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I was going to eat at Outback Restaurant, in GA just the other night (July, 2005), on my way back from a quick trip I made down to Fla. But, it was 'no smoking' there. So, before walking out the door (as I almost always do), I asked the usual questions I ask of the manager, and we talked a bit. When I encounter a no-smoking restaurant on my travels, before I walk out, I always try to find out if their policy is for only that restaurant, or a local (city or county) ordinance, or just their chain? Then I know where to find the kind of restaurant I'll be comfortable in - one with a smoking area. When I find a city or county has banned smoking in restaurants, I put them on my *list*. Not only will I not eat there, I will ALSO avoid buying gas, coffee, ice, groceries, ALL shopping, and ANYTHING else at all that I normally need as I travel - now and in the future. I NOW BLANKET boycott the entire area that has banned smoking. (by the way, I put 40,000 miles on this year - from Vermont to Florida, MN, Mexico, CA, Washington state, and all points in between) Turns out, the STATE of GA has recently passed a state wide ban on smoking in ALL restaurants - including BARS! geesh... When I did drink, I don't think for a new york minute I'd have sat in a bar without my cigs!!!!! The manager was very apologetic, but I explained POLITELY that I just will not drop $20-$40 for a relaxing meal when I am forced to be uncomfortable. It's more relaxing for me to just eat some great deli food in my own van, and saves me a bunch of $ anyway. Almost always, Outback restaurants are packed, and have a long waiting time to get in. This place was almost empty! I hadn't noticed on the way in, but I should have. There were only about 6 cars in the parking lot. The bar was completely empty, and only about 5-6 tables being used. The waitresses obviously weren't making much, either. Manager told me they have been losing a ton of business. He gave me a large soda 'on the house', too. I enjoyed that as I drove a few miles down the road to eat at Waffle House in TN. And as I enjoyed that waffle, I thought about how we used to laugh about all those junk science studies, that obviously didn't prove a thing. Oh, chance of getting lung cancer was something like 1.5 in 100 if I kept smoking, and .1 if I didn't. Worried me a little from time to time, but happened to have a LOT of bigger risks in my life, TOO BUSY LIVING, and just don't care to worry. Also I don't have any lung cancer history in MY family, so chances are pretty good I don't have the gene. Haven't had time in years to worry about all the anti-smoking nonsense, either. NEVER did it dawn on me that SO MANY sheeple in this FREE Country could become SO brainwashed, that things could get to this state. I've been VERY patient with people for MANY years. I've put up with being called a 'buthead', and worse, and nagging of EVERY variety, from practically everyone imaginable. I FINALLY realized that I've HAD ENOUGH! GA is MY last straw! I am MAD AS HEL.......O, and I'm not going to take it QUIETLY Anymore! Enough of being persecuted, and hated based on LIES and FAKE 'science' The entire BUTHOLE state of Georgia (see right side bar) is on our BLANKET BOYCOTT List We will do whatever it takes to make sure Georgia, along with California (the 1st 'buthole state '*see right sidebar*), and all the other butholes - don't get a NICKEL of our money. IF forced to drive across ANY of those states again, I will be sure to gas up and get provisions before I cross the state line. If I can't make it all the way across, I'll get just a gallon or two of gas - no more than I need to get OUT of that state. The thing about this STATEWIDE ban that bugs me the MOST, is we live in a country where they still PRETEND that we have property rights. In Russia, where for all I know, they still aren't allowed to own a restaurant, I'll bet I could walk in a restaurant and light up. IF I owned my own restaurant (or store, or whatever) in Georgia (also CA, and who knows how many more states now), and had paid for it, paying taxes on it etc., STILL, I would not be ALLOWED to have a smoking section there if I wanted to. It does not matter that in no way could I force anyone who did not want to be exposed to that to come in. Of course, those who own their own restaurant have always had the right to not allow smoking (or just about anything else). And, those of us who are not comfortable are not forced to go there. But now, smokers will have no choices left, but to pay to be uncomfortable, or give up restaurant dining. I have always refrained as much as possible from spending any $ to be in any place where I'm not comfortable. That especially includes non smoking places. I never made noise about it, just changed my habits. I choose not to give up my smokes, and it's a BIG world, and I am NOT addicted to any particular place. Where I hang out, how I entertain myself, and how I travel is EASY to change. There is NO WAY that I can think of, to force people to buy, if they choose not to. See side bar for info about HOW MUCH $$$$ the economy has LOST due to smoking bans over the past 20 years or so. NOTE: *I* have never 'personally' PAID the extortion level CIGARETTE TAXES. I have passed them ALL on to the businesses that have LOST my BUSINE$$ since smoking bans. This includes AIRLINES, MOVIES, RETAIL STORES, RESTAURANTS - more. See SIDE BARS for details. I wonder how many other smokers quit (or limited) flying, etc. in these past years? I would love to see a study of that. My recent experience with Outback has gotten me thinking, though. Sure wish some others would think about this too. It looks to me as it we are moving toward total PROHIBITION. Anti-Smokers I mention this to seem to LOVE the idea! After about 30 years of brainwashing the entire population from infancy on, via government schools, and every available media - and all kinds of public and private ABUSE of smokers (Hey, we're the new 'niggers', you know), one thing is clear to me. HELLO - the twenty-five percent of our USA population (and the 40% in my state, KY) who have NOT yet quit - after 30 years of extreme pressure to do so - ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO QUIT. Are YOU ready for FULL PROHIBITION of tobacco, WITH BOOTLEGGING, and THE MAFIA???? Even if you don't smoke, and don't like it yourself, Do we REALLY want to go THERE??? Did it WORK with ALCOHOL? I think this is the direction we are moving, unless SOMEthing SOMEHOW changes this direction. I want to help CHANGE IT. As a start, I have a proposal. Remember "The Great American Smokeout"? I propose we institute 'The Great American Smoke IN'. Once a year, everyone who still enjoys smoking should go to their favorite 'No Smoking' restaurant, store, etc. AND LIGHT UP - ALL AT ONCE. There are currently about 265 million (my est.) people in this country. If about 1/4 of them smoke, and IF about 1/2 of those participate, this means that there would be about 33,000,000 people lighting up, all across this great 'free' country, in 'no smoking' areas. If only 10% participate, that would still be 6.5 MILLION SMOKERS. That should be MORE THAN enough! There might be some small price to pay by a few of us who do this. The ordinances are mostly misdemeanor, and fines. But I'll bet that if almost 33 million people do this all at once, there aren't nearly enough police anywhere to get more than a few of us. ALSO, make sure the restaurant or business is owned by a buthole, as sometimes there are HUGE fines on businesses for smoking violations, and we'll kill 2 birds with one stone! I further propose we do this annually on Independence Day, - July 4th. I hope this would serve as a reminder that a whole lot of folks died to give us a FREE Country. Or, perhaps, to speed things up - let's ALSO have a SMOKE-IN on the 4th day of EVERY MONTH? If you think this is a good idea, FORWARD & POST this PAGE EVERYWHERE. The purpose of the Smoke-Ins will be to raise awareness for all that smokers are NOT going away. Our country's freedoms are being torpedoed at a really scary rate, and the RESULTS will be VERY UNDESIRABLE for ALL. I HOPE NO-ONE really wants the whole '1920s alcohol style' prohibition, bootlegging, & mafia. If YOU'VE had ENOUGH too, HELP get people THINKING about this! I personally would uphold the right of anyone who owns a business to prohibit smoking therein - so long as I am not FORCED to patronize it. BUT, those who own businesses who WANT to allow smoking SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO SO, so long as NO ONE is FORCED to patronize that business. This would let all have choices. Those who don't want smoke in their work environment would (of course) choose to work where there is no smoking. Those who want to smoke would also have choices, and could choose to patronize, and work at, businesses where smoking is allowed. THIS would be FREEDOM. What we HAVE NOW is NOT. Whether or not you are a 'smoke hater', this is a PROPERTY RIGHTS issue! Please join me, and others in helping to PRESERVE our AMERICAN HERITAGE. If you have opinions or information to contribute to this subject, I will try to add it to this Weblog. I am on the road a lot with our show dogs Hosanna Afghan Hounds, so please be patient if my reply is slow at times. Use the email links below to send information, or ask to receive it. Information I'd especially like to add here are studies and links to the economic impacts of smoking bans (if any studies have been done), and personal stories of effects on you and your family. Especially, tell me what have you cut out of your budget to pay the extortionist cigarette taxes? WHO has really been paying YOUR cig. taxes? |
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buthole -noun, ab: BH DEFINITION 1: ANY location that has violated private property rights, and passed legislation, or made rules to ban smoking from private properties. 2: Any person who believes fellow American's private property rights should be abrogated by legislation due to their own dislike of smoke, smoking, or smokers DERIVED from old anti-smoker advertise -ments depicting smokers as 'butheads'. Usage Example 1: 'No, that restaurant (state, city, etc.) is a buthole. Can't eat (shop, live, pay taxes, etc.) there. Example 2: Don't hire (tip, etc) him/her, he/she's a buthole. NOTE: I always tip well, as I used to be a waitress when I was in college. But I do make exception for an obnoxious buthole waiter or waitress. |
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www.hosanna1.com Weblog Index ~ 9/31/05 My Last Straw SMOKER's RIGHTS - This is MY Last Straw I've had ENOUGH of the Nico Nazis! Have YOU? It's Time for The Great American Smoke IN! www.hosanna1.com Weblog, Posted July 24, 2005 - Updated August 31, 2005 The following is originally from an email I sent to a friend, so the first version was done 'quick and dirty'. This is an internet friend, who lives in a far away state. Since I was getting ready to travel across the country, I tried to arrange to visit and meet her and her family. She seemed reluctant, and finally told me why. It seems, she and her husband both smoke, and she (not knowing we are also smokers) assumed we would give her a hard time about their habit. She told me they have practically become recluses in the past few years, due to all the anti-smoking activity. The following is from the email I sent her in reply to her expressed concerns. I've cleaned it up a bit, and also added some links to further information I found on this subject. GO HERE FIRST, and SEE HOW WE HAVE BEEN LIED TO I will NEVER AGAIN feel 'guilty' for smoking! We have ALL been lied to by anti-smoking fascists. The EXCUSE of those who want to be our nannys has been our health, but I really want to discuss the smoking issue with you. Sad to hear sounds like you guys have also been so intimidated by all that. It's as if 'they' have brainwashed an entire generation. Did you know, I read in Science 80 magazine (25 yrs. ago?), they discovered a GENE that is associated with oat cell lung cancer (the most common form). BUT you never heard about that on the 6 o'clock news, did you? WHY? Maybe because it's not a reason to bully a huge group of people (smokers) into paying 10 times more taxes than other people? My husband and I are also die hards. We do not WANT to quit. I do not want to buy pills and patches from rich drug companies, that cost twice what I'm paying for cigs. (We still have fairly cheap cigs here in KY - else we probably couldn't afford to smoke <G>) Personally, I'd bet the drug companies (along with those who are forever trying to 'enhance' tax revenues) are some of the major forces behind the national witch hunt of smokers/cigarettes. I'll bet most of those so called 'studies' were financed by one or the other. The witch was anointed LONG before the first single smoking study was ever published. I personally remember, when I was only about 12 years old, and my mom (who was getting an Education degree) interned in 3rd grade elementary school. I went with her on some days, and I remember seeing her education materials about how smoking is 'bad', and 'unhealthy'. This was... hmmm I'm 54 now, so about 38 years ago, or about 1967. Yes, ALL the way back in 1967, they had already started the propaganda campaign in grade schools. When the studies were finally done many years later, they found what they wanted to find. And they LIE! Here is JUST ONE example: The Truth? Or an Expensive Flim-Flam? I have watched them export most of our Kentucky tobacco farmer's jobs overseas in the past few years. Many of my neighbors used to grow tobacco. Looks weird around here, without all the tobacco fields. My cigs now come from Brazil, as we can't afford to think about buying the American brands anymore. : ( I have a CS degree, and graduated with a very high gpa. I missed honors by 3 hundredths of a grade point, and was a computer programmer at IBM for almost 10 years. (My Resume) I studied a LOT of logic. If your logic isn't correct, your computer program will not run correctly. After I retired (early - I am now 54), I did an informal study of my own. We had a rooster. It crowed EVERY single morning. AND the sun came up EVERY single morning. There was a 100 percent correlation. Therefore, that proved my rooster's crowing caused the sun to come up. If you believe that, I still have a REALLY nice bridge for sale in Brooklyn. <VBG> I know, it sounds ridiculous - but if you study it a bit, most of the 'junk science' that's reported on these days is similarly flawed. They take something that has thousands, or perhaps even millions of variables, and compare JUST ONE variable. Then they tell us this sort of nonsense 'proves' cause and effect - and use it to suck (or terrorize) people into buying, or supporting, whatever stoopid thing they want. Here's an excellent and funny article about How to Read a Study This is a MUST READ if you believe smoking &/or 2nd hand smoking is hurting anyone. I have wondered if I would have been Miss America if my mom hadn't smoked when she was pregnant with me? The 'anti smoking' studies have gotten more and more ridiculous, to the point where I don't believe anything anymore. Among things smoking is supposed to cause - gum disease, back trouble, acne.... good grief, I have a pimple on my rear - it must be because I smoke??? In past 20 years, the numbers of people who smoke have never been lower. At the same time, smoking is not allowed in more places than ever - cutting WAY down on 2nd hand smoke) - yet cancer rates are STILL going UP. Rates of asthma are WAY up, and rates of low birth weight and premature babies are also still going up. Reminds me, the most illogical study of all, the one that said that 2nd hand smoke is even worse than those who smoke themselves??? My husband and I both smoke, and also both have each other's 2nd hand smoke. It's a wonder we're still alive. Did you see the commercial George Burns made when he was about 99 years old? He was asked, "What does your doctor think of your smoking and drinking?" George replied, "My doctor's dead". I feel so sorry for all those who have been brainwashed to believe that someone's smoke is 'killing them'. They seem to me like Monk, on TV, who is continually under stress from his belief that he's going to catch a germ. It is very sad. I have seasonal allergies. This means that a lot of the perfumes, body washes, and other 'stinky' stuff a lot of people are in the habit of wearing MAKES ME SICK. My eyes tear and burn, my sinuses go crazy, and I have to take medicine because of it. And, those horrible smelly things they put in some public restrooms are the worst! Why aren't we outlawing ALL of that stuff? Maybe because THIS IS AMERICA? I am SURE the same sort of 'scientific studies' that 'proved' cigs are so bad would find similar results for a lot of that stuff as well. And I guess, I must have allergies because I smoke - probably has nothing to do with the fact that both of my parents had them??? And, even if we do EVERYTHING 'right', we could still get hit by a bus tomorrow. Life is way too short, folks, - whether or not you smoke. And, I EMPHATICALLY uphold the PERSONAL RIGHTS OF OTHERS. I may stay away from them, but I WILL NOT try to tell them how to live. People don't like the way smoke smells? Well, it hasn't been that many generations since all were heating and cooking with wood. Some innocuous environmental smoke used to be the norm. It's amazing that any human beings managed to survive that. And, I personally don't care for some of the stuff I'm forced to smell either - the above mentioned products, as well as people's farts, etc. AND, before 'no smoking', smoke used to cover up a lot of that other STINKY stuff <G> Life is way too short, folks, - whether or not you smoke. |
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Lynda Farley 532 Farley Road Edmonton, KY (270)432-7272 CST (night owl) |
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'The Most Beautiful Pages On The WWW' www.hosanna1.com ~ 9/11 Meditations |
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Recent experiences & NEW Thoughts |
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SMOKING BANS COST MOVIES BUSINE$$ In the past 20 years or so, my husband and I have only been to about 4 movies (only when coerced : ), BEFORE smoking bans in theatres, we used to go a couple of times a month. This means that our 6 kids were also not going to any movies in all those years either - until they were old enough to drive themselves. Smoking bans are LOSING THEATRES money EVERY SINGLE DAY Theatres have already lost a LOT of market share due to the proliferation of video & DVD. But some people still enjoy going out to see the BIG screen IF they were comfortable. An average of 1/4 of all customers, MORE in some states, are SMOKERS. |
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SMOKING BANS ALWAYS HAVE COST RETAIL STORES BUSINE$$ For the past 20 years, I have saved lots of $, as I no longer go into a store at all unless necessary. I get what I need as quickly as possible, and no longer spend time browsing and buying on impulse. Also, I have increased my ordering from catalogs and online. All the stores in my locality have lost out for many years now. In addition, I avoid ALL shopping in buthole areas. Wonder how much $avings that adds up to? Also, where smoking is not allowed, we quit going bowling, and to those game rooms, and other places. |
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A note, about health and insurance costs. TERRIBLY costly and scary precedents have been set by courts that have ruled the tobacco industry should pay for health costs supposedly (proved by the flawed type of studies similar to my Rooster Study) 'caused' ONLY by tobacco. This has simply been a witch hunt, and intended to increase the profit margins of insurance companies, and make some attorneys rich. Why? We are ALL paying all the health costs of those who are overweight due to their addiction to SUGAR. We are ALL paying the increased health costs and for all the deaths caused by ALCOHOL, AND illegal drugs. We are all already paying our unfair share of diseases caused by GENETICS. Soon, all can be genetically tested, and jobs/rights/insurance denied due to the identifiable increased risks associated with that. One day, perhaps, 'they' will even prohibit marriages based on genetic types, or rule that insurance won't have to cover the costs of (or companies can charge enormously higher rates for) known genetic health risks. The inconsistency here - that (so far) ONLY the tobacco companies have to bear this burden - PROVES this is a witch hunt. If not, LOOK OUT - greedy attorneys will next begin to go after any and all other conditions and products that can be shown through junk science to 'cause' risks or health issues. |
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I quit drinking in 1978. Maybe I should be rude and obnoxious to all those who drink alcohol, because *I* am righteous, and *I* am 'better' than others, because I don't drink alcohol??? We also love CAFFEINE. Caffeine and nicotine are chemically similar, have similar effects, and BOTH are VERY habit forming - and it's apparently FINE for 'Ronald McDonald' to push caffeine on my kids and grandkids. Go figure....uhoh - is CAFFEINE the next target for the 'life style nazis'?. Watch out, I heard on the news just the other day, the Surgeon General's Office is now talking about putting warning labels on SODA cans - due to the SUGAR (another thing a huge percentage of our population IS ADDICTED TO). Thanks to the precedents set when so much liberty was removed from smokers, the FOOD POLICE may be after YOU next. See the links in the side bar above on that subject. LOTS of things are HABIT FORMING. I don't think I've yet met anyone at all who didn't have SOME habit that could be criticized.. You aught to read up on the history of sugar and tea. These are BOTH things that people do not need, and also are VERY reluctant to give up. Check out the Food Police links above. It WILL be their turn NEXT. |
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SMOKING BANS DO COST RESTAURANTS BUSINE$$ My daughter and I were recently on the road for almost 3 weeks. In that time, we ate in restaurants a total of 5 times, counting two breakfasts. This was due to the proliferation of city, county, state, and individual restaurant smoking bans on our route with this trip. I will leave it to you to figure out how much we saved on that trip alone. Since we are usually traveling with our show dogs, we do always have our cooler with us, and often must stay in the van to eat so we can keep the air conditioning going for the dogs. So, though we do enjoy splurging on a nice restaurant, it isn't really necessary for us. Smoking bans DO cost restaurants busine$$. If anti-smoking forces are saying different, they LIE. ======== SMOKING BANS STILL COSTing AIRLINES BUSINE$$ Our whole family quit flying about 20 years ago. I used to pack up several kids and fly from S. FL to Los Angeles every year to go see my folks. When they stopped smoking on airplanes, we started driving to CA every year. Delta Airlines lost our $2,000/year, and it cost us only about 1/2 as much to drive. Perhaps my family is a bit unusual. They've managed to scatter themselves to all four farthest corners of the USA. Son in S. FL, Daughter & Grandkids in VT, Dad in Los Angeles, sister in WA. I KNOW the airlines have lost a fortune from us in 20 years (or however long it's been) I KNOW a lot of other smokers either limited, or quit, flying as well. Didn't hear talk about it, smokers just quietly quit flying. My husband and I chuckled a couple of years later, when it happened almost all the airlines were going bankrupt. But, they got the government to bail them out. (Hey, chumps, I mean YOU - TAXPAYERS - governments generally do NOT produce ANYTHING of value - they can ONLY hand out what they've first confiscated FROM YOU) YUP, NON-smokers are PAYING for SMOKING BANS TOO, through our GENERAL TAX FUNDS!!! |
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WHO are 'they'? FIND OUT HERE! |
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Sincerely, Lynda Farley (Copyright July 23, 2005-August 31, 2005 See these links for LOTS of charts and graphs LOTs of Charts and Info Here http://www.geocities.com/madmaxmcgarrity/ |
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P.S..... for Christians. I personally believe every word in the King James Bible. 'Thou shalt not smoke' is NOT in there. And, the verses usually quoted about holiness, and the body being God's temple nowhere refer to smoking or not smoking. They are often referring to sexual immorality. Nowhere does it say that if you smoke you're going to he... (well, never mind). Nowhere does it say you get to heaven by not smoking. And, the last chapter of Revelation says what will happen to those who either add to, or take away from the Bible. I think the anti smoking witch hunt is just another Devil's plot to separate good Christians from each other. Yes, we are supposed to take good care of our bodies. But not everyone believes the anti-smoker's junk science. And there's GOOD EVIDENCE that they LIE about the 'risks', or at the very least, exaggerate greatly. If you are Christian, consider these things. Whether or not YOU believe tobacco is 'bad' for us, God, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, forgives ALL of our sins. We are called upon to remove the log from our own eye before trying to remove the sty from our brother's eye. I can nowhere find reference in the Bible to smoking as sin. But let's just take the short list - 'the seven deadly sins', recorded in Mathew, Chapters 5-7. These are pride (are you self righteous because you don't smoke?), greed, envy, wrath (anger), lust, gluttony, and sloth. Also, for those familiar with the 10 Commandments, consider them. Nope, 'no smoking's' not on those lists either. Also remember what Jesus said to those who wanted to stone the whore taken in adultery; "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." Due to continually being treated as 'niggers' once were, due to my smoking, I have more and more often had to seek the Lord to forestall my anger (which I know is a sin). We have been very richly blessed in our lives, and we pray for blessings for you (whoever you are). |
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INFORMATION LINKS Think smoke is killing anyone? Think again! Smokers & their $ NOT WANTED HERE - Ban MAP LIES! RESOURCES Non-Smokers, YOU are NEXT! Infringement on Person Rights The FOOD Police are coming... They want to close your Restaurant! Oreos are Addictive! 8/21/05 Chicago Tribune |
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July 23 was my mom's birthday. She quit smoking right after I was born. She passed away about 12 years ago, due to breast cancer, at only 60 years old. My dad, after a whole lifetime, finally quit smoking just a few years ago. He's now 78. No, his 2nd hand smoking did not kill my mom. Dad was not allowed to smoke in the house after mom quit.) Besides, 2nd hand smoking DOES NOT hurt anyone anyway - we have been LIED to. IN FACT, about TWICE as many of the actual Second Hand Smoke studies showed NEGATIVE correlation of 2nd hand smoke with health problems(possibly a PROTECTIVE effect!!!!) as showed a very marginal positive correlation. The vast majority of these studies showed NO statistically significant results AT ALL. I know many hate smoke, and claim it 'hurts' them, or makes them uncomfortable. But how much of that is purely psychological, and a result of possibly the most incredibly successful P/B & Js......... (propaganda, brainwashing & junk science) campaign in HISTORY? |