kschilk

Trolling........!? I wouldn't say that. It's just an easy subject to get folks riled and talking about, since any way you look at it, it's a precedent to permit the revoking of all freedoms of personal choice. Some don't care about things like that, some of us do....some of us served, to protect those freedoms. To allow a ban on anything, without absolute proof, just opens the door to unchecked gov't oppression. Also....these "studies", when not fully legitimate, can kill....take the first generation airbags as a perfect example. Studies were done and it was determined that airbags should be mandatory, because their studies showed that they save lives. Apparently they didn't study hard enough, almost a full 400 people were murdered by these life-savers, in just the first year. Seat belts are also proving to be a viable means of population control. The studies only show the number of incidents where they worked, not the number of fatalities that can be attributed to them. "T'was ever thus."

Last I heard, 10% of smokers get cancer. Speaking of "studies"....CNN reported that Stanford University, recently conducted a study about "why men like video games". They "studied" 11 men and 11 women.....out of this sampling, they now "know" that all the billions of men in the world, like video games.....and why! Man, that's gotta' be accurate as hell! This was the same "stink tank", that spent millions a few years ago, doing a study on how to grow larger rats. Maybe I can get a gov't grant to do a study to prove that the color red, when used on parachute gear....induces malfunctions.

Really, I mean.....which way does the tail go, to which side and if it's a male dragon......awww damn! "T'was ever thus."

Sorry but, after that.....he BETTER get laid! "T'was ever thus."

I'll have to concede, I don't doubt there's a connection. Like I said, I was being somewhat facetious and I suppose, playing the Devil's advocate here but really...I don't put a lot of stock in the second-hand smoke thing. As far as the smoking bans, it's clearly all about the money. Once the U.S. sued the tobacco industry, for fun and huuuuuge profits, almost every other country followed suit (no pun intended). I suspect these smoking bans are somehow a prerequisite or CYA move, for the lawsuits. "T'was ever thus."

Years ago, I wouldn't have worried about it, though I never left my rig with anyone but my rigger and it's almost always been within sight, any other time. Nowadays, there are too many new people and many are infrequent or one-timers. I keep a tight watch on my rig....between me, my wife or a buddy...somebody's always got an eye or hand on it. "T'was ever thus."

Seems to me, that based on "fact" that smoking is purely responsible for all the nation's health problems....nearly every state in the Union, has collected windfalls of BILLIONS of dollars in bogus tobacco lawsuit profits. If that ain't incentive, I dunno' what is! "T'was ever thus."

I appreciate that, I really do. Still, those aren't the types of things you'll see in the "public ads", like from the gov't tv ads or from the Cancer Society. Look at the previous posts in here and on any other forum, that has a thread like this....the vast majority of people have been convinced through these ads, that "smoking causes cancer". The claims are misleading, to say the least. "T'was ever thus."

It's been a few hours, since I've heard anything new so yeah, that's likely to be the next "fact"....they've pretty much worn out the repeated yearly alternations, between good-for-you and bad-for-you. "T'was ever thus."

That's sad. Locally, I've seen two cases that were similarly sad....depends on how you look at it, I suppose. Both instances, were elderly couples...though one couple, was only in their mid-sixties. In both instances, the scenario was the same...the wife died in the hospital from illness, not old age. Immediately following the death of their wives, both men returned home from the hospital and within just a few hours, died from "natural causes" (heart failure). Kind of a toss-up, between tragic and sweet. "T'was ever thus."

Ya' shoulda' left that one alone. I went there and searched for "cancer causes"...came up with lots of stuff but in a random sampling, I'm seeing the words "odds" and "ratios" used quite often and in almost ALL of them. Still sounds like Vegas. "T'was ever thus."

[reply But no connection has ever been made between alcohol and intoxication or alcoholism! Well, there ya' go...there's a gov't grant out there, just waitin' for ya'!! YOU could be the one to make the connection....just like they've been doing with asprin and wine, for so many years. I saw an "expose'" thing on tv about grants, a few years ago...it's quite a racket and for most, easy money. "T'was ever thus."

Unfortunately, all "studies", gov't propaganda and claims from the so-called experts that I've ever seen or heard, seem to allude to the "fact" (if not directly stated) that smoking and ONLY smoking, is the cause (not just a contributor or aggravator) of lung and most other cancers. It's this blatant spewing of misinformation, that I have a problem with. I agree, smoking may aggravate....possibly even contribute, under certain circumstances, to cancer and more likely, emphysema. The absurdity of some of my comments*, were simply to illustrate the absurdity of the methods used by the gov't and other medical "experts", to achieve their statistics. or so-called "proof". Anyone can average-out a "cause" for something....it isn't science, it's gambling. * Comments about my x-rays and those who died from cancer. were all true. "T'was ever thus."

I wouldn't expect them to, after all....religions don't publish evidence of evolution....since it's counter to their cause. "T'was ever thus."

"T'was ever thus."

There are laws (at least in the U.S.) against providing alcohol to minors and despite what you may have been told, vodka does contain alcohol. "T'was ever thus."

I had 2 cousins, die from throat cancer....1 uncle died from throat cancer and three others, from lung cancer. My ex-mother-in-law died from lung cancer and my half-sister's mother, died from lung cancer....none of the above, ever smoked. One uncle who died from throat cancer, smoked cigars....for the non-gullible, the math just doesn't work out. I had chest x-rays taken, during my Navy separation physical in '93. While showing me the x-rays, doctor said my lungs were in near perfect condition. I replied "You mean, for a smoker...right?" He re-examined the x-rays and sent me for a second set, which showed the same. He couldn't believe I was a smoker, let alone....that I'd smoked a pack or more per day, for the previous 22 years. If smoking truly caused cancer, I'd have had it a long time ago. On the other hand, I don't drink coffee and all the aforementioned relatives that died from cancer, did. Obviously, it's coffee that causes cancer, not smoking....by gov't and medical standards, the proof I've just offered, is irrefutable. "T'was ever thus."

If there were any shred of truth to that, any at all.....all non-smokers would've been dead, a long, long time ago. You're confusing fashion, with fact. Uh? Smoking is not hazardous to one's health? Being exposed to cigarette smoke is not hazardous to one's health? Fuck fashion. Body bags are not fashionable. IF it were truly hazardous, it'd be illegal....just like drugs. No connection has ever been made, between smoking and cancer....lots of rhetoric and bs claims but no positive proof. I know dozens of people who've died from lung or throat cancer and only one, ever smoked (cigars). "T'was ever thus."

If there were any shred of truth to that, any at all.....all non-smokers would've been dead, a long, long time ago. You're confusing fashion, with fact. "T'was ever thus."

Seriously, I agree with the OP....what the hell is the deal!? We're lettin' the Arab nations and OPEC push us around, dictate our policies (practically) and mess with the entire world's economy. We really don't need 'em and if we really wanted to, we could bankrupt 'em.....then blow 'em up, if they still wanna' be ignorant. "T'was ever thus."

I'm afraid to go outside! I just realized that it was Sunday, a week ago...and the week before that....and a week from today, again....Sunday!! Aauuuuuuggh noooooooo......it's like Groundhog Day!!!! "T'was ever thus."

It's a lot like centigrade....the bigger numbers mean warmer and the little numbers, mean it's cold. "T'was ever thus."

More like, earplugs. "T'was ever thus."

OK...I'll bite...how many jumps does your dog have nowadays? (pun intended) My favorite tool is the All-purpose Power Tool - the so-called hammer. Use it for: 1. Loosening anything 2. Breaking anything 3. Bending anything 4. Creating big jobs out of little ones 5. Making mince-meat out of thumbs 6. Excellent "dammit" tosser 7. Giving finish work that pock-marked look 8. Making things fit when they don't to start with 9. Cracking Brazil nuts 10. A thought-provoking item - What the hell is a "peen" anyway? Every part, is the right part.....it's just a matter of makin' it fit! "T'was ever thus."