Hurlshort

I've been watching the Republican primaries play out a bit more, and it is looking like the crazies have faded a bit. The top candidate is clearly Mitt Romney, right now it's hard to imagine anyone getting over him. I know folks were clamoring for Chris Christie, but he has made it clear he has no intention of running. I don't know a ton on Christie, but I like that he is committed to the original job he was elected to (boo Sarah Palin) and I've always thought the best choice for president is the one who doesn't want the job. No reasonable person would. Anyways, no reason to talk about him further until he actually runs. So on to Mitt Romney. I've learned a bit more about him. Apparently the big knock is that he is too willing to compromise with democrats. Given that our country is in dire need of some bipartisanship, I think that's an absolutely crazy criticism. Herman Cain is an intriguing candidate that has picked up steam lately. Word is he doesn't have the funds to make a real push, but his fiscal conservative policies have some promise and he's got a fantastic background story. I think if he could end up as the VP candidate, that would be a pretty strong ticket.

That's a very good point, the marketplace is doing some pretty remarkable things to try and get healthier. Most fast food joints are trying to put a few healthy choices on the menu, and I've seen a huge movement against trans fats. I would say this is a result of both educational campaigns and the success of healthier choices like Jamba Juice. I love that many of these places have started to diversify sides, it's nice to have an option other than fries.

You getting enough exercise? Your energy levels sound appalling. Seriously. Maybe start taking a multivitamin as well, I know that helps me considerably.

I'm a fan of Avery, I'm sure he will find a team. $4 million is pretty pricey for a third liner though.

Yeah, that's my concern to. The science really needs to be front and center. Everything can make you fat, just because they sell it at a health food store doesn't mean it's great to gorge on.

Keep in mind, these taxes don't necessarily need to be exorbitant, like 50%. If you are trying to generate revenue to cover health care costs or a subsidization program for cheaper health food and more education, you can keep it fairly low.

Well I don't consider a 'fat tax' to be super fascist. The fact is these ingredients are super cheap, so tacking on a higher tax will just bring them a little closer to the prices of the healthy alternatives. But I see this as a fairly complex issue, as was stated, the science needs to be front and center here. They can't just target McDonalds and call it a day. I also question how effective this will be against obesity. If healthy food and unhealthy food are in the same price range, will people really make the healthy choice? After living and cooking for my in-laws for a couple years, I question that. I cook and eat healthy for less than eating at fast food every night, it just takes a bit more effort and time to do so.

How about South America? You've got a lot of cool places to visit in Chile and Peru. You've got decent commie roots from Venezuela. You can even have a Cuban expansion pack.

Probably because it is very expensive to jail people. And I believe the issue is what to do after their sentence.

Looks like I've read about half the books on that list. Gives me a few options to choose from. I found Red Mars to be a snooze fest.

Do you think the stuff on store shelves magically appears via teleporter? I mean, that would be awesome if it happened that way, actually. Someone needs to put more work into that technology.

That still doesn't address the risk versus benefit factor here. We all benefit from the existence of automobiles. What does a non-smoker get out being around smokers? This is incredibly wrong. You can read up on it here. That's from the American Cancers Society, but you can find a dozen other organizations saying the same thing.

Disgusting habit - check Isn't it though? Don't get me wrong, I have my own disgusting habits, but I do tend to keep them within the privacy of my own home. Should be banned - (In public) check. I mean I've made my bias pretty clear. My life is better without smokers around. If they want to smoke in cars, or go hide in an alley, or go home, that is their business. Smoking poses real dangers - Check. I'm pretty sure they aren't making this health stuff up. It's bad for you and anyone you smoke near. I was watching a sitcom, and a son was asking his mom to stop smoking around his newborn child. She said smoke rises, it's going to be years before she will be tall enough to breath it. It was funny. I'm sure we are all smart enough to know that it isn't true. So I'm not sure where you are gong with your statements Orogun. Yes, smoking is unpopular now (or at least getting there.) Is that a bad thing?

I'd say it took a solid amount of brainwashing to make it popular in the first place. Even before all this cancer stuff, it wasn't exactly a great habit. It turns things yellow, makes everything smell like tobacco, and wreaks havok on your lungs. The benefits seem to be relaxation? Aren't there better alternatives for that? Tobacco companies give away cigarettes for free in Hollywood, and it isn't because they are trying to help these poor celebrities deal with stress. They want to make their product popular and glamorous.

They really should do something about car exhaust! Maybe they can force people to make sure their emissions don't exceed a certain level, and then keep cars off the road that don't meet those requirements. I would actually love to drive less. If I had some decent public transportation alternatives I'd be all over it. I'm pretty sure I haven't gone out driving for the fun of it since I was in High School. But as Wals mentioned, this is a matter of popularity. Smoking is losing the battle of popularity, and so it isn't going to get the same slack as automobiles. It would probably be great if people started to crack down on gas vehicles, you'd see auto and oil companies make stronger moves towards alternative energy vehicles. Continued Disclaimer: I am biased. Breathing in smoke clogs my sinuses and hurts my lungs.

Public policy is often driven by the emotions of the public. Smoking has become extremely unpopular. Heck, nudity affects me a lot less (well, in a negative way) and yet that is cracked down on fairly harshly in public. I guess if BBQing becomes unpopular, you will see more restrictions on where you can grill a patty. We do have spare the air days in my community where you are fined for using your fireplace. Disclaimer: I am incredibly biased about smoking. My quality of life has improved because of all these restrictions.

Well, there are quite a few issues with smoking in public. Number one is that it may be harmful to others. This can be limited by not allowing smoking indoors, which is a quickly growing trend. Where it isn't law, many businesses are still making the choice to go smoke-free. It is in the best interest of their employees and the majority of their customers. But the other issue is that it is a public nuisance, and that is why you see a lot more restrictions on smoking outside coming down the pipeline. I went to an ATM yesterday and it stank like an ashtray. You see cigarette butts all over the place. It wafts through doors and permeates the air of street festivals. I can have some sympathy that it is an addiction and legislation is driving smokers further and further away. But there are alternatives to smoking when you go out in public, and they seem to be getting better to deal with this changing atmosphere. Nicotine patches and gum, vapor cigs, etc. all fill that need. I have a co-worker who smokes. Most of you know I work at a school. On her break, she gets in her car and drives around the neighborhood in order to have her cigarette. I'm sure it is inconvenient to do that, but what would you prefer?

While I totally admit my stance is heavily influenced by my personal opinion, I would like to point out that there are a lot of activities that are legal but you can't do in public. I could list some examples, but I think most of you know what you close the blinds for in your home.

I'm pretty happy with a ban on smoking in public places, rather than making it illegal in any way. Mostly because I've seen it work. Where I live most of the cities have passed legislation that seriously limits smoking in public. It has dramatically changed the environment. It's extremely nice to know I can go out with my family and never catch a whiff of smoke. Everything smells better and I breath easier. A few months ago I was excited to go to a Casino in Nevada. I hadn't been to one in awhile. I lasted about 30 minutes because of the smoke, I just couldn't breath well with all that. So yeah, it's kind of a bummer that I'm basically unable to go into casinos because of a lifestyle choice others are making. I'm not a fan of fast food smells, but it doesn't physically clog up my sinuses, dry out my contacts, and give me a cough. Smoke is simply a public nuisance with no redeeming qualities. It has no place on public property or businesses that are open to the public.

I just realized all this retcon complaining is about a book that has yet to be released, so I'm going to call BS on it. While I doubt you will see as much of KotOR 2 lore in TOR as the original, I'm pretty sure they aren't going to ignore it.

Actually I thought Liam Neeson's voice in FO3 was a moderately decent use of a celebrity. Patrick Stewart in Oblivion was super short-lived.

But secondhand smoke does directly affect other people. The evidence is pretty strong on that.

Isn't TOR like 300 years after the KotOR games?

I've been playing a bit of KotOR, which I picked up on Steam for cheap. It looks a bit dated, but I'm still having fun with it.

Our car did some weird stuff on the way home today. It jolted a bit, then the check engine light, VSL, and another warning sign went on. I pulled over and called the dealership. They said it should be ok to drive to the shop as long as it doesn't smell funny or smoke, so we got it there. Made our day a bit longer, but I'm glad it is still under warranty. It actually expires in December, so the timing is good.