January 2012

With increasing vigor, public health experts and think tanks are calling for extra taxes on foods and drinks that are heavy in calories and light on nutrition. New York Gov. David Paterson proposed an 18% soda tax last year as a budget-balancing measure, only to abandon it three months later in the face of stiff public opposition. Lawmakers in at least five other states have gone on the record in support of the idea.<br />
<br />
Kalifornia used to be the land of crazies but now I think we have to give that award to New York, who just can’t get enough in taxes and behavior modification.<br />

<div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #000000; OVERFLOW: hidden; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; TEXT-DECORATION: none">A new law that bans smoking inside all Douglas County Housing Authority apartments has some residents fuming.&nbsp; The law took effect January 1 but allows for outdoor smoking stations.<br />
<br />
It is outrageous to pick on the elderly and the poor which people who are rich can join private clubs and smoke.<br />
&nbsp;</div>

City councilors passed the outdoor smoking ban on a vote of 8-6. It extends beyond Church Street; there could be no lighting up for most of downtown Burlington. The exception is you can smoke after 9 p.m.&nbsp; The police have said they could not enforce the law without the help of the people.<br />
<br />
There is no reason to pass outdoor smoking bans this is just the typical knee jerk hysteria that is being promoted the American Cancer Society.&nbsp; They not only want indoor/outdoor, cars, condo’s and apartment smoking bans they now want the public to report smoking against fellow American’s.&nbsp; Let’s keep in mind that tobacco is legal and there are no clinical studies on outdoor smoking.&nbsp; As a society we are going backwards into the days of fascism.<br />

<p>The Town Talk reports that smoking and the use of other tobacco products no longer is allowed in any bar in the city of Alexandria.<br />
<br />
Nix them off and go to New Orleans where you can drink on the streets and smoke in the bar.&nbsp; The music is better too!</p>

Recently the British Medical Journal published an article that claimed smoking in a car was 23 times more toxic than a smokey bar.&nbsp; However, they then retracted and came up with a new number of 11 times more toxic than a smokey bar.&nbsp; When you actually look at the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2688598/?tool=pubmed">study </a>it does not take into consideration the outside pollution levels. I suspect they didn’t because if they did the reading would actually be a minor blimp and nothing more.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
Once the &quot;appropriate scare tactic&quot; has been published the retraction and lack of outdoor pollution consideration will never be changed, it will be quoted forever as 23 times more toxic.<br />

In addition to attempt a statewide ban on tobacco is a bill authored by Sen. Beverly Gard, R-Greenfield, would reverse state law that protects smokers from job discrimination.&nbsp; <br />
<br />
What is going on in Indiana?&nbsp; Good thing it is an election year you can vote the crazies out!<br />
<br />
<br />
&nbsp; <br />
<br />

&quot;A new study suggests cigarette smokers who quit after using over-the-counter medication such as nicotine patches are just as likely to relapse as smokers who go &quot;cold turkey,&quot; casting fresh doubt on the effectiveness of such products&quot;. <br />
<br />
The war against smokers was started by the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation to sell their nicotine smoking cessation devices.&nbsp; They don’t work and that has been known for quite some time but it doesn’t stop them from their crusade to eliminate tobacco globally.<br />

All we ever hear about is carcinogens in tobacco, so we set out to find out what carcinogens are in our food.&nbsp; There are many sites that contain lists of carcinogens but we found this link to be the most helpful. Check it out, <a href="http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php/Carcinogens_in_Foods">click here</a>.<br />
<br type="_moz" />

The General Assembly in Virginia begins January 11, 2012.&nbsp; Already there is a bill to raise the tax on cigarettes from 30 cents per pack to $1.45 per pack.&nbsp; The bill is <a href="http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+sum+HB160">HB 160</a> and the patron is Patrick A. Hope.&nbsp; Call <a href="http://legis.state.va.us/">your legislator</a> today and voice your opinion.<br type="_moz" />

&quot;Journal of Public Health Policy published this report, compiled by Dr. Micheal Siegel and his team of expert researchers, in which it was confirmed that smoking cigarettes is harmful for the human body, while smoking <a href="http://www.wheretheressmoke.net/cheap-electronic-cigarette.html">cheap electric cigarettes</a> is a safe and fruitful way of fulfilling the nicotine cravings in smokers. A single tobacco cigarette is known to contain thousands of highly toxic chemicals, most of which are cancer causing in nature. In comparison, an e cigarette is free from such toxic chemicals and is considered safer for human consumption&quot;.<br />
<br />
E-cigarettes are being banned along with regular tobacco.&nbsp; It was never about health, it has always been about MONEY.&nbsp; Big Pharma cannot make money off of e-cigarettes, therefor Cancer, Heart and Lung Associations are lobbying to ban them or stop the manufacturing of e-cigarettes.<br />