You won’t find a bigger smoking ban supporter than me, but even I have a hard time believing this:
ATLANTA – A smoking ban in one Colorado city led to a dramatic drop in heart attack hospitalizations, according to a new study that is considered the best and longest-term research to show such a link.
The rate of hospitalized cases dropped 41 percent three years after the ban of workplace smoking in Pueblo, Colo., took effect. There was no such drop in two neighboring areas, and researchers believe it's a clear sign the ban was responsible.
Maybe it is, but color me skeptical until these dramatic results can be duplicated. Smoking bans seem to have only a mild effect on reducing smoking which means most of the decrease would have to be among people breathing secondhand smoke. And while secondhand smoke is clearly unhealthy, I can’t believe it is responsible for a third to half of all heart attacks (or heart attack “hospitalizations” whatever that means).
If, however, these results are shown to be accurate, the health policy implications could me we might need to take a closer look at not exposing people, particularly children, to secondhand smoke in other places like homes and cars.
If, however, these results are shown to be accurate, the health policy implications could me we might need to take a closer look at not exposing people, particularly children, to secondhand smoke in other places like homes and cars.
I’m a little surprised that Burris is accepting the appointment. Considering his previous condemnation of Blagojevich’s actions, I figured he’d refuse the offer. I don’t know all that much about Burris (he used to sign my paychecks when I was a student worker at SIU in the early 1980s), but he is showing no class whatsoever by accepting this position from Blagojevich. I don’t know, maybe the thought of getting to round out your career with a stint in the U.S. Senate was too much of a temptation.
I guess I’m not sure what would make LaHood particularly suited for that position, but hey, maybe we can get some better, ummm, transportation around here out of the deal. My only concern: How does this make poor old, job-shopping Rod Blagojevich feel? He has to be disappointed.
And on it will go for a while. While frustrating, I’m not sure doing things the right way isn’t better in the long run. And one can always dream that as the process marches on, Blagojevich will starts feeling the heat and get out on his own.
The big story here for me is that yet another Ch. 20 alum, Sara Wojcicki, has become a state spokesperson. Does Wojcicki's new employer know about 
Update: So is this why Blago was taking so long to pick an Obama replacement? He had bigger things to worry about like getting is affairs in order?
Why the frowny face, Rod?
Basically, I think downtown is the area bordered by Madison to the north, 11th Street on the east, Cook on the south and Pasfield to the west. (I guess I could add or subtract a specific block here and there, but I prefer symmetry.) Does this sound about right or am I being too inclusive or exclusive?
I would move that east two blocks to 8th to get in Brewhaus and Saputo’s.
Permanent roadside safety checkpoints at all entrances to the villages by Springfield police might be fun and profitable too. I offer that as an alternative to my idea on building a Berlin-style wall around the parasitic communities.
And who here is old enough to remember when the McDonald’s on MacArthur used to look like this? I think the style was called was called "Forever Outside".
And hey, at least the additional trains won’t be disrupting tours of the Dana-Thomas House!
One minor quibble here. Or maybe it’s just a question since I don’t drive downtown all that often. Is having the house parked on Jackson really "blocking" or "disrupting" traffic? How much traffic does that block of Jackson really see? Not much I’m guessing, except maybe for some cut-over traffic. Traffic really isn’t even much of consideration here compared to the issue of cost.
Seriously though, there is no certainty that the State of Illinois will ever reopen the historic home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, so why not just give it away to some responsible party that wants to keep it open. It was obviously a very low priority for the State and the house primarily benefits Springfield anyway. I have no idea what the cost of maintaining the home is (I’m sure it’s a lot), but it surely would be a bigger draw to the community than the Maisenbacher House. I’m in favor of keeping both but if we have to prioritize, I say go with Dana-Thomas.
