The Hornets' Nest II

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It's only 6.30 in the evening but the clocks have changed and it's getting dark. We are into autumn with fine warm days and cool mornings and evenings. Easter is the symbolic change from summer to winter. At least there is skiing to look forward to and a trip to London for 5 days for a conference in June.
 
Wouldn't worry about autumn, we're back in winter.

Will MM be first into the Yellow and Red Lion looking for a pie and a pint.
 
Morning All - Good Friday so four non working days ahead - (Sorry PSH I know your working the lot) Nice and sunny now but still cold & frosty outside. Off to Heathrow to pick up my daughter who is visiting us for Easter (lives in Switzerland), then home listen to the game and hopefully only be 3 points behind Blackpool.

Must stop at the bakers on the way back - nothing like hot hot-cross buns on Good Friday straight from the baker's oven.

As Jesus once said "Save the hot-cross buns I'll be back Sunday" :emoticon-0127-lipss
 
As an avid smoker, I'm pretty annoyed about the BBC's blatant favourtism for tougher measures against smokers.

I've got no problem in principle with the government using the tax system to deter unhealthy behavior, but there isn't a level playing field. Tax wise, alcohol and junk food cause far bigger problems to the nation's coffers yet get a far cushier deal. Unlike either of those groups, cigarette taxes raise double what the government's own figures claim smoking costs society, not to mention the national insurance smokers pay.

I understand the health arguments, the main one being that drinking a few on matchday or eating at KFC once a week doesn't make a big difference, while smoking in moderation still poses considerable risk. But unless they're willing to actually ban tobacco I don't see why that's relevant here. Specifically, what does that have to do with discriminating against smokers in the NHS (when we are fracking subsidising the thing) or making it more attractive to teenagers by selling under the counter. Logically we should do that for either all or none of junk food, alcohol and tobacco?
 
Morning All, a bit late today but had to go to town to get some fuel. I had a bit of a shock when I spotted that diesel had gone up &#8364;0.35 a litre overnight. <yikes> What has happened here I wonder, has the government landed us with a huge announced tax?

Going to the second filling station I find that the cost has dropped, not gone up, so I filled up.

On my way back past first filling station I stopped to look more closely and discovered that their illuminated sign had petrol and diesel prices the wrong way round. Oh well, that will teach them. They lost out on my &#8364;68. ;)
 
Sæll til allra. Cappuccino, coffee, tea donuts and fruit are on the bar. I am working today as no one else will. My work computer is not working too well and is crashing.

2C low clouds and fine rain.
 
North North Watford said:
As an avid smoker, I'm pretty annoyed about the BBC's blatant favourtism for tougher measures against smokers.

I've got no problem in principle with the government using the tax system to deter unhealthy behavior, but there isn't a level playing field. Tax wise, alcohol and junk food cause far bigger problems to the nation's coffers yet get a far cushier deal. Unlike either of those groups, cigarette taxes raise double what the government's own figures claim smoking costs society, not to mention the national insurance smokers pay.

I understand the health arguments, the main one being that drinking a few on matchday or eating at KFC once a week doesn't make a big difference, while smoking in moderation still poses considerable risk. But unless they're willing to actually ban tobacco I don't see why that's relevant here. Specifically, what does that have to do with discriminating against smokers in the NHS (when we are fracking subsidising the thing) or making it more attractive to teenagers by selling under the counter. Logically we should do that for either all or none of junk food, alcohol and tobacco?
Click to expand...

The thing with smoking is that it is highly addictive and I have witnessed people try and try but find it unable to quit (weak in my mind as I have seen plenty quit too). If you make it harder for people to start, fewer people will be smoking and eventually it will be possible to ban it completely (fingers crossed). As you can see I am completely against smoking and I am completely for all the changes. I find it very funny when smokers think they are the victims. Only last week I decided to head outside with some smoking colleagues to enjoy the sunshine. Only I couldn't enjoy the sunshine as i spent most of the time out there with my eyes stinging and trying hard not to cough. I count myself lucky as I only had to spend one year going out in stinky clubs and pubs and coming back feeling dirty and smelly everytime I went out. I'm not only against smoking for the health problems, I also see smoking as an anti-social activity, and very few smokers actually consider their non-smoking friends when lighting up. In this light, junk food and alcohol (to an extent) are different in that they don't affect others.
 
Hornetty-Betty said:
The thing with smoking is that it is highly addictive and I have witnessed people try and try but find it unable to quit (weak in my mind as I have seen plenty quit too). If you make it harder for people to start, fewer people will be smoking and eventually it will be possible to ban it completely (fingers crossed). As you can see I am completely against smoking and I am completely for all the changes. I find it very funny when smokers think they are the victims. Only last week I decided to head outside with some smoking colleagues to enjoy the sunshine. Only I couldn't enjoy the sunshine as i spent most of the time out there with my eyes stinging and trying hard not to cough. I count myself lucky as I only had to spend one year going out in stinky clubs and pubs and coming back feeling dirty and smelly everytime I went out. I'm not only against smoking for the health problems, I also see smoking as an anti-social activity, and very few smokers actually consider their non-smoking friends when lighting up. In this light, junk food and alcohol (to an extent) are different in that they don't affect others.
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As an avid anti smoker I object to being subjected to the toxins created by a fellow humans quest for self gratification and would like to see a complete ban except in the privacy of ones home and then only if emissions controlling measures were put in place, yes extreme because nobody has the right to potentially kill me or my own. drink needs to be more controlled those who exceed their capacity should forgo their rights to purchase or consume alcohol, drinking licences in the same way as driving licences, could bring in some extra revenue to the treasury too...
 
aberdeenhornet said:
drinking licences in the same way as driving licences, could bring in some extra revenue to the treasury too...
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Do you really want our money-grabbing masters to introduce yet another licence fee - the cost of which would no doubt increase year upon year as has every other licence that has been introduced. This 'government' in particular have no apparent concern over the human cost of their fiscal policies & don't need yet another revenue raising idea with which to make our lives miserable.

Fully agree with your sentiments over smoking - if they really were, as the Aussies say, fair dinkum with their concerns over the effects of smoking on public health, then they would simply ban it altogether. Surprise, surprise - that would be the last thing on their minds.
 
NZHorn said:
It's only 6.30 in the evening but the clocks have changed and it's getting dark. We are into autumn with fine warm days and cool mornings and evenings. Easter is the symbolic change from summer to winter. At least there is skiing to look forward to and a trip to London for 5 days for a conference in June.
Click to expand...

what a shame there'll be no matches on!

North North Watford said:
As an avid smoker, I'm pretty annoyed about the BBC's blatant favourtism for tougher measures against smokers.

I've got no problem in principle with the government using the tax system to deter unhealthy behavior, but there isn't a level playing field. Tax wise, alcohol and junk food cause far bigger problems to the nation's coffers yet get a far cushier deal. Unlike either of those groups, cigarette taxes raise double what the government's own figures claim smoking costs society, not to mention the national insurance smokers pay.

I understand the health arguments, the main one being that drinking a few on matchday or eating at KFC once a week doesn't make a big difference, while smoking in moderation still poses considerable risk. But unless they're willing to actually ban tobacco I don't see why that's relevant here. Specifically, what does that have to do with discriminating against smokers in the NHS (when we are fracking subsidising the thing) or making it more attractive to teenagers by selling under the counter. Logically we should do that for either all or none of junk food, alcohol and tobacco?
Click to expand...

Gotta say, maybe it's coz i'm an ex smoker, but i agree with you.

Hornetty-Betty said:
The thing with smoking is that it is highly addictive and I have witnessed people try and try but find it unable to quit (weak in my mind as I have seen plenty quit too). If you make it harder for people to start, fewer people will be smoking and eventually it will be possible to ban it completely (fingers crossed). As you can see I am completely against smoking and I am completely for all the changes. I find it very funny when smokers think they are the victims. Only last week I decided to head outside with some smoking colleagues to enjoy the sunshine. Only I couldn't enjoy the sunshine as i spent most of the time out there with my eyes stinging and trying hard not to cough. I count myself lucky as I only had to spend one year going out in stinky clubs and pubs and coming back feeling dirty and smelly everytime I went out. I'm not only against smoking for the health problems, I also see smoking as an anti-social activity, and very few smokers actually consider their non-smoking friends when lighting up. In this light, junk food and alcohol (to an extent) are different in that they don't affect others.
Click to expand...

Betty, take it from one who has been through it twice, it's not weak minded. Addiction, in whatever form, is incredibly difficult to overcome. Whether it be smoking, drinking, or posting on websites! I did it once, and it lasted 7 years before i went back to it again. You are never a non-smoker once you have started. This time it's been almost 2 years, and for the first time in my life, i don't miss it, but i won't guarantee never to do it again. Having said all that, i can understand from a non-smoker's point of view, but then, having never been there, they don't get it.
geitungur akureyrar said:
Can somebody post from the Yellow and Red Lion?
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I'll see if i can pop in on my way into the ground :)
 
Hornette_TID said:
what a shame there'll be no matches on!



Gotta say, maybe it's coz i'm an ex smoker, but i agree with you.



Betty, take it from one who has been through it twice, it's not weak minded. Addiction, in whatever form, is incredibly difficult to overcome. Whether it be smoking, drinking, or posting on websites! I did it once, and it lasted 7 years before i went back to it again. You are never a non-smoker once you have started. This time it's been almost 2 years, and for the first time in my life, i don't miss it, but i won't guarantee never to do it again. Having said all that, i can understand from a non-smoker's point of view, but then, having never been there, they don't get it.


I'll see if i can pop in on my way into the ground :)
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Don't get it and don't want to catch it. Because I've never been a thief, murderer, rapist, drug addict or the like doesn't mean I can't make a valid judgement on if its right or wrong to accept into civilized society. In my mind smoking is a selfish act causing distress to society in the form of healthcare costs (ok yes its self funding but its morally wrong to deliberately harm yourself), poverty (the addicted often come from the poorer segments of society and as its an addiction the cigarettes are not the first to be sacrificed from the family budget) and the one I cant accept is the poisoning of my atmosphere. I'd love to feed my ego and go shoot certain living organisms for fun, though society prohibits this at present and I control this element of my character, smokers should do the same.
 
Hornette_TID said:
Betty, take it from one who has been through it twice, it's not weak minded. Addiction, in whatever form, is incredibly difficult to overcome. Whether it be smoking, drinking, or posting on websites! I did it once, and it lasted 7 years before i went back to it again. You are never a non-smoker once you have started. This time it's been almost 2 years, and for the first time in my life, i don't miss it, but i won't guarantee never to do it again. Having said all that, i can understand from a non-smoker's point of view, but then, having never been there, they don't get it.
Click to expand...
Have to disagree with that H. I gave up smoking over 30 years ago when I realised, after buying a bicycle, how unfit it actually made me. It took a fair while to get over the cravings - very surprised at the little tricks my body employed to try to con me back into it - but it was simply a case of willpower. Looking at the price of tobacco today, I'm really glad I stuck to it - and really surprised that others still do it/can afford to do it.
 
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