Free Republic

Levi’s CEO Chip Bergh admitted on CNN Business’ Markets Now that he still hasn’t washed his now decade-old pair of jeans. And he doesn’t plan to, either. He also slammed the old wives’ tale about freezing your jeans to preserve the color and shape. “If it’s the pair I’m thinking of, he will spot treat them or worst case hand wash if needed. But never in the washing machine,” a Levi’s spokesperson said.

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- According to a report conducted for bar owners in the state, the workplace smoking ban enacted last year led to the loss of 2,000 industry jobs and millions of dollars in wages. Ridgewood Economic Associates of New Jersey conducted the study for New York Nightlife Association based in New York City, and the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association based in Albany. The report stated that since the state's Clean Indoor Act took effect on July 24 banning smoking in all workplaces, $28.5 million in wages and salary payments and $37 million in gross state product were...

NEW YORK — A federal judge has snuffed out a lawsuit seeking to overturn city and state bans on smoking in bars and restaurants, saying the challenge on constitutional grounds was so weak it was "akin to trying to scale Mount Everest with a ball of string." U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero concluded in a ruling released yesterday that New York state and city legislators were being rational when they used police powers over the health and welfare of the public to enact smoking bans. Marrero rejected all the constitutional challenges brought by an organization calling itself NYC CLASH —...

Providence Lawmakers are CHOKING RI's Economy!!!!!!!!!!!PROVIDENCE -- Influential legislators say this could be the year Rhode Island bans smoking in restaurants, bars, work areas and most public places. "I am confident we will see some kind of ban passed by both chambers," House Speaker Bill Murphy said at the start of this year's legislative session. "I would like to see a total ban" on workplace smoking, House Majority Leader Gordon Fox said Wednesday. Legislation is being drafted do just that, Fox said, including one to be introduced by the House leadership, a sure sign that it has a serious chance...

Univ. of Minn. Study 1st to Detect Tobacco-Specific Carcinogens in Nonsmokers in Public Setting; Environmental Tobacco Smoke Significantly Affects Nonsmokers 12/22/03 7:00:00 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To: National Desk, Medical Reporter Contact: Brenda Hudson of the University of Minnesota's Academic Health Center, 612-624-5680 MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- University of Minnesota researchers found that levels of a tobacco-specific lung carcinogen increased in nonsmokers when they visited a public setting where smoking is allowed. The carcinogens, metabolites of NNK, could increase their risk of lung cancer. The study is published Dec. 22 by the American Association for Cancer Research. This study...

<p>As tobacco has become less socially acceptable and home buyers are more aware of indoor air quality, houses that reek of cigarette smoke are becoming a harder sell, experts report.</p> <p>"It definitely is a major turnoff," said Michael Wilson, a real estate agent with Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors in Brandywine Hundred. "Buyers immediately think about what they'll have to do to eliminate the odor. It's a real drawback and a real negative."</p>

Six New York taverns - including two in Syracuse - sued the state Tuesday and asked a federal judge to stop authorities from enforcing the new law that bans smoking in all indoor work sites, including bars and restaurants. Buies Inc., the owner of Dodester's, a bar at 2426 South Ave., and Barmarsue Inc., owner of Murray's, at 2722 Burnet Ave., are plaintiffs in the lawsuit, along with the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association, and four other bar owners. The lawsuit - which seeks to block the law statewide - was filed in U.S. District Court in Syracuse because...

<p>Albany -- New York lost more than $500,000 in lottery sales after hundreds of bars and restaurants unplugged their lottery machines to protest the statewide smoking ban in businesses, officials said Thursday.</p> <p>The protest was meant to deprive the state of revenue from the Quick Draw game and publicize bar and restaurant owners' concerns that the smoking ban will hurt business, said Scott Wexler of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association.</p>

<p>New Yorkers dodging heavy taxes on cigarettes by buying from Native American sellers on the Internet could be hearing soon from the taxman.</p> <p>Under a settlement in the federal appeals court, the Ojibwa Trading Post, a popular online cigarette vendor based in upstate New York, has agreed to report its sales and hand over customer names to authorities every two weeks, effective immediately.</p>

Anti-smoking advocates sure know how to hurl insults at those who defend smokers’ rights. In response to an opinion piece of mine that ran recently in a daily newspaper, I received an email from “Harry” in Milwaukee saying if “Bast promises not to smoke within ten feet of me, I promise not to poop on his salad bowl while he’s eating.” Only he didn’t say “poop.”Thanks, Harry. I hope the guys you have lunch with know about your curious habit.Defending smokers isn’t popular, but if you care about jobs, property rights, the rise of the Nanny State, and the use...

It's been in place for five years now, but many Yuba-Sutter bar owners and patrons said they have yet to become accustomed to California's ban on smoking in bars. At establishments such as Stassi's Fourth Ward Tavern in Marysville this weekend, business owners were still fuming over the ban, which took effect in January 1998. The ban - a first for the nation - was intended to protect bartenders from health risks posed by second-hand smoke. Yet Roy Newlove, the owner of Stassi's for roughly 10 years, said it does nothing more than slow business and cause headaches for his...

** PROTEST ANNOUNCEMENT ** CHARGE OF THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER BRIGADE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18TH AT 12 NOON CITY HALL (East Gate) (Time subject to change.  Please check back for confirmation ) The NYC Council will be voting on Mayor Bloomberg's sweeping smoking ban this date. Some council members can still be swayed NOT to vote for this bill (see latest news ) It's up to you to convince them once and for all that it's wrong, and not in their best political career interests, to support one man's personal war on smokers. Thousands of businesses and two million New Yorkers...