Glenn Nielsen Weblog

Anti-smoking groups frequently make the statement that Second Hand Smoke contains over 4000 chemicals. I have researched this argument using materials provided by the Boone County Coalition for Tobacco Concerns to the Columbia Boone County Board of Health.

Below is a page from the materials the BCCTC provided to the Board of Health regarding chemicals in second hand smoke. At first glance it looks pretty scary with all those chemical names and big numbers.

But what does it really mean? How can a decision maker determine from the page below what the health risks might be and whether those risks warrants implementation of a smoking ban?

There are a number of flaws with this document which makes it of little value as a basis for making a decision.

1. Amount (mg) values 1000 times larger than actual

2. Chemicals are listed with an Amount (mg) of "No Data"

3. There is no context for determining the health risk

4. Federal agency responsible for worker safety decided that Second Hand Smoke should not be regulated

The page above was included in the materials provided by the BCCTC to the Board of Health. The page was scanned and its reproduction on our site is allowed by Copyright Fair Use.

(December 13th, 2006) A Columbia, MO Rock Bridge High School student was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon and is free on $4,500 bond.

The student had an unloaded "AR-15" semi-automatic rifle in the covered bed of his pickup truck because he was going to target practice after school.

It will be interesting to see what disciplinary action the school district takes.

What is much more important is whether this student will be prosecuted under State gun laws or the 1990 Federal Gun Free School Zones Act (18 US Code sect. 922(q)(1)(A)).

Will this be another example where Gun Control Laws are used to prosecute a law abiding citizen who had no criminal intent.

This story is starting to show up on other sites:

• Free Republic
• Liberty Post

TBS broadcast the special "Earth to America", A Global Warming Comedy Special November 20th, 2005.

Here is a quote "I read the earth used to have 19% oxygen in its atmosphere but now it has 9%", Bill Maher.

A Hollywood celebrity said it so it must be true, NOT!

The normal level of oxygen in the atmosphere is 21%. Levels below 19.5% are considered Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH).

Either Bill Maher is an idiot or the person who scripted this line for him is an idiot. It wasn't delivered as a laugh line but as a statement of fact. Either way it is an example of why I have very little respect for Hollywood celebrities who speak out on issues.

I didn't watch the show so I don't know how many other "facts and figures" used during the show are bogus.

Here is the "Earth to America" Bill Maher video clip.

I presented a session titled "The Internet - More Than a Web Page" at the 2005 LSLA Conference in St. Louis today.

Blogging also known as Weblogs has become a popular way for individuals to comment on their daily life, politics, sports, any topic at all.

Major media has noticed blogs. Journalists and reporters are maintaining their own blogs and using blogs as sources of information.

Recently blogs were the source of information which discredited the National Guard documents used by CBS 60 Minutes in a story about President George Bush's National Guard service.

This blog site is being setup so that libertarians can more easily comment on issues in Columbia, Boone County, and the State of Missouri.