http://www.novinite.com/forum/ Sofia News Agency Forum en 2001-2012 Novinite Ltd. http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219808&post_id=219817#219817 Richie Wed, 16 May 2012 12:32:51 +0200 McF, I fart in your general direction! (Surely you don't mind using my right to flatulence in public, because you advocate the right to smell in public, and farting is much healthier than smoking). 219817 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219808&post_id=219816#219816 Seedy Wed, 16 May 2012 09:14:25 +0200 My smoking career began when I was a student - and ended a year later when I still had 19 cigarettes left in that original pack. I find the smell of smoke, and smokers, nauseating and I can't begin to comprehend how someone with an ounce of intelligence, or even an animal sense of self-preservation, would suck chemical-laden smoke into their lungs while paying a fortune to tobacco companies and tax-men for the privilege. How a non-smoker lives with a smoker is truly beyond my understanding and I also feel that smoking seems to make a mockery of our laws against "assisted dying". However, since smoking isn't an illegal activity - perish the thought that our governments would obtain tax-revenues through such things! - then I can't see why people should be hounded for exercising their freedom of choice. Don't get me wrong - I am perfectly happy to stigmatise smokers as being stupid, weak-willed and/or suicidal, and to insist that they don't smoke in my home or compromise my taste-buds when I am trying to eat or drink. If a restaurant doesn't have a fully-effective non-smoking area then they don't get my custom and I explain to them just why that is, but I'm not forced to eat there, so why should I want to force smokers NOT to eat there? I have no idea what is in Mr McFadden's book, although it gets some favourable reviews, and I have little doubt that, like the anti-smoking lobby, he picks and chooses his data to match his views - and sell his book. The pro-smoking lobby seems to be mainly apologists for the tobacco industry, so I tend to mistrust them per se and I do find it offensive that Big Business makes money out of the weakness of millions of people - the fact that many other businesses do the same doesn't make it right or fair - but at the end of the day, isn't this just Darwinism at work? As long as I have a freely-available way to live my life free of the even-theoretical dangers of second-hand smoking, then I really don't care if millions of idiots choose to commit mass-suicide. Finally, I know that there are arguments that the cost of treating smokers in their final days is offset by the amount of tax they pay; I am in two minds about whether self-inflicted injury should be treated without additional charge but I promise faithfully that I will start the diet tomorrow. PS Please feel free to send me a free copy of your book, Mr McF.... ;) 219816 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219813&post_id=219815#219815 sa-sha Wed, 16 May 2012 08:48:34 +0200 Think You've got my hint right, Pantudi. Any investment is OK, sure, but---against the background of the above "Scream" (US$ 120mln, "gone" to Qatari Royal Family), the recent BG delegation' visit to the same Qatar and the real potential for the billion-level investments into BG,--- Qatari Ruler could demonstate more adequate, polite and wise approach... 219815 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219813&post_id=219814#219814 Pantudi Tue, 15 May 2012 23:02:35 +0200 @ sa-sha, Previous reports suggested that Qatar was interested in building a tollway running from Rousse to Svilengrad. If we assume that the cost of a modern highway is the range of $5-10 million per km, depending on the terrain, $100 million is good for how many km? DP (i.e. Mrs. "know-it-all) please help me here, what's distance between the two border crossings? More than 20 km, methinks. LOL BTW, I recall that the Ljulin highway cost was EUR 10 million per km due to the challenging terrain+mismanagement. The main contractor was a Turkish company... 219814 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219813&post_id=219813#219813 sa-sha Tue, 15 May 2012 21:29:22 +0200 "An agreement for Qatari investments of USD 100 M ...........is also expected to be among the key topics." Just The Scream. http://s16.radikal.ru/i191/1102/5b/69664a2e82f7.jpg 219813 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219808&post_id=219812#219812 MichaelMcFadden Tue, 15 May 2012 17:24:23 +0200 One of our states, Michigan, passed a full smoking ban for bars about two years ago. An activist Pro-Free-Choice group in Michigan has compiled a list of bar closures. I will post the beginning of a message about them and then a link to the full message from Charlotte Stamper: === As much as I hate it, I feel we need to maintain the RIP List. This is meant to be a list of bars, taverns, clubs, and other establishments that closed since May 1, 2010. Since bars/taverns have been hardest hit by smoking ban, we will only add establishments to this list that held a liquor license. Establishments are added to the list when reported by members, and confirmed to be closed (via news story, disconnected phone number, etc.). Many of these businesses have been open for 5, 10, 20, even 93 years which meant they survived multiple recessions, but suddenly couldn't survive after May 1, 2010. Please report any errors and I will make necessary changes. 1. Fiber McGee's: 47528 Pontiac Trail, Wixom. Established around 1984. 2. Players Billiards Bar & Grill: 38503 W 10 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills. Established 1991. 3. O'Tooles: 24555 Novi Road, Novi. One of four successful locations: three remain open. 4. Deer Lake Inn: 7504 Dixie Hwy, Independence Twp. Est. 1918 as a stagecoach stop. 5. Southwest Detroit Moose Lodge: 2034 Lawndale Street, Detroit 6. Fletcher's City Saloon: 416 Main Street, Cement City. Established around 1931. 7. TC's Bar and Grill: 10010 E Pickard Rd, Mount Pleasant. Established 2009. 8. Crazy Parrot Pub & Grub 9205 Pelham, Allen Park. Established around 2006. 9. Grand Blanc Inn: 5313 S Dort Highway, Flint. Est. prior to 1979: looking for info. 10. Wild Cherry Lounge 15224 East 8 Mile, Detroit. Established around 1991. ==== You'll note there are just 10 places listed. But if you go to: http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2012/05/steve_gunn_19.html#comments and look through the comments you will find Charlotte's entire list of: **THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN BARS THAT HAVE CLOSED** since their smoking ban started. So yes, the economic problems of a ban are very real. - MJM 219812 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219811&post_id=219811#219811 Richie Tue, 15 May 2012 15:53:14 +0200 There goes Bulgaria's reputation as a reliable destination for investments... again! What's the use of having the lowest profit tax in Europe if thanks to these policies, you're making a loss? 219811 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219808&post_id=219810#219810 MichaelMcFadden Tue, 15 May 2012 14:27:26 +0200 Madoods, yes, places that had decided to have designated areas should have enforced those areas, but that has nothing to do with whether the government should be stepping into how businesses choose to serve their customers by mandating a total ban. As I said in another post here on Sofia the other day, giving away your new found freedoms to the government in return for a little comfort to some people's preferences will be one of the biggest mistakes you'll ever make. Look over to the United States where the bans started in the "family restaurants" with the excuse that they were designed for children. But as soon as the Antismokers got that ban they moved forward, and forward, and forward, until now they are banning smoking on many beaches and in many parks, within 25 and 50 feet of doorways, and even in many public housing buildings and private apartments. On top of that, if you visit the main antismoking websites you will find them encouraging landlords to refuse to rent to smokers at all, and also encouraging employers not to hire smokers. Is that really the road you want to see Bulgaria going down at this point? Do you really want to see what comes AFTER that? Michael J. McFadden Author of "Dissecting Antismokers' Brains" 219810 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219808&post_id=219809#219809 madoods Tue, 15 May 2012 10:05:55 +0200 If cafe/ restaurant owners had enforced the no smoking areas in their establishments, there would be no call for a total ban. There would be a choice for both smokers and non-smokers. Unfortunately in too many places, smokers are given ashtrays and allowed to light up in designated no smoking areas which has probably led to the call for a total ban 219809 http://www.novinite.com/forum_view.php?main_id=219808&post_id=219808#219808 spags Tue, 15 May 2012 03:59:43 +0200 The smoking ban in the UK was introduced on 1st July 2007 and people didn't really complain too much. The reason for this was because it was summer weather but when the winter came things were very different and after spending half the night standing outside pubs in the wet & cold the novelty wore off and people began to stay home or go round to friends for a beer instead. House parties are now quite popular & hundreds of pubs have gone bankrupt. The same will happen in Bulgaria, in fact it will be worse because of your harsh winter weather... are you going to keep going outside to have a smoke when it's -10c 219808