Annoyed

[USPatriot8320]

Here's why;
At work today memos were every where. Starting December 1st; "Happy Holidays, thank you for calling....." IDK why but I feel insulted by that. Maybe I'm just being over sensitive... But time for some good news: I've decided to quit smoking. Thanks to the state and the settlement from the tobacco companies, all the tools I need to quit are free, all I need to do is stick to it.... We'll see how it goes... Hope every one is well!!!

[Timberwolf]

I am, thank you...as for the "Happy Holidays" thang...I've made the decision that I'M in control of my happiness and I'll not relinquish that control to anyONE or anyTHING over trivial matters.

I KNOW the Reason for the season...He knows my heart...that's all that counts.

Good luck with the smoking...I quit last February and haven't missed it. Just remember how much cash you're depriving Big Tobaccy of....:biggrin:

[LightHorseman]

Santa hats on every single check out kid in the supermarket gets under my skin.

[Beowulf]

Santa hats on every single check out kid in the supermarket gets under my skin.

Then hide out at home over the holidays and quit bitching! Doesn't bother me one bit. The more of them I see the more I feel we're getting a small victory over political correctness in this once great nation.

[Jag Wife]

Santa hats on every single check out kid in the supermarket gets under my skin.

That or the stupid reindeer antlers. Can't you enjoy being a human being for once?

[Republican_Legion]

Here's why;
At work today memo's were every where. Starting December 1st; "Happy Holidays, thank you for calling....." IDK why but I feel insulted by that. Maybe I'm just being over sensitive... But time for some good news: I've decided to quit smoking. Thanks to the state and the settlement from the tobacco companies, all the tools I need to quit are free, all I need to do is stick to it.... We'll see how it goes... Hope every one is well!!!

There is lots of options for quiting.
There is the smokeless inhalers that give u nicotine in a similar way as cigarettes except without the smoke and unhealthy stuff. I tried it and it made me feel weird. Theres the nicotine patch which is very good from what I have heard. I didnt try the patch because I was afraid I might flip out and have a cigarette and overdose. Then I decided the gum was for me and so far I only have like 1-3 pieces a day now. You have to decide whats the best method for you.

I quit smoking in July 06. Just remember that it will be hard to handle the urges to smoke when you see someone else smoke. Try to avoid other people when they smoke. Eventually having to be around other people when they smoke is needed to overcome the urges to smoke.

[LightHorseman]

Then hide out at home over the holidays and quit bitching! Doesn't bother me one bit. The more of them I see the more I feel we're getting a small victory over political correctness in this once great nation.

How do a million red santa hats on bored pimply teenagers represent a victory over political correctness? to me, its perhaps the ULTIMATE watering down and comercialisation of Christianity

[USPatriot8320]

There is lots of options for quiting.
There is the smokeless inhalers that give u nicotine in a similar way as cigarettes except without the smoke and unhealthy stuff. I tried it and it made me feel weird. Theres the nicotine patch which is very good from what I have heard. I didnt try the patch because I was afraid I might flip out and have a cigarette and overdose. Then I decided the gum was for me and so far I only have like 1-3 pieces a day now. You have to decide whats the best method for you.

I quit smoking in July 06. Just remember that it will be hard to handle the urges to smoke when you see someone else smoke. Try to avoid other people when they smoke. Eventually having to be around other people when they smoke is needed to overcome the urges to smoke.


Thanks for the encouragement. I need to do some thing since I'm smoking more than a pack a day now... I opted for the patches.. I hope I can kick the habit. I threw out all my ashtrays and every thing. Told my friends they can't smoke in the house ect. Did I get a word of encouragement from them? Of course not. All I got was; "You're going to make us smoke outside at the beginning of winter! You ass!" LOL

[Peachdiane]

Merry Christmas!

Isn't it true for smokers, a huge part of smoking is keeping your hands busy. Why not take up knitting? Hey, Rosie Greer (linebacker) does it. :)

[The_Fireman]

It can be done .I smoked 2 packs a day for 27 years.I quit "cold turkey"13 years ago.and have not missed it.I have enough bad habits without having that one too.

[Beowulf]

How do a million red santa hats on bored pimply teenagers represent a victory over political correctness? to me, its perhaps the ULTIMATE watering down and comercialisation of Christianity
I call it a victory over political correctness since we've gone from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" since we have to be more cognizant of Kwanza (sp) and others who want there special holiday recognized around that time frame. The more Santa hats I see, the more Christmas I see.

[LightHorseman]

I call it a victory over political correctness since we've gone from "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays" since we have to be more cognizant of Kwanza (sp) and others who want there special holiday recognized around that time frame. The more Santa hats I see, the more Christmas I see.Red santa hats on all and sundry have very little to do with the "true" meaning of Christmas

[DoctorDoom]

The news of the last few days is carrying reports of Alexander Litvinenko dying of Polonium-210 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polonium) poisoning. What the news doesn't mention is that Polonium-210 is a natural element, and it is found in tobacco, along with other trace quanties of radioisotopes. Many studies have concluded that radiation is the leading health hazard for smokers.

Cannabis is often compared to tobacco, with the damage caused by smoking tobacco given as a reason to prohibit use of cannabis. Yet most of the harms caused by tobacco use are due not to tar, but to the use of radioactive fertilizers. Surprisingly, radiation seems to be the most dangerous and important factor behind tobacco lung damage.

Radioactive fertilizer

It's a well established but little known fact that commercially grown tobacco is contaminated with radiation. The major source of this radiation is phosphate fertilizer.1 The big tobacco companies all use chemical phosphate fertilizer, which is high in radioactive metals, year after year on the same soil. These metals build up in the soil, attach themselves to the resinous tobacco leaf and ride tobacco trichomes in tobacco smoke, gathering in small "hot spots" in the small-air passageways of the lungs.2 Tobacco is especially effective at absorbing radioactive elements from phosphate fertilizers, and also from naturally occurring radiation in the soil, air, and water.3

[snip]

Conservative estimates put the level of radiation absorbed by a pack-and-a-half a day smoker at the equivalent of 300 chest X-rays every year.5 The Office of Radiation, Chemical & Biological Safety at Michigan State University reports that the radiation level for the same smoker was as high as 800 chest X-rays per year.6 Another report argues that a typical nicotine user might be getting the equivalent of almost 22,000 chest X-rays per year.7

US Surgeon General C Everett Koop stated on national television in 1990 that tobacco radiation is probably responsible for 90% of tobacco-related cancer.8 Dr RT Ravenholt, former director of World Health Surveys at the Centers for Disease Control, has stated that "Americans are exposed to far more radiation from tobacco smoke than from any other source."9Radioactive tobacco (http://www.acsa2000.net/HealthAlert/radioactive_tobacco.html)

Radiation from tobacco smoke is one of the prime factors in causing lung cancer. The cancer usually begins at the bronchial branches called bifurcations by particles which collect and from hot spots with high radiation levels.

The smoker receives this type of radiation (called Alpha Radiation), from Tobacco smoke from the following sources:
Radioactive Polonium-214 in mainstream smoke and particles.
Radioactive Polonium-210 that “grows up” into radioactive Lead-210-enriched particles.
In addition, smokers and non-smokers alike are exposed to alpha radiation from various radioactive decay products of the soil (mainly from phosphate fertilizers), the air, and natural indoor radon.

The cumulative alpha particle dose at the bifurcations of the lungs of smokers who die of lung cancer is 1600 rems, enough to cause cancer of nearby cells.Radioactivity in Cigarette Smoke (http://prfamerica.org/RadioactivityInCigaretteSmoke.html)

The radiation levels in cigarette smoke are higher than the allowable exposure to nuclear industry workers. If anyone needs an incentive to quite puffing the deathtubes, that's it.

[MSGT]

Quiting is easy. I've done it at least 50 times:biggrin:

[USPatriot8320]

The problem is the mental game. I associate cigs with stress/anxiety relief. I am following the guildelines for quitting. I recieved all my quit smoking assistance already but the date is firm, December 8th. Thats just the beginning of the mental game. I already spoke to my employer who is also going to allow me to use hard candies while working in hopes that it'll help. I have a lot of support which is cool and those who think it's a joke, like some of my friends, will not be allowed around to try and deter me. Cancer, heart disease and diabetes run rampant through both sides of my family, I don't need to give these diseases an even greater edge.

[DoctorDoom]

One way to achieve the necessary mindset is to keep a receipt of all cigarette purchases and total them every six months or so to understand how much money is being wasted. Or, you can go here (http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/cigarette.asp) and use the calculator to guesstimate the cost. E.g., a pack a day smoker who pays $2.50 per pack spends $912.50 per year on inviting lung cancer.

Consider a person who smokes two packs a day at that price and does so for 30 years. He will spend $54,750 on poisoning himself.

That's a good chunk of change that could be used for far more worthwhile things.

Another good way to bring home the point: don't empty the ash trays. Let them fill up and overflow for a couple of months and then contemplate that disgusting pile.

Or ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v349/DocDoom777/Lungs.jpg

Pictured on top is a lung with cancerous tumors. On the bottom is a healthy lung.
As with many cancers, lung cancer can spread to other parts of your body.

Lungs (http://www.tcnj.edu/~fox2/smoking/lungs.htm)

[Beowulf]

Red santa hats on all and sundry have very little to do with the "true" meaning of Christmas

In your opinion! Alot of Christmas spirit goes along way in making these Atheists who want to do away with the holiday and any resemblance of God sick to their stomachs, which is fine with me.

[USPatriot8320]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left colSpan=2>If you quit today, you will save:

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left width=15></TD><TD vAlign=center align=left>$ 2281.25 in the next year.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Trevelyan]

My avatar has a photo shopped red Santa hat!

[LightHorseman]

In your opinion! Alot of Christmas spirit goes along way in making these Atheists who want to do away with the holiday and any resemblance of God sick to their stomachs, which is fine with me.

I'm sorry... what do cheap red santa hats have to do with anything that might bother an atheist?

[UnkHiram]

As I sit here at my computer desk, I am wearing one of those Red Santa Hats. I put it on every year the first working day after Thanksgiving and wear it until Christmas instead of one of my regular ball caps.

Santa represents the spirit of giving which has alot to do with the real meaning of Christmas.

[DoctorDoom]

$ 2281.25 in the next year.If you're on a 40-hour work week, that's equivalent to $43.87/week or $1.10/hour from your wages spent on polluting your lungs.

Perspective is everything. Good luck in "kicking the habit".

[LightHorseman]

As I sit here at my computer desk, I am wearing one of those Red Santa Hats. I put it on every year the first working day after Thanksgiving and wear it until Christmas instead of one of my regular ball caps.

Santa represents the spirit of giving which has alot to do with the real meaning of Christmas.

If you choose to wear one, thats a bit different... but my initial comment about bored checkout chicks, where coporations make the kids wear em to look "festive", doesnt seem to have muchg to do with the spirit of giving at all... uinless its to remind customers to buy more stuff to give away...

now, if the big retailers said something like,

"in the spirit of Christmas, 10% off at any checkout where the cashier has a santa hat", then maybe...

but for a REAL symbol for Christmas, if shops are going to make a big deal about it, a few nativities about wouldnb't go astray, not to mention a large, conspicuous charitable donation to a worthwhile cause with KMART in big letters

[CzechPrince]

Merry Christmas!

Isn't it true for smokers, a huge part of smoking is keeping your hands busy. Why not take up knitting? Hey, Rosie Greer (linebacker) does it. :)

Partly. I've been smoking for 3 years, a lot of it is mental, but not only that, I do enjoy the physical aspects of smoking. I am going to try and quit for my mother who hates my habit, but it will be hard.

[Beowulf]

I'm sorry... what do cheap red santa hats have to do with anything that might bother an atheist?
Nevermind, Horseman. You'll never get it. This "arrogant" and "spastic" person would rather argue more important issues anyway!

[USPatriot8320]

Partly. I've been smoking for 3 years, a lot of it is mental, but not only that, I do enjoy the physical aspects of smoking. I am going to try and quit for my mother who hates my habit, but it will be hard.

You enjoy the physical aspects of smoking? And what are those? How many do you smoke a day?

[DoctorDoom]

I'm sorry... what do cheap red santa hats have to do with anything that might bother an atheist?A Christmas-themed event to raise money at a public elementary school in Warwick, N.Y., has been altered to accommodate a parent's complaints that the program would illegally spotlight a "religious" figure - Santa Claus.

"Breakfast With Santa" has since been changed to "Winter Wonderland Breakfast," and -- in an effort to be inclusive of all beliefs -- the bearded one will now be joined at the Dec. 9 event by Frosty the Snowman.

Organizers made the changes after one parent charged that she and others in the community were offended that the Parent Teacher Association at the Sanfordville Elementary School was sponsoring a program geared toward one religion.

That parent, who did not wish to have her name used, wrote a letter to the school board asserting that Santa represents Christmas -- a Christian holiday -- and by law, a public school is not allowed to promote religion.Santa Claus Deemed Too 'Religious' for School Fundraiser (http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200611/CUL20061130e.html)

No whiny-ass complaint is so utterly preposterous that there won't be at least one neuronically challenged asshole to voice it.

[CzechPrince]

Merry Christmas!

Isn't it true for smokers, a huge part of smoking is keeping your hands busy. Why not take up knitting? Hey, Rosie Greer (linebacker) does it. :)

We live in America now, we don't have to knit clothes :biggrin:

[CzechPrince]

You enjoy the physical aspects of smoking? And what are those?

The physical/mental addiction of it is the hardest part, everyone knows that. The problem is i enjoy smoking, that's why it is going to be hard for me to quit. It just suits me for whatever part of the day I'm in. The calmness and relaxation of it when I am trying to rest with a cup of coffee, or if I'm out and about, partying, or at a social event with a drink in my hand. It's hard to explain, smokers and ex's can understand what I'm talking about though.


How many do you smoke a day?

Depends on the day or mood im in to be honest. Weekends I'll always smoke an entire pack, weekdays roughly half a pack, more or less. It varies.