Monthly Archives: February 2013

The Hollow Men

In the comments under last night’s post – Terminal Disenchantment -, Junican wrote: I suspect that the traditional voters for parties are dying (literally) like flies and that young people do not have the political party allegiances of old. If … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 32 Comments

Terminal Disenchantment

H/T Jredheadgirl for this news from Florida: No smoking outside?: Senate panel passes outdoor smoking ban bill  TALLAHASSEE — Cities and counties could bar smokers from beaches, parks and other publicly owned outdoor areas under a proposal that passed an early … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

Tobacco Control Is Our Enemy

Another link provided by Rose caught my eye today: Almost a third (32%) of smokers surveyed in the East of England admit their children or family hates them smoking and a quarter (25%) enjoy smoking less nowadays because it makes … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 51 Comments

Active Norm Management

A couple of comments in recent days have lodged in mind. The first,  from Rose, has the following quote: “Demonizing smokers has been made politically acceptable,” stated Laurie Fenton Ambrose , President and CEO of Lung Cancer Alliance. I think … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Slow-moving Asteroid DA-14

I’ve been puzzling over Asteroid DA-14’s close approach a week back, wondering whether any of the big fireballs (Chelyabinsk, San Francisco, Cuba, Japan) might have been part of a cloud of rocks accompanying DA-14. NASA says that that the Chelyabinsk … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 12 Comments

Wartime Housewife

I had an electric oven installed a couple of weeks back. And since then I’ve been re-learning the delights of using one. I’ve been hunting around online for recipes. And I came across Wartime Housewife, and her wartime Commando Casserole. COMMANDO … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 31 Comments

Going Down Fighting

I turned 65 today. And I became a pensioner too. Next month I start collecting a full state pension. Which will be helpful. For most of my life I’ve had an easy life. I was never homeless. I was never … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 67 Comments

Bulgarian Government Resigns

I’ve been taking an increasing interest in Bulgaria over the past few months, after a number of protests against the smoking ban introduced last year, and the formation of a smokers’ party earlier this year. So it was with interest … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 40 Comments

Asteroid DA14 Modelled

I was puzzled by the number of fireballs reported last week, before and after the close approach on 15 Feb 2013 of Asteroid (2012 DA14), a 50 metre diameter lump of rock weighing 190,000 metric tons. There was the Chelyabinsk … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 28 Comments

Mad Doctors

I wonder when people are going to realise that the medical profession has gone collectively insane? ‘The greatest public health crisis affecting the UK’: Doctors demand curbs on fizzy drinks and fast food A tax on fizzy drinks, a limit … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 39 Comments