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

Great news! I am pleased to announce that my first book, “Stick it to The Man“, will be available on Amazon Kindle, the world’s most popular e-Book reader. My publisher, Skyhorse, is doing a wonderful job to expand the availability of my book.

See the Kindle listing.

I am pleased to announce that this June will be the official release date for my new book, “Stick It To The Man”. Published by Skyhorse New York, it will be available at all fine bookstores and online at Amazon and other e-retailers. The book is 208 pages and will feature entertaining stories and how-tos about government, corporations, managers, and more. It is also highly relevant to the current global economic crisis, because it exposes the Federal Reserve, retailers and others for their part in the collapse of America’s economy.

Pre-Order “Stick It To The Man”: Amazon| Barnes and Noble

I am incredibly excited about the release of this book. It’s important because of the priceless content it contains — Content which will help people of all socio-economic backgrounds to deal with a variety of scenarios, situations, and challenges.

Here’s an early preview of the book’s front and back covers.

On October 31, 2007, I embarked on a new journey in technology: I embraced the cloud computing movement. I did so with the clarity of knowing that I was joining a movement that would transform how we access, interact with and utilize computers. It was a risk I did not hesitate to make, even when my financial position wasn’t at its healthiest for most of 2007.

So, why did I risk increasing my monthly expenditures on web services by 73% ($20 to $75 per month) when I didn’t have much money for such increases? It’s pretty simple: Freedom of restriction. In the world of web services, there are contracts, limitations and obstacles. These all get in the way of truly accomplishing a task or realizing a dream (without losing your shirt in the process). In the world of cloud computing, there are no boundaries. No constraints. No limits. The world is truly yours to discover.

Cloud computing is a wonderful shift in technology as we know it today. Now, with a few keystrokes and clicks, one can power any dream online without concern of outrageous fees or unrealistic commitments. You are free to explore your creativity and wild imagination to your heart’s content. There isn’t a phone number to call to add an additional server, module or hard drive. You can now do all of this yourself within minutes for how ever many units you desire.

Looking back on a year of using the Amazon Web Services platform, I can say with full conviction that I made the right choice. I’ve sent all of my telecommunication and web hosting needs to the cloud. 90% of my digital life now resides in the cloud and I am quickly aiming for 100% in 2009. Thanks to Amazon’s extraordinary work in this space, they’ve torn down the digital barriers which previously prevented many from accessing raw computing power as necessary. Their effort has enabled a new generation of developers, entrepreneurs and small businesses with unparalleled access to modern technology that we haven’t seen in the last 25 years.

I am overjoyed about cloud computing. It is the most critical development in technology that we’ve ever witnessed. It’s more important than the Internet and desktop software. It is the foundation which will empower dreamers with the tools to transform societies and the way they use technology on a daily basis. This is bigger than the personal computer or mainframe. This is about enabling humanity to develop new ideas, possibilities and endless realities without fear of financial burden.

It is my desire to share my enthusiasm for cloud computing with the world. It is my mission to engage as many people as possible in this defining moment in technology. This is an exciting time to witness the evolution of modern technology. We are only at the beginning stages of this incredible movement. Imagine what the next five years will bring the world thanks to cloud computing:

• Open source, enterprise-grade telecommunications for individuals and businesses
• Virtual workstations
• Free, global long distance calling
• Data backups for life
• And a lot more

I look forward to helping developers, entrepreneurs, corporations and the entire world realize the cloud computing dream. Let’s make it happen, together.

I just received word that I was featured during a presentation by Amazon at Sylantro’s recent Global Summit. Because this summit is telephony related, Amazon most likely mentioned my ongoing VoIP work ‘in the cloud’ on their EC2 platform.

This was surprise news to me. It’s always a thrill to learn about the places and events where my projects and work are mentioned.

Special thanks to the Amazon AWS team for including me in their presentation before a global audience.