Monthly Archives: April 2013

Greek footballer given lifetime national ban after apparent Nazi salute

"The AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis has been handed a life ban from all national teams by Greece's football federation EPO after he appeared to give a Nazi salute to supporters during a match. Katidis denied he gave a Nazi salute. The player said he was simply pointing at Michalis Pavlis in the stands to dedicate the goal to his team-mate as he continues to fight health problems. AEK's German coach, Ewald Lienen, backed Katidis. 'He is a young kid who does not have any political ideas. He most likely saw such a salute on the internet or somewhere else and did it without knowing what it means,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreek footballer given lifetime national ban after apparent Nazi salute

Cuba auctions cigars to raise money for health system

"An auction of luxury cigar humidors in Cuba fetched $1.1 million, which will go toward the public health system, the state news agency said Sunday. The sale came at an international cigar festival attended by celebrities such as American actor Danny Glover and German tennis great Boris Becker, Prensa Latina said. Six fancy wooden humidors containing between 350 and 550 cigars each were sold at the auction Saturday night, the report said. Glover received a silver sculpture in thanks for his support for Cuba and for his role in the 'fight for peace and justice,' the agency said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCuba auctions cigars to raise money for health system

Daddy Bloomberg Wants to Require Retailers to Hide Tobacco

"The ban on large size sugary drinks was odd enough, but NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has now gone totally loony. A new proposal would require New York City retailers to keep tobacco products out of sight under a first-in-the-nation proposal aimed at reducing the youth smoking rate. The legislation would require stores to keep tobacco products in cabinets, drawers, under the counter, behind a curtain or in other concealed spots. They could only be visible when an adult is making a purchase or during restocking. 'Such displays suggest that smoking is a normal activity,' Bloomberg said. 'And they invite young people to experiment with tobacco.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDaddy Bloomberg Wants to Require Retailers to Hide Tobacco

The Laffer Curve Bites Ireland in the Butt

"All over the world, governments impose draconian taxes on tobacco, and then they wind up surprised that projected revenues don’t materialize. We’ve seen this in Bulgaria and Romania, and in Washington, DC, and Michigan. Even the Government Accountability Office has found big Laffer Curve effects from tobacco taxation. And now we’re seeing the same result in Ireland. I have to laugh at the part of the article that says, 'receipts are falling dramatically short of targets, even though taxes have increased.' This is what’s called the Fox Butterfield effect, when a leftist expresses puzzlement about something that’s actually common sense." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Laffer Curve Bites Ireland in the Butt

Rahmaland Cigarette Tax Increases by $1 a Pack

"Taxes on cigarettes sold in Cook County, Illinois which includes Chicago, are going up by one dollar a pack. The price of a pack of cigarettes could be near $11 in Chicago, $6.67 of which is city, county and state taxes. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says the tax, which takes effect Friday, is expected to generate more than $25 million annually. The people of Cook County will soon learn what a black market looks like. Preckwinkle seems to already know it's coming. She says the county Revenue Department will hire more staff to help stop tobacco smuggling and tax evasion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRahmaland Cigarette Tax Increases by $1 a Pack

U.S. launches new major anti-smoking campaign

"US health officials launched a hard-hitting offensive aimed at slashing the numbers of smokers across the country following the success of a similar campaign last year. The new campaign encourages smokers to kick the habit with a series of adverts spotlighting the wrenching personal stories of individuals battling smoking-related illnesses or diseases. The number of calls to health services doubled to around 200,000 during the 2013 campaign, which cost $54 million and lasted 12 weeks." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. launches new major anti-smoking campaign

EPA Forces Man to Spend $200K to Expand Lake, Then Doesn’t Grant Permit To Do It

"Shortly after Mr. Lathrop built his lake, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that the dump he had put the lake on was a 'wetland' according to the Clean Water Act and referred him to the EPA for prosecution. When Mr. Lathrop met with the EPA to talk about his lake, they determined that he must expand a lake on an adjacent farm. In order to do so Mr. Lathrop had to apply for a permit from the Corp. That cost him another $200,000 and, despite the Corp lifting their order against him, he has still never received the permit. It's been 15 years. This decades-long fight has cost Mr. Lathrop $300,000. It has left him and his family on the brink of bankruptcy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEPA Forces Man to Spend $200K to Expand Lake, Then Doesn’t Grant Permit To Do It

To protect restaurants, D.C. may curb food trucks

"Should D.C.'s food laws try to protect consumers and public safety? Or should they try to protect brick-and-mortar restaurants from competition? D.C.'s restaurant lobbyists, along with many local politicians and bureaucrats, seem to thi nk the government's job is to save the delis and diners, bistros and brasseries from the scourge of falafel trucks, barbecue buses and weenie wagons. Most of downtown D.C., according to the Food Truck Association of Metropolitan Washington, would be off-limits to food trucks under new regulations proposed by the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTo protect restaurants, D.C. may curb food trucks

Major supermarket chains promise not to sell genetically engineered salmon in the U.S.

"The US Food and Drug Administration is in the final stages of deciding whether to allow GM salmon onto the market. If approved, AquaBounty Technology’s salmon would be the first genetically engineered animal to enter the food supply. The GM salmon is the first in some 30 other species of transgendered fish under development, including tilapia. Researchers are also working to bring GM cows, chickens and pigs to market. However, those plans could be blocked by Wednesday’s commitment from national grocery chains, such as Trader Joe’s, Aldi and Whole Foods, as well as regional retailers, not to sell genetically engineered seafood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMajor supermarket chains promise not to sell genetically engineered salmon in the U.S.

Frankenfish and Other Stupid Industrial Food Tricks

"Genetically engineered salmon is one step closer to your unsuspecting plate. First came the farm-raised fish lacking the health benefits of wild-caught fish, and now food culture is taking one more step toward lunacy by creating genetically modified animals in the form of Frankenfish. The FDA will likely approve this untested experiment for human beings for consumption as food, thanks to a biotech company called AquaBounty Technologies. The company created this so-called food product via a new gene construct that combines Chinook salmon growth with a regulator gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrankenfish and Other Stupid Industrial Food Tricks