Daily Archives: February 25, 2015

Why conservative Alaska legalized marijuana. Who's next?

Posted: February 25, 2015 at 12:41 am

On Tuesday, Alaska became the first red state to legalize the smoking, growing, and owning of small amounts of marijuana, bringing the decriminalization movement to a conservative stronghold.

The frontier state narrowly approved the measure last fall, by 53 percent, joining Colorado and Washington states in legalizing recreational use.

Under the law,adults 21 and older may possess up to anounce of potandgrow as many as six plants. But smoking in public and buying and selling the drug remains illegal, which makes it difficult to (legally) acquire.

"You can still give people marijuana, but you can't buy it or even barter for it," Alaska Public Media's Alexandra Gutierrez reports. "So, it's a pretty legally awkward spot. That probably won't stop people from acquiring it, though."

Alaska is the third state to legalize recreational marijuana after Colorado and Washington. Oregon and Washington, DC, are expected to follow later this year. But Alaska is unique in that it is the first solidly red state to legalize the drug.

Why did a conservative state take a decidedly liberal position on marijuana?

Although it is a Republican stronghold, Alaskans are known for their rugged individualism and libertarianism.

"This is a conservative state, but it's a state with a heavy libertarian streak," Bickford said. "People here generally want to be left alone and really don't think the government is the solution to their problems," Taylor Bickford, a spokesperson for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Alaska, told Vox News.

And it turns out Alaska has always been on the forefront of pot legalization. It was one of the first states to decriminalize marijuana in 1975, and voters in 1998 legalized the drug for medicinal purposes, according to the site.

This time, an unlikely coalition of libertarians, individualists and small-government minded Republicans helped legalize recreational marijuana last fall.

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London Throws Together a Brazen, Exuberant Fashion Week

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Leave it toLondon to lovingly exploit an aesthetic.

The quirkiest fashion capital knows how to push atrendas far as possiblethis is why we have the Britsto thank for the birth of the mini-skirt.

This London Fashion Week wasno different.The current 70s craze came through loud and clear, withpunched-up prints, bright florals and a sense of humornot seen in the comparably toned-downNYC collections. Brits also remixed and remastered the50s and 60s with zeal, and even Gareth Pughs menacing all-black collectionhad New Yorks goth obsession almost beat.

As always, London provided a welcomedose ofjoie de vivre,with none of the apologetic restraint so often seen in the department-store-ready New York collections.

On Saturday morning, Emilia Wickstead showed classic 1950s silhouettes, perfect for a woman who is totally modern but still loves a good Hitchcock reference.There were alsoclean pantsuits and red-carpet-ready ball gowns of which Tippi Hedren would approve.

Simone Rocha jolted crowds to attention on Saturday with blown-up rose prints, carpet-like cloaks and even dresses with fur panels down the middle. The eccentric collectionwas united in its exuberant excess.

Providing a quick break from color, Gareth Pugh threwaveritablegoth jamboree (if goths have jamborees) on Saturday night. Known as New Yorkers are for their love of all things black, Mr. Pugh outdid us. There were black feathers, black cloaks, armor-like black chestplates. One model wore a black ballgown and fur hat, perfect for theSuper Sweet Sixteen of a Visigoth warlords daughter. One model was bare-chested, wearing a billowing black skirt and waving a giant red flag like a victorious bride of Dracula.

On Sunday, Preen played with such British classics as cable knits, tartan and lace-up boots, givingthe effect of a technicolor punk-rock garden party. Models sported middle-parted, fluffycurls, like a bad 70s school portrait made chic. The plaids were perfect for your neighborhood Helena Bonham Carter wannabe.

Punk rocks dowager queen, Vivienne Westwood, incorporated every color of her muted ruffians rainbow for her autumn and winter collection. Matchy stripes and plaids, sculptural cloaks and oversize jackets were on offer.

Next, Mary Katrantzou showed a collection that was more 60s than 70sand thank goodness, because not everyone looks model-esque in thelatter decades long, lean lines.Patterns and textures duked it out on shift dresses, collars were pumped up with fur or hardware, and models wore velvet Mary Janes perfect for chasing down cute boys in bands.

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London Throws Together a Brazen, Exuberant Fashion Week

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Global Futurist Jack Uldrich to Discuss Latest Technological Trends with RILA

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Orlando, FLA (PRWEB) February 24, 2015

Yogi Berra once famously said, The future aint what it used to be. And he was right. In fact, according to trend expert and keynote speaker Jack Uldrich, the future "is going to be downright unusual." This begs the obvious question: How do organizations prepare for an uncertain and unpredictable future? The answer, says Uldrich," is that leaders and their organizations must think and act in unorthodox ways."

Uldrich, who delivered a keynote to executives of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) at the "All Channels. All Challenges. One Conference" last April, will address the group again today, February 24th. He will deliver his keynote: "Business as Unusual: How Future Trends Will Transform the Supply Chain of Tomorrow." (Some of Uldrich's other clients in retail and supply management include the Women's Food Forum, TRUNO, the Food Marketing Institute, GameStop's Executive Summit, Utility Supply Management Association, and Verizon Wireless.)

An expert in change management and future trends, Uldrich will continue his discussion with RILA on how individuals in retail can enhance their awareness of transformational changes that are coming in retail. Highlights will include how retailers can learn to embrace ambiguity;" why finding a reverse mentor could be crucial; and why taking small risks may very well be the safest thing retailers can do to position themselves for success in the years to come.

With this particular keynote, Uldrich's goal is to help his audience at RILA unlearn the barriers currently holding them back and unlock new levels of creativity and innovation. He will conclude his keynote by guiding participants through a series of tangible actions that will unleash their ability to create their own future and, in the process, help them achieve uncommon levels of success.

In his blog post, Unlearn...Just in Case, Uldrich says, "the global supply chain is an impressive feat of modern management. The problem is that in its quest to squeeze out ever greater efficiencies with its 'just-in-time' system of inventory, it has left itself extremely vulnerable to large, rare and unpredictable black swan events."

The future "ain't what it used to be" and Jack Uldrich has his finger on the pulse of what it may be. Parties interested in learning more about Jack, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to visit his website. Media wishing to know more about either the event or interviewing Jack as a futurist or trend expert can contact Amy Tomczyk at (651) 343.0660.

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Global Futurist Jack Uldrich to Discuss Latest Technological Trends with RILA

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