Smoking

Thursday

Alex Massie

Cigarettes aren't merely sublime; they're useful

Now that Hollywood has decreed that smoking in movies is as bad – and in fact perhaps worse – than gratuitous sex and violence, it’s not a great surprise that folk are reminiscing about the role smoking has played in the movies. This Slate sideshow doesn’t break much new ground – and, lamentably, declares smoking “deplorable – but it’s worth watching for the super video clips from the Golden Age of Gold Leaf. It’s worth mentioning, however, in rather more detail than the slideshow does just why smoking and the cinema became inextricably linked. Sure, smoking was a more mainstream activity and, sure, clouds of cigarette smoke look kinds cool

Alex Massie

Can we outlaw genes instead?

While we’re talking about smoking, this study points out something that, intuitively, I’ve long considered obvious: Heart attacks among cigarette smokers may have less to do with tobacco than genetics. A common defect in a gene controlling cholesterol metabolism boosts smokers’ risk of an early heart attack, according to a new study. The findings also show that smokers without the defect normally have heart attacks no sooner than their non-smoking peers.

Tuesday

Friday

Alex Massie

I hate kids too. Just for different reasons...

I have no real interest in the SCHIP brouhaha and am puzzled by Bush’s to veto a bill that would expand children’s health insurance. This can’t be a very sensible move, politically-speaking. Anyway, my only interest in the matter was in the proposal that it be funded by taxes on tobacco.  I was interested to see (former smoker) Matt Yglesias say this: The bill would also raise cigarette taxes, which, again, is a good thing to do since higher cigarette taxes cause either more revenue (a good thing) or else less smoking (a good thing) or else some combination of these two good things. Well, ain’t that a pretty thing:

Monday

Alex Massie

Today's menace to society: smoking in cars

Will Saletan has a reasonable column today pointing out just how absurd the War on Smoking has become. Saletan hits some of the right notes, observing, for instance, that alcohol has greater social costs than tobacco etc etc. Fair enough. But this is a lost – or at least doomed – battle. You want to see the future? Well, according to this Newsday story there’s currently a bill coming before New York City Council that would prohibit smoking in cars if anyone under the age of 18 was present. Never mind the fact that (even in NYC traffic) cars come equipped with a remarkably efficient ventilation system – windows –

Wednesday

Alex Massie

Resisting the exercise bullies

John Daly, Man of the People, Hero: [Tiger] Woods, who won the USPGA on Sunday, said his opponents could have combated Tulsa’s heat better with a fitness regime like his. Daly, who weighs 100kgs and has had well-documented alcohol problems, briefly led at Southern Hills before fading to tie for 32nd place. But he said: “I did better than most players last week who do work out.” Speaking on the eve of the European Tour’s Scandinavian Masters in Sweden, Daly added: “I don’t think it matters if you work out or if you don’t work out.” “I’m used to the heat. Fat boys like me can get through the heat.”