Cataract Avenue -|- Tobacco Road

[Tarun]

Health & Fitness Tip of the Day

Saturday March 16, 2002

Quitting Smoking May Reduce Cataract Risk

The more cigarettes you smoke daily, the higher your risk of developing cataracts. New evidence suggests that quitting smoking can reduce this risk. In a study published in the January 2002 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, investigators reviewed data on more than 100,000 adults. They found that individuals who had quit smoking for at least 25 years were approximately 20% less likely to develop cataracts requiring surgery than current smokers. However, individuals who had never smoked were approximately 36% less likely to need cataract surgery. The bottom line is that although quitting smoking can reduce your chance of developing cataracts, your best bet is not to smoke in the first place.

- M. Ellman

[JRdd]

I have cataracts, I kept wondering why all of a sudden I couldn't do tiny kind of work like making little Deities necklaces. Anyway I looked up the causes on the internet and pollution and computers also contribute. I notice if I am staring at the screen my eyes get really blurry. I understand there are computer glasses that protect your eyes. I think we should all start thinking about this. We want to see the Deity of Krsna as long as we can.

[Tarun]

I've been wearing reading glasses since 1996, exactly after I layed out laxmi for a used Mustang-xiety 1966 for someone else who decided he didn't like it, leaving me shafted.

IOW, I set myself up for being hoodwinked, and I do mean "hood" as in "engine cover".

Whatever can go wrong will, and it did.

So-called friends became instant enemies within minutes.

Murphy's Law reigns Supreme till KalyavatAr shows up.

I can still read fineprint okay in sunlight, yet not in lamplight.

Further proof man-made is altijd inferior.

[Avinash]

I have cataracts, I kept wondering why all of a sudden I couldn't do tiny kind of work like making little Deities necklaces. Anyway I looked up the causes on the internet and pollution and computers also contribute. I notice if I am staring at the screen my eyes get really blurry. I understand there are computer glasses that protect your eyes.

 

Yes, there are anti-glare screens. Have you got such a screen for your computer? Anyway, this will not be sufficient. How is cataract treated easily? I think operation is done. Did you go for that?

[Tarun]

 

15 May 2002 16:28:23 -0000

Help Keep Our Kids Tobacco Free!

TakeAction@care2.com

Hi, Not long ago, you asked to receive information about critical issues that affect our Environment on thePetitionSite.com. One of the most important, yet often forgotten environments is your indoor environment -- indoor air quality in your home, at restaurants, bars, and more.

Did you know that tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, including 50 carcinogens that are released when a cigarette is smoked. Some are found naturally in the tobacco leaf, and others are created through combustion or burning. If you are a non-smoker, exposure to second-hand smoke increases your chance of lung cancer by 25% and heart disease by 10%. In the year 2000, an estimated 900,000 children under the age of 12 were regularly exposed to second-hand smoke in the home from cigarettes, cigars or pipes.

Eliminating smoke from our local environments is one of the simplest ways to help improve air quality. It might not be feasible to end smoking now for all smokers, but we can certainly take action immediately to help reduce the number of future smokers by keeping our children smoke free today!

Today, 5000 kids will try their first cigarette. Another 2000 will become regular, daily smokers, one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result.

You can help protect America's kids from Big Tobacco. Click here to send a FREE letter to the President.

After decades of marketing to kids, Philip Morris is changing its name to sound socially responsible, but it isn't changing its deadly habits. The fact is, more kids smoke "Altria's" Marlboros more than all other brands combined. Watch the short movie for more information!

It only takes a minute to help. Click here to send a FREE letter and protect America's Kids from Big Tobacco. And once you have done your part, please forward this message to your friends and family.

Thank you for your help,

Your Friends at Care2, ThePetitionSite.com &

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Click here to help.

[Tarun]

Hi, Not long ago, you asked to receive information about critical issues that affect our Environment on thePetitionSite.com. One of the most important, yet often forgotten environments is your indoor environment -- indoor air quality in your home, at restaurants, bars, and more.

Did you know that tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, including 50 carcinogens that are released when a cigarette is smoked. Some are found naturally in the tobacco leaf, and others are created through combustion or burning. If you are a non-smoker, exposure to second-hand smoke increases your chance of lung cancer by 25% and heart disease by 10%. In the year 2000, an estimated 900,000 children under the age of 12 were regularly exposed to second-hand smoke in the home from cigarettes, cigars or pipes.

Eliminating smoke from our local environments is one of the simplest ways to help improve air quality. It might not be feasible to end smoking now for all smokers, but we can certainly take action immediately to help reduce the number of future smokers by keeping our children smoke free today!

 

Today, 5000 kids will try their first cigarette. Another 2000 will become regular, daily smokers, one-third of whom will die prematurely as a result.

You can help protect America's kids from Big Tobacco. Click here to send a FREE letter to the President.

 

After decades of marketing to kids, Philip Morris is changing its name to sound socially responsible, but it isn't changing its deadly habits. The fact is, more kids smoke "Altria's" Marlboros more than all other brands combined.

It only takes a minute to help. Click here to send a FREE letter and protect America's Kids from Big Tobacco. And once you have done your part, please forward this message to your friends and family.

Thank you for your help,

Your Friends at Care2, ThePetitionSite.com &

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

[JRdd]

I found out I dont have cataracts and have to see a retina specialist. It is stretched to the max as I am extremely nearsighted (wear contacts), so it's deteriorating along the edges. This leads to eventual blindness. but in the meantime, I have been taking aplha-lipoic acid for another ailment, then read that it prevents retina deterioration! so often when we find something natural that works for us, it works for so many different symptoms we might have. Wholistic.

I find it kind of laughable, trying to hold this frail ecosystem of a body together. To me it's kind of like having a threadbare shirt, and you keep knotting the pieces together, just kind of holding the whole thing together in some strange, Charlie Chaplin way. Then you just keep marching (or crawling) along, like a disjointed skeleton. Hmm, gruesome.

[Tarun]

Judge Fines Tobacco Firm $20 Million

Court: R.J. Reynolds Penalized for Aiming Advertising at Teens.

by Seth Hettena

Associated Press Writer | Los Angeles Times

Thursday, 6 June, 2002

 

A judge fined R.J. Reynolds Co. $20 million today, ruling the maker of Winston and Camel cigarettes violated terms of the 1998 tobacco settlement by running magazine ads aimed at teen-agers.

 

California's attorney general office had sued the nation's No. 2 tobacco company last year, demanding it be punished.

 

The $206 billion settlement between the industry and 46 states does not specifically mention magazine advertising but bars tobacco companies from taking "any action, directly or indirectly, to target youth."

 

And Superior Court Judge Ronald Prager today found Reynolds violated that agreement.

By advertising in magazines such as Spin, Vibe, Hot Rod and Rolling Stone, Reynolds reached teens as often as or more often than adults, the judge said.

 

He said Reynolds saw itself losing market share to other companies and fought back with a more aggressive ad campaign "even though the likely effect of these efforts was to cause significant exposure to youth."

 

"It was, or should have been apparent to the skillful and bright people who managed RJR's multimillion-dollar, sophisticated print advertising campaign that youth were exposed to tobacco advertising at levels substantially similar to targeted adult smokers," Prager said.

 

The attorney general's office had asked judge to fine Reynolds $25 million and ban it from advertising in 50 magazines often read by teens.

 

The judge did not go so far as to ban advertising in specific magazines, but ordered Reynolds to take "reasonable measures" to reduce its reach to teen-agers.

 

Reynolds said it will appeal. "We think it disregards the facts, the law and the master settlement agreement," spokesman Tommy J. Payne said.

 

Charles A. Blixt, Reynolds' general counsel, said the ruling may violate the company's First Amendment right to free expression.

 

Reynolds denied deliberately targeting teens in its $200 million magazine ad campaigns for Camel cigarettes and other brands following the 1998 settlement.

 

At Reynolds, company policy forbids ads in magazines with youth readership of more than 25 percent. However, Reynolds lawyers conceded that an unintended consequence of targeting young adults is that some teens are likely to see its ads.

 

Deputy Attorney General Karen Leaf declared today's ruling "a victory for teens in California."

 

Although it applies only to California, the ruling will force Reynolds to change its practices in magazines with nationwide circulation, Leaf said.

 

Reynolds had U.S. sales of $8.6 billion in 2001. It has about 25 percent of America's market, with brands such as Camel, Winston, Doral and Salem.

[Tarun]

Natural Health Tip of the Day

Thursday June 6, 2002

Plants For Fresh Air

Most green house plants will clean up a variety of pollutants in your home or office. Spider plants and heartleaf philodendron are good at removing formaldehyde from your air (from carpeting, fiberboard, plywood, resins, and natural gas). Also effective at this are azaleas, mother-in-law's tongue, poinsettias, and ficus. English ivy, marginata, and golden pothos combat benzene (found in tobacco smoke, synthetic fibers, plastics, and detergents). Peace lilies and dragon trees can clear up TCE (from paints, varnishes, and wood finishes). So surround yourself with these plants and others for healthier air where you live.

*EMAZING Quote of Day

You have to have Soul. But if you don't have Soul, Halibut will do.

- The Muppets

[Tarun]

Natural Health Tip of the Day - Tuesday July 16, 2002

Hornbeam for Smoking Cessation Relief

Trying to kick the smoking habit? The Bach Flower remedy Hornbeam can help you get past the physical withdrawal and the change of habitual behavior that goes with kicking this habit. Take three drops in water three or four times a day as needed to help with your transition to a tobacco-free life.

EMAZING Quote of the Day

In my days, the players went into the clubhouse after a losing game with murder in their hearts. They would have thrown out any guy on his neck if they had even suspected him of intentions of singing.

- Bill Joyce, 1916, played third base in the 1890s (108-111 yrs ago, when men were men)

[Tarun]

Thank you for signing up for "Eye on Human Rights" at ThePetitionSite.com We're excited to provide you with easy ways to take action on human right's issues plus current news, critical information and interesting facts.

** TAKE ACTION: Third World Children Targeted As New Generation of Smokers **

 

Tobacco companies cannot target kids in the U.S., so why should they be able to target kids in third world countries?

 

Please join over 20,000 concerned citizens in signing this petition to keep kids worldwide educated and safe from misleading cigarette company tactics. Unless we let our representatives know by November 4, smoking education might not be properly funded! Sign here!

 

Most children who start smoking believe that if they start, they will be able to quit whenever they want, making them perfect targets for an addictive product. Children overseas, exposed to less commercialization than children in the U.S., are even more likely to believe that smoking won't harm them, but instead make them "hip" like kids from the U.S. Tobacco companies under greater scrutiny in the U.S. have increasingly turned to children overseas to take advantage of this receptive audience.

 

For example, when cigarette companies were able to move into South Korea in 1987, the smoking rate among teenage boys was 18% in 1988 -- a year later, after U.S. cigarette imports were allowed, it rose to 30%. Smoking rates for teenage girls climbed during the same period from 2% to 9%. (1)

 

What Do Cigarette Companies Abroad Do To Attract Kids?

Attractive, scantily clad women working for cigarette companies give away free cigarettes and light them in the mouths of teenage boys. (2)

 

In China, Philip Morris has sponsored giveaways in which empty cigarette cartons can be exchanged for Philip Morris branded backpacks and hats. (3)

 

In Hong Kong, Salem sponsors a "virtual reality dome" where teenagers can come and fire laser guns at each other, and distributes removable tattoos of the Salem logo. (4)

 

In the city of Madras, India, one company paid school children to go to discos and hand out invitations to a party. Only children were invited to this party where free liquor and cigarettes were distributed. (5)

Sign this petition before Novemnber 4 and counter efforts to lure ignorant children into deathly habits; support smoking education programs for children, and help stop misleading ads by cigarette companies!

Sign this petition today!

Thank you for caring to make a difference!

Gwen Tyler

ThePetitionSite.com

REFERENCES:

(1) Ruth Roemer, Legislative Action to Combat the World Tobacco Epidemic (Geneva: World Health Organization, 1993).

(2) International Tobacco Sales Volume 3, Number 17 June 1998 (revised October 2000).

(3) "Philip Morris Draws Fire with Chinese Promotion," Advertising Age, 5 January 1998.

(4) The New York Times , "Selling Cigarettes in Asia," 10 September 1997; Sens. Richard Durbin and Ron Wyden, "Big Tobacco Must Stop Targeting Kids Worldwide," Roll Call , 23 March 1998.

(5) The Times of India, "RS Fumes Over Use of Children in Cigarette Ad," 13 March 1997.

-----------------------------

This is a Human Rights alert from Care2's ThePetitionSite.com. You signed up for our Eye on Human Rights alerts on one of your visits to ThePetitionSite.com. If you no longer wish to receive these alerts, please send an empty message here: do-unsub-15-203905-214948-a053c637@australia.care2.com

[Tarun]

Language is the archives of history. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Please notice & read our recently departed godsister Jaya Radhe dd's post above.

 

Thursday January 23, 2003

Dieting Tip of the Day

Study Suggests Fiber Ineffective on Polyps

A new study reported in the "New England Journal of Medicine" has determined that a diet that is low in fat and high in fiber apparently has no effect on the growth of cancerous polyps in the rectum. Apparently, the uncomfortable office exam is the best way for early detection. This is especially important after the age of 50.

 

A high fiber diet full of fruits and vegetables is still very important to help in the prevention of other cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The best diets in the long run are probably those that are begun in early childhood by the age of 10. Colon cancer is second leading cause of death from cancer, but it can be helped with early detection.

Health and Fitness Tip of the Day

Secondhand Smoke Hurts Kids

It is estimated that 35% of children in the United States 21 million children live in homes where residents or visitors smoke in the home on a regular basis, according to a study published in the November 2002 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The researchers stated that secondhand smoke has been associated with increased rates of acute lower respiratory tract infections, wheezing and asthma, middle ear infections, sudden infant death syndrome, medical visits, hospitalizations, and school absences in children. Cigarette smoke is unhealthy, both for adults and children. Your best bet is not to smoke at all. However, if you insist on smoking, please protect your children by not smoking indoors. Your children's health depends on it.

- M. Ellman

 

These tips are for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical attention or professional diagnoses. If you have health concerns, or want to start an exercise program, please consult your health care provider before embarking on any activity or treatment.