Good to see Laurence Fox actually drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette.
…
Also good to hear a non-smoker who doesn’t like what’s being done to smokers.
The shameful history of the anti-smoking crusade
Jacob Grier doesn’t like cigarettes. He doesn’t smoke cigarettes. He advises people against smoking cigarettes. And yet he believes that adults should be allowed to smoke cigarettes without being harassed, demonised, over-taxed and thrown out of every building in America, including, in some cases, their own home. This view, which was once so uncontroversial as to go without saying, makes him virtually a libertarian provocateur today. In The Rediscovery of Tobacco, Grier explains how this cultural revolution happened.
It is unusual for governments in modern democracies deliberately to encourage intolerance and animosity towards a large group of fellow citizens, but that is effectively what happened when ‘denormalisation’ was embraced as a tobacco-control strategy. …
Frank Davis 
Smoking bans pave the way for the persecution of a select group to be normalised and justified with junk stats etc. Anti-society if you think about it. A mental disease.
Thanks for the Laurence Fox link. Concerning anti-smokers behavior Laurence stated: ” Don’t solve your own problems, solve someone else’s.” Nailed it.
C. S. Lewis’s prophecy has come true. The fearmongering of the past twenty plus years by the dogooders of Public Health England, the World Health Organization, the visible and invisible Quangos, plus charlatans like Michael Bloomberg and company, combined with the public’s cowardice, passivity and inability to stand up to their relentless onslaught, has paved the way to the situtation we live in now. I hope that the level of incompetence and inefficiency that these groups have shown the world for the past four months will finally reveal the undeniable truth that their pretentions of superiority and know-it-all-ism were without foundation; hubris on a global scale, funded with taxpayer monies. If any organizations deserve to be defunded the global health network should be first on the list.
Richard Riewer
I should very much like to listen to Forest’s ‘Patriotism, Smoking and the Pub’. on Monday but I can’t work out how you do it.
It seems to be invitation only. You need to be sent a link to get a ticket.
Oh well, perhaps it will be recorded.
The link to register is right there in Simon Clark’s latest (Fri 20th) post, “Patriotism and the Pub”.
Rather early for me at 5-6 am NZST though.
I know that RdM, but it seems that I have to give rather too much information to a an events firm in Delaware and permission to pester me at will just to listen.
Ah! Thanks for the advice! I hadn’t actually clicked on it.
I appreciate and understand concern like that;- I’d be wary too.
I wonder if any folk who have clicked on it & registered can report their experiences?
I’m still equivocal as well.
Maybe I’ll give it a try in time and report back.
I’m a night owl, but can do 4 hrs sleep, so maybe see you there, coffee and tobacco.
~ Ross
I’m part way through signing up.
As is my wont, I may read through all, just as I look at supermarket labels closely.
Well obviously I need to have my info shared with the event organiser so I can attend.
[ … ]
Well, I’ve signed up, got a ticket.
It’s a little unclear as to what it is, what to do with “it”, if I can find it, to apply the ticket.
Next page, clicking on the graphic, pic, I get a seeming fulfilled order page.
No indication what to do with it.
Maybe one’s email is later to come alive with a link to the actual video conference?
We wait to see.
I see no harm in the T&C’s.
It’s just that the lack of easy clear instructions jars my sensibilities.
Maybe it’s just some commercial outfit that Simon grabbed on to.
Could there be better?
Anyway, I’ll attempt to be there, on time, if I can figure out how to connect.
Where’s the RTFM Read the Fine Manual when you need it?
Smiles all round ;=})
Lots of love !!!
We’re all human.
You can always go in to browser preferences and delete cookies, etc.
I’m not too worried about that, & I didn’t sign up for permission to pester.
Having arrived at the final page with “the ticket”, I’m starting to think that I’m supposed to keep that tab open, until the event starts, then maybe on clicking on the pic it will begin.
This is a truncated view of that page:
But actually, I’ve done this sign-up on a desktop MX Linux PC that has no camera.
Perhaps I’ll be able to transfer the link to a laptop with one and connect there.
At five in the morning.
What I find slightly irritating is the implicit assumption that
Well it should be obvious!
But it isn’t, and it isn’t explained obviously either as far as I can see.
Well you’re obviously too stupid to be part of the company.
Unless or until you can meet the challenge, goodbye!
So, to solve the puzzle … guesswork. ;=})
Ah so !
Hi Rose; I saw eventbrite co uk, read Privacy, glanced at Terms.
Didn’t drill down to find some parent co in Delaware!?
But anyway, in follow-up I got a Greetings and also an Order Confirmation email from eventbrite, the latter advising that I’d get an email from the organiser with the link to join.
Which I did, from Forest Events, subject line:
Forest Zoom Meeting Link | Monday 13th July, 6.00pm
which contained a link and also a Message ID xxx xxxx xxxx
and Password xxxxxx
I supposed I might have to have that email open in a near tab to maybe copy/paste.
But inspecting the link, it has in it a [?pwd=] part, so I think it’ll be automatic.
Also relevant info snippet, if it might further help –
But test clicking on the link (safe before event start) shows me that I need to download and install the zoom client (Windows, Mac, Linux) which I did, Ubuntu for the laptop, and re-testing the link it was obvious that it will be an automatic sign in, just start it.
There seems to be a browser way and also phone apps but installing the client seems best;- it’s not like you’re signing up for a zoom account to host, it’s like downloading Adobe Acrobat Reader for free to read other’s PDF’s, rather than buying to author them.
So even without a webcam at least you will hear and see all others.
Researching, a Zoom host can choose to record, locally or to the cloud, and send a link to registrants. Unknown if he does, but why not? It’s a live event with private admission.
Well, assume he doesn’t. Could be asked.
Maybe already answered, no.
May as well register then? Less than 8 hours left to?
I hope my alarm clock works.
It’ll be Tuesday morning 5am here. ;=})
RdM
Thank you so much for your report, but the problem is I am a complete computer illiterate and don’t know how to do any of those things you suggest, the kids left home before I learnt and they weren’t patient teachers anyway, they did everything too fast and now there’s no one here to ask what the words even mean, my husband is even worse!
I am running mostly on the spare brain power that before 2007, I was saving for my old age.
“The 10 percent of the brain myth is a widely perpetuated myth that most or all humans only use 10 percent (or some other small percentage) of their brains. It has been misattributed to many celebrated people, notably Albert Einstein.By extrapolation, it is suggested that a person may harness this unused potential and increase intelligence.
Changes in grey and white matter following new experiences and learning have been shown, but it has not yet been proven what the changes are. The popular notion that large parts of the brain remain unused, and could subsequently be “activated”, rests in folklore and not science”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_percent_of_the_brain_myth
Enjoy your early morning entertainment.
Rose, that’s sad, but I perceive you as a bright individual who might be able to click through the links, and yes, even install the zoom client, as well as register.
They make it pretty easy these days, installing a thing like zoom or most anything.
You can do it!
Just follow the links, work out the puzzles, seek advice, search.
If you need to.
Entertainment?
It’ll be a struggle to rouse and present myself that early in the morning!
I hope I can make it.
https://zoom.us/download
they weren’t patient teachers anyway, they did everything too fast
This is a common problem.
Ever since you mentionned in passing that you listened to James Delingpole I have been listening to his podcast interviews, as well as London Calling with Toby Young, daily updates from Lockdown Skeptics, Spiked reads and podcasts, The New Culture Forum and TRIGGERnometry, among others. I’ve recorded most of them, just in case they get cancelled one day.
slugbop007.
Wow, thanks for the Laurence Fox and talkRADIO link!
I had to research him;-
Liked him a lot in that interview.
I don’t have Netflix, (and hardly time to watch what I have yet unwatched!) so unseen latest.
White Lines.
Here’s another recent (July 9) interview I’ve just started watching. With The Sun.
So little time, so much to do, and view!
And hear!
The very first time I was invited to Forest meeting I had to “click” this suspicious thing too, but nothing bad happened till now. So don’t be afraid, it will not bite. :) Forest meetings are great.
I haven’t looked at Pharming and tobacco for some while.
‘Pharming’ for a vaccine: the answer to coronavirus may be in tobacco plants
June 2, 2020
“We don’t know how long it will take to find a vaccine for COVID-19, but we do know this: if and when we find one, there will be unprecedented demand for the molecules that go into it.
Several different types of vaccine are currently being researched. These include those that use inactivated forms of the virus itself and molecules that look like the virus. The body recognises these molecules when they are injected and produces proteins called antibodies that protect us from threats like viruses. It may also be possible to treat COVID-19 patients with antibodies directly.
All of these approaches will require us to mass-produce active molecules, and quickly. But how do we do that? The question predates our current pandemic.
Last year, the search for an answer took us to the tobacco fields of Spain and Italy because, as strange as it sounds, the tobacco plant might provide a novel way to meet this huge demand.
Big farmer meets big pharma
Today, the basic components of vaccines are produced using mammal, bacteria and yeast cell cultures in containers called bioreactors.”
https://theconversation.com/pharming-for-a-vaccine-the-answer-to-coronavirus-may-be-in-tobacco-plants-138496
Brussels, 1 December 2011
The EU-funded project Pharma-Planta has succeeded in producing an anti-HIV antibody in plants and has tested it in humans, with a positive result. This antibody could one day become an inexpensive component used to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. The “Phase I” clinical trial was launched at the University of Surrey Clinical Research Centre (UK) in June and has just been completed. Further clinical testing will be required to assess the new drug’s effectiveness. The Pharma-Planta project has delivered not only a clinical product tested on humans but also a production platform and facility that can be used to produce other protein-based pharmaceuticals.”
“Pharma-Planta’s project achievements have been finalized just ahead of World AIDS Day on 1 December 2011, which marks the 30th anniversary of the first diagnosed AIDS case, a disease which has now claimed more than 25 million lives around the world. The aim of the clinical trial was to demonstrate that a monoclonal antibody drug manufactured in plants is safe for use in humans. The specific drug is an antibody that targets and neutralises the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which could eventually be used as part of a topical vaginal preparation to prevent transmission of the infection. The drug was produced in genetically modified tobacco plants, extracted and purified to a quality and specification that was approved by European pharmaceutical regulatory authorities.
The results show that the plant derived monoclonal antibody is safe and well tolerated. This study opens the way for further development of this drug product into clinical trials to confirm clinical efficacy. They also pave the way for the manufacture of other important drug targets using the genetically modified plant manufacturing platform, a technology which will facilitate the economic production of important drugs at very large scale.”
https: //ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=newsalert&lg=en&year=2011&na=na-011211
Biotech pushing for share of tobacco settlement money
August 17,2000
“More than six months ago, Gov. Ridge proposed using a portion of Pennsylvania’s $11 billion legal settlement with the tobacco industry to create a public-private investment fund to help fledgling biotechnology companies.
The proposal brought into sharp relief a long-standing problem that the biotech industry faces: the need for new sources of venture and even working capital”
So far, Pennsylvania has received about $463 million of the tobacco settlement money. But the money can’t be spent until lawmakers pass legislation authorizing how it may be used.
The Legislature adjourned in late spring, with no plans to return to Harrisburg until late September. And even when lawmakers return, they will be in session only a short time before adjourning again prior to the November election.
Following the election, lawmakers return to Harrisburg for a few days before the current legislative session ends for good.
Despite the relatively little time remaining, Thomas Pease, the state’s secretary of administration and one of Gov. Ridge’s point men on the New Economy, said he hoped lawmakers would approve legislation allocating the tobacco settlement money before adjourning for the year.”
https://web.archive.org/web/20020816040213/http://www.post-gazette.com/businessnews/20000817tobacco2.asp
I have no objection to using tobacco to make medicine, I just wish they would be straight with us instead of trying to scare us off.