Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Allen Carr Worldwide

An introduction to some members of the Allen Carr 'family'...





Thanks to Asaf from Israel for putting this together...

Monday, June 14, 2010

Smoking and depression

The link between smoking and depression is one that has been well-known for decades. But what comes first: the chicken or the egg? Are depressed smokers self-medicating or does smoking cause depression?

A study that logged the complete medical history of 1200 New Zealanders born in 1977 claims to have the answer: Nicotine addicts are over 2.3 times more likely to suffer from depression than non-smokers.

Makes perfect sense to me: having your life dominated by a four-inch stick of dried vegetation that doesn't even get you high is pretty depressing...

Break free from the slavery of smoking with Allen Carr's Easyway to Stop Smoking

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

NYC gets under the tobacco industry's skin

Tobacco companies and retailers are suing New York city for insisting that retailers display graphic images of the health risks of smoking by their cash registers.

According to the NY Times, the industry argues that it 'infringes on the federal government’s authority to regulate cigarette advertising' and that it 'violates the First Amendment rights of store owners who disagree with their message'. Further, it claims that the placards are 'so disgusting that they hurt business by discouraging people from buying...more-wholesome merchandise like milk and sandwiches'.

Firstly, it's nice that the tobacco industry feels the need to protect the federal government rights. One might think that if they were really concerned, the Feds would have sued NY themselves...Perhaps they forgot.

Secondly, I didn't realize it was up to retailers to decide what the dangers of smoking were. Using this logic, if a retailer doesn't think smoking causes lung cancer, he should not be forced to display a poster that says it does.

Thirdly, it is very kind of the tobacco companies to care so much for the sales of other consumer goods companies. Who would have thought they were so charitable?

The tobacco industry are all just big, touchy-feely softies really!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Rue McClanahan

I met Rue McClanahan in 2005 when she quit smoking at one of our seminars in New York city. She had a wonderful ability to put people feel special. When she looked at you and smiled, she lit up the room.

She was gracious, self-deprecating, funny and enthusiastic. As I remember it, the session went extremely well, in no small part because Rue never stopped encouraging everyone else, despite her own fear of quitting. It was an afternoon I'll remember for a long time.

I got a call from her some weeks after the session to thank me and to let us know how well she was doing. "I feel like a young girl again - it's wonderful!" she said. A very classy gesture from a very classy lady.