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Mandatory Minimums

March 21st, 2012

WHAT’S WRONG WITH MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES?

  • aggravating factors under Bill C-15 are vague, including the term “any other public place usually frequented by persons under the age of 18 years.” This could be anywhere, and you won’t know until it’s too late!
  • In 2006, 4737 Canadians between 12 and 17 were charged with a cannabis offence. Because of Bill C-15 this number will rise, and the aggravating factors developed TO HELP YOUTH will be SENDING MORE YOUTH TO JAIL!
  • A 2002 Justice Department of Canada report concluded that mandatory minimum sentences (MMS) are least effective in relation to drug offences.
  • Mandatory Minimum Sentences are “tough on the wrong people”. The supposed targets for these sentences – the Kingpins – are in the best position to negotiate lighter or no sentence deals with the prosecutors. Instead youth and their families will bear the brunt of harsher penalties, longer trials, and expensive fees.
  • Mandatory-sentencing policies have produced record incarceration rates of non-violent drug users in the United States.
  • The US Sentencing Commission also concluded that MMS fail to deter crime and reported that that only 11% of federal drug defendants are high-level drug dealers, 59% of crack defendants are street level dealers compared to 5% of defendants who are high level crack dealers.

WHAT’S WRONG? THEY DON”T WORK!

Instead of ‘GETTING TOUGH’ why aren’t we ‘GETTING SMART’?

Instead of pretending a stricter prohibition will work, why aren’t our politicians WORKING TO END PROHIBITION?

Prohibition causes the violence we see on our streets.

The US puts 60 billion a year in the drug war. Canada spends just under 400 million a year. Even if the rest of the world spends 100 billion that only puts us to half of what the drug world takes in every year. This war is killing us and destroying our most vulnerable citizens, i.e. addicts, sex trade workers, and the mentally ill. Stop the insanity. End Prohibition!

CSSDP is in favour of a full regulatory regime for drugs. Give the power to our health care professionals. Take the funding away from the criminal enterprise.

To learn more about what we are advocating please come to our event which will be full of top voices in the drug policy world, great music and culture.

Society
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iPad Wall Mounting; For Additional Function and Style

April 27th, 2012

The iPad wall mounting accessory is probably one of the hottest
accessories released for the Apple product. The accessory allows iPad users to mount their devices on the wall for aesthetic and functional
purposes. Wall mounting is perfect for stores and other business environments because business owners can display their products or
services. They can also perform demonstrations using the wall-mounted iPad. Wall mounts are not at all expensive and can be installed in just a
few minutes so any store that opts to use this can become a trend setter without much to lose.

iPad wall mounts are made of different materials such as aluminum and plastic. Sometimes, manufacturers go as far as using steel. The construction is rigid and the design comes in variety so that iPad users can match the device to the accessory. These wall brackets brag their stealthy socket head screws which are specifically designed to prevent the iPad from getting stolen. So there is no reason for you to worry because your clever device is protected by a clever accessory.

To further protect the iPad, the home panel is covered. This is to prevent illegal access and thus you are assured that your customers only
have access to the information that you want to feed them. Now, your how-to’s or your product feature presentation, even giving instructions
are done “new school.” And to make everything neat and tidy, these wall brackets are designed to conceal cords. Indeed, that will look professional.

Using the iPad wall mounts at home is beneficial too. You can have one installed in the kitchen so while you are cooking, you can check your
recipes. The iPad is protected from getting knocked down and from elements like water, oil or sauce. It keeps the device away from
children, too. You do not need special skills to install an iPad wall mount. All you need to do is to follow simple instructions and presto,
you have an iPad wall mounting for additional function and style.

Gadgets
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How to Enjoy Stress-Free Body Piercing Sessions

April 23rd, 2012

Nose piercings
Getting a new piercing is a decision that requires research, analysis and mental preparation. Follow the tips below to enjoy a stress-free piercing session. Tips vary from knowing what not to drink right before your appointment to which kind of jewelry to choose if you have metallic sensitivities (PTFE is a great option).

1. First, select a licensed jeweler or body piercer that comes with sterling recommendations from friends. If your friends cannot recommend a piercer, conduct research online for the best in your local area. You can even check their history with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to ensure any consumer complaints are minimal.

2. Visit the piercing shop. If it looks dirty or anything makes you feel uncomfortable, select another venue.

3. After your visit, if you feel comfortable with the piercing salon, make an appointment.

4. Before your appointment, make sure you get a good night’s sleep.

5. Eat a meal before your piercing session, but do not drink alcohol. Although alcohol may be tempting to consume before getting pierced, fight this urge. You need to be completely sober when getting pierced.

6. Arrive at your scheduled appointment in comfortable clothes. Ask any pertinent questions of the piercing staff. If you have any misgivings or trepidation about the experience, you can also leave at this time. Politely excuse yourself and exit – do not worry about feeling rude; this is your body, and you need to protect it.

7. Choose jewelry made with PTFE if possible; the nonstick compound in this jewelry promotes faster healing. Also, many people are allergic to many metals often used in jewelry – if you are sensitive to many jewelry metals, PTFE is an excellent option for you.

7. If you are ready for the piercing, take several deep breaths. A good piercer will reassure you and let you know what he or she is doing during each step of the process, if you want to know.

8. Strictly follow the piercer’s after-care instructions to avoid infection and discomfort.

General
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Vinyl Siding is Pretty Darn Cost-Effective!

April 21st, 2012

When considering vinyl siding as a cladding option for exteriors, homeowners and building owners in NJ are a bit skeptical at first; they
wonder if choosing plastic over cement board or steel is really a good idea. Common sense might tell you ‘no’, but a vinyl siding NJ contractor will tell you ‘yes’. And who knows better than an experienced and specialized vinyl contactor in NJ?!

The truth is, there are many advantages of vinyl as a siding option; probably more than any other type of siding on the market today. However, as with most things in life, along with advantages, come disadvantages. Now the question is what are these pros and cons? And which outweighs the other?

The advantages:

Inexpensive – If you take some time out to compare market prices for different siding types, you’ll find vinyl to be the least expensive; and
not just by a few bucks, the margin is huge! This is one obvious reason why vinyl siding NJ sales are rapidly increasing.

Low Maintenance – Since vinyl can go numerous years without fading, there’s really not much one needs to do to maintain this type of siding.
Just a hosing with a mild detergent every few months is enough to keep them looking as good as new.

Durable – Vinyl is a type of plastic made from polyvinyl chloride which is extremely hardwearing. It can withstand some of the most harsh
weather conditions, including acid rain, scorching sunlight, high levels of moisture, etc. Through it all, you can rest assured that your vinyl
siding, unlike any other siding, will resist whatever furies Mother Nature throws at them.

The disadvantages:

Inconsistent Grades – The thickness grades vary in vinyl siding. The most durable one is the ‘super thick grade’ (0.050); while those below
0.040 are quite weak and brittle. Buyers are often fooled by the sturdy appearance of weaker grades and end up being disappointed with this vinyl siding once it starts to endure damages.

Cannot Be Stained – Unlike some siding types, it is not possible to stain vinyl. This means that if a part of the siding is ever damaged in
the future, finding an exact match, color-wise and texture-wise, is very difficult. The worst case scenario would be having to replace the whole
clad wall, should a perfect match not turn up.

Now that you know the pros and cons, you’ll probably agree with any NJ vinyl siding contractor that the disadvantages can be overlooked when
you have such favourable advantages.

Home, Garden, & Family How-to & Home Improvements
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The role of poverty in the extinction of wild animals

March 21st, 2012

The poor condition and underdevelopment in Africa has led to a lot of miseries. Aside from the people, the African wildlife is also badly affected. Poverty pushes a lot of people to kill wild animals for profit. For decades, monkeys, crocodiles, rhinoceros, and elephants were slaughtered. Concerned people and organizations risked their lives to be able to save these animals from extinction. More enterprising individuals developed African safari tours to promote wildlife conservation and earn for the funding of various projects. They may not have the power to change the economic and political conditions in Africa but their passion to save the animals is enough for them to be heard. There have been triumphs and failures but the important thing is that more people are aware of the consequences of killing these animals.

Read the rest of this entry »

Society
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Minimize environmental destruction!

March 21st, 2012

The concept of organic living is not only limited to eating organically grown produce. It compasses other aspects of human existence. An organic way of life can be the recycling and proper disposal of waste materials. It can also be the use and consumption of organic items other than food. Some of these items are the fabrics for daily use like clothes, bed sheets, blankets, and curtains. One of the most important among these items is the organic baby clothes. Among family members, infants are the ones who are more vulnerable to illnesses. Providing them with comfortable organic clothes reduces the chance of allergies affecting the respiratory system as well as the skin. The underdeveloped lungs and sensitive skin of a baby are instantly affected by foreign matters especially synthetic materials.

Aside from foods grown in organic farms, there are also farms dedicated in the production of natural cottons. These farms maybe operated by families or organizations which are advocates of sustainable living and the protection of the environment. This is actually an old concept of agriculture that is being revived because of environmental concerns. The administrators of these organic farmlands ensure that they adhere to the standards set by international organizations pertaining to organic farming. They only utilize organic resources and processes in their operation. The production of natural cottons entails stricter processing methods and processes especially the ones to be used in clothing. The finished products must pass organic quality testing to be able to be classified as organic raw materials. It is only then that it can be used in the manufacturing of baby clothes. Read the rest of this entry »

Shopping Society
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