Thanks for Smoking Again

Smoking is in the news again.

Out of the few people who read this, almost all of the females commented about the grossness of the cancer smoking picture from a few months ago. Well I'm happy to report that these types images will soon be on all cigarette packs starting next year.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/06/21/fda-issues-graphic-cigarette-labels/

So now you can be grossed out all the time. Maybe a vomit bag should be included with each pack now?

Thank You For Smoking

I don't think I've delved into many political issues, although I try to stay current on as much as possible. Perhaps they will become the subject of more posts. I bring this one up because it came up today and was humorous to me.

Working outside by myself I'm left to my thoughts and the radio most of the day. My headset is only FM so I'm not privy to any AM shows. My current radio lineup is:

• Rick and Bubba - when I wake up - 10:00 AM
• Glenn Beck - 10-11 AM
• Rush Limbaugh - 11-2 AM (If I can't pick up station or its a big sports day then "The Round Table")
• Variety Hour - either Paul Finebaum  or Todd Schnitt
• Rick and Bubba Replay - 3 PM til I pickup where I started in the morning
• Back to Finebaum, Schnitt, or News
• Michael Savage - 6 PM til I get home

I rarely listen to music unless its the weekend or some other situation which has yet to arise.

One issue that has always intrigued me is smoking. Let me start by saying I've never smoked, never intend to, and think its a horrible habit. The anti-smoking campaign was well ingrained to me. If you ask me what I remember about elementary school it would be tire swings and the D.A.R.E. Program.

If they wanted us to learn anything it was that smoking was bad. After one such program I intended to warn my sweet old neighbors Mrs Ernie and Mr. Buddy that smoking was killing them. I made it halfway over, then realized I was a small child and panicked at the thought of explaining to them how bad smoking was. Mrs Ernie is still living, still smoking, and has to be in her 80s.

Smoking has gone from common practice to being demonized and to avoid like the plague.

I'm not so much interested in discussing the health consequences of smoking, but rather the government response to smoking. As mentioned above, we have been inundated with the negatives of smoking since our youth. Everyone knows they're bad for you, yet some people still smoke. Fine by me. In fact I think it is the only product where the makers advertise for you to not buy their product.
So the government, on all levels, continues to tell you not to smoke and makes them out to be the worst thing in the world.

But rather than banning them all together because they are so bad, their way of "helping" you to not smoke are "sin taxes." A plan to try to make them so expensive you wouldn't want to smoke.

In some states they have become so expensive there are now black markets for them. These high taxes have become a big source of revenue for states. To the point they are dependent on them. I haven't heard on any government entity that is doing well financially right now, so they are scrounging for any source of revenue.

I have heard two stories as of late that made me think of this. First, several New England states are considering lowering their cigarette taxes and second, Illinois is in the process of passing a bill to reverse a 2008 ban on smoking in casinos. This seems to be sending a mixed message to the kids. Why would the states be trying to lower taxes or repeal bans? The answer....Money. The only reason to lower prices is to sell more in your own state. Perhaps their demonizing campaign over the years has actually worked and less people are smoking. Not good news for the government. The fact is they need you to smoke so they can keep funding all their projects. They have hurt their golden goose.

I recently heard a story about MSU's newly retired sports play by play announcer, Jack Crisitl. Cristil is now 85 and still smokes to my knowledge. Recently someone inquired about why he still smokes despite all the negative health aspects? Cristil responded by saying, "Son my dad lived to be (I forget the exact age) 95." The reporter responded by asking if his father smoked as well. Cristil answered, "No, he minded his own business."


If smoking is so bad then ban it. Don't demonize it in the streets and then get addicted yourself to the money.

If you want to smoke, then go ahead. I only want the government to intervene when your freedoms start to infringe on mine, and I don't think smoking does.

Blowing in the Wind - A Prelude to 'Wasteful Wednesday'

I haven't had a ranting post yet and really don't want it to become the theme of this blog. Rather, I occasionally have observations about how the powers at be do things and it sometimes frustrates me. So, as a way to voice my grievances I will use this rarely viewed blog. Seems efficient enough. I shall try to limit these things to once a week and will call it 'Wasteful Wednesday' (until I come up with a cooler name). Since this is the first of its nature it is exempt from actually occurring on a Wednesday.

As a conservative, I get quite frustrated with government waste. After all it is the taxpayers money they are wasting and since I pay taxes, it is my money too. If private companies want to waste their money, then go right ahead. Since they are required to actually make a profit, waste is usually hard to come by in the private sector. Government on the other hand, does not have to make a profit and we don't have a choice when it come to giving them our money. And it seems they are constantly wanting more and more.

So the point of these 'Wasteful Wednesday' entries will be to point out government waste (hopefully with a picture) and illustrate how if they weren't so wasteful they wouldn't need more money. (Conspiracy theorists may argue they are intentionally wasteful so they can take more of our money and thus rule over us completely since they would own everything.)

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Mississippi State University and wouldn't trade it for anything. However, in my 7 years there have been a couple consistent negative threads.

1. Losing football seasons.
2. Increases in tuition.

Football has at least shown some promise, but I don't see them lowering tuition anytime soon. Tuition increases are justified as a way to cover increased university costs. One big expense and one we are consistently encouraged to do our part to lessen, is energy expenses. Lights have been turned off, thermostats regulated, and a team formed to combat wasting energy.

In my limited energy knowledge I know that lights are mere peanuts when compared with heating and cooling costs. Those are greatly influenced my how well a building is insulated. This brings us (finally, I know) to our first example of 'Wasteful Wednesday' (I already hate that title).

In my little corner of campus (Dorman Hall) I am greeted by a shot of cool or hot air, depending on the season, when I come to the building. At everyone of the 5 main level entrances to Dorman Hall there is about a half to one inch gap between the double doors.

I would suspect turning off every light in the building would be comparable to the amount of energy lost 24 hours a day through these 5 sets of doors.  I believe this poor design was a result of a recent redesign to add keycard access to every door. I don't know why that would prevent installing doors that actually touch.

I know its a small point, but just a thought I had as I enter and leave this building everyday.

Fortunately, during the winter you won't need to get inside to warm your hands, just hold them up to energy 'Blowing in the wind.'