The smoking lounge

I have no idea where this lounge is, or where this photo was taken, or even who to give the credit to - my mom sends me these e-mails with these cool photos in them occassionally, and this was one of those. It's not that I don't have sympathy for how difficult it must be to quit. I do, however, want to spit nails every time someone makes the arguement that it's their right to smoke because they're not bothering anyone.

When I think of all the costs involved with smoking-related illnesses - and the trouble we have getting funding for lung research because lung disease is percieved by so many as being "our fault" - I do tend to get a little hot under the collar. Come on - call a spade a spade - all of our bad habits, my chocolate habit included, cost the greater society. And no, I'm not opposed to the twinkie tax either. Perhaps it would help me stick to my diet.

Comments

Unknown said…

This is an awesome photo. I could not stop looking at it. I'd like to see you do something similar, perhaps with coffins inside the grave and the view from the coffin at life outside the grave. I think the ads on TV against smoking are very powerful ones and a painting/photo like that would be also.

1:59 AM

Ratner's Cheesecake

Here's another recipe from Toby! Thanks Toby......and I'll get the others posted soon! Ratner's Cheesecake and plain cookies Ratner's was a Jewish dairy restaurant in the lower East Side of Manhattan. This recipe, from my disintegrating, no longer in print Ratner's cookbook, is the closest I've ever gotten to reproducing the rich, heavy cheesecake my mother made when I was a kid. It's worth the time it takes to prepare and every last calorie. Dough Can be prepared in advance. Makes enough for two cakes. Can be frozen or used to make cookies – see recipe below. 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup shortening 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 cup butter 2 eggs 3 cups sifted cake flour ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients with hands. Refrigerate 3 -4 hours, or preferably overnight. Filling (for

The next generation with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome

I'm so behind on posting about the trip to Puerto Rico. Since the episode of Mystery Diagnosis on Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome ran right after we got home, it's been a little busy. These, however, are my favorite pictures from Puerto Rico. I know, not pretty senery etc - but these little guys and gals inspire me. They are the next generation of folks with HPS, and if we keep up the hard work, they will live better lives because of it. They motivate me.

Some good news about Pirfenidone

Below is a press release from Intermune, the company that makes Pirfenidone. They have essentially reviewed the various clinical trials going on, and decided that Pirfenidone is safe and well tolerated. That would pretty much go along with what we've observed in the HPS community as well. We have a few folks that have been on the drug since the late 90s and continue to do well. Of course, as a journalist, I do have to say consider the source - but at the same time, as someone in a Pirfenidone trial, it's good to know. Results of Comprehensive Safety Analysis of pirfenidone In IPF Patients Presented At European Respiratory Meeting - Analysis shows safety and tolerability of pirfenidone across four clinical trials - VIENNA, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN ) today announced that the results of a comprehensive review of safety data from four clinical studies were presented at the 2009 European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria

Living on the frontlines

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