TICAP, The Hague, March 15th 2010

Monday, March 23, 2009

Dick Puddlecote: Smoker Apartheid Has Arrived

Dick Puddlecote: Smoker Apartheid Has Arrived

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Sunday, March 15, 2009

Nightmare On Downing Street


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Thursday, March 12, 2009

Gian Turci died suddenly on March 10th

On behalf of the Board of Directors of TICAP, I should like to convey our most sincere condolences to his family and above all to his son, daughter and wonderful wife Anne.

We should also like to pay tribute to Gian, who was not only our fellow director and beloved comrade-in-arms, but a formidable champion of liberty and a truly great man. We shall miss him sorely but his work will not be in vain for we shall continue the struggle against the forces of prohibition with renewed vigour and determination.

I hope that our readers will join with me in expressing their condolences.
We shall never forget you, Gian. Shine on!

John Gray (Chairman)
The International Coalition Against Prohibition

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Axe the beer tax

Visit this campaign and for a bigger version on the tax machine...CLICK HERE

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Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Hospital smoking ban not thought through

"Under which legislation is the ban to be brought in and enforced? What constitutes the “grounds” of the hospital? ......
......Perhaps the time, money and fertile imaginations of those involved in this proposal might be better spent concentrating on what happens inside the buildings and reducing the number of people killed by hospital-acquired infections. " Read the article...

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Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Attacked on both flanks

I could have "Circled my Wagons", but it was a tricky situation!

A workmate sat in my local hostelry having a quiet lunch with another of his pals. My mates back was to me so it could have been a non-event. I couldn't resist the urge though, the compulsion. I hadn't been to work for more than 2 months and I liked my mate a lot. I suppose I just wanted to be seen or catch up. Don't get it wrong he is only a workmate and I hadn't given him a thought until I saw him.

So I overcame my shyness and a bit clumsily, approached, catching his fellow diner's glance and directly addressing him I gave my apologies for the interruption. "Hi xxx, blah, etc", I said enthusiastically. I'm afraid I can't remember my exact words and they do not really matter. During my initial "outburst" I said that I had been off work with depression for 2 months. This is when it all went wrong!

My mates pal, who is from this point called "Nasty", said "It's the winter, I've got it, we've all got it!", or similar! At the same time as I recoiled on one flank, my mate said "I've been off for 3 months, my wife died". OMG!!! The poor soul, I gushed the usual sanctimonious bullshit, but with heartfelt passion and sympathy, touching his back in the accustomed manly way. I issued some comment about it's suddenness.."It's been 3 years, she's been under Drs X & Y." and he pointed to his upper chest. "So you'd better give up?", or similar well intentioned small talk my friend offered. A remark that a simple nod or Mmmm would have dealt with adequately.

But no...OH NO!!!!
Nasty says "You MUST!"
Gasdoc says "Oh MUST I?"
Nasty "No doubt there"
Gasdoc "I do know a bit about it"
Nasty "Not enough, onviously, you must just stop"

My poor workmate, was subjected to a petty bickering between two complete opposites who were both on his side.

Gasdoc "Not because xxx's wife has died?"
That shut him up...oops!

My mate and I finished our small talk and wished each other well.
I am left completely overtaken by fluster and tachycardia because I am totally outraged by this ignorant fools prejudice both towards mental illness and smoking, and shocked to hear my friends awful news. Fortunately my mate's bigger than Nasty in everyway and he just took it in his stride, I hope.

But, what an inexplicably sorry tale this was, that will stay with me forever. Nasty is now labelled and a lost cause, which, to be fair, had been my supposition, but silly me , I usually give people the benefit of the doubt.

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Sunday, March 01, 2009

Blad does Donaldson - Wicked

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Fire Safe Cigarettes -Or- Smokers as Lab Experiments?

This is scarey!

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