Job Discussion Forums

[Phil_K]

Thank you - I didn't know about that.

[kosherpickle]

It cracks me up every time it comes to fruition.

[jonniboy]

I'd support it all if it wasn't the thin end of the wedge. I'm one of those social smokers who 'bums cigarettes' as Guy puts it. (In Ireland we call them chipper smokers though I'm not sure if that a British / American English difference or just an Ireland thing.)

In Latvia originally it was banned by default except where premises could show that they have a hermetically sealed room for smokers. Curiously places which deal in water pipes, an increasingly trendy thing in Riga, seem to be exempt. In practice it's resulted in about 95% of places becoming smoke free. A nice compromise as those who didn't want to smoke in sub zero temperatures still have places to go to. In practice, in some of 'em due to the number of smokers crammed in, it's often better to go outside anyway.

Unfortunately they're now talking about banning smoking in public altogether in Riga which seems to me a step too far.

It was the same in UK. Originally bars were to be given the choice - to serve food or allow smoking but then the legislation got changed. I just don't have confidence in governments who start down this public health route. In Ireland, it was smoking at first but then it became alcohol with happy hours now illegal and restrictive bar opening hours. What next - fatty foods, car use?

[Guy Courchesne]

[MO39]

New York City has recently passed a law encouraging restaurants to stop using partially hydrogenated or trans fats in their kitchens. These substances are incredibly unhealthy - their main use is as a preservative rather than to add flavor to foods. There are lots more details about this on the internet, if anyone cares to investigate it further.

[dixie]

There are a ton of things that are bad for us, but until recently, with all of our scientific knowledge, and ability, these bads things were allowed, and sometimes encouraged.

Really, if we make all of the "bad" things illegal, what is going to stop the population from growing more out of control, and thus, consuming the earth at a rate that cannot be tolerated?

Sounds harsh, but how many people cannot afford or have access to simple daily food intake needs?

[Guy Courchesne]

[MO39]

Well, New Jersey gets a bad enough rap as it is - it doesn't need all of NYC's MacDonalds fast food joints! Actually, all the MacDonald''s management has to do is to think of a way to make its "tasty treats" using healthier ingredients. I wonder if that would raise their prices...

[notamiss]

[MELEE]

Here's an interesting side bar to the story.

U.N. Organization Says Tobacco Now Causes 10 Percent of World's Adult Deaths

[dixie]

[MO39]

[M@tt]

did anyone else read about the recent study that concluded it is cheaper for the government to treat obese people and smokers, who will die quite soon, rather than healthy people, who live too long and end up with long, drawn out problems later in life? it was in response to the argument that smokers and fat people cost the health care system too much money.
i think you should just be able to shoot people that are really annoying.

[Guy Courchesne]

[Phil_K]