MetaFilter posts tagged with Smoking

Help John Mellencamp to quit smoking.

taumeson — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:50:32 -0800

"1,000,000 to join, my dad john mellencamp will quit smoking" Of course, country rock crooner John Mellencamp isn't MY dad. Rather, John's youngest son Speck (geez) has issued a challenge to facebook -- if 1M people join this facebook group, John Mellencamp will quit smoking. It's legit, unlike that time when you forwarded an email to all of your friends wanting Bill Gates to give you money.

Smoking Apples

atomicmedia — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:12:38 -0800

...the Apple store called and informed me that due to the computer having been used in a house where there was smoking, that has voided the warranty and they refuse to work on the machine, due to "health risks of second hand smoke".

A Few Strange Notes About Schizophrenia

mdpatrick — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:50:44 -0800

Here's a strange one for the books: Science has taken notice that a really, really LARGE proportion of schizophrenic patients smoke. In fact, Scientific American Mind reports that an average of 85% of schizophrenic patients smoke cigarettes compared to only 20% in the general population. Many schizophrenics also appear to have abnormal thermoregulation, an impaired ability to understand body language, an inability to perceive an optical illusion called "the hollow mask illusion," an impaired ability to produce a brain protein known as the muscarinic M1 receptor, and an abnormally large number of genetic mutations known as CNV's or "copy number variations."

Just me, and my books ... and my sheep

woodblock100 — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:49:52 -0800

So you've tried to quit smoking, but after having a 30-a-day habit for more than 40 years, it's tough. Really tough. So what's a man to do? Well, one way is to keep cigarettes out of arm's reach. A long way out of arm's reach. Geoff Spice is marooning himself on Sgarabhaigh Island (pron: 'Scaravay') in the Outer Hebrides, an uninhabited islet where there are no people ... no buildings ... and no tobacco shops. "... it does have the ruins of three small ‘Bothies’ which were rudimentary buildings used by shepherds at appropriate times of the year while they tended the flocks of sheep that have grazed the island." Boaters passing nearby during the time that Mr. Spice will be in residence are warned to "keep your distance, it can be a serious business giving up smoking!" Sgarabhaigh, incidentally, is looking for Associate Owners - people who would like to purchase "a lifetime’s contractual interest with the Company that owns the freehold to the island and is mandated to conserve the island for the enjoyment of all Associate Owners." Only £125.00, and you get a passport too!

junkification

infini — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:54:58 -0800

Are US tobacco companies conspiring to make tobacco more addictive through additives or aren't they? Ever since the first reports published in 1999, this has been debated off and on for years as the tobacco lobby defended itself against allegations of racketeering and outright lies. Recently they lost the case. But the question of American cigarettes being more addictive than others still remains unsettled.

THE VENUE WAS TOO SMOKEY? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!

KokuRyu — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:08:47 -0800

WE WANT OUR MONEY BACK BRITNEY SPEARS Fans demand refund for interrupted Britney Spears concert. The show was in full swing when Spears called a halt to it, stalking off stage with her dancers with no warning whatsoever. Her stunned fans waited in confusion and darkness until an announcement eventually revealed that the stage had become "too smoky" for the performers. The Toxic performer, who doesn't even sing live at her shows, walked off stage after just three songs. (Creators of the website) point out that Spears is allegedly a smoker herself.

Henry Waxman and his band of Merry Mad Men

formless — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:00:41 -0800

The House passed H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act a few days ago. The bill would put regulation of tobacco under the jurisdiction of the F.D.A. Some are critical of this bill, pointing out that Philip Morris is behind it. But the bill does contain many positive elements. Manufacturers would be required to disclose product ingredients to the F.D.A. and marketing to children would be further restricted. One aspect that hasn't been discussed much online is the impact this would have on the burgeoning hookah market. The hookah, or nargile, has a long history and culture associated with it. Recently, hookah bars have been popping up in the U.S., especially around college towns. The act specfically targets any flavored tobacco, including cloves, which would outlaw most Hookah tobacco or shisha. This could be seen both as an attempt to discourage smoking among young adults who may not see the health risks in hookah smoking and a move by big tobacco to eliminate new competition. There is one interesting exception from this flavor ban, menthol cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes don't smoke

twoleftfeet — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 03:02:43 -0800

The e-cigarette may be soon be outlawed with an imminent crackdown looming. But are e-cigs really that dangerous?

Smoking Smarties!

cjorgensen — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:59:20 -0800

Research shows that a new trend for pre-teens is posting how-to videos explaining the finer points of crushing up smarties, inhaling the dust, and then puffing out powered sugar.

Smarties: America’s favorite candy wafer roll! Of course you can eat them. But did you know kids are smoking them? How to smoke Smarties with the best! What do you do in the face of such unwelcome PR? Perhaps the best option is silence. Learn in 7 easy steps, Better than candy cigarettes. Some of these videos have been around since 2007 so why are they catching on now? This is the American candy, not to be confused with the European chocolate confectionery. (via and via) (related previously)

Conrad, you sexy devil you

Brandon Blatcher — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:05:14 -0800

There is no finer measure of a man than the way he smokes a pipe.

Smoke-free Virginia

MaryDellamorte — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:49:45 -0800

Despite being a tobacco state, Virginia lawmakers passed a smoking ban today. Their ban covers most restaurants and bars, but permits smoking in private clubs and in establishments that construct separately ventilated enclosed smoking rooms for patrons. You can follow the journey of the bill here.

WHUDAFXDOWN?

cashman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:07:32 -0800

"For the first time on record, the rate of new cancer cases and the cancer death rate are both falling in America. There appear to be several reasons why this is happening, but perhaps the most important is also the simplest: Over the past several decades, men started smoking less." But is obesity the tobacco of the 21st century? Well, Hollywood has tobacco's back. How to lower smoking rates? Taxing cigarettes is the single-most effective way to lower smoking rates, particularly among youth. Check out the correlation on this map.

Nicotine-free crafts: crafting with cigarette and cigar packaging

orange swan — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:37:50 -0800

If you've quit smoking and you're trying to get through the early withdrawal symptoms without gaining 20 pounds, one coping strategy is to get busy crafting. Sure, you say, you've made naughty figurines out of your cigarette packages in bored moments before, but now if you're going to craft you want to make something that celebrates your fantastic self-discipline and can serve as a worthy memorial to your renounced habit. If that's how you feel, check out these links. If you were a cigarette smoker, you can make a cigarette wrapper purse or two, gift tags or cards, a flash diffuser for your camera, or a model Lamborghini. Or you might launch into the creation of a photographic series like artist Chris Jordan. If cigars were more your thing, you can also use them to make some truly lovely purses (here's how). The boxes can be découpaged, collaged, and decorated to make boxes for jewelry or what have you. If you were a really heavy and brand-faithful smoker, you can make a chest of drawers. Then perhaps you should make a shrine for yourself. Cigar boxes also lend themselves to making good planters, mini memo boards, or stationery sets. If you think you'd like to take up a musical instrument once you've finished making things out of all your old cigar boxes, why not make your own guitar, fiddle, kalimba, or cigar box amp. You can also make a cigar box battery for a tube radio. And now that you're looking at what you have wrought, thank you for crafting and recycling and for not smoking.

oh you pretty things

plexi — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:13:15 -0800

Smoke if you got 'em. Today is the Great American Smokeout, a time to reflect on how great people look when smoking, and the terrible things (NSFW) the additives do to you.

Dopamine

homunculus — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:30:25 -0800

A New State of Mind. "New research is linking dopamine to complex social phenomena and changing neuroscience in the process."

Can iDrag be far behind?

showbiz_liz — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:18:37 -0800

It looks like a cigarette. It smokes like a cigarette. But it's actually the e-cigarette, and it might be the future of smoking. Insert a cartridge containing a mixture of nicotine and propylene glycol. When you inhale, a microprocessor senses the air flow and activates an atomizer, which vaporizes the nicotine mixture. It's tarless, it's smokeless, and it's just so... future-y! Of course, nicotine isn't exactly health food in and of itself. You can join the throng, learn more about the technology, and, of course, read the inevitable blog.

Mea Culpa

TedW — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:16:56 -0800

Chantix may not be so hot, after all. It appears that the smoking cessation drug varenicline may have significant psychiatric side effects. I have recommended the drug in several AskMe's about smoking and so feel it is important to get the word out that it may not be as benign as originally thought.

Stickk.com: Motivate Yourself to Reach Goals by Paying if You Don't

shivohum — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:05:36 -0800

Stickk.com allows people to undertake commitment bonds: promises that they will do something (lose weight, quit smoking, etc.) or else forfeit a pre-determined amount of money to a charity. Either the honor system or a referee can be used to decide if the goal is met. The idea is related to Nobel prize-winner Thomas Schelling's concept of strategic precommitment. More here, here, and here.

Not a Cough in a Carload

kirkaracha — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:47:46 -0800

Not a Cough in a Carload: Images from the Tobacco Industry Campaign to Hide the Hazards of Smoking.

Our intention is to tell--principally through advertising images--the story of how, between the late 1920s and the early 1950s, tobacco companies used deceptive and often patently false claims in an effort to reassure the public of the safety of their products.

Swine Before Pearls

digaman — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:48:55 -0800

On ham, with a fascinating (well, unless you're kosher) history of colonial curing methods.

Smoking while driving

Lanark — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:00:15 -0800

The UK Highway Code for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians has just been updated and expanded by 50%. New advice and recommendations include: 'Never show off or try to compete with other drivers, particularly if they are driving badly' and 'Smoking while driving is now classed as a 'distraction.'

Up in Smoke?

brandz — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:56:27 -0800

Step by Step How do you define private property? Apparently the city council of Belmont, CA has their own definition.

A Healthier England

chuckdarwin — Wed, 23 May 2007 06:37:49 -0800

As the smoking ban in England looms ever closer, some are considering its possible unintended consequences. Who will be the unintended winners? Wine merchants, chefs, online bingo sites, paparazzi, and people who make outdoor heaters. [Previously]

Ce n'est pas une cigarette

papoon — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 06:03:27 -0800

Ce n'est pas une cigarette France is the latest to ban smoking in public, joining Spain, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Ukraine, and the U.S. among others. This short article from The Atlantic shows the long history of countries attempting to ban smoking, from Pope Urban VIII to Hitler. Somehow I think these bans are here to stay.

Cigarettes packs by brand

hama7 — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 18:52:09 -0800

Cigarettes packs by brand.