Crack Cocaine Vs. Powdered Cocaine Disparities Still Exist

Congress has been urged for years to end sentencing disparities in the courts between crack versus powdered cocaine.  Our prisons are full of people with drug offenses but African Americans who tend to use crack cocaine get much harsher sentences in the courts.

Only five grams of crack (5 packets of sugar) carries the same sentencing as half a kilo of powder cocaine (500 packets of sugar).  The climate in this country is changing because many citizens now view these disparities unjust. It is mainly because it is the same exact drug; it is just manufactured in a different way.  There are African Americans serving over 20 years for five grams of crack and their white counterparts are getting 5 years for 5 grams of powdered cocaine. 

 The Obama administration is calling for the sentencing disparities to end.  The President also wants each drug offender to enter a drug treatment and rehabilitation program before they are released back into society.  

The general attitude among prosecutors has changed towards crack cocaine offenses versus powder cocaine usage.  Judges are expected to use their own discretion in sentencing guidelines until the laws are changed.  More than likely the sentencing for powder cocaine will be longer.

70 Million Allergy Sufferers in the US

What are allergies?    It is when your body overacts to a foreign substance which is called an allergen.  There are several forms of allergies that people suffer from like pet dander, venom, skin allergies, food allergies, hives, eczema, asthma and hay fever just to name a few.

There are many forms of treatments for allergies from anti-biotics, steroids, anti-histamines, etc.  I also suffer from allergies year round and my allergies became more prominent at the age of 24.  It came full blown after I gave birth to my son.  It seems like everything bothered me from pollen to skin allergies.  I still take medication to deal with my symptoms years later.

Weather is probably one of the biggest culprits for many sufferers of allergies.  I am so grateful that allergy reports are included with the weather forecast.  The allergy report will give the level of pollen in the atmosphere.  Many news website will even allow you to sign up for emails with allergy reports for your area.

Get to know your allergies and how it affects you.  I have food allergies to strawberries.  I had my first attack 4 years ago and landed in the emergency room.  For example, if you have an allergy to food, insect venom or penicillin, it is important to keep that information on you at all times just in case of an emergency.  There are many things you can do like write it down and keep that information in your wallet, wear a med alert bracelet or necklace too.

If you are not sure of the types of allergies you have, just ask your doctor for a skin test.  The test will also help in future potential allergy attacks or a fatal reaction which could be life threatening.

The most common allergy symptoms are congestion, coughing, itchy eyes, wheezing, fatigue, runny nose, itchy skin, stomach ache, hives, sneezing and irritability.  Most people feel these symptoms in combination.  If you have allergies, don’t be surprised if you past those symptoms on to your off-spring.

Which are the worst allergy states in the US?

Oklahoma

Texas

Kentucky

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Michigan

Wisconsin

Georgia

Virginia

Arkansas

Missouri

Which are the best states for allergy sufferers?

South Dakota

Oregon

California

Colorado

Utah

Maine

Connecticut

Massachusetts

Ohio

Illinois

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

This was my father’s favorite cake.  I made it for him every year on his birthday and holidays.  It is a fun cake to make and you will love the pineapple aroma in the house. 

Makes about 10 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup of melted butter

1-1/4 cups brown sugar

1 can of sliced pineapple rings in its own juice

1 small jar of maraschino cherries

1 Box of white cake mix

 

Directions

1. First, you will melt the butter in the cake pan.  Sprinkle brown sugar and completely cover the butter.  Place the pineapple rings on top of the brown sugar in a single layer. Put a cherry in the middle of the pineapple rings. Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box. Pour the pineapple juice from the can into the cake batter and mix.  Pour the cake batter over the pineapple and cherries. 
2. Bake as directed on the cake mix box.  Let the cake stand for 10 minutes, then carefully turn over onto a plate. Never let the cake completely cool or it will stick to the bottom of the cake pan.

Legalize Marijuana to Ease a Sagging Economy

Will the government ever legalize marijuana?  Just think of the great profits that could be gained economically.  There would no longer be a need for the drug dealer selling it on the street.  It could be sold in retail stores requiring ID. 

The government would control how much marijuana is consumed by the taxing the product. It would be a boom in farming and government sales.  This would also lead to job creation.   Marijuana alone would add hundreds of billions to this sagging economy.  It would also eliminate arrest for the law enforcement too.  That would do away with the cost of incarceration. 

Presently the only people smoking marijuana legally are those with a medical need.  There are many benefits to using marijuana other than getting high.

The Benefits of Marijuana:

Cancer

Many cancer patients use marijuana for control pain.  Researchers have found that marijuana slows down the production of cancerous tumors.

Migraines

When traditional medication does not work, doctors have used marijuana to ease the pain of a migraine headache.

Seizures

Marijuana is muscle relaxants which have proven to be an effective treatment of seizures.

Glaucoma

Most people have known for years that marijuana is used to treat glaucoma.   The medical use of marijuana lowers the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patient’s glaucoma.

Multiple Sclerosis

Montel Williams uses marijuana to stop muscle spasms and the neurological effect of Multiple Sclerosis. 

PMS

Marijuana actually eases discomfort and cramps just before a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Alzheimer ’s disease

It is believed that marijuana can block the effects of Alzheimer ’s disease.  Researchers have performed marijuana experiments on old rats.  After receiving marijuana the showed signs of having better memories and it also prevented further brain cell death.

The Best Fat Burning Foods

Just making the right choices can help you burn off more fat than you digest.  The real secret to weight loss is selecting the right food, water consumption (8 (8oz) glasses of water).  You will be amazed at how fast your excess fat will just melt away.  You eat until your body is satisfied.  I lost weight from this list 5 years ago and it is very easy to maintain your weight.  You go up a few pounds and you just go back to the list to lose that extra weight. 

This list contains many fat burning foods.  The majority of the foods on the list are fruits and vegetables.   You just eat these fat burning foods and combine it with some exercise.  It will actually give your metabolism a great boost.  

FRUITS

apples                 

apricots

blackberries

blueberries 

cantaloupe 

cherries 

cranberries

grapefruit 

grapes

honeydew

lemons

limes  

mangoes

nectarines 

oranges

papaya 

peaches 

pears

pineapple 

prunes

raspberries

strawberries

tangerines 

watermelon

VEGETABLES

artichokes 

asparagus

beets  

broccoli

Brussels sprouts

cabbage

carrots

cauliflower 

celery

chives

corn

cucumbers 

eggplant

garlic

green beans 

kale  

leeks

lettuce

mushrooms

okra

onions 

parsley

peas  

peppers

pumpkin 

radishes

red cabbage

sauerkraut 

scallions

spinach 

squash

string beans

tomatoes

turnips 

FISH

cod  

flounder

tilapia

SHELLFISH

shrimp

crabs  

lobster

DAIRY

milk
cheese

yogurt

You must develop an eating plan based on the list above.  Make sure you have three meals a day.  Remember your water intake and you will see the weight melt off.  You will become more energetic too.  Just stick with your plan and you will be happy with the results.

Just Three Ingredients – Pepperoni & Cheese Crescent Rolls

This recipe is a keeper especially for parties or just a snack for the family.   You can eat them plain or get some marinara sauce for dipping.

Ingredients

1 package Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls

Pepperoni slices

1 bag of shredded mozzarella cheese 

Directions

1. Lay out crescent rolls.
2. Place 3 slices of pepperoni on each crescent roll and then 1 tablespoon of cheese on each.
3. Roll as instructed on the crescent rolls package.
4. Lightly spray a baking sheet with PAM, and bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

99ers: From Invisible to Visible in 2011

For months the 99ers have been writing emails, sending faxes and making phone calls to their representatives.  Is it really enough?  Did you get want you wanted from congress or the senate?

The key to getting attention is to storm their local offices and call the media to cover the story.  Maybe the battle cry is missing in the protest?  The 99ers have made it easy for everyone in Washington to ignore them.  I am not saying we need to be like the UK student protest, but there certainly need to be a public protest at the congress and senator’s offices nationwide.  If you see that the old strategy is not working, it’s time for a new one.

Whatever is done publicly the media need to be there.  The 99ers have to at least have enough fight to organize on a local level.  This year is going to be sunk or swim.  Right now they are sinking.  I realize people can’t travel to Washington, DC, but you should be able to do something locally.  

Setting up tents outside of the elected official’s offices is one idea.  Find out when they are going to be in their home office, then seize the opportunity.  Stand in their way and get in their faces.  Go the governor’s mansion and protest.  The silence is becoming deafening.  A date must be set for a nationwide protest or the 99ers are doomed.  There need to be real human faces for the nation to see.