Alcohol In Commercials

Every day while watching tv I am amazed when a commercial comes on for alcohol.  Some are funny, some showing the suave man picking up the girl at the bar.  Either way these ads are being displayed across North America trying to sell alcohol.  Nowhere do you find commercials for cigarettes.  I choose cigarettes as both are regulated by our governments, both are known to cause disease, addiction and death.

We purchase products to help us quit smoking, we abide by laws that tell us we cannot smoke in public places or smoke in vehicles with children.  This is because second hand cigarette smoke is dangerous to our health.  We abide by laws that tell us not to drink alcohol and drive a vehicle, this is because it is dangerous.

Is there a difference in the danger of smoking and consuming alcohol.  I for one, don’t think there is.  I have seen it throughout my life. I’ve watched friends and family die from lung cancer.  I’ve watched friends and family die from complications due to alcoholism and from drunk driving accidents.

So why then are they allowed to put commercials to sell alcohol on tv and not cigarettes.

My point here is this.  I don’t think alcohol is any less dangerous to our welfare than cigarettes are.  Some may disagree, maybe you’re right.  Either way how can we watch tv programs like A&E’s Intervention about the way alcoholism affects lives and destroys them, only to watch a commercial for alcohol made to appear like it’s going to enhance our life.  It’s just plain wrong.

Here are some statistics.

• Over 22 million individuals have a substance dependence or abuse problem in the US. (SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) 2006
• Nearly 14 million Americans meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders. (Alcohol Health & Research World)
• More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke. (Substance Abuse: The Nation’s Number One Health Problem, Feb. 2001)
• There were over 17,000 alcohol related car deaths in US in 2005. (http://www.niaaa.nih.gov)
• Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for persons aged 6-33. About 45% of these fatalities are in alcohol-related crashes. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
• Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
• 61% of adults drink alcohol in the US. (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm)
• Every year, tobacco use kills more Americans than World War II and the Vietnam War combined. Tobacco related illnesses kill 440,000 US citizens per year. (Centers for Disease Control. Cigarette Smoking Among Adults-United States, 2001. MMRW 2003; 52(40); 953-956.)
• Tobacco is the only product in the U.S. that causes death and disability when used as intended – the single, most preventable cause of death in the U.S. (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion)
• Many diseases are linked to tobacco and nicotine: Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, lung cancer, cancer of the kidney, cancer of the larynx and head and neck, breast cancer. (The Burden of Tobacco, Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey, March 2005)
• There are over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke. (The Burden of Tobacco, Univ. of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey, March 2005)
• The EPA ranks secondhand smoke in the same harmful category as asbestos, radon and benezene. It is also a major cause of children’s illness – yet 85% of adults who smoke and who live with a child do not ensure that the child is not exposed to the smoke from their cigarettes.
• Each year, nearly 35 million people make a concerted effort to quit smoking. Less than 7% succeed in abstaining for more than a year – most start smoking again within days. (The Search For A Safe Cigarette, NOVA (PBS), October 2001)
• 7% of over-the-counter nicotine patch and gum quitters quit for at least six months. (http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com)
• High intensity counseling of greater than 10 minutes can increase six month quitting rates to 22% when added to any quitting method. (http://surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/treating_tobacco_use.pdf)
• Bupropion (Zyban/Wellbutrin) use can generate quitting rates 13 percentage points above placebo rates at 6 months. (http://surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/treating_tobacco_use.pdf)
• Chantix use can generate quitting rates 26 percentage points above placebo rates at 3 months. (http://chantix.com)

So after reading those statistics they both are dangerous to our health, cause death and are dangerous to others.  So my question is this.  Why are alcohol commercials allowed on tv and not cigarette commercials.  I don’t want either on tv to be honest.  It just makes no sense to advertise something to the general public which has these kind of statistics and on the next channel find a show about the effects of alcoholism and how it’s destroying lives.

What do you think?  Alcohol commercials on tv acceptable? Don’t care? Never seen one?

Kanye West

We couldn’t let the day go by without taking a jab at Kanye West for his outburst last night on the VMA Awards.  We’ve all seen it before, Kanye embarassing himself by pulling temper tantrums for not winning, but last night he embarassed Taylor Swift, not just himself.

Taylor Swift said herself she never thought she would win this award,  she was genuinely surprised and delighted to have won.  Within seconds Kanye West took the moment away from her, and no apology from him can change that.  His behaviour was disgraceful to say the least.  All I thought to myself was “How dare he?”

We’re sick of your childish outbursts Kanye, grow up or stay home for the next awards.  Thank-you to Beyonce who later invited Taylor up on stage and showed some class.  It’s quite obvious she did not support Kanye’s outburst in any way, we could see that on her face when he jumped up on stage and interrupted Taylor.

I for one, don’t think of this guy in the same light anymore.  I now will hear his songs and think “what a jerk” instead of “what a great song”.  It doesn’t take away that he has had some great music out there, but it sure takes away from how you listen to them.

On the other hand, Taylor Swift, who I liked but wasn’t a huge fan of , has gained a lot of my respect,  particularly for her reaction when asked by reporters how she felt about Kanye.  She stated she did not know the man so wasn’t going to say anything negative about him.  She stated when he jumped on stage she was at first happy to see Kanye West….then disappointed when he spoke.

Your class outshines his by miles Taylor Swift and one thing’s for sure, we will remember who won that award.

Had a bad haircut?

Ever had a really  bad haircut and wonder what you can do about it?  Well it happened to my youngest daughter today and many years ago it happened to me. 

I had made an appointment for my two daughters to get their hair cut today since school is back in two days.  Knowing it would be busy we booked a few days in advance, drove an hour into town and waited in line.  Each of my daughters had a pictures of what they wanted.   My oldest wanted a completely new look, going from long to short and had a photo with her to explain exactly what she wanted.  My youngest daughter simply wanted her ends trimmed.  She had her hair cut short over a year ago and had spent the last year growing it in.  She had a picture of the hairstyle she was hoping to have in about 6 months when her hair grew some more……in the meantime she only wanted a trim.

I checked in at the counter, told my daughters to wait their turn and said I was going across the mall hallway to browse the bookstore.  I would be back very soon.  They had about 10 minutes before the appointment started.  I arrived back within 15 minutes and my youngest daughter who only wanted the ends trimmed was already in the chair with a mound of hair on the floor around her.  The hairdresser had proceeded to short layer the entire back area of my daughters hair after I and my daughter specifically told her “Only the ends trimmed.”

I immediately told her to stop and asked her why she was cutting away layers in the back.  She said she had split ends and was trimming them.  I was horrified.  My daughter had spent months growing her hair all one length and could not see what the hairdresser was doing to the back of her hair.  I told her to stop immediately.  I then approached the counter and asked to speak to the manager.  “She’s not here today.”   I informed the girl behind the counter what had taken place , she glanced over and gave a look on her face that she agreed this was indeed not a trim.  I then said my other daughter was not to have her hair cut by this lady.  She informed me that there was no one else to do it as they were booked solid.  I then cancelled my oldest daughters appointment and informed them that there was no way I was paying for the half finished cut they had just done on my 11 year old.

I received no response when I asked the lady why she had done this and what she was thinking.   I received a business card with the managers name on it and was told to call tomorrow when she would be in.  After asking for their head office phone number twice, I was ignored.

I plan on calling the manager tomorrow and their head office, Chatters (used to be Headhunters).  What do I want from them?  I want this person let go.  Yes we all make mistakes on a daily basis, and I do understand we all don’t get the haircut we hope for sometimes.  This was different.  This was to be the ends of the hair trimmed, and very short layers were put throughout the back of the head, with the front left long.  It’s absolutely inexcusible that she went ahead and did this.

The problem lies with this type of business.  What can be done?  Usually not a lot.  They are allowed to get their hairdressing license and continue to cut hair even if they are not qualified to do so.  Maybe they’ve lost interest over the years, in a bad mood.  Who knows , but it’s amazing they can basically decide to cut it however they like and get away with it.

So tomorrow morning I will call and see what this manager has to say.  Depending on her response, I will call head office.  I will put in a complaint about this particular hairdresser, not the salon itself, as we have been there before and had good experiences.  I will file a complaint with the better business bureau if it comes to it.

Has this ever happened to you and if so what did you do about it?

OK! Magazine

The “last photo of Michael Jackson” exclusive is said to have cost the magazine a cool $500,000.

Jackson’s family and friends are said to be outraged by the cover, and there’s an unconfirmed report that one of Jackson’s relatives has lodged a petition in court to have the sale of the magazine stopped.

This is just another disgusting media outlash against the star.  It is amazing what people are willing to do for money.  This goes for the one who sold the photo to OK Magazine who published it.

Here is a man who obviously isn’t with us anymore due to the pressures of his celebrity life.  Anyone who wants to argue that only has to extensively read about his life since he was accused by many of being inappropriate with children.  He lived a sheltered life due to the media and now even in his death they can’t have the decency to respect him or his family.

I find it amazing that this kind of photo is even allowed to be published.  Is this what they learned in their school of journalism?  I wonder if the person who made the decision to publish this photo had dreams when in journalism school of doing exactly this one day.  Most likely they dreamed of working for a respectable newspaper.  That not happening , obviously due to their lack of journalism skills, they feel compelled to sink to this level.

I am outraged and disgusted at Ok Magazine and will NOT buy their magazine ….ever because of this act of unprofessionalism.

I would hope that even if you were not a big fan of Michael Jackson you can see this for what it is.  Don’t support this offensive material. They paid a large amount of money for this photo hoping to make a profit on those that want to see it and increase sales.  I hope this doesn’t happen.

What do you think? Is this what a celebrity should expect? Acceptable behaviour? Let’s hear your thoughts on this photo.

Perez Hilton

Yep, I’ve had enough.  I’ve always disliked this guy and any other paparazzi/tabloid reporter who goes beyond “getting the picture”, but this week I finally decided to Take A Jab at those that inflict pain and unnecessary intrusions on people simply for their own personal (usually financial) benefit.

At Twitter I’ve seen his posts and have gasped many times at the audacity of his rudeness.  But what hit me this week , is that many celebrities follow this guy on Twitter.  As far as I’m concerned these same celebrities will never have the right to complain the day their photo ends up scribbled on over at the Perez website.  They are after all supporting him.  This guy is nobody unless we enable him to be somebody.  By visiting his website, following him on Twitter , and yes even posting this rant, we enable his celebrity status and push it beyond what he ever deserves.

This person has no qualms about bashing people simply for the way they look.  He has his favorites that he never bashes and I assume that is the only reason they remain in contact with him, to prevent themselves from being the subject of his daily bashes.  Lady Ga Ga is reportedly friends with him, follows him on Twitter. Nothing bad said about her at his blog, wonder why.

Josh Groban following Perez at Twitter? You’ve got to be kidding me! Okay, never liked him either.  I absolutely refuse to support any celebrity that endorses this guys behaviour.  You’re telling everyone you support him.  You’re saying “I am interested in watching him bash others”.

This week upon hearing Michael Jackson had been taken to hospital he immediately wrote on his blog that MJ was basically faking it in order to get out of his concert deal.  He bashed him even stating that his mother was on the way to the hospital to visit him.  After realizing, or being told, that in fact MJ had passed away , he removed the post.  This isn’t good enough.  Let’s say MJ had just had a heart attack and did not pass away. This then makes his post okay?  Don’t think so.  He heard he was on his way to hospital, possibly had a heart attack, and all he could think to do was to scribble on photos of him and bash away at him and his family.  Just because he did in fact remove the post after realizing it was a very serious situation does not excuse his initial behaviour.

He claims he is an advocate for gay rights and openly calls out anyone he suspects is gay on his website.  Yet upon becoming angry in a recent altercation with The Black Eyed Peas his first thought was to call Will.I.Am a “f****t”.  That’s how you support your cause Perez…that’s the way to handle a situation.  Does he honestly think he can continually attack these people and then mingle with them at parties and they will be kissy kissy with him.  Only those that are the Hollywood fakes will do so. Those that continue to follow him on Twitter and be-friend him knowing what he does for a living. Holly Madison,Shakira,Boy George, Josh Groban, David Hasselhoff and Sharon Osbourne all follow this guy on Twitter. Shame on all of them.  I’m sure there are plenty more celebs that follow this guy. Don’t come crying to the public when you’re next on his bash list.  There is no sympathy for those that support this guy.

I think the #unfollow Perez trend at Twitter is the best thing people can do. 

Recently Ashton Kutcher had a Twitter contest with CNN to see how fast he could reach 1 million followers.  I wonder how fast Perez can lose 1 million followers.  Would be interesting wouldn’t it?

I realize by even posting this blog with his name in it is giving him a form of advertising and I wish I could just sit back and not mention his name.  I think we’ve done that for too long.  I’m hoping by calling him out and making others aware it might encourage some to hit the unfollow button at Twitter and visit a more reputable celeb site instead of his.

Billy Bob Thornton

In the last week Billy Bob Thornton has been in the news for his controversial interview with Canadian radio host Jian Gohmeshi.

Billy Bob is on tour with his band The Boxmasters and upon his visit to Toronto, Canada apparently told the radio host before the interview not to mention his acting or directing career whatsoever.  He is a musician after all and wanted the radio interview to focus solely on that.  When Gohmeshi introduced Thornton by referring to his movie career it obviously ticked off Thornton.  After that point Thornton was abrupt and just plain rude. 

Thornton evaded simple questions and criticized the host for briefly mentioning his movie background in an introduction. Thornton appeared on the show with his band, the Boxmasters, who are on tour with Willie Nelson. When host Jian Ghomeshi asked Thornton what he’d learned from Nelson, he said, “I don’t know him.” Asked when his band was formed, Thornton replied: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Asked what music he listened to when he was young, Thornton spoke about reading the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. The actor took offense when Ghomeshi suggested he was passionate about music. “Would you say that to Tom Petty?” Thornton asked. After the interview, the band performed an instrumental tune without Thornton — who didn’t have his instrument. “I’m a drummer. We don’t cart those around at 6 o’clock in the morning,” he said before walking out.

He also, during the interview, likened Canadian audiences to “mashed potatoes with no gravy.”

At his performance the following night, Billy Bob and his band were booed by the Canadian audience at Toronto’s Massey Hall.

Now The Boxmasters have cancelled the remainder of the Canadian leg of their tour, citing “the flu” as the reason. 

So Billy Bob, I’m going to give you what you want.  No problem here.  I won’t reference or remember your movie or directing career.  If I could I’d take back any dollars spent on your movies. 

Do you really think you would even be on tour with Willie Nelson if it weren’t for who you have become because of your acting career.  I can guarantee you, you wouldn’t.  You would just be another up and coming band trying to get a break.  But because you are an award winning actor/director , you have the luxury of being able to open up for big bands…..because of your name.

How many people know the names of any other members of The Boxmasters.  Billy Bob isn’t even the front man, he’s the drummer.  What’s the front-mans name? Sorry Billy Bob, no idea.  I had never even heard of The Boxmasters until this tyrant of yours to be honest.

So there you go.  No more reference to your acting career.  Good luck with your band.

Nails on chalkboard

We all have them.  Those little things that can drive you crazy.  Some of them are the regular run-of-the-mill pet peeves such as nails on a chalkboard, eating with mouths open, people who interrupt, crazy drivers etc.  Then there are some that seem absurd to others. I have read about people who find it annoying when people don’t clear the numbers on the microwave, people who don’t wash their hands, people who wear their hair in weird hairdo’s.  It’s funny how some of us can let things go and other people have a panic attack over some things we might consider “small stuff”. 

I’m not suggesting that those who find it annoying when someone doesn’t clear the numbers on the microwave has no justification in letting this bother them, it’s just hard for me to relate since this is one thing that just doesn’t get to me on a daily basis.

So here are my ”pet peeves” in no particular order. What are yours?

-nails on chalkboard (is there anyone this doesn’t bother?)

-people who chew with their mouths open

-people who talk to you while you’re watching tv

-drivers who speed, follow to close, don’t signal, pass on the solid line, don’t turn off their high-beams

-people who constantly interrupt you while you’re talking

-lazy people in general , no ambition but constantly complain things aren’t going right for them

-people who borrow money and then tell you what they just purchased before they’ve paid you back

-people who talk on their cell phones or text in restaurants, movie theaters, or while talking to you

-people who talk in the movie theater

Ok, I’m sure if I took some more time I could go on and on.  I’ve found as I’ve gotten older, I have less tolerance for people then I used to.

Would love to hear some of your pet peeves

How often do you come across a full serve gas station anymore?  They seem to be few and far between these days.  In our small town, we do have one.  I enjoy having my windows cleaned, my oil checked and the full serve of having my gas pumped and paying from my inside my car.

When you go to a self serve gas station we are doing the work for them.  The attendant is inside behind the cash register being paid a wage to ….well….be a cashier.

There are plenty of good reasons to implement full service stations including, the inflammability of gas, the risk of crime from customers leaving their car, the toxic fumes emitted by gasoline, and the jobs created by requiring service.  Most filling stations in the United States have offered a choice between full service and self service. Until the 1970s, full service was the norm, and self service was rare. 

The first self service station in Canada was located in Winnipeg, Manitoba  in 1949 and was operated by independent Henderson Thriftway Petroleum, run by Bill Henderson. The first self service gas station in the United States was in Omaha, Nebraska in 1958, run by Sam Rosenbaum.

Today, few stations advertise full service, and those that do usually only provide self service unless a manager is involved. However, full service stations are more common in wealthy and upscale areas.

It’s another way to cut down on the cost of wages.  If you actually look at the benefits from the customer stand point, you can’t find many.  From the other side of the fence, offering full service benefits them in saving wages.  I cannot see any other benefit to taking away the full service.  As pointed out above, there are risks and loss of jobs , yet we continue to see fewer and fewer of the old-fashioned full service gas station.

So what do you think?  Don’t care? Tired of pumping your own gas when it’s pouring rain or freezing cold?  Need a part-time summer job for your teen but the local gas stations are only looking for cashiers? Or does it never even cross your mind?

Let’s hear your views.

I read somewhere that a man in London managed to sustain a fart for an officially recorded time of two minutes forty-two seconds.  I guess I should’ve called Guiness years ago.

My husband, like my children, think it is the funniest thing in the world to pass gas quietly and wait for anyone’s reaction.  I have tried on many occasions to pretend that I didn’t notice, but my gag reflex kicks in and he bursts into laughter.  He even likes to talk and sing about it like it’s a national past time.  One of his favorites, “Beans, beans, the musical fruit, the more you eat, the more you toot”.  Beans, burritos and chili are pretty much banned from my cupboards.

Why  is it as I get older I now need glasses to read, I can’t remember what happened last week,  yet my sense of smell is as sharp as a knife?

The kids of course burst into song right along with him, yet even they are on to the ‘pull my finger’ trick. 

My children, for some reason or another, feel they need to announce it every time they pass gas.  No matter where we may be “I tooted” !  “That’s nice dear, great, not so loud please”.  “But mommy,  I tooted” ! 

Well what would they like me to do?  Is a standing ovation appropriate?  Should I just say “What the heck” and join right in?  I’m not sure what my reaction is supposed to be, ignoring it hasn’t worked.  Laughing along with them just eggs them on. 

I always think of what their reaction would be if I did join in.  Just walk around the house all day lifting my leg, clear the room when we’re all watching TV and giggle every time I opened a can of beans.  I’m sure they would all pass out from disbelief.

Tempting…but I don’t think so.