem to be in progress: Marko Ahtisaari, the company’s head of design, now reports directly to Elop, for instance.

But that’s not to say there are not still profound problems: it had pinned its hopes on MeeGo, which was a new operating system being developed in partnership with Intel. It was so bad it had become an industry joke, yet Mr Elop said yesterday that the Nokia engineers who had built it would be the ones who would build the future of Nokia and plan the next “major disruption” in the technology industry.

Later, Mr Elop said to analysts and investors that doing a deal with Google would have felt “a little bit like giving up and not enough like fighting back”. Yesterday, as rumours of a cheaper iPhone model spread, a prominent investor said that “Nokia is taking the risk; Microsoft get the free upside. Meanwhile, Apple takes the middle market and the Chinese the low end. RIP Nokia”.

That nightmare scenario may not happen – Mr Elop certainly knows what he’s dealing with. More than 1.3 billion people today use a Nokia device – now the company will focus on “the next billion”. David McQueen, principal analyst at Informa, said “The more competition there is in the smartphone space, the greater the innovation, the better the devices that emerge. Ultimately it will be users who choose what phones they want to buy.” So far, fewer people are choosing Nokia or Microsoft than the two companies need. Mr Elop acknowledged that he was “taking a bet”.

He’s a brave man, gambling with billions.

The state of Georgia has been one of the few in the nation that has continually rejected casino gambling. While other states have given in to temptation and expanded their gaming options, Georgia lawmakers have stood firm on keeping casinos out.

Representative Ron Stevens is preparing to change that. Stevens asserted that he will propose legislation later this session that would pave the way for casino gambling in the states biggest tourist destinations. The goal would be to bring even more money into the state through the casinos.

Tourists currently spend plenty of money in Lake Lanier, Jekyll Island, and Hutchinson Island. Stevens believes that if casinos are built in these tourist destinations, millions of dollars would be left behind by gamblers, and that is money that could go to a good cause.

Georgia lawmakers are currently looking for a way to increase funding for students to go to college. One way of doing that is through casino expansion, and many states have been successful in recent years with expanding their gaming industry. Pennsylvania has perhaps grown their gaming industry the most, adding new casinos and legalizing table games.

Georgia may want to move quickly if they want to capture tourists' attention. Florida legislators are considering a plan that would bring Las Vegas style casino resorts to the Sunshine State. The casino resorts would likely be located in Fort Lauderdale or South Beach, although Miami officials have scoffed at the idea of allowing the gaming resorts.

One proposal that has been floating around in Georgia for several years has been to allow casino gambling at Underground Atlanta. Developers are prepared to build a massive gaming complex, but the site has yet to receive the support of lawmakers. The Christian Coalition, as they so often have done over the years, has already denounced any new casino plans in Georgia.

There's an old saying that states any publicity is good publicity but that's not always the case when it comes to online gambling. Since online casinos are trying to gain some traction in the United States and become both legalized and regulated, the types of airplay they get on television can be either helpful or harmful.

There was a recent example when CNBC reran a segment which included several unfavorable statements about the darker side of online poker including both the Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker scandals. A reporter was also sent to Canada and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission their server hosts 60% of the online gambling activity found there.

In one of the other segments, then-MGM Mirage chief Terry Lanni told the reporter questioning him any enterprise that decided to get involved with online gambling could instantly double its revenues. In one of the final episodes of the segment, Leslie Stahl’s 16-year-old son used a credit card to start some online gambling transactions. Although he was refused the first several times, he finally managed to lose $100 in 10 min.

Proponents on the show said they would need an enlightened President to get online gambling legalized and that would raise any state’s revenues.

Vegas may not be the first city that pops into your mind when it comes to romance but there are actually quite a few events throughout the city to let you indulge your sweetie or even meet one on Valentine’s Day. In case you are one of those people that are starting to feel the pressure of one of the most overrated holidays of the year, don’t fret because while it’s always a good idea to celebrate gooey love scenarios, we've got a list of unique activities for you to take part in that will help you get through the day just in case you're on your own.

I came across a few events that are by definition unique and while I don’t necessarily support Valentine’s Day bashing, it really sucks that single people aren’t really appreciated on this day, and with that thought in mind, the Kill Cupid Anti-Valentine’s Day event in Las Vegas was born. The bar will host a whole night of Anti-Valentine’s Day activities including an appearance by the bluesy band Red Abby as well as a featured drink of the evening, the Love Stinks cocktail.

The Valentine Zombie Walk in Vegas is another interesting event that offers a unique take on Valentine’s Day. If you are willing to dress up in full zombie gear and take a stroll down Freemont Street then you’ll want to make plans to join the Zombie Walk. According to Las Vegas Weekly, after the event all zombies will be welcomed to the Vanguard Lounge for cheap drinks.

If you’re single and looking for a date, Haze Nightclub at the Aria in the City Center complex will be hosting a special blind date event. The first 200 females will be given a special lock while guys will be given a lock combination and the first couple to match will win a $5,000 prize or dream date.

Now, not all of us are sour pusses when it comes to Valentine’s Day but sometimes you just don’t feel like going with the flow. For those that will be looking to wine and dine their significant other, just about every hotel and casino in Vegas will be offering special Valentine’s Day menus and special events.

At the ripe age of 63, ex-California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is ready to return to Hollywood after completing an 8-year stint in politics and the word is that he may have some serious offers coming his way. Are you ready for an Arnie comeback?

Some would think that the guy is actually closer to retirement than a rebirth but hey maybe the guy has a few Terminatoresque-type roles still left in him. According to Arnie, he like most of the tech savvy world, has expressed his career aspirations on Twitter with the following tweet:

Exciting news. My friends at CAA have been asking me for 7 years when they can take offers seriously. Gave them the green light today.

So let’s think, what are other action heroes his age up to these days and will he choose to remain in the spotlight or become more of a behind-the-scenes kind of guy? He could always join the likes of Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables 2 with all the other aging action heroes but something tells me that he’ll looking for a big bang breakout role.

We can assume that a Terminator role is out of the picture but how much do you want to be that he’s going to come back as that older, wiser badass that everyone looks up to. That move would be highly predictable but according to Movie Phone, he has actually been considering a script about a World War II soldier who disobeys orders in order to save lives. Apparently, it's a script that has been floating around Hollywood for over 10 years and he passed on the role due to his involvement in politics. So yeah, a deeper more serious version in Arnie just may be on the way and it's called "With Wings as Eagles."

A new and improved version of Arnie? Sure, why not.

The analysts had started to debate this past week whether or not the Ohio State Buckeyes could run the table on their regular season schedule this season. The fever had reached a point where some online sports books had offered odds on the scenario.

On Saturday, anyone who bet on Ohio State perfection became gambling victims. The Wisconsin Badgers gave the Buckeyes their first loss of the year, a 71-67 defeat. Division I college basketball will now have to wait at least one more year for a team to go undefeated.

The last team to win all of their regular season games was Indiana in 1975-76. That Hoosiers team was much heralded, and this year's Buckeyes had ideas of joining the legendary Hoosiers. Without a major star, Ohio State had won previously on the strength of strong team play.

Saturday, the Buckeyes could have used that go-to closer in the waning minutes of the game against Wisconsin. With the loss out of the way, Ohio State will now start concerning themselves with locking up a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. With March Madness just weeks away, the Buckeyes cannot afford any prolonged losing streaks.

Wisconsin likely improved their tournament seeding with the win. The Badgers had been looking for that signature win for weeks, and having defeated a number one team for the first time since 1962, they now have a 19-5 record, and a win they can hang their hat on.

With the NFL in the rear-view mirror, and baseball not set to start for another six weeks, college basketball has taken center stage with gamblers. In recent years, college hoops has become a more popular gambling options, and the NCAA Tournament produces more gaming revenue at Las Vegas sports books than any other event outside of the Super Bowl each year.

Gambling is big business, and that was exemplified once again this past week when Republican lawmakers closed the doors to a meeting that was being held between themselves and gambling lobbyists. The lobbyists represented both sides of the gaming issue.

On one side was pro-gambling groups that were claiming how beneficial it would be for North Carolina to regulate gambling machines. The pro-gambling groups included machine manufacturers, vending firms, and software providers. All would benefit greatly from gambling expansion in North Carolina.

On the other side of the aisle was the anti-gambling groups. A couple conservative groups, Gamblers Anonymous, and the North Carolina Sheriff's Association all spoke on behalf of potential social problems that could arise from additional gaming options in the state.

"This meeting may have been informative for the legislators, but it really was no different than the meetings that have taken place in other Congressional offices around the country in the past couple of years," said Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz. "There are always groups that will promote the revenue and job creation, and others who will tout the social ills associated with gambling."

The meetings come at a time in North Carolina when Governor Bev Perdue is considering supporting video gambling as a way to lower the budget deficit. The governor may turn to gambling in order to stay away from having to cut other areas of the budget, and supporters of gambling believe this is a prime opportunity to advance their cause.

Video sweepstakes machines have become popular in the state, and lawmakers have attempted to close loopholes in a 2005 law that banned video poker. The sweepstakes machines are not video poker, and have been running throughout the state. Governor Perdue believes it may be more beneficial to legalize the games rather than try to criminalize the activity.