Commentary
Tobacco Piracy Tax Act
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress- Mark Twain I just finished reading the latest issue of Pipes & Tobacco Magazine, one of my favorite publications. This edition had only a mention of the so-called “Tobacco Tax Parity Act,” or House Resolution... »
Altitude Sickness, Or What?
Well, I am visiting Colorado, and it has been interesting to see what goes on here in the way of health. I mean, like everyone here in Boulder seems to be a health nut. They all look like little pieces of gristle to me. And, they all want to make this fat boy skinny. It ain’t... »
Dr. Bob’s Diagnosis
THOUGHTS FROM A SMOKING STETHOSCOPE JANUARY 15, 2010 I am a pipe smoking family physician as well as a pipe carver (DR BOB PIPES) and I am appalled and angered by the anti-smoking propaganda that we pipe people have to labor under these days. I plan to have articles like this one appear in the Intelligencer... »
‘In Defense of Smokers’
I have been reading a very interesting book, “In Defense of Smokers!” written by Lauren A. Colby of Frederick, Md. Colby wrote the book in 2003, so I contacted him via email to see if he continues to support his findings and his book. “If I had time to re-write the book, I’d be much more... »
Another Nut Job Tax Proposal
So, you think California is a nut job state? Check this out from Florida. A duly-elected democratic representative from St. Petersburg, Fla., has put forth a new tax bill that will, if passed, hit at the heart of pipe smokers. Rep. Darryl Rouson has written and placed in the Florida House hopper a tax bill that... »
Cash Has ‘Clunked’ Us
I am somewhat behind on the states and their new laws governing smoking. But here is one that you need to read. Maine has outlawed smoking outdoors! As of Sept. 12, 2009, smoking is prohibited “in an outdoor eating arena where food and drink is served to the public for consumption on the premises, 24... »
Adapt or Die
All right, already. Both ends of America’s coast, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, have joined up in a nutty fruit bar experiment. Now, New York wants to ban cigarette smoking in parks and on its beaches. California went that route sometime back. Let’s see. We can no longer smoke in restaurants, bars, public transportation, public... »
Sugar and Spice and. . . Taxes
There they go again! In New York, some health wingnuts have convinced the New York Department of Health to run advertising that shows a hand pouring globules of fat from a soft drink bottle. The idea is to get folks to stop drinking heavily sugared soft drinks, right? Guess again, amigo. The ultimate aim is to place... »
Big Brotherism
Well, boys and girls, it is beginning. Today, in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital, thousands of protesters from around the nation marched to the Capitol to demonstrate against the rise in big government’s intrusion into our daily lives. Look for more of this to take place in the future. People are sick and tired of being... »
Tune In or Take the 10-Count
All right, time for a little economic lesson. This isn’t rocket science, so don’t bail out (no pun intended there). Developing nations, such as Malawi, depend heavily on tobacco exports. When exports are down, guess what? The nation’s Gross Domestic Product heads south. Malawi depends upon tobacco. In fact, a USDA Economic Research Service paper says... »