Milk Causes Lung Cancer

Here is an Abstract from the National Institutes of Health:

The reported beverage habits of 569 lung cancer patients and 569 control patients admitted to Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) were studied, 355 male cases and 214 female cases being matched to controls within strata of age and residence. Smoking history and an index of vitamin A from vegetables had significant, dose-response associations with risk. Animal fat intake as measured by an index of animal fats from meats showed elevated risks which were not significant. Three vegetables rich in vitamin A and 3 meats contributing to the animal fat index were, individually, associated with lung cancer risk. Frequency of consumption of milk, coffee, tea, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages was studied in multiple logistic regression analyses which controlled for smoking history, intake of vitamin A from vegetables and education level. Subjects reporting consumption of whole milk 3 or more times daily had a 2-fold increase in lung cancer risk compared to those who reported never drinking whole milk (RR = 2.14). The same frequency of intake of reduced-fat milk was associated with a significant protective effect (RR = .54). Significant risk variations were observed for other beverages but, with the exception of frequencies of reported diet cola and decaffeinated coffee intake, dose-response patterns were not evident.

And in order for a relative risk (RR) to be considered causal, it must be greater than 2 (anything under 2 is considered non-causal).

Want lung cancer? Got Milk? + Milk drinking, other beverage habits, and lung cancer risk.

Cadillac Converter

What the hell is a Cadillac Converter? And will it turn my Hyundai Excel into a Cadillac?

Don't you hate it when people mis-pronounce words? I wonder whether they pronounce the word that way on purpose, or if they really don't know the correct pronunciation.

I'm one of those people that likes to correct people all the time. I know people hate it, but I think I'm providing a public service. If you sound like an idiot in front of me, isn't it my duty to correct you so you don't embarrass yourself in public?

Nicotine and Heart Disease

Cleveland Clinic Heart Center (webmd.com) says:
The nicotine present in smoke causes: Decreased oxygen to the heart, Increased blood pressure and heart rate, Increase in blood clotting, Damage to cells that line coronary arteries and other blood vessels

and yet the...

American Heart Association Says:
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) has been shown to be safe in most people with heart disease. However, if you've recently had heart problems, such as an irregular or rapid heartbeat, or chest pain, consult your doctor before using nicotine replacement products.

Why would the AHA support a product that supposedly causes heart disease?

Follow the Money

If one wants to know what industry groups have power in America, all one needs to do is follow the money. The pharmaceutical companies, the makers of Zyban, Nicoderm, Commit, Nicotrol, Nicorette, etc. spent $79 million to "grease the wheel".

While the Tobacco Industry only spent $17.5 million last year lobbying the federal government.

More money buys more power and influence.
tobacco lobby spending + drug lobby spending

I Want a Fucking Cigarette!

I quit smoking on January 14th 2004. I've been on the 21mg patch ever since. So basically I just changed one habit for another. I put on a patch in the morning and I'm good for the day ... kind of.

I still find myself getting up every hour for something. What used to be a cigarette, now becomes food. I refer to cigarettes as the "hole in my soul that I fill with food". And it's not the nicotine addiction, because I'm still wearing the patch! There is still something missing, like I forgot to do something, or left my wallet at home, but it's not.

Smoking allowed me to take a break from life/work and step away from it. I could think differently and often came up with new ideas after taking a smoke break.

And lately I've been thinking, is smoking really that bad? I know, I quit for my health so I could be around to watch my son grow up and all that bullshit, but is all the hype true?

Not so much. Last year, big tobacco spent about $10 billion in advertising. Guess how mych the anti-smoking people spent? About $10 billion. Anti-smoking is big business! And by anti-smoking I mean pharmaceutical companies. You know, the guys who make the patches, gums, inhalers, zyban, etc. to "help" us quit smoking.

So I started doing some research into the claims that 400,000 people die "prematurely" from smoking-related diseases. Suffice it to say that most of the studies are definitely based on "junk science" and statistical averages, not actual bodies. More links in My Favorites.
forces.org + in defense of smokers + smoking does not cause lung cancer + nuke story + smoking helps protect against lung cancer

Work Stinks

Do you ever notice how certains smells remind of past experiences?

I walked into a Pizza Hut recently and the smell brought me back to years ago when I worked there. The smell is the rancid vegetable oil that never gets washed off the pans and the cork pizza holders.

I used to work for a temp agency and did a lot of warehouse work and the smell of propane exhaust from the fork trucks (blown in your face for hours a day), turns my stomach.

Do you have any stinks that remind you of anything special?