May 2011

Edmund Contoski provides a comprehensive analysis of the many problems inherent with the government’s effort to replace common incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs)<br type="_moz" />

Smoking bans contribute to sleepiness and lesser alertness in pilots. Report from the Klaus K blog available at the link below.<br type="_moz" />

Since we’re living longer than ever, why are we living in age where &quot;zero tolerance&quot; is promoted as &quot;the only game in town&quot;? Joe Jackson takes up this question, and comments on the value of pleasure and moderation in his latest article, published on &quot;The Free Society&quot; website.

A new unpublished study claims that exposure to second hand smoke in boys increased their blood pressure however in girls it lowered their blood pressure.&nbsp; We link to Dr. Siegel’s blog for <a href="http://obaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/2011/05/study-finds-secondhand-smoke-associated.html">The Rest of Story</a>.<br type="_moz" />

The justification for banning smoking by the Statesman of Austin: the smoking ban being proposed would save the state 31 million in health care costs. Tell that to Michigan, where they have lost $1.5 million in revenue a week (or $78 million a year), since their smoking ban was implemented one year ago.<br type="_moz" />

A study of 24 people actually gets published?&nbsp; Hard to believe but here it is.&nbsp; 24 people makes the findings &quot;concrete&quot;.&nbsp; Seriously?<br type="_moz" />

Smokers are still smoking despite the three year smoking ban in Berlin.&nbsp; As one person commented&nbsp; &quot;Germany had a famous little experiment with &quot;strong government&quot; from 1933 to 1945, one reason many Germans today are understandably leery about bringing it back.&quot;<br />

A history lesson from Mr. Walter Williams. Cigarette smuggling is big business, just as smuggling liquor was in the 1930’s when we had prohibition.&nbsp; &quot;A recent study Michael LaFaive and Todd Nesbit of the Midland, Michigan-based Mackinac Center for Public Policy titled &ldquo;Cigarette Taxes and Smuggling&rdquo; shows that states with the highest cigarette smuggling rates are those with the highest tobacco taxes.&quot;