lol, so you can get grossed out while lighting candles or starting fires?

And I mean in your fireplace, not your neighbors house!

Yeah, that will work. just like those "this is your brain on drugs" commercials used to make us crack up.

I am fwding the smoking cessation matchbook info to my colleagues - we work in tobacco cessation in NYC. These matchbooks are an interesting idea.

Hey these ads seem crazy to me (and you) but some people actually are motivated to quit by them! We have some studies showing the results of the # of calls placed to the NYS Quitline after the ads went live.

"From you all right!! I learned it from watching you!"

Exactly Cat. Not just that, but EVERYONE WHO SMOKES NOW KNOWS IT IS BAD FOR YOU!! If the label on every pack doesn't stop people, this won't either. And how many smokers don't have a lighter?

lol, blue, I find a way to say that at least once a week. To my husband, family, friends or complete strangers. Anytime anyone asked me where or how I learned anything that is the first thing that comes out of my mouth.

And geebs, you're the expert so you are probably right!

GS- yeah good point- most heavy smokers own lighters. I think the scare tactics are interesting and I was surprised that people actually are motivated to quit by them but they DO work.

FYI in case anyone cares - The main purpose of my (new) job is to address the addiction and help smokers that want to quit but can't and not criminalize smokers. We work with health care providers and train them to addressing quitting with patients in a constructive way.

Also - I probably should not post this- but the NYC and NYS have different things going on. I have tried to get someone from the city program to combine resources with us but they have ignored me

I do the same thing GS...cracks me up every time

I crack up too, but usually just get the blinking stare from people. And I don't explain. Of course I thrive on creating awkward situations. Ever since I was little I would purposefully walk around with my fly undone or with something on my face. My husband and I as a team are downright unbearable at times.

And I have been guilty of pulling the, "My grandmother died that way," when someone tells a weird story or something. They start to stammer and apologize. Wow, I'm kinda a b!tch when I read this.

And Geebs, more power to you! I am all for programs that actually help smokers. Not demonize them.

Yeah my BF smokes- so I have a loved one going through it. He says he will quit someday. I send him stuff but leave him be (sometimes). When it comes to family and friends- we are advised to send information constructively and to then leave them alone because otherwise you risk alienating someone. So I DO NOT advise giving them these matchbooks haha. And let's face it- I am not a clinician. A nurse or doctor should really be the one to talk to someone because they are the health care provider. So that is who we target. And even nurses/doctors say they don't address it directly with their own loved ones- it is a lot easier to here from another professional.

Anyway -I use that phrase (I learned it by watching you) ALL the time. And I once did the brain on drugs- I must have dated myself because some of my brother's friends had no clue what I was talking about. (They are 22-23).

"Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are NON-REVIEWABLE and committed to agency discretion, and MAY NOT BE REVIEWED BY ANY COURT OF LAW OR ANY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY."

This to me is the worst part of the bailout. Any problems would be damn hard to fix if this stays in.

that politico piece reads like a personal ad for hot economists. hook me up, liberty!

How come I don't find it at all surprising that the investigation of Palin has been put on hold until after the election?

When lawyers swarm the scene and start claiming a bipartisan investigation is a "witch hunt", you know what their real goal is. Stop the investigation at all costs. No one shu=ould be surprised.

So the McCain camp will now say that any one who asks them a real question is in the tank for Obama. This is like repeat of McCain's interview with Mika Brzezinski. That's one way to get the media off you and try to make them more critical of your opponent.

oh my god, kas... i totally missed that one! i can't believe this! actually, i can... and that's just awful.

I second that comment, kas.

Disappointed, but not surprised in the least.

rotting gums won't discourage smoking.

We have that on packages of cigarettes here (Canada) -- along with blackened lungs, throat cancers, and secondhand-smoke-suffering babies. It doesn't make even a blip of difference, people have just learned to ignore them.

Know what does discourage smoking? Not allowing it in any public place, and charging $12/pack!

"that politico piece reads like a personal ad for hot economists. hook me up, liberty!"

rofl!

I got depressed half way in though and stopped reading.

I will say this re: gums. I know flossing is good for me. But I was finally scared into actually doing it a few years ago when my dentist showed me the advanced stages of periodontis.

Something about gross gums was just hugely motivating. Maybe it will stop some smokers too? In the end it might be vanity rather than their health that drives them to stop.

I need to look into HP - maybe the company is hiring.