tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post3268129008927371475..comments2023-10-17T15:56:22.827+01:00Comments on Velvet Glove, Iron Fist: In a hole, Ireland keeps diggingChristopher Snowdonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15963753745009712865noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-33322063755939973112013-05-29T15:59:41.411+01:002013-05-29T15:59:41.411+01:00Chris, one wonders how this plain packaging in Eir...Chris, one wonders how this plain packaging in Eire will be addressed re cross-border shopping seeing as all tobacco products bought in the EU will not be in plain packs?<br /><br />As it stands, the reality is that most tobacco comes into Eire from Northern Ireland ... whether that be from normal retail outlets or the smugglers. The border controls are virtually non-existent and l can't see that changing. Customs are even less present (if that's at all possible) in what is locally known as 'bandit country'.<br /><br />Smoking Hothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04534745989363293923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3585028625507474093.post-63141721867302246802013-05-29T15:36:16.069+01:002013-05-29T15:36:16.069+01:00For anyone interested.
Concerning the big island ...For anyone interested.<br /><br />Concerning the big island - Australia, that is quickly sinking into the sands of madness, allow me to introduce Peter FitzSimons.<br /><br />Pete the Ponce is a former rugby player that probably took too many shots to the head in his playing days. Since his on-field brawling, Pete has become something of a celebrity “opinionist”; he’s written a few books, pens newspaper columns, and makes the occasional appearance on “news” TV. Many describe him as a socialist socialite, a socially-connected left-leaner quite partial to the frequent drop of <i>vino</i> and other alcoholic thirst-quenchers. He is also an aggressively avowed atheist who doesn’t want anyone’s religion shoved down his throat.<br /><br />So why put this opinionated top-end wine-bibber under the spotlight? Well, our good friend Pete – seeker of “social justice” – has made it into the news for somewhat sordid reasons. It appears that Petey Boy signed on to the Master of Ceremonies job for a recent children’s cancer charity-function. What has some people riled up is that, in searching for “social justice”, the already wealthy Petey charged $8,000 for his services (the charity function ultimately made a total profit of $30,000). In addition, as MC he wasn’t all that good. If that wasn’t enough, given a steady intake of [free] plonk during the evening, Petey also made a first-class vulgar ass of himself away from the microphone:<br />http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/not-a-banana-bender-says-bandana-man-peter-fitzsimons/story-fni0cx12-1226652568481<br /><br />One would think that this oaf would be slow on the moralizing trigger. And maybe he is ….. except for one thing in which he is absolutely sure – Petey is an antismoker. Here’s a reference to some of Pete’s antismoking, alcohol-soaked, punch-drunk “pearls of wisdom”:<br />http://www.arttopplingtobacco.com.au/announcements/lead-by-example-peter-fitzsimons<br /><br />But when I say that Petey is an antismoker, I may not be doing proper justice to the circumstance. We would have to say that the opinionated boozer is more that just an antismoker. He’s an antismoking <i>activist</i>.<br /><br />Enter another piece of oafishness, another pompous galoot – the professor of “public health” <i>[giggle]</i>, Simple Simon Crapman. In the following article, Crapman explains how he had nothing to do with a mostly campus-wide smoking ban at Sydney University:<br />http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/why-even-wowsers-argue-about-smoke-bans-20120222-1to4x.html#ixzz1nD5K0cJ3<br /><br />We know that when Crapman says that he does not agree with large-area outdoor smoking bans (e.g., campus-wide), he is lying. There’s Crapman’s signature – on page 2 – of the ASH manual “Guide for a Tobacco Free Campus”:<br />http://www.ashaust.org.au/pdfs/TFcampusGuideAus09.pdf<br /><br />But I digress. What does Crapman have to do with Pete the Plonkmeister, I hear you ask. Patience, dear ones. Well, while Crapman attempts to divest himself of all responsibility for these baseless, spiteful campus-wide smoking bans, look at whom he points the fickle finger of accusation – none other than Petey Ploppo, another antismoking activist:<br /><i>“Last year, my university debated the introduction of a ban on smoking on all areas of its campuses, after the senate alumni representative and Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons led the charge….”</i><br /><br />Yes! <i>That</i> Peter FitzSimons.<br /><br />Now don’t be complaining about my raconteur skills. I charged nothing, let alone $8,000.<br />:)<br />JohnBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05165051324276559561noreply@blogger.com