Because cell phones are now such a regular feature of our everyday lives –and because many people possess phone deals that give them unlimited text messaging – the researchers argue that text messages can be used as a cheap and convenient method of amassing data about smoking habits.
They say that by encouraging smokers to send a few texts each day which detail their smoking behaviours, health experts can help to monitor and assess the frequency of patients’ cigarette smoking sessions. When asked how many cigarettes they smoke daily smokers often provide inaccurate data, because they forget or misjudge their daily consumption levels.
The researchers, who are from the University of Michigan and the University of California, carried out tests in which they used training games to hone individuals’ self-control abilities. They used cell phones to gather data because doing so saved the cost of providing test subjects with new equipment, and was also convenient for the subjects.
Challenges were set for smokers with the aim of improving their self-control: a major factor in whether they are able to overcome nicotine cravings which offset many people on their paths to giving up smoking.
The World Health Organization estimates that there are 1 billion male smokers and 250 million smokers worldwide. Tobacco consumption is a major cause of illness and death. When primary breadwinners die or are too ill to work due to smoking-related disease, entire families can be thrown into poverty, the WHO reports.
понедельник, 28 марта 2011 г.
пятница, 25 марта 2011 г.
Worse Than Cigarettes, Crack and Daytime TV
I went to bed, thankful that our bedrooms were on the second floor and confident that the floodwaters wouldn’t follow me upstairs.
I got into bed adjusting the covers and my life jacket.
I wasn’t comfortable around water. We could never understand why Bridget, our daughter, could love sailing so much when I had to take Dramamine before getting into the Jacuzzi.
I know kids with parents over 7 feet tall will be dunking by preschool, and kids with tiger moms will be brilliant and in therapy for the rest of their lives, but sailing?
While rolling over (challenging when wearing a bulky life jacket), I realized what I had passed on to the kids: my allergies.
I finally got to sleep listening to the soft sounds of the waves breaking downstairs.
Early the next morning I walked past our living room, ignoring the croaking of the frogs atop their lily pads and the lone fisherman in waders next to the fireplace. I searched out and asked (with a strong hint of begging) two able-bodied neighbors what we should do next.
And they are good neighbors. They reminded me of just what this country was built upon hundreds of years ago: friends helping friends harvest that crop, raise that barn and kill those pesky Indians.
But we all knew what was lurking in our living room.
Wes Craven was behind the camera, and this was something worse than Jason, Attila the Hun or Lady Gaga.
It was Mold and Mildew.
That’s right, Mold and Mildew—the real reason dinosaurs became extinct.
Oh, there are other deadly duos: Hitler and Himmler, Sturm und Drang (German, too, but not as bad) and Rodgers and Hammerstein (torturous, boring musicals).
But Mold and Mildew are silent assassins that slip into your respiratory system under the guise of innocent drywall, their ugly spores forming a rave in your lungs forcing you to cough up noxious, infected sputum and then, very much like the black plague, kill you.
Or something like that.
I’d rather be bitten in half by a great white shark.
My good neighbors and I jumped right into the lake and began ripping up the carpet (I was the only one wearing a haz-mat suit) and in no time at all we had huge, sopping chunks of carpet littering our front yard.
I thought of leaving the carpet there and maybe adding a Buick before remembering we weren’t in West Virginia.
One of the good neighbors vacuumed up the water (“vacuuming water” is an astonishing concept that I’ve always thought unattainable—much like splitting an atom or Simon Cowell being modest), while I ripped off the baseboards (a favorite nesting place for Mold and Mildew to spawn their pernicious brood!).
The drywall was mushy, and knowing very little about drywall, except that it’s a compound word, I called a drywall “expert” to come out and assess.
He was sympathetic to our position and gave us his professional opinion: “If I don’t remove this rotting drywall already festering with Mold and Mildew, you, your family, and all your distant relatives will be dead in a week.”
A bit skeptical but also hysterical, I agreed to pay for the immediate removal of the drywall and though thinking the cost of his kid’s college tuition was a bit high, I still felt responsible for saving June’s Aunt Pat on the East Coast.
I got into bed adjusting the covers and my life jacket.
I wasn’t comfortable around water. We could never understand why Bridget, our daughter, could love sailing so much when I had to take Dramamine before getting into the Jacuzzi.
I know kids with parents over 7 feet tall will be dunking by preschool, and kids with tiger moms will be brilliant and in therapy for the rest of their lives, but sailing?
While rolling over (challenging when wearing a bulky life jacket), I realized what I had passed on to the kids: my allergies.
I finally got to sleep listening to the soft sounds of the waves breaking downstairs.
Early the next morning I walked past our living room, ignoring the croaking of the frogs atop their lily pads and the lone fisherman in waders next to the fireplace. I searched out and asked (with a strong hint of begging) two able-bodied neighbors what we should do next.
And they are good neighbors. They reminded me of just what this country was built upon hundreds of years ago: friends helping friends harvest that crop, raise that barn and kill those pesky Indians.
But we all knew what was lurking in our living room.
Wes Craven was behind the camera, and this was something worse than Jason, Attila the Hun or Lady Gaga.
It was Mold and Mildew.
That’s right, Mold and Mildew—the real reason dinosaurs became extinct.
Oh, there are other deadly duos: Hitler and Himmler, Sturm und Drang (German, too, but not as bad) and Rodgers and Hammerstein (torturous, boring musicals).
But Mold and Mildew are silent assassins that slip into your respiratory system under the guise of innocent drywall, their ugly spores forming a rave in your lungs forcing you to cough up noxious, infected sputum and then, very much like the black plague, kill you.
Or something like that.
I’d rather be bitten in half by a great white shark.
My good neighbors and I jumped right into the lake and began ripping up the carpet (I was the only one wearing a haz-mat suit) and in no time at all we had huge, sopping chunks of carpet littering our front yard.
I thought of leaving the carpet there and maybe adding a Buick before remembering we weren’t in West Virginia.
One of the good neighbors vacuumed up the water (“vacuuming water” is an astonishing concept that I’ve always thought unattainable—much like splitting an atom or Simon Cowell being modest), while I ripped off the baseboards (a favorite nesting place for Mold and Mildew to spawn their pernicious brood!).
The drywall was mushy, and knowing very little about drywall, except that it’s a compound word, I called a drywall “expert” to come out and assess.
He was sympathetic to our position and gave us his professional opinion: “If I don’t remove this rotting drywall already festering with Mold and Mildew, you, your family, and all your distant relatives will be dead in a week.”
A bit skeptical but also hysterical, I agreed to pay for the immediate removal of the drywall and though thinking the cost of his kid’s college tuition was a bit high, I still felt responsible for saving June’s Aunt Pat on the East Coast.
Last chance to snap up rare cigarette cards in Somerset
The closing date to bid for rare cigarette cards being auctioned by a West memorabilia firm is fast approaching.
The London Cigarette Card Company, which despite its name is based in Somerton, has 430 lots up for auction.
The birth of cigarette cards dates back the 1890s when manufacturers used to wrap cigarettes in paper and place a protective piece of card inside.
Owing to the consumer audience being largely male, the cards would often depict beautiful women or sportsmen.
The star lot is a collection of 50 cricketers produced in 1896 – they are the third-oldest cigarette cards ever printed. Other lots include actresses of 1900s London, a 1913 lot entitled 'Battlefields of Great Britain', 1940s Screen Lovers, Footballers and Clubs, Marilyn Monroe and Dan Dare.
The London Cigarette Card Company, which despite its name is based in Somerton, has 430 lots up for auction.
The birth of cigarette cards dates back the 1890s when manufacturers used to wrap cigarettes in paper and place a protective piece of card inside.
Owing to the consumer audience being largely male, the cards would often depict beautiful women or sportsmen.
The star lot is a collection of 50 cricketers produced in 1896 – they are the third-oldest cigarette cards ever printed. Other lots include actresses of 1900s London, a 1913 lot entitled 'Battlefields of Great Britain', 1940s Screen Lovers, Footballers and Clubs, Marilyn Monroe and Dan Dare.
Cigarette sales sting outcome pleasing
Only two retailers in the MidCentral and Whanganui district health board regions have been caught selling cigarettes to minors in the past six months.
The Public Health Service said the results of controlled purchase operations (CPOs) showed retailers were taking their role in the battle against under-age smoking seriously.
Since 2009, the Public Health Service has carried out 20 purchase stings in the MidCentral and Whanganui DHB regions and visited 238 tobacco retailers.
Health protection co-ordinator Tui Shadbolt said under-aged volunteers were only able to buy tobacco in 4 per cent of stores in the region in the past year.
Only two stores sold tobacco to minors in the past six months – one in Horowhenua and one in Tararua, but no sales to under-aged volunteers were recorded in the Palmerston North, Manawatu and Whanganui regions.
In both cases, the store owners were issued with written warnings.
Mrs Shadbolt said it was not policy to release names of the store owners unless they were being prosecuted.
Mrs Shadbolt said the results were pleasing.
"Overall, this is an improvement in compliance and shows the success of educational visits to local retailers. The aim of visits is to improve understanding of the potential impact for youth who start smoking and remind retailers of the need to ask younger customers for proof of age."
Prior to December 2009 the Ministry of Health had contractors run CPOs within the region only once or twice a year.
The ministry-run CPOs recorded sales to youth at 30 per cent of retailers visited, but Mrs Shadbolt said education programmes with retailers had also helped to bring numbers down.
"Their attitude is really changing. Our volunteers are coming out of these shops not only having been denied, but with their tails between their legs after also having been given advice they shouldn't be smoking at their age."
The Public Health Service has nine trained youth aged 14 to 16 who work as volunteers in the CPO programme.
But while CPOs were working well, regional smokefree officer Barry Thackwell said he was keen to hear from concerned parents or anybody else who suspected shops were selling cigarettes to under 18-year-olds.
The Public Health Service said the results of controlled purchase operations (CPOs) showed retailers were taking their role in the battle against under-age smoking seriously.
Since 2009, the Public Health Service has carried out 20 purchase stings in the MidCentral and Whanganui DHB regions and visited 238 tobacco retailers.
Health protection co-ordinator Tui Shadbolt said under-aged volunteers were only able to buy tobacco in 4 per cent of stores in the region in the past year.
Only two stores sold tobacco to minors in the past six months – one in Horowhenua and one in Tararua, but no sales to under-aged volunteers were recorded in the Palmerston North, Manawatu and Whanganui regions.
In both cases, the store owners were issued with written warnings.
Mrs Shadbolt said it was not policy to release names of the store owners unless they were being prosecuted.
Mrs Shadbolt said the results were pleasing.
"Overall, this is an improvement in compliance and shows the success of educational visits to local retailers. The aim of visits is to improve understanding of the potential impact for youth who start smoking and remind retailers of the need to ask younger customers for proof of age."
Prior to December 2009 the Ministry of Health had contractors run CPOs within the region only once or twice a year.
The ministry-run CPOs recorded sales to youth at 30 per cent of retailers visited, but Mrs Shadbolt said education programmes with retailers had also helped to bring numbers down.
"Their attitude is really changing. Our volunteers are coming out of these shops not only having been denied, but with their tails between their legs after also having been given advice they shouldn't be smoking at their age."
The Public Health Service has nine trained youth aged 14 to 16 who work as volunteers in the CPO programme.
But while CPOs were working well, regional smokefree officer Barry Thackwell said he was keen to hear from concerned parents or anybody else who suspected shops were selling cigarettes to under 18-year-olds.
Women get physical after refused cigarettes
Two women, ages 23 and 22, were issued summonses for assault Tuesday night. They punched and kicked a 30-year-old woman, police said, reportedly because she wouldn't give them cigarettes. The 23-year-old also had a warrant from the Richland County Sheriff's Office.
100 block of Rowland Avenue, Mansfield -- A 48-year-old man will be issued a summons for a dog barking after police went to his residence early Wednesday for the sixth time this month to address the problem.
100 block of Western Avenue, Mansfield -- Police serving a warrant Tuesday afternoon reported a strong odor of marijuana. They reported seeing marijuana on the mantle, digital scales on a coffee table and a grinder on the dining room table. A 3-year-old boy was in the residence. A 23-year-old man was issued summonses for child endangering, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. A 20-year-old man who was the subject of the warrant also was issued a summons for child endangering.
Walmart, 2485 Possum Run Road, Mansfield -- A 19-year-old woman was issued summonses Tuesday afternoon for theft and obstructing official business. She reportedly tried to leave without paying for two DVD movies and eyeliner, then would not give police her address or the names of two people who were with her.
100 block of Glenwood Heights, Mansfield -- A 19-year-old woman told police Monday night that someone used her personal information to run up a cable bill of $100.
First block of Western Avenue, Mansfield -- An 18-year-old man reported early Tuesday the theft of a stereo from an unlocked vehicle and unspecified items from the trunk.
200 block of Avalon Drive, Springfield Township -- A 58-year-old man reported Sunday night the theft of 45 methadone pills from a prescription bottle.
2800 block of Holtz Road, Jackson Township -- A 52-year-old man told police Saturday that someone shot his car. Sheriff's deputies found a bullet under the trunk carpeting.
Circle K, 881 South Main Street -- An employee said a man walked out of the gas station Tuesday without paying for an item. He then ran north on Main Street.
200 block of West 5th Street -- A mother said her 16-year-old son left Tuesday and hasn't returned. She said it has been an ongoing problem. The boy is on probation.
RIDE check by Hanover police uncovers contraband cigarettes
The Hanover Police Service conducted three RIDE programs this past week resulting in 75 vehicles being checked in the Town of Hanover. During one check, a vehicle was stopped and as a result, police entered into a contraband cigarette investigation. The search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a quantity of contraband cigarettes as well as five morphine tablets.
Hanover Police have charged a 67-year-old man from the Municipality of Brockton with possession of a controlled substance. He was released from custody for court in Walkerton. The investigation continues involving the illegal possession of the contraband cigarettes with assistance of the Ontario Ministry of Finance.
Break & enter
Hanover Police received a report of a residential break and enter in the 600 block of 13th Avenue in Hanover on March 13. The investigation determined that unknown suspects forced open a door leading into the vacant residence. Once inside the suspect(s) appeared to remove some small household articles. The investigation is continuing.
Domestic dispute
Hanover Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute in the area of the 400 block of 5th Avenue in Hanover on March 16 at about 1 a.m. The investigation determined that an argument between a male and female resulted in the physical altercation.
Police arrested a 21-year-old Hanover man for one count of assault. He was later released on an officer in charge undertaking with conditions.
вторник, 22 марта 2011 г.
The You Docs: Are e-cigarettes helpful?
We normally cheer anything that can help you kick butts, but we're urging a bit of caution about electronic cigarettes, or "nicotine delivery devices." E-cigs look like cigarettes and come in cute colors and wild flavors, such as chocolate, cherry and cigar. They use batteries to vaporize a nicotine/propylene glycol solution. You inhale - or, in the new parlance, "vape" - a shot of nicotine that's supposed to be a tiny fraction of what's in tobacco products. We're big boosters of nicotine patches, gum and lozenges to help get you off cigs.
However, one study found that the amount of nicotine released by e-cigs varies from 6 mg to 24 mg. (The average cigarette contains 10 mg.) Just be aware that you may get more nicotine than you think.
Still, e-cigs don't contain the thousands of other chemicals packed in your smokes.
Some may have trace amounts of tobacco carcinogens. One thing that troubles us is that you apparently get some of the toxin propylene glycol.
How much isn't clear. And another concern is the dearth of research on e-cigs. They debuted in the United States a little more than three years ago.
Although they appear to be safe, the Food and Drug Administration already has cited five distributors for poor manufacturing processes and claiming the products help people stop smoking without proving it. Although the risks may be slight and the devices are promising, using them makes you a guinea pig in an unofficial market test of an unregulated product.
However, one study found that the amount of nicotine released by e-cigs varies from 6 mg to 24 mg. (The average cigarette contains 10 mg.) Just be aware that you may get more nicotine than you think.
Still, e-cigs don't contain the thousands of other chemicals packed in your smokes.
Some may have trace amounts of tobacco carcinogens. One thing that troubles us is that you apparently get some of the toxin propylene glycol.
How much isn't clear. And another concern is the dearth of research on e-cigs. They debuted in the United States a little more than three years ago.
Although they appear to be safe, the Food and Drug Administration already has cited five distributors for poor manufacturing processes and claiming the products help people stop smoking without proving it. Although the risks may be slight and the devices are promising, using them makes you a guinea pig in an unofficial market test of an unregulated product.
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