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The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos: Amazon.ca: Michael Freeman: Books
The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos [Paperback] Michael Freeman (Author)
Publication Date: May 23 2007 Design is the single most important factor in creating a successful photograph. The ability to see the potential for a strong picture and then organize the graphic elements into an effective, compelling composition has always been one of the key skills in making photographs. Digital photography has brought a new, exciting aspect to design - first because the instant feedback from a digital camera allows immediate appraisal and improvement; and second because image-editing tools make it possible to alter and enhance the design after the shutter has been pressed. This has had a profound effect on the way digital photographers take pictures. Now published in sixteen languages, The Photographer's Eye continues to speak to photographers everywhere. Reaching 100,000 copies in print in the US alone, and 300,000+ worldwide, it shows how anyone can develop the ability to see and shoot great digital photographs. The book explores all the traditional approaches to composition and design, but crucially, it also addresses the new digital technique of shooting in the knowledge that a picture will later be edited, manipulated, or montaged to result in a final image that may be very different from the one seen in the viewfinder.Features*Covers both traditional in-camera composition and the new opportunities for picture-making made possible by digital imaging editing *Shows how to explore situations and locations in order to find the best possible photographic possibilities *Uses clear examples from real photographic assignments, with schematic illustrations of how and why the pictures work Show More
Design is the single most important factor in creating a successful photograph. The ability to see the potential for a strong picture and then organize the graphic elements into an effective, compelling composition has always been one of the key skills in making photographs. Digital photography has brought a new, exciting aspect to design - first because the instant feedback from a digital camera allows immediate appraisal and improvement; and second because image-editing tools make it possible to alter and enhance the design after the shutter has been pressed. This has had a profound effect on the way digital photographers take pictures. Now published in sixteen languages, The Photographer's Eye continues to speak to photographers everywhere. Reaching 100,000 copies in print in the US alone, and 300,000+ worldwide, it shows how anyone can develop the ability to see and shoot great digital photographs. The book explores all the traditional approaches to composition and design, but crucially, it also addresses the new digital technique of shooting in the knowledge that a picture will later be edited, manipulated, or montaged to result in a final image that may be very different from the one seen in the viewfinder.Features*Covers both traditional in-camera composition and the new opportunities for picture-making made possible by digital imaging editing *Shows how to explore situations and locations in order to find the best possible photographic possibilities *Uses clear examples from real photographic assignments, with schematic illustrations of how and why the pictures work Frequently Bought Together
Customers buy this book with Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera by Bryan Peterson Paperback CDN$ 19.43 +
This item: The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman Paperback Usually ships within 3 to 4 weeks.Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
The Photographer's Mind: Creative Thinking for  Michael Freeman
Michael Freeman's Perfect Exposure: The  Michael Freeman
The Photographer's Vision: Understanding and  Michael Freeman
Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic  David duChemin
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Publisher: Focal Press; 1 edition (May 23 2007)
ISBN-10: 0240809343
ISBN-13: 978-0240809342
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#2 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > How-to
#5 in Books > Education & Reference > Encyclopedias
"Beautifully presented with generous and helpful color illustrations, this book is a very affordable addition to the library of the serious photographer."-Candian Camera (Feb. 08)
Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision by David duChemin Paperback
Best book you can get about composing!
By Alain Pilon
Format:Paperback This is a cut-paste review taken form my blog at www.megapixelicio.us----------------I have been recommending the book Understanding Exposure via my Amazon affiliated link for a while now. This is far from being an original suggestion since this book must be on every photographer's blog I know. Still, this is a mandatory reading and I one of the best book to read when you are leaving the "green rectangle" mode.As much as I like that book, I think it is time to share another book that I really like: The photographer's eye. I still have a few more pages to read before reaching the end but it has to be one of my favorite book so far.It is not a technical book per say. It is never written things like: use spot metering and under-expose by X stop, etc. Yet, it has to be the most technical book I have read about what makes a good picture. There are a lot of explanations about how to approach a scene and how to exploit the color/contrast/lines to your advantage.The contentOne of the many things I like is the way each fact is justified and backed by a scientific concept. Sometimes the explanations might go a bit too philosophical for my taste but most of the time I could relate to them.Basically, the author identified all elements/concepts that could be used to make a picture and describe their impacts. He starts with the simplest of them all (the dot) then building on top of it to move to more complex design (ex: curved lines). The approach works very well, especially if you take a break every few pages to go out and try this new knowledge. For example, after reading the section on framing, I gave a try to square aspect ratio (which is not that practical when you have a 2x3 viewfinder). It forced me to see my subject in a new way to make better use of the space. Now, when I am shooting a subject that is not suited for a 2x3 ratio, I instinctively check to see how it would look in a square frame.This is just one of the many ways this book has changed my shooting style. Some of the other interesting topics covered are: framing/cropping, colors and shapes relationships, how to shoot with an intent, etc.The picturesThis is not an art book, each picture was put there to illustrate a specific concept. The author has taken great care in his selection to pick images from around the world (with a focus on Asia) and often give some background information about them which is a nice touch. I also liked the fact that many versions of an image/scene are often used to illustrate a concept. Because, sometimes, pictures are stronger than words...ConclusionI got this book because I wanted to increase the artistic quality of my pictures. What I did not plan for was that my level of self-criticism would increase too. So Now I end up with a better skill set, but I am still aiming higher... I guess that is the only way to improve!
Excellent & succinct introduction to composition & design
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase Ignoring technical details like f/stop, this book concentrates on the final image. What makes an image 'pop', and how to you take more photos that elicit "wows"? Moving past the well-known rule of thirds, Freeman covers concepts such as contrast, gestalt perception, rhythm, graphic elements, chiaroscuro, color relationships, intent, and other 'artistic' concepts.You will need a fair bit of technical skill to take pictures like these, and the intent of this book isn't teaching you that skill (although Freeman has written his share of how-to books). Instead, this is about analyzing what you see and deciding what you want to make a picture of. I expect I'll be learning from The Photographer's Eye for years.
Truly explains composition
Format:Paperback If, like me, you keep reading photography books and still don't understand composition, this is the book we have been waiting for. Here the ideas of what makes a composition strong and captivating are explained with numerous examples and case studies. This is the only book I've seen to explain composition in detail.
Great content I learned quite a bit from this book. It had great details about how photos are viewed and thusly how to compose in order to have the best impact with your photos. Read more
A readable and visually appealing book on composition. I really enjoyed my first read of this book, and have continued to re-visit it often. It is highly readable, and suits me well as a chapter-by-chapter source of self-directed... Read more
Published 17 months ago by brightredology
Very Deep, Very Engaging This book says almost nothing about "technical photography" (shutter speed, aperture, ISO). Instead, it does a phenomenal job of covering just about every aspect I can imagine of... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Shaun Hayward
Game-changing This is an amazing book and I recommend it for every photographer, no matter how much or how little experience you have. Read more
Published 20 months ago by ArianasArt
Mind opener Just love this book. I now have a understanding of design that I never though possible. After finishing reading this book, I had to get out and take picture. Read more
Published on Jan 31 2011 by Sebastien Brodeur
Very good This book as opposed to most of the books on photography is not touching how to used the camera but how to look through it
Published on Sep 6 2010 by fav2500
Not what I expected Going by the reviews I guess I led myself to believe the hype that was said about it. It is a good book. Read more
Published on April 21 2010 by J. Franco-Reyna
Eye openner Another great book from Michael Freeman.Although this is his first in the series, I first read Perfect Exposure (also reviewed here). Read more
Published on Mar 18 2010 by Maxime Gousse
Great Book But Not Really My Style It's well written by a great photographer and very comprehensive, but it made me realize that analyses of composition presented in this detailed manner for me is neither... Read more
Published on Feb 8 2010 by Joplinesque
Great book for the price! Let's keep it simple: A great book for the price. Many nices concepts and many WOW images!But sometimes, to much words...but no big deal!
Published on Dec 4 2009 by Pierre

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Caturday – HappyHealthyNoms
Category: Caturday	Caturday: Wisdom From Cats
Until next time, eat your veggies and appreciate your animals too! Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on October 22, 2016 by LoreScarletPosted in Animal Appreciation Saturday, Caturday, UncategorizedTagged cat, cats, cute, funny, memes. Leave a comment	Caturday: These Cats Say, “You Can Do It!”
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on October 3, 2015October 5, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in Caturday, UncategorizedTagged animal, animals, cat, caturdsy, cute cat, cute cats, growth mindset, happy, kitty positive, motivational quote, pet, pets, positive quote, positive thinking, pretty cat. Leave a comment	Caturday: 20 of the Cutest Kittens Ever on YouTube Hey there! Thanks✨ for visiting Happy Healthy Noms for this week’s Caturday!😸
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on September 20, 2015September 19, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in Caturday, UncategorizedTagged adorable, animal, animals, cat, cat videos, cats, cute, funny, funny cat, funny cats, humor, pet, pets, positive, videos, youtube. Leave a comment	Grumpy Cat Memes+Grumpy Cat Star Wars Memes+Cosplay
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on September 12, 2015September 12, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in Caturday, UncategorizedTagged animal, animals, cat, caturdsy, cute cat, cute cats, kitty, pet, pets, pretty cat. Leave a comment	Caturday: Funny Cat Videos+Cats in a Boxes!
1) The Sad Cat Diary (I know the sounds like it’s, well, sad😺–but it’s not! It is HILARIOUS😸, and so accurate for all cat owners!)
(also, for you dog owners, there’s the sad dog diary!)
2) Cats in Boxes Complilation
Because cats in boxes never get old.
Speaking of cats in boxes… Isn’t Indi a cutie?
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on September 5, 2015September 11, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in Caturday, UncategorizedLeave a comment	Caturday: My Cat Is The Queen of the House
This week, we have Kiki being the queen👸🏻 that she is! Kiki hates everyone in the world, except for me! What I’ve learned from my two cats is that: you don’t own cats, cats own you!
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on August 30, 2015August 30, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in CaturdayTagged animal, animals, cat, caturdsy, cute cat, cute cats, kitty, pet, pets, pretty cat. 3 Comments	Cats like oatmeal? Yummy Healthy Vegan GF Oatmeal Recipe
I don’t have many of them, but I have a rule: Don’t eat after 9:00 (if I go to bed earlier that changes to 8:00.) I used to eat at night every night–but I also used to be 22 pounds heavier. So, you do the math.💁
But all rules are meant to be broken, right? Sometimes we’re out late with friends, sometimes we skip lunch (so need a really late lunch,) or like the other night, we’re just plain hungry late at night!
Sometimes we need a midnight snack, so what better snack than Oatmeal? This recipe is healthy, vegan, GF, quick to make, delicious, and apparently is cat-approved!
Late Night OatsServings: 1Time: 3-4Difficulty: Super EasyPrint
What’s in it: 1/2 cup Rolled Oats 1 cup Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk
Dash of Cinnamon. How you make it:
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on August 15, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in CaturdayTagged cat, cats, caturday, cooking blog, cute cat, fit, fitness, fitspiration, food, food blog, foodie, funny cat, health, healthy, healthy blog, healthy food, healthy recipes, nutrition, oatmeal, oatmeal recipe, superfood, superfoods, vegan, vegan blog, vegan food, vegan oatmeal, vegan recipes. Leave a comment	Caturday: Cats and Also Other Things
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on August 8, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in Bonus Posts, CaturdayTagged animal appreciation, animals, cat, cats, caturday, cows, cute, cute animals, cute cat, cute cats, friends not food, funny cat, funny cats, jazz, pets, stuff, videos. Leave a comment	Caturday: Would you like Cat with that?
Most people have fruit🍎 in their fruit🍏 bowls. Well, at the HappyHealthyNoms House🏠, we have cat😺 in our fruit🍎 bowls!
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on July 25, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in CaturdayTagged animal, cat, caturday, cute cat, funny cat. Leave a comment	Caturday: RAVE🌈😸KITTIES!
Hey there! Thanks✨ for visiting Happy Healthy Noms for this week’s Caturday!😺 This week’s Caturday features my cats: Indi and Kiki! I think Indi wants to hoop dance~✨
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogleEmailPrintRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading...	Posted on July 19, 2015 by LoreScarletPosted in CaturdayTagged cat, cute cat, cute cats, funny cat, funny cats, hoop dance, hooping. Leave a comment	Posts navigation

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One Small Place in a Tree book by Barbara Brenner, Tom Leonard (Illustrator) | 2 available editions | Alibris Books
by Barbara Brenner, Tom Leonard (Illustrator)
In this companion volume to "One Small Place in the Sea,," available just in time for Earth Day, Brenner and Leonard show nature's splendor found in the smallest of places, and help children gain a greater appreciation for the creatures of the forest. Full color. Read More
In this companion volume to "One Small Place in the Sea,," available just in time for Earth Day, Brenner and Leonard show nature's splendor found in the smallest of places, and help children gain a greater appreciation for the creatures of the forest. Full color. Read Less
ISBN-13: 9780688171803
ISBN: 068817180X
Alibris ID: 15378677784
Alibris ID: 15410880483
Alibris ID: 15483614264
Alibris ID: 15483593600
Alibris ID: 15361324697
Alibris ID: 15345204516
ISBN-13: 9780688171810
ISBN: 0688171818
Alibris ID: 15358422831
Alibris ID: 15541526742
Alibris ID: 15421321246
Alibris ID: 15513841854
2004, Collins Publishers, New York, NY
All Editions of One Small Place in a Tree

value: Alibris is an online store that sells new books, used books, out-of-print books, rare books, and other media through an online network of independent booksellers.


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Archives for posts with tag: Collective identity
There is a small difference between the first two and the last one.
The car and the pills where supposed to be safe while the guns have been purposefully designed to be deadly.
Just as ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, guns are dangerous only if used inappropriately while a badly designed car or some tainted pills are dangerous no matter what!
Tags autoritarism, Collective identity, confusion, Pinto Tylenol Guns
Categories Choices we make, Frames of mind, Money as goal, Psychology


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Olongapo Telecom and Information Technology Board Subic Bay SBMA OICTV Olongapo Telecom & Information Technology: 12/14/2008 - 12/21/2008
No let-up in hiring new 'Pinoy' workers for RP-based BPOs, says TUCP survey
Despite what many fears to be a looming global financial crisis, major Philippine business process outsourcing (BPOs) providers, mostly contact or call center operators, remain as among the top job providers in the country with their unabated recruitment of fresh Filipino workers and staff.
According to a survey conducted by the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), at least 23 BPO providers are still hiring new personnel, mainly contact center agents as well information-technology and administrative support staff.
No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo cited BPOs as the one of the major contributors in her Admistration's job-generation program. Under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Philippines had emerged as a BPO top global destination, second only to India.
The President attributes the rise of the Philippines as a top BPO destination, owing to the Filipinos' world-class skills and proficiency to speak and write in the English language.
"A number of BPO providers are drafting additional staff on account of expansion, while others are requiring fill-in personnel due to attrition, or the loss of employees," TUCP secretary-general and former Senator Ernesto Herrera said.
Among the firms enlisting hiring a new workers are Aegis PeopleSupport Inc., Affiliated Computer Services Inc., APAC Customer Services Inc., Convergys Philippines Services Corp.;
Dell International Services Philippines Inc., Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., eTelecare Global Solutions Inc., Hinduja TMT Ltd.; HSBC Electronic Data Processing Philippines Inc. and ICT Marketing Services Inc.
JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. Philippine Customer Care Center, NCO Group Inc., NuComm International Inc., PeopleTalk Contact Solutions Inc., Stellar Global Solutions Inc., Synnex-Concentrix Corp.;
Telephilippines Inc., TeleTech Holidngs Inc., Telus International Philippines Inc., VXI Global Solutions Inc., West Contact Services Inc. and WinSource Solutions Inc. are all likewise still looking for new staff.
Herrera cited the case of APAC, which is recruiting 1,000 agents and support staff, including those meant for deployment to a new contact center Tacloban City.
He also cited Deutsche Knowledge Services, which is recruiting 900 financial, business and accounting associates to provide back office support to its global financial operations, as well as ICT Marketing Services, which is hiring 400 agents, including those meant for deployment to a new contact center in Cabanatuan City.
Most of the firms require only two years of college education or "some college (units)" to qualify for prospective agents.
He said even high school graduates with exceptional English or foreign language skills could readily qualify for employment, according to Herrera.
The TUCP survey also showed that a number of BPO providers have a "desperate need" for contact center agents or back office staff with bilingual or multilingual skills.
Among these firms enlisting bilingual or multilingual staff are PeopleSupport, Convergys, Synnex and Telephilippines. They are scouting for full-time or part-time staff that can speak Spanish, Cantonese, French or Japanese.
WinSource is also looking for electronic mail support agents who can write in Spanish, Korean or Japanese, as well as outbound contact center agents who can speak Mandarin, Spanish, Korean or Japanese.
Meanwhile, the global manufacturing and technology giant Emerson Electric Co. is also looking for in-house contact center staff that can speak French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, German, Finnish and/or Russian. (PNA)
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at 9:33 PM | 1 comments
Speaking Out: Attraction of BPO industry
Atty. Ignacio R. Bunye - Tempo Editorial
Just a few years back, working in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry became the "in" job for young Filipinos hoping to earn impressive paychecks.
Our well-known command of the English language and sunny, good-natured disposition as a people—both requirements to work in the booming industry—were brought to the fore as buildings housing "call centers" mushroomed all over Metro Manila and other major cities.
Today, as the ongoing financial crisis throws its cloak of gloom over the world, the BPO industry has become more than the "in" thing. It is now seen as a ray of hope and another source of resiliency for the Philippine economy.
In addition to the Overseas Filipino remittance, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. has called the BPO industry as "one of the bright spots in the economy" that the country could take advantage of. He explained that the Philippine-based BPO centers would maintain their competitiveness as companies become more cost-conscious.
Our other economic managers agree that the local BPO sector is less likely to be affected by the financial crisis because firms based in the United States and Europe would be forced to cut down their costs and outsource their operations in the Philippines where labor is cheaper.
At the onset of her administration, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo saw the bright prospect of the BPO industry. Immediately, President Arroyo launched an ambitious program to create and develop a "cyber-corridor," where investments in information and communications technology are to be concentrated. She complemented this with a manpower training program, quarterbacked by Tesda Chair Augusto Syjuco, which provided scholarship assistance in "call center English".
From eight provinces, the "cyber corridor" has been configured by Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila and the Commission on Information and Communication Technology Chair Ray Anthony Roxas-Chua III, in cooperation with the Business Process Outsourcing Association of the Philippines, to now include 23 "next wave centers" -- Tuguegarao, Baguio, Dagupan, Urdaneta, Cabanatuan, Clark, San Fernando in Pampanga, Subic, Cainta, Bacoor, Sta. Rosa, Lipa, Batangas City, Camarines Sur, Legaspi, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Cebu, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos City.
Among those who were impressed with the President’s vision for the BPO industry and the world class Filipino workforce was Kenneth Tuchman of Teletech Telesystems, Inc. which has since joined the BPO bandwagon.
Starting with only 5,000 employees in 2005, Teletech currently employs 18,500 workers in its 12 customer management centers in Fort Bonifacio, Pasay, Novaliches, Cainta, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Lipa, Cebu, Bacoor, Iloilo, Pampanga, and Sta. Rosa Laguna. Recently, Teletech opened another BPO center in San Fernando in line with its plan to reach an employment goal of 25,000 in 2009.
Tuchman proclaims he has a soft heart for the Philippines. During his meeting with President Arroyo in Davos, Switzerland at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in February 2007, Tuchman revealed that he made his first buck as a teenage entrepreneur in the 70’s importing pukka shells from the Philippines.
Trade Secretary Peter Favila, who, together with this writer, also sits at the Monetary Board, said Teletech’s latest move reaffirms the economic management team’s position that the call center sector would not be entirely affected by the looming global financial crisis.
Others have remained just as bullish in the Philippines. The European financial giant Deutsche Bank plans to increase its workforce in the Philippines to about 2,500 from 1,600 next year.
Chris Sullivan, chief executive officer of Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd. (DKS), said that the German bank has migrated more than 30 percent of its global processes in offshore firms.
Sullivan likewise revealed that Deutsche Bank is set to target an increase in the ratio to 80 percent, particularly in the light of the present global financial crisis. He said that of the operations to be brought offshore, 60 to 70 percent would be based in the Philippines.
London-based HSBC also made another happy announcement last week. HSBC country manager Mark Watkinson said they plan to open up 1,000 new jobs in their global services hub near the University of the Philippines campus in Quezon City by next year.
Watkinson also revealed that the HSBC is considering other opportunities in the BPO sector aside from voice or call centers, which he said "the Philippines is known to be very good at."
Indeed, while the Philippines may not be immune from the global financial crisis, it certainly has some strong buffers, among them the BPO sector, in the weathering the storm.
Labels: bpo, call center, english
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at 9:22 PM | 0 comments

value: Blogger is an American online content management system (CMS) which enables multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries. Pyra Labs developed it before being acquired by Google in 2003.


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Tete's Beyond the Garden Gate: Party time...
from my dad and stepmom...
it's your birthday? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! :)
Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday to You!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day and get to do all the things you want to, eat all the food you want to and are waited on hand and foot(that part's for the guys)! Anyway, do something special for yourself today!
Happy Birthday!(Came via Rebecca, she's so thoughtful!)
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!! Hope its a good one.


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Elrod's: sending love from the west: Erika invades Seattle.2
Erika LOVES the zoo so I snagged cheap zoo tickets for Saturday and we spent all afternoon there! Wow we have a really cool zoo. They habitats for the animals were so cool! Plus the animals were all roaming around while we were there which is much better than when they just nap and hide.
We fed the birds, but the very colorful ones were smarter and would just grab your seed and fly off with it.
we found dippin dots- which really rocks
Erika and her elephants!
I asked Erika what she wanted to pack for our lunches, she said carrots haha. So we got the big ones
They had an elephant poo paper making station, hubs and I just watched :)
This is the route we walked all day! We almost walked 9 miles on Saturday!
We rehydrated with ice cream and iced coffee on the way there and back
Resting at Greenlake before the walk back home
We headed over to Ballard for amazing mexican food
and on the way back we showed her Gasworks!
We take everyone here, and always will it rocks!
It was a very full, very fun day. We were all very worn out though!
Check out Part 1 , Part 3 to come...
Labels: family, nature, siblings, visitor
emilycraig 10.7.12
i love your shirt! i thought about getting one as well :)
Joshua and Ashley 10.7.12
:) I thought since I don't live there I'd like to at least represent out here (Said with a gangsa inflection)


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Food Lovers Fat Loss Secrets Day by Day Audio Series 5 CDs | eBay Please enable JavaScript Our new search experience requires JavaScript to be enabled. Please enable JavaScript on your browser, then try again.
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SAMPLE PLAY AUDIO SAMPLE http%3A%2F%2Fsamples.audible.com%2Fbk%2Fharp%2F001917%2Fbk_harp_001917_sample.mp3+flashcontent1H9J98YFMC4R7VY2NBF90 Hit Hard
4.30 (35 ratings) In 1997, amid Aerosmith's sold-out world tour and number one album release, Joey revealed in an interview his ongoing struggles with depression. The response from fans and people battling those same internal demons was overwhelming. Joey now tells the complete story: the early days of the band, glamorous drug-addled events leading up to their eventual sobriety, battles within his family and among bandmates, and the explosive internal dynamics in Aerosmith.
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Kedisan Tourism 2017: Best of Kedisan, Indonesia - TripAdvisor
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JLPT N5 preparation! – IndieDevM
September 13, 2017 September 13, 2017 IndieDevM
Recently the JLPT applications for the December exams opened, this reminded me that it’s been a while since I’ve actually written anything about my progress in learning Japanese, so here we go!
Just over a month ago I finally finished the Genki 1 textbook and Genki 1 workbook! Now I’ll talk a little more about how I used the books in another post (Now here), but first I’ll address the big question I was left wondering to myself after completing them. That question was……
“How much did I actually learn?”
This question continued to eat away at me for the next couple of weeks, so one morning I decided to head into the Japan Centre* and pickup the JLPT N5 official practice test book.
*(They have just relocated to a nice big shiny new flagship store on Panton Street, the old location will remain as a ceramics and sushi store).
The JLPT N5 official practice book
Taking a JLPT N5 was always the goal at some point, but I hadn’t really done any research into it other than the amount of kanji and vocab required for it. So without any preparation or revision I decided to dive in and see what happened. As the actual exam has a time limit, I set timers on my phone for each section to see how I’d get on under the same conditions as the actual exam.
Section 1 – Language Knowledge (vocabulary)
In the first section the questions consist of choosing the correct kanji for sentences, identifying the readings, selecting the correct words to fill in sentences, and choosing some correct sentences. The kanji part is something I had feared, but to my surprise I seemed to remember a lot more than I had expected! The kanji you need to identify is used in example sentences, I think this made it a lot easier for me to recognise the correct reading of them. In this section you have 25 minutes to answer 33 questions, time wise I finished quite comfortably.
Section 2 – Language Knowledge (grammar and reading)
The second section consists of reading through sentences and short passages of text to identify key bits of information to answer the questions. I’m lead to believe that when it comes to marking, the questions relating to the longer passages of text in this section are worth more pass marks than some of the other questions in it, but haven’t confirmed that. In terms of the passages of text, I found I was comfortable reading and understanding them; however I did take my time on some, just to make sure I didn’t make any silly mistakes.
I actually overran the time limit by about two minutes for this section, however this was because halfway through I went off to make a tea and forgot to pause the timer while I did! So if you subtract the time I spent making a tea, then I’d have been under the time limit. (I imagine in the actual exam they probably don’t let you pop out to make a tea during the middle of it anyway!)
This section gives you 50 minutes to answer 32 questions.
Section 3 – Listening comprehension
The final section of the test is the listening comprehension. Now the practice book does come with a CD for this part, but if like me you no longer have any devices capable of playing the shiny round things, then don’t worry as some kind soul has upload the questions onto YouTube.
With the playback hurdle overcome, I continued with the final section. Once again I found myself quite surprised at how much easier it seemed in comparison to what I had imagined. The pace of the speech was relatively slow, the audio was clear, and the questions relatively short and quite easy. In addition the 30 minute time limit here isn’t a concern or distraction as you just listen to the questions and answer straight away. Each question is only played once.
In the end I scored 75% on the vocab section, 68% in the grammar and reading section, and 79% on the listening comprehension. Which I was quite happy with, considering I hadn’t done any revision or preparation for it, and was really just doing it for a laugh to see how I’d get on. As I checked my answers using the provided answer key I realised that I’d made some quite silly mistakes on some of the questions I got wrong, so I should be able to improve by just paying a little more attention.
So what do those percentages mean? Well in theory, based on those percentages it means that I should mean actually be able to pass the actual exam, and with some actual revision I should comfortably pass.
However it’s hard to say for sure, as in the actual exam you need at least 80 pass marks out of 180 in total (44.44%). There are also minimum pass marks required for each section, sections 1+2 require a minimum of 38 pass marks out of 120 (31.67%), and 19 pass marks out of 60 (31.67%) for the listening comprehension. But of course if you hit the minimum on each that wouldn’t be enough to pass, as you would only have 57 out of the required 80.
Unfortunately neither the answer key, nor online sources, provide the formula for how pass marks are calculated, or how much each question is worth. So even with the official practice book, you can’t work out your exact pass mark, the best you can do is gauge things on your percentages, as I’ve done.
I have to admit finding out that the over pass mark percentage for the JLPT N5 was only 44.44% came as quite a surprise to me, I have honestly expected it would be in the 70% range. However the pass marks you achieve will be printed on your certificate, so scoring as high as possible will still have an advantage when it comes to showing off your certificate to people. Of course it’s not too important on a JLPT N5, as that level won’t be impressing any employers in Japan anyway, but when it comes to N1 + N2 levels, then scoring high above the minimum pass mark will be more important.
Anyway there you have it, self studying using the Genki 1 books looks like it has gotten me to a comfortable JLPT N5 level.
I have heard of some people saying that they’ve passed N4 level after studying Genki 1, however if those claims are true then I suspect other study materials/resources were used alongside it, or a large element of luck was involved, or they just scrapped through.
Genki 1 contains about 800 vocab, and about 140 kanji, and for N4 level the vocab required is about 1500 and about 300 kanji. So Genki 1 alone is not enough to cover for all of the possible content that might appear in the N4.
Just for fun I do plan on doing a N4 practice test at some stage, just to see how much more challenging it is.
Posted in JapanTagged blog, Japan, japanese, languagelearning, study, 日本, 日本語1 Comment
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Snus News & Other Tobacco Products: 5/23/10 - 5/30/10
Malaysia - ban on 14-stick cigarette packs delayed worry about increase in illicit cigarettes..
May 29, 2010 - Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has confirmed a delay in banning small cigarette packets over concerns of rising illicit trade despite a tobacco company mulling a legal suit over the policy flip-flop. The government had earlier banned small pack cigarettes effective this June 1 but that deadline has been reportedly pushed to Jan 1, 2011. The health minister is concerned that the elimination of small packs of cigarettes will lead to an increase in illicit (illegal, contraband, smuggled) cigarettes.
Background: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today, April 7th lauded the Health Ministry's proposal to ban the sale of 14-stick cigarette packs beginning June 1, 2010 to deter youths, especially schoolchildren, from picking up the smoking habit, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. (Malaysia - Health Ministry's proposal to ban the sale of 14-stick cigarette packs beginning June 1, 2010..)
Malaysia - increase in number of women smoking.. In Malaysia, it is estimated that 50 percent of the male population smoke while women smokers comprise of about 20 percent of the world's more than 1 billion smokers.
The Customs Department estimates that more than 38 percent of cigarettes sold in Malaysia are illegal. (Malaysia - slight decrease in illicit cigarettes; JTI Malaysia q1 2010 market share increases..)
Liow said the government will only arrive at a decision on whether or not to go ahead with the original Cabinet directive to stop the sale of 14-stick packs in “a few months”. The minister noted that the exemption for regulations 9 and 16 of the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, which ban the manufacture and sale of cigarette packs with less than 20 sticks, only extends to the end of 2010.
Philip Morris (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (PMM) has threatened legal action over the government’s flip-flopping over the small pack ban. "British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd (BAT) is aware that the government has decided to defer the ban on 14-stick cigarette packs which is suppose to take effect on 1st June 2010,” BAT said in a statement. "BAT has not received formal notification from the government and are seeking clarification on this matter. As such, we are unable to provide further comments until we receive further clarification,” it added.
Reference: Tobacco firm fumes as Liow confirms policy U-turn by Yow Hong Chieh, themalaysianinsider.com, 5/27/2010.
- Malaysia is a member of Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA)..
Posted by tobaccowatch.org Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 7:26 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Pregnant women exposed to second-hand-smoke even if spouse goes outside the home to smoke..
May 28, 2010 - A study was carried out to determine whether spouses who only smoke cigarettes outside the home can reduce the secondhand smoke (SHS, involuntary smoking, passive smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, ets) exposure of non-smoking pregnant women to the levels of those with non-smoking spouses.
In this cross-sectional survey 896 non-smoking pregnant women in their 35th gestational week were included. Hair nicotine levels and the smoking behaviour of their spouses at home were assessed.
PAPER: Hair nicotine levels in non-smoking pregnant women whose spouses smoke outside of the home, Sang-Ho Yoo, Yu-Jin Paek (paek@hallym.ac.kr), Seong-Soo Kim, Do-Hoon Lee, Dong-Ki Seo, Moon-Woo Seong, Hye-Mi Chang, Seok-Tae Choi, Hyoung-June Im, Tob Control doi:10.1136/tc.2009.033134, ABSTRACT..
It was found that spouses who only smoked outside the home did not reduce the level of SHS exposure of pregnant women to the level of pregnant women with non-smoking spouses. A strategy based on the separation of pregnant women and the smoking activity of their spouses might be inadequate to protect pregnant women from SHS at home.
Exposure to active smoking and passive smoking has significant and lifelong effects on the fetus including cognitive development. Widespread exposure to passive smoking increases asthma, chest infections and a range of other health risks. Parental smoking increases risks to the health of children during infancy and childhood, as well as the likelihood of adolescent experimentation and regular smoking. (The impact of smoking on the family Harley J. Stanton, Jane Martin, Jack E Henningfield, Cuurent Pediatrics, Volume 15, Issue 7, Pages 590-598 (December 2005))
Posted by tobaccowatch.org Friday, May 28, 2010 at 4:21 PM 0 comments Links to this post
European Union - with 35% of 15 to 24-year olds smoking launches a new campaign..
May 28, 2010 - Ahead of the 2010 No Tobacco Day (Monday 31st May), the European Commission unveils the results of a Eurobarometer survey which shows that a strong majority of EU citizens support stronger tobacco control measures. For example, three in every four Europeans supports picture health warnings on tobacco packs and smoke free restaurants. The survey also shows, however, that nearly one in every three Europeans still smokes, despite the fact that tobacco kills half of its users.
(World No Tobacco Day 2010: the Commission reaffirms its commitment to fight against smoking, Europa Press Release, 5/27/2010) European Union..
The Commission is planning to launch an open consultation shortly with a view to revising the 2001 Tobacco Products Directive and is stepping up its tobacco control efforts throughout the EU. The European Commission has launched a £13.5 million (19.6 USD) anti-tobacco campaign targeting the young after a survey showed that 35% of 15 to 24-year-olds are smokers.
The UK figure is even higher at 40% - exceeded only by France and Spain (48%), Belgium (44%) and Bulgaria (42%), with 39% of the 15-24 category in Ireland admitting to smoking, according to the latest "Eurobarometer" poll, conducted last October.
EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli warned: "Tobacco kills 650,000 Europeans every year and many lives could be saved by reducing tobacco consumption. I am particularly concerned about smoking rates amongst young people - Europe cannot passively watch future generations smoke away their health."
The new campaign is timed to coincide with European "No Tobacco Day" next Monday, and involves anti-smoking messages targeting television, the internet and other sites accessible via mobile phones in a bid to "empower young people to take control of their health and lifestyles" said a Commission statement spokesman. He added: "The general motto is providing help and support for a life without tobacco by delivering comprehensive information on health and social problems related to tobacco consumption."
The figures reveal that 28% of all Britons still smoke, despite years of health warnings, compared with an EU average of 29%. In the survey, British male smokers admitted to smoking an average of nearly 16 cigarettes a day, compared with nearly 13 amongst female smokers.
Anti-smoking campaigns are backed by three-quarters of EU citizens, with 77% of Britons supporting explicit health warning pictures on cigarette packets, 67% in favour of a ban on cigarette advertising even in the shops that sell them and nearly a third of British smokers (32%) said they had tried to give up smoking at least once in the last year, but for 56% of them, the attempt failed within a week.
Unveiling the figures, Mr Dalli commented: "I am determined to do everything in my power to reduce tobacco consumption across Europe via upcoming revision of existing legislation on tobacco products and via measures that can contribute to a clear set of rules to support Europeans' health."
Current EU legislation dates from 2001, stipulating limits on the nicotine and tar content of cigarettes, written warnings on cigarette packets and a ban on the use of misleading descriptions of cigarette strengths, such as "light".
So far a dozen EU countries have introduced total bans on smoking in enclosed public places and work places, including bars and restaurants. They are Ireland, the UK, Cyprus, Italy, Malta, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Slovenia, France, Lithuania and the Netherlands. Partial smoking bans are applied to the "hospitality" industry in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Portugal, Romania, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Spain and in most German regions.
The Commission says it is fully behind an EU plan agreed last November to achieve a "smoke-free Europe" by 2012. )European Union (EU) - “100 per cent smoke free environment”..)
Reference: EC launches £13.5m anti-smoking bid, The Press Association, 5/27/2010.
Reynolds American - consolidating smoking plants, expanding smokeless plants..
May 28, 2010 - Reynolds American will close cigarette factories in Winston-Salem and Puerto Rico and move production to a facility in Tobaccoville, the company said today May 28th.
Cigarette manufacturing and employees will begin moving from R.J. Reynolds’ Whitaker Park plant to Tobaccoville this summer, according to a company news release. Whitaker Park will cease manufacturing in mid-2011.
Cigarette production at an R.J. Reynolds' affiliate in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, will be transferred to Tobaccoville by the end of August. About 60 manufacturing employees’ jobs in Yabucoa will be eliminated, and those employees will receive severance benefits. The company’s distribution operations in Puerto Rico are not affected by the plant closure.
Also, Reynolds' American Snuff Company LLC is expanding its smokeless tobacco processing and manufacturing capacity by investing in facilities in Memphis and Clarksville, Tenn.
Susan Ivey, Reynolds American’s chairman, president and CEO: Consolidating production into fewer and newer facilities will also facilitate cost-effective compliance with new federal regulation of the tobacco industry.”
Reference: Reynolds American to consolidate plants, Staff Reports, Greensboro News & Record, 5/28/2010.
May 28, 2010 - This research release comes ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Monday, May 31st..
Tobacco companies are finding ways to market their products to women despite advertising restrictions, according to new research published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
PAPER: Marketing tobacco to New Zealand women: 8 ways to reflect on “World No Tobacco Day” Nick Wilson, Janet Hoek, Jo Peace, Heather Gifford, George Thomson, Richard Edwards, Journal of the New Zealand Medical Association, 28-May-2010, Vol 123 No 1315.
A team of researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington and Whakauae Research for Maori Health and Development examined the ways that tobacco companies targeted women.
The research showed that by marketing female-oriented cigarette brand names like Vogue Bleue and Topaz with feminine colours, packaging and extra-slim cigarettes, companies were appealing to female smokers. Deceptive terms such as "subtle", "mild" and "mellow" are used to describe former light brands. Women are more likely to use these brands and this may delay them quitting the habit, the researchers said.
Virginia Slims "Purse Pack" Available 1st Quarter 2009..;
Gallaher criticized for marketing cigarettes at young women..
Bangladesh - tobacco companies targeting women, also other developing countries..;
R.J. Reynolds - Camel No. 9 did ads target children and teens..;
Canadian survey - women unaware of all the dangers of smoking..;
Women Who Smoke Have Heart Attacks 14 Years Earlier...
Dr Heather Gifford of Whakauae Research Services says smoking is more serious for women than men before middle age. "It has negative health impacts on children; perinatal mortality, low birth weight and premature birth are just some of these effects.
In New Zealand, particularly with Maori women, 50% of whom still smoke.
Other methods highlighted by the research include advertising in imported fashion magazines and the marketing of menthol cigarettes, which women are more likely to smoke. The researchers concludes that advertising and sponsorship restrictions in the current law, set out by the Smokefree Environments Act, are inadequate and needed to be expanded.
Reference: Tobacco companies target women, TVNZ.co.nz, 5/28/2010.
Posted by tobaccowatch.org at 7:12 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Nigeria - State of Osun to implement tobacco control measures..
May 27, 2010 - Doesn't it seem forever we've been waiting for Nigeria to implement its National Tobacco Control Bill. The National Assembly is still foot-dragging on translating the all-encompassing National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) into law even with the overwhelming support that the bill engendered at the public hearing on July 20-21 last year. (Nigeria - parliament still debating new tobacco legislation..)
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the federal government to emulate Australia’s move to ban the promotion of tobacco. (Australia - tobacco tax increase now in force, next comes plain tobacco packaging..)
ERA/FoEN has commended the Osun State government for signing the Osun State Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Bill 2009 into law. The agency said the decision is one of the most far-reaching efforts taken by any state in the country to safeguard public health. The bill prohibits smoking in cinemas, theatres or the stadia, medical establishments, hotels; offices, schools and public transportation, nursery institutions and lifts. Another major highlight of the bill is that it prohibits smoking in both private and public vehicles with a non- smoking occupant below 18. (Vehicles Most Dangerous Space for Second-Hand Smoke Levels..)
In a statement in Lagos, the group said the Osun government had taken a lead and demonstrated its responsiveness to the well-being of its people and public health and should be emulated by other states.
ERA/FoEN Programme Manager, Akinbode Oluwafemi noted: Reiterating the group’s call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the NTCB, that Nigerians are dying by the seconds due to tobacco addiction while tobacco manufacturers smile to the banks. Every day that we delay the implementation of strict laws, there will be more deaths, more ill-heaths and the economy will suffer. The trend globally showed that only far-reaching laws can stop a gale of deaths spurred by tobacco smoke.
Tobacco currently kills 5.4 million people and if current trend continues it will kill about eight million by 2015, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Newspaper article - Daily Independent: Osun bans smoking in institutions, 5/20/2010..
Reference: Osun bans smoking in public by Collins Nweze, NigeriaNationalTobaccoControlBill.blogspot.com, 5/28/2010.
Nigeria - related news briefs:
Nigeria - call to emulate Australia's move to ban the promotion of tobacco..;
Nigeria - parliament still debating new tobacco legislation..;
Nigeria - Customs Service Comptroller-General commended BATN..;
Nigeria - National Tobacco Control Bill - public hearing..;
Nigerian senator believes passage of anti-tobacco bill wil lead to unemployment..;
Nigeria - Senator claims anti-tobacco bill will lead to 400,000 job losses..;
Nigerian Lawsuit Against Tobacco Firms Adjourned Until January 2009..;
Nigeria House Passes Anti-smoking Bill..;
BAT using illegal tactics to get African youths to start smoking..;
Posted by tobaccowatch.org Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 5:46 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Indonesia - more on the 2-year old addicted to nicotine..
May 27, 2010 - First shocking pictures of smoking toddler Ardi Rizal - who throws tantrums if he can't puff 40 cigarettes a day.
See pictures of two year old smoking NOW..
The Sun told on Saturday how the two-year-old got hooked after dad Mohammed gave him a fag at 18 months. (Indonesia - addicted to nicotine at the age of two..)
Now he weighs 4st and trundles round on a toy truck blowing smoke rings - too unfit to run with other kids.
Mum Diana, 26, wept: "He's totally addicted. If he doesn't get cigarettes, he gets angry and screams and batters his head against the wall. He tells me he feels dizzy and sick."
Ardi will smoke only one brand and his habit costs his parents £3.78 (5.50 USD) a day in Musi Banyuasin, Indonesia. Officials have offered to buy the family a car if he quits. But fishmonger Mohammed, 30, said: "He looks pretty healthy to me. I don't see the problem."
Also - Indonesia - parents encourage 4-year old boy to continue smoking habit..
Reference: And you thought your two year old behaved badly by ALEX PEAKE, TheSun.co.uk, 5/26/2010.
Posted by tobaccowatch.org at 5:07 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Scotland - cigarette smoking quit attempts increase by 35%
May 27, 2010 - More Scots are seeking help to try to give up smoking, according to new NHS statistics. (NHS Smoking Cessation Service Statistics (Scotland) 1st January to 31st December 2009, NHS - Statistical Publication Notice, 5/25/2010)
The number of attempts to quit totalled 69,882 in 2009, an increase of 35% compared to the previous year. About 38% managed to stop for a month and 15% for three months.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said there had been a "significant increase" in the number of people using NHS services to quit.
The figures, which cover January to December last year, show 59% of quit attempts were made by women and 41% by men. Smokers aged between 45-59 were the most likely to be trying to give up the habit, accounting for 30% of quit attempts. But the figure was lowest in the under-25 age group, at just 9%.
An estimated 6.5% of the smoking population made a quit attempt with an NHS smoking cessation service, compared to 4.8% in 2008. However data from previous years showed that only about 7% of people managed to give up for 12 months or more.
Ms Robison said the NHS invested about £11m (16m USD) every year in providing a range of smoking cessation services.
She added that new legislation will also ban the display of cigarettes in shops and sales from vending machines. (Scotland - parliament votes to ban retail cigarette displays and vending machines..)
"We're continuing to do all we can to make cigarettes less attractive and less available and, in particular, stopping children from starting to smoke in the first place," she said.
Reference: Number of attempts by Scots to quit smoking increases, BBC News, 5/25/2010.
Smoking tobacco harmful - in-vitro fertilization outcomes..
May 27, 2010 - “Nargile (hookah, argileh, nargile, hubble-bubble, water pipe, hooka, shisha, goza, meassel, sheesha) smoke has harmful components similar to those found in cigarette smoke,” explain Antoine Hannoun and colleagues, from the American University of Beirut Medical Center. But while cigarette smoking significantly lowered clinical pregnancy rates compared with not smoking, smoking nargile (a water-pipe) had no deleterious effect on pregnancy rates.
PAPER: Effect of female nargile smoking on in vitro fertilization outcome, Antoine Hannoun, Anwar H. Nassara, Ihab M. Ustaa and Antoine Abu Musaa, European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 150(2 - June 2010) 171-174, 2010), ABSTRACT..
The team studied overall, clinical, and chemical pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and miscarriage rates in 204 non-smoking women, 51 nargile smokers, and 42 cigarette smokers undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Nargile smokers were significantly younger than non-smokers, while cigarette smokers were nonsignificantly older than non-smokers.
Cigarette smokers had significantly lower clinical pregnancy rates than non-smokers, at 23.8 percent versus 43.6 percent, whereas there was no significant difference in clinical pregnancy rates between nargile smokers and non-smokers, at 51.0 percent versus 43.6 percent. Nargile smoking did not affect any of the other study outcomes.
One possible reason for the difference in the effect of cigarette and nargile smoke may have been the significantly younger age of the nargile smokers, suggest the researchers.
The authors conclude that the results need to be confirmed in prospective studies that would include larger number of women with more objective measures of nargile smoke exposure.
Reference: Conflicting evidence for effect of tobacco on IVF outcomes by Sarah Guy, MedWireNews, 5/24/2010.
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Tanzania - accepts donations from Alliance One, a leaf tobacco merchant....
May 27, 2010 - Between January and March this year, the company, through its Community Development Projects Committee had made donations worth 69.83m/- for various community development projects in tobacco growing areas and in other places within Tanzania.
Directly related: On May 15th Tanzania Leaf Tobacco Company (owned by Universal Corporation formerly called Universal Leaf Tobacco Co Inc of Richmond, VA) donated blankets, bed sheets and mattresses worth 17.4m/- to Mpanda District Hospital in pursuance of its corporate responsibility programme. (Tanzania - leaf tobacco company donates blankets to government hospital..)
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world.
Alliance One International is a leading independent leaf tobacco merchant serving the world's largest cigarette manufacturers. The company selects, purchases, processes, packs, stores, and ships leaf tobacco. In certain developing markets, we also provide agronomy expertise and financing for the growing of leaf tobacco. Alliance One neither manufactures nor sells cigarettes or other consumer tobacco products (Alliance One)
Reference: Alliance One Tobacco donates to grassroots projects by DAILY NEWS Reporter, Tanzania Daily News - online edition, 5/26/2010.
Tanzania - call for public smoking areas..;
Tanzania - government will continue to support tobacco farming..
FDA CTR - Web Dialogue with retailers, tobacco-control executives and others one-sided..
May 27, 2010 - On Wednesday, May 26, 2010 from 10am-6pm EDT the FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) held a Web Dialogue on the Development of Tobacco Retailer Education Campaign. CTP would like to have retailers be part of the community to protect kids.
Retailers were given the opportunity to "share ideas, offer recommendations [and] ask questions" about how the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) can better communicate with them.
By midday, there were 357 retailers, tobacco-control executives and others participating in the dialogue, but the discussion was decidedly one-sided. The CTP mostly thanked participants for their input and promised to take the information under advisement. As Kathleen Quinn, acting director of health communication and direction at the CTP put it, "The purpose of today's open dialogue was to see what channels and tactics are best to be used to reach retailers. It wasn't meant to answer detailed questions on the regulations."
Thomas Briant, executive director of the National Association of Tobacco Outlets Inc. (NATO), participated in the all-day event, and told CSP Daily News, "I think the web conference is somewhat effective for retailers and others to give input to the FDA; however, it does not appear to be very effective in obtaining feedback or answers to question asked of the FDA."
The discussion particularly looked at rules that limit the sale, distribution and marketing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, which become effective on June 22, 2010. Among other things, the regulations:
* Prohibit the sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to people younger than 18.
* Prohibit the sale of cigarette packages with fewer than 20 cigarettes.
* Prohibit the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in vending machines, self-service displays or other impersonal modes of sales, except in very limited situations.
* Prohibit free samples of cigarettes and limits distribution of smokeless tobacco products.
* Prohibit tobacco brand-name sponsorship of any athletic, musical or other social or cultural event, or any team or entry in those events.
* Prohibit gifts or other items in exchange for buying cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products.
* Require that audio ads use only words with no music or sound effects.
* Prohibit the sale or distribution of items, such as hats and t-shirts, with tobacco brands or logos.
The various topics were blanketed under two agenda items, "Help Us Help You—Information You Need" and "Meeting Retailer Needs—Effective Channels and Messages."
One particular topic, "Sell Through of Cigarette Brands with Descriptors," drew in the more participants than any other (20 at press time). Briant explained that one of the primary questions being asked is on the ability to sell through, at the wholesale and retail level, cigarette brands with descriptors of "light," "mild," or "low."
"With the June 22nd effective date of the regulation prohibiting such descriptors, the industry needs a reply immediately on whether wholesalers and retailers can sell through their inventories," he said, "and that response has not been forthcoming from the FDA."
Briant suggested that beyond the "cut and paste" responses of the web dialogue, the FDA should have had an attorney who "has the authority to answer some of these conversations at the time they're raised, rather than having to wait for an indeterminate amount of time for an answer or response."
Briant said another concern was on point-of-sale advertising. A federal district court struck down the ban on color tobacco advertising, which the FDA has now appealed to the U.S. circuit court of appeals. "On that one, because the litigation is ongoing, they can't answer," he said.
Additional questions pertained to self-service bays, social media, text messaging, casinos and signage, among other topics. It was not immediately clear when the FDA hopes to have responses to retailer questions and concerns.
"I hope the answers will be forthcoming, because the industry needs to know the answers so we can comply with the law," Briant said. "We want to be compliant, but we need to know or be provided with accurate information in order to comply."
Briant said NATO will send its members sometime during the first week of June a memo with the best advice at that point and time of how retailers should comply with the regulations that go into effect June 22.
Reference: Tobacco Talk More than 300 retailers, others participate FDA web dialogue on tobacco by Linda Abu-Shalback Zid, Convenience Store/Petroleum (CSP) Daily News, 5/27/2010.
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Louisiana - legislation to expand smoking ban involuntarily deferred..
May 26, 2010 - A House panel rejected a Senate-passed measure Tuesday, May 25th that would have banned smoking in Louisiana bars and casinos — likely ending the battle in the 2010 legislative session. The state Health and Welfare Committee voted 8-4 to involuntarily defer the legislation.
Smoking would be banned in casinos and bars under a bill approved Wednesday, May 12th by the Louisiana Senate. The Senate voted 23-12 for the measure.
The legislation next moves to the Louisiana House, where a less-stringent casino smoking bill died last week in a health committee. (Louisiana - legislature want to expand smoking ban to include casinos and bars..
SB348 died under heavy lobbying by casino and liquor industry representatives. They argued that a no-smoking requirement would lead to lost state and local revenues because of fewer patrons as well as employee layoffs at affected establishments because of less business.
Senate Bill 348 sponsor state Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Grosse Tete, disputed the financial loss arguments, citing studies that showed revenue gains or no impact in other states where casino and bar smoking bans have been implemented.
Reference: Committee rejects smoking ban bill by MARSHA SHULER, Advocate Capitol News Bureau, 5/26/2010.
Louisiana - some related news briefs:
Louisiana - legislature want to expand smoking ban to include casinos and bars..;
Louisiana - further restrictions on smoking ban snuffed out..;
Louisiana - will smoking ban be expanded..;
Louisiana - increase in tobacco tax probably doomed..;
Posted by tobaccowatch.org Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 5:53 PM 0 comments Links to this post
BAT - Egyptian Hotel Association (EHA) in Cairo - non-smoking and smoking areas..
May 26, 2010 - British American Tobacco, Egypt (BAT), together with the Egyptian Hotel Association (EHA) in Cairo, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing hotel guests in Cairo with designated non-smoking and smoking areas.
Based on BAT's global Respecting Choices initiative, the agreement is the third of its kind spearheaded by the company in Egypt, beginning with a MoU signed with the South Sinai Governorate in February 2009 and followed by a similar partnership with the EHA in both Hurghada and Alexandria in late 2009. (Egypt is divided into 29 governorates (singular muhafazah). This designation replaces that of "province.")
"We have seen the success achieved by the project in Hurghada and Alexandria, and we are very excited about what it can accomplish in Cairo," says Mr. Waseem Mohiedin, President of the EHA in Cairo. "The partnership allows for us to cater to all of our guests, in a way that is convenient for both non-smokers and smokers."
The issue of public place smoking is an ongoing one, with environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) a key component of the discussion. Through this project, clear signage will be available in outlets directing both non-smokers and smokers to their respective areas.
The "Respecting Choices" project, implemented by BAT in many countries worldwide, targets ETS through two methods: Segregation, which features both smoking and non-smoking areas in the same room, using airflow to limit the spread of smoke; and Separation, which features smoking rooms or lounges, using walls along with airflow techniques to prevent the smoke from spreading.
Also, in an effort to further expand forestation efforts within Egypt, British American Tobacco, Egypt (BAT), together with the 6th of October Governorate, have officially inaugurated the planting of 5,000 trees within the governorate. (BAT Egypt, 6th of October Governorate Launch Beautification Project, Zawya.com, 5/9/2010)
British American Tobacco Egypt's portfolio currently comprised of four brands - Rothmans, Kent, Viceroy and Dunhill has seen its market share steadily increase since its entry into the market in 2001.
British American Tobacco Revenue by Geographic Region - 2008..
Reference: BAT Egypt, Egyptian Hotel Association sign public place smoking MoU, Zawya.com, 5/24/2010.
Egypt - some related news briefs:
Egypt - comprehensive data on adult smoking consumption..;
Egypt - anti-smoking campaign faces challenges..;
Africa - can a tobacco-related cancer epidemic be prevented..;
Egypt, CAPMAS Study Graphic Photos on Cigarette Packs - NOT EFFECTIVE..;
Egypt - warning pictures on cigarette packs - INEFFECTIVE..;
Egypt's fledgling anti-tobacco program to place images and warnings on cigarette packs..;
Egypt Passes National Anti-Smoking Law..;
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UAE - tobacco control measures being introduced on the way to becoming a smoke-free nation..
May 25, 2010 - Senior UAE (United Arab Emirates) health officials have called for a total smoking ban in all public places even beaches. In another step towards making the UAE a tobacco smoke-free nation, officials are looking at banning smoking in public places such as beaches, a health ministry official said.
A draft of the proposed by-laws of the Federal National Tobacco Law should be ready by the end of this month. On January 6, 2010 President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued UAE the federal anti-tobacco law...
The proposed by-laws of the Federal National Tobacco Law include a clause prohibiting any indoor public places from creating designated smoking rooms. Earlier drafts of the law allowed specific establishments to create a special area for smokers within no-smoking buildings. Senior health officials warned that the law will be ineffective unless smoking is banned in these areas.
It is likely that smokers will be forced to move at least 25ft away from the building entrance to avoid smoke “blowing in the door”, Dr Wedad al Maidoor added.
The law also bans young people below the age of 18 from buying cigarettes and people smoking in cars where there are children younger than 12.
The government was also considering putting a stop to tobacco being grown. Tobacco farmers would be given time to change their crop and the government would look at compensating them, said Ministry of Health head of the tobacco control committee Dr Wedad Al Maidour. "There are a few tobacco farmers in Al Ain and Hatta," Dr Wedad al Maidoor, told Gulf News.
Dr Salim Adib, the head of public health and safety at the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi, said the new anti-smoking law, set to be in place by the end of the year, did not go far enough. “We want to prevent the use of tobacco products in all public venues in the country. We want to fight this,” he told the National. “I don’t think we should accept anything less than what is happening in Western Europe.”
This public-space ban will not apply to shisha cafes, but they will be subject to stricter regulations, Dr Wedad al Maidoor, said. “They must not be in residential areas. They have two years to move. There will be other specifications, such as not allowing children inside, but these will be worked out in the by-law.” Shisha cafes will also have to adopt more abbreviated opening times and post warnings on shisha pipes.
The law will also put an end to all forms of tobacco advertising.
Dr Wedad al Maidoor, the head of the Ministry of Health’s National Tobacco Control Committee, indicated the right balance is needed to be struck to prevent harm to businesses and tourism.
If the by-laws do not meet with opposition, they could be in place by the end of the year, the head of the National Tobacco Control Committee said.
References: UAE health officials urge total smoking ban by Elsa Baxter, Arabian.business.com, 5/25/2010; Smoking may be banned on beaches in UAE The government was also considering putting a stop to tobacco being grown.., By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter, Gulfnews.com, 5/25/2010; Tough no-smoking law on its way, Mitya Underwood (
munderwood@thenational.ae), The National, 5/25/2010.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) - protect your next generation - your children..;
UAE - smokers face tighter restrictions coming September 2010..;
UAE - cigarette manufactures complain cost of printing pictorial warnings too high..;
Posted by tobaccowatch.org Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 5:43 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Chile - Ministry of Health proposes ban on e-cigarettes..
May 25, 2010 - Electronic cigarettes, which have experienced a small rise in popularity around the country in the last few years, will be banned in Chile come November if Congress passes regulations recently proposed by the Ministry of Health.
In Chile, over 18,000 people are consumers of the ersatz cigarette, which provides inhaled doses of nicotine by way of vaporized solution.
Although originally advertised as a healthier alternative to smoking normal cigarettes, international evidence has mounted against the supposed health benefits of the battery-powered device in recent years. Most researchers now believe that they are as dangerous as normal cigarettes.
Health Minister Jaime Mañalich hopes the new regulations will be a step toward improving Chile’s public health. “The law will help us further control tobacco consumption and make a real impact on the health of Chileans,” said Mañalich, later affirming that the cigarettes “are actually not a healthy alternative to stop nicotine addiction. We can’t help addicts by giving them another drug to be dependent on.”
Two companies in Chile sell the product: Free Smoke and Biosmoke. The former has invested US$1.5 million this year in advertising and sales in the country; the latter has invested US$1 million.
Reference: Chile’s Health Ministry Seeks To Prohibit Electronic Cigarettes Written by Santiago Times Staff
Monday, 24 May 2010 05:41 SOURCE: EL MERCURIO by Aaron Cantu (editor@santiagotimes.cl)
Chile - some related news briefs:
Chile - president will raise $8.4 billion to rebuild from earthquake including hiking tobacco taxes..;
Argentina - Latin America’s biggest smokers..;
Chile's anti-tobacco law ineffective..;
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May 25, 2010 - The government had hoped to tighten the rules on smoking in public places this year, but Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said on Tuesday, May 25th that tougher restrictions are unlikely to be in place before the beginning of 2011.
She said reforms of a 2006 law that banned smoking in the workplace and Spain's metro, among other locations, would be presented to Congress at the beginning of June and debated the same month.
"All of that would take us to the beginning of 2011 when this could reasonably be approved," Jimenez said at a presentation of national health statistics in Madrid.
Further restrictions face tough opposition from Spain's Hotel and Catering Federation, which said a full smoking ban would badly damage the industry, with sales projected to fall by 7 percent in restaurants and 10-15 percent in bars and cafes.
According to statistics presented by the health minister, 44.2 percent of Spaniards oppose tougher smoking restrictions, with 47.4 percent in favor and the rest undecided.
Jimenez said the proposed measures were necessary. "We're talking about a reform to public health ... smoking kills 161 people every day," she said.
Reference: Spain says smoking ban to be in place in 2011, reporting by Teresa Larraz, writing by Nigel Davies; editing by Steve Gutterman, 5/25/2010.
More children - difference between tobacco packaging and packages of candy and gum??
May 25, 2010 - Slide Show: Candy or Tobacco..
Children may have a tough time telling the difference between tobacco products in brightly colored packaging and packages of candy and gum, according to a 9Wants to Know investigation.
U.S. - senator urges FDA to pull dissolvable tobacco products from test market sites..
TAKE THE TEST: Can you tell the difference between candy and tobacco?
"It's probably gum," said 5-year-old Peyton Maurer holding a box of Camel No. 9 cigarettes with bright pink and black packaging.
9NEWS showed a variety of tobacco products to young kids. The tobacco products are sold to adults from behind convenience store counters with the assistance of a store clerk.
"That's gum, that's green gum," 5-year-old Camden Maurer said as he held a forest green and blue tin of smokeless Camel Snus. Other kids in his Castle Rock neighborhood agreed. Peyton and Camden Maurer are the daughter and son of a 9NEWS employee.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) put one tobacco company on notice this year regarding pill-like tobacco pieces that dissolve in a person's mouth. In a letter to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco company, FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Lawrence Deyton wrote, "CTP is concerned that children and adolescents may find dissolvable tobacco products particularly appealing, given the brightly colored packaging, candy-like appearance and easily concealable size of many of these products."
Former Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company account executive La Tanisha Wright says she worries tobacco companies are targeting young people. "When I would go into a store, I would say, 'Let's put some signs on the counter. Let's put signs near candy and toys.' If we're putting signs near candy and toys, who was that luring?" Wright said to 9Wants to Know.
Wright worked for Brown and Williamson, now owed by R.J. Reynolds, from 2001 to 2004 and says during her last months at the company she was giving documents to investigators. "I was secretly working against Brown and Williamson," she said.
"I called off from work and said I'm sick. I filled my company car up with documents... and met up at a secret location with [investigators,]" Wright said.
As part of the 1998 tobacco settlement, several tobacco companies promised to not market to young people. The U.S. Department of Justice said R.J. Reynolds violated the settlement in 2006. A spokesman for the company admits tobacco products are dangerous, but denies his company created products look like candy.
"Not our intention at all. We are developing and selling tobacco products to adult tobacco consumers," R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company spokesman David Howard said. "We don't want to market to youth, we don't market to youth. We don't believe youth should use tobacco products. That's a guiding principal of the company."
Howard points out that the products are behind a counter and are not self serve.
Wright, who spoke to community leaders on March 26 in Denver on behalf of the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network, says she does not agree with the denial. "The tobacco industry, in my opinion will never stop targeting kids, they will never stop," Wright said.
Reference: , Children think tobacco is gum, candy, posted by Dan Boniface and Jace Larson, 9News.com, 5/24/2010.
FDA CTP Director speaks at Tobacco Merchants Association annual conference..
May 25, 2010 - Dr. Lawrence Deyton, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products (CTR), said in a speech at an annual conference of the Tobacco Merchants Association, a trade group that his job "is to address this enormous toll of confusion, suffering and death caused by the current state of tobacco use in this country." Hundreds of tobacco-industry representatives, analysts, and some public-health advocates are attending the three-day conference, which focuses mainly on regulation of the industry.
Deyton said he would place strong emphasis on reducing the number of minors who become tobacco users. He said 4,000 kids begin smoking each day, on average, and 1,000 become regular users. He reiterated his concern that new, dissolvable forms of smokeless tobacco produced by companies such as Reynolds American Inc. are candy-like in their appearance.
Mr. Deyton said he's a fan of competition in industries and that he would be open-minded about new products that might reduce illness and death associated with tobacco use. He did not specify smokeless tobacco, but some tobacco companies have argued that the agency should permit them to market the products as being less dangerous than cigarettes. The tobacco law, however, creates a high bar for a company to be able to market a product as posing less harm to consumers than conventional tobacco products.
Mr. Deyton said the FDA had just begun a fact-finding effort to decide whether to add cigars to the list of tobacco products that it will closely regulate.
"We are examining the public health impact of other products" besides cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, he said, "but on no particular deadline."
Ann Gurkin, a securities analyst with Davenport & Co., the Richmond-based stock brokerage, said she was concerned that some of the discussions about menthol at the last meeting of the agency's scientific advisory board suggested the group was not focusing on the science about menthol in cigarettes.
Deyton said the FDA's regulatory decisions will be based on science and will seek to educate consumers about the risks of tobacco use.
References: Industry should cooperate with FDA, new tobacco chief says, JOHN REID BLACKWELL AND DAVID RESS, Richmond TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITERS, 5/25/2010; FDA Tobacco Regulator Promises Firm Approach, Open Mind by DAVID KESMODEL, The Wall Street Journal, 5/24/2010.
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May 25, 2010 - The U.S. Supreme Court has let stand a Colorado law that bans actors and actresses from smoking while performing their roles on stage. In December, the Colorado Supreme Court had approved the law 6-1 on the grounds that it did not violate the First Amendment right of free expression. The law is part of the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act.
Back on April 18, 2001 New York's Theatre Communications Group (TCG) filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to rule in favor of three Colorado theater companies arguing that smoking within the context of a theatrical production is a First Amendment right of free expression. (Smoking within the context of a theatrical production should it be allowed??)
It will apply not only to plays but also opera. Carmen, one of the world’s most performed operas, is set in a cigarette factory and the lead is a cigarette seller.
Several Denver area theaters had appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court declined to take the case in a Monday decision.
Reference: U.S. Supreme Allows Ban On Actors/Actresses Smoking by Robert Welle, ALLVOICES.com, 5/24/2010.
Smoking within the context of a theatrical production should it be allowed??
Colorado - Denver theater company to take smoking ban case to U.S. Supreme Court..;
Colorado - Supreme Court upholds ban of smoking on stage..;
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Philippines - Department of Health wants health warnings on cigarette packs within 90 days..
May 25, 2010 - The Department of Health (DoH) on Monday, has stepped up the pressure on tobacco companies, ordering them to start printing in 90 days, explicit warnings on cigarette packs that would illustrate the ill effects of smoking.
DoH Secretary Esperanza Cabral said tobacco companies should comply with Administrative Order 13 which the health department issued on May 12. The order was issued in line with the country's commitment to an international treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of which the Philippines is a signatory. (Philippines - DoH pushes for picture warnings on cigarette packs..)
Ninety-six percent of Filipino smokers said graphic health warnings would most likely make them quit compared to bland text warnings, according to a recent study of the Council on Tobacco for Health and Air of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians. (Graphic health warnings may make smokers quit, says study by Jocelyn Uy, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 8/14/2008)
Cabral said the printing of graphic warnings on cigarette packs should have started in 2008, but this was opposed by tobacco firms, which until now, use only text in their "smoking warnings." in cigarette packs.
The DoH has come up with several designs that show the consequences of smoking, including cancer. Tobacco companies can choose which design they will print in their cigarette packs. The warnings are aimed at deterring smokers from continuing what is widely recognized as a hazardous vice.
Failure to comply with the DoH order will among others, mean closure of outlets where the products are distributed, including fines of about P5 million.
The government said previously that the cost of smoking-related diseases, estimated at P200 billion, is significantly higher than the yearly P30 billion in taxes raked in by the government from tobacco companies. Cigarette-smoking kills some 240 Filipinos a day.
According to Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla, tobacco companies with existing technology to print graphic warnings have 45 days from date of publication or until mid-July to comply. The newly merged Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. and Fortune Tobacco comprised 92 percent of the country’s tobacco industry. (Philippines - PMI - FTC merger may lead smokers continuing to smoke and lure children into a life of nicotine addiction..)
Tobacco companies are expected to lobby against the DoH order. The Philippine Tobacco Institute is already opposing the directive, citing Reublic Act 9211 or 2003 which allows tobacco firms to just print text warnings. On Sunday, May 23rd the Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) warned Health Secretary, Esperanza Cabral, that her plan to issue an administrative order to compel cigarette manufacturers to put picture-based warnings on cigarette packs would violate a law that regulates the tobacco industry. (
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, Philippine Star - Tobacco Reporter, 5/25/2010.)
In the Philippines June is annually observed as 'No Smoking' Month.
References: Tobacco firms told to print pics of smoking illnesses, abs-cbnNEWS.com, 5/24/2010; DOH ISSUES ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER No. 2010-0013 REQUIRING GRAPHIC HEALTH INFORMATION ON TOBACCO PACKAGING, Press Release, Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines, 5/24/2010; Noynoy won't quit smoking by Aurea Calica and Sheila Crisostomo, The Philippine Star, 5/25/2010; Rotting teeth on cigarette packs? Health dep’t pushes picture warnings by Lilita Balane, abs-cbnnews.com/Newsbreak, 5/25/2010.
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