Monthly Archives: August 2019

Motorised Ashtrays?

Posted on August 30, 2019 by

This sounded rather amusing: Their relationship has long been fraught with bitter clashes and the sporadic volley of brutal insults. But after decades of feuding, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are currently enjoying a fragile peace and as such, the latter will … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 16 Comments

A Really Really Great Big Storm in a Teacup

Posted on August 29, 2019 by

We had a great big storm in a teacup here in Britain yesterday. A really, really great big storm. Some of the waves even broke over the lip of the teacup and splashed into the saucer underneath. It was that … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

You Are What You Smoke

Posted on August 28, 2019 by

Q: Why did people start smoking pot in the 1960s? A: Because they could no longer smoke tobacco. That was the surprising new idea that occurred to me this morning. And it’s a perfectly rational explanation. For throughout the 1950s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

To Hell with Piers Morgan

Posted on August 27, 2019 by

Piers Morgan is a loudmouth that I have little time for. But he seems to understand the rise of populism. Here’s him in conversation with someone called Ben Shapiro: 44 minutes: “Populism is rising because people are fed up with … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Antismoking Snobs

Posted on August 26, 2019 by

Still thinking about the antismoking mindset that antismokers like Ronald Bayer  reveal: In 1939 Norbert Elias published The Civilizing Process ,  a history of manners in which he sought to explain how acceptable behavior becomes revolting. Drawing on Elias’s classic study, in 1993 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Can Denormalisation Ever Succeed?

Posted on August 25, 2019 by

I’m still puzzling over the two antismokers in Tobacco Control who’ve swum into my view over the past few days: Marewa Glover and Ronald Bayer. Glover: “In tobacco control over 35 years, we have exaggerated the effects deliberately to scare … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Losing Public Trust

Posted on August 24, 2019 by

Via Walt, a couple of pieces about Tobacco Control featuring some antismoker called Ronald Bayer. First: BAYER: The question now is, how come public health officials can’t come out straight and say the reason we’re banning smoking on parks and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments