Issue #781

“Unless you become more watchful in your states and check the spirit of monopoly and thirst for exclusive privileges you will in the end find that… the control over your dearest interests has passed into the hands of these corporations.”
– Andrew Jackson

Westminster, Mass., and the well-tended grass roots of tobacco bans: The staff paid for with money from outside the town seem to have seen their job as, in part, lobbying the local officials: “We’ve had to work on each individual board [of health] member to get them to come around,” said one. And it’s worth knowing exactly how the game plan works, because similar ones have been rolled out to localities in various states not only on “tobacco control” but on “food policy,” environmental bans and other topics. Grass roots? If so, most carefully cultivated in high places.
AND: Control Freaks. By John Stossel. Control freaks want to run your life. They call themselves “public servants.”

More Humiliation: China Furious At “Disrespectful” Nicorette-Chewing Obama. “The chew seen around the world,” as President Obama chomped on Nicorette gum during the recent APEC summit ceremonies, has sparked outrage in China, describing his behavior as “rude” and “inappropriate.”

Stanton Glantz: By Dr Farsalinos. Personal attacks, questionable ethics and support for censorship when the results do not fit to the agenda. A sad story of scientific misconduct. In an unprecedented attempt to create confusion, support censorship, intimidate journal editors and discredit research which obviously does not fit to his agenda…

Free Audio Book – Vices Are Not Crimes: Lysander Spooner (1808 – 1887) Unless this clear distinction between vices and crimes be made and recognized by the laws, there can be on earth no such thing as individual right, liberty, or property, and the corresponding coequal rights of another man to the control of his own person and property.

CA Foster City: A smoking ban in Foster City apartments, condominiums and townhomes that share walls, floors, ceilings and ventilation systems moved forward Monday with a unanimous City Council vote after nearly a year of sometimes heated discussion.

TX Alert: Senate Bill 97 – Relating to regulation of the sale, distribution, possession, use, and advertising of vapor products; authorizing a fee; creating offenses.

UK Cigar Auction: Christmas is arriving early for some of the world’s wealthiest smokers, who will be flocking to Boisdale Belgravia on 1 December for C.Gars Ltd’s fifth winter – and largest ever – auction of rare, aged and vintage cigars.

Parents question physical exams. A group of parents who have children in the Buffalo Public School District are calling on the district to review school policies allowing what they call, “sexually invasive” physical exams.

Michelle Obama’s School Lunch Program Now Faces Organized Opposition from Hungry High Schoolers. And they’re not gonna take it anymore. As we’ve previously reported,students and parents are fed up and have posted pics of the skimpy meals on Twitter.