Say No - World No Tobacco Day

http://www.thetruth.com/facts/usefulcig/index.cfm

The below from this Wiki link

Contrary to their perception, smokers do not receive a boost from smoking a cigarette: smoking only relieves the withdrawal symptoms from the previous cigarette, which in turn creates more withdrawal symptoms once it is finished. In this way the drug addiction perpetuates itself (in fact Carr, together with others in the medical profession, believes this is the underlying mechanism of all drug addiction). He asserted that the "relief" smokers feel on lighting a cigarette, the feeling of being "back to normal", is the feeling experienced by non-smokers all the time. So that smokers, when they light a cigarette are really trying to achieve a state that non-smokers enjoy their whole lives. He further asserted that withdrawal symptoms are actually created by doubt and fear in the mind of the ex-smoker, and therefore that stopping smoking is not as traumatic as is commonly assumed, if that doubt and fear can be removed.

At Allen Carr Clinics during quit smoking sessions, smokers are allowed to continue smoking while their doubts and fears are removed, with the aim of encouraging and developing the mindset of a non-smoker before the final cigarette is even extinguished. A further reason for allowing smokers to smoke while undergoing counselling, is that Carr believed it was more difficult to convince a smoker to quit, until they understood the mechanism of "the nicotine trap". This is because their attention is diminished while they continue to believe it is traumatic and extremely difficult to quit and maintain the belief that they are dependent on nicotine.

Another assertion, unique to Allen Carr's method is that willpower is not required to quit smoking. This is because it takes no willpower to stop doing something that an individual has no desire to do, which is the realization smokers come to once their doubt and fear about stopping has gone. When this is combined with the understanding that the actual physical withdrawal from nicotine is so inconsequential as to be minor and therefore almost insignificant, it enables smokers to finally break free. Smokers using willpower who do not come to these realizations, allow the mental "withdrawal" or anguish to overpower them, resulting in physical manifestations (e.g. sweaty palms, panic feelings, irritation, flushes etc.). It is precisely because many smokers believe these symptoms are caused by lack of nicotine (i.e. physical withdrawal) and not by their psychological dependency and feeling of deprivation, that they are not successful at quitting.

His contention was that fear of "giving up" is what causes the majority of smokers to continue smoking, therefore necessitating the smoker's perpetuation of the illusion of genuine enjoyment, as a moral justification of the inherent absurdity of smoking in the face of overwhelming medical and scientific evidence of its dangers.

Kick It

In Singapore over the weekend, I went to a trendy bar with the gang and didn't come out smelling, tasting and feeling like a charred ash tray after an all night house party. I felt normal; no distant sensation of aching chest and my breath was as it should be, no mild gasping on the long, brisk walk over a few blocks for coffee after.

Smoking is prohibited across most bars, restaurants and cafés in Singapore. And as a result, not even the smokers carry cigarettes with them. Every time we went out I never got a whiff of cigarette smoke and I felt much the better for it. I am all for personal freedom and liberty and all that what; but maybe this smoking ban does serve a purpose after all. I now dread the thought of walking into Tavern on a Saturday night or Koshy's on a Sunday afternoon...

21.09 to 42.19

Almonds, eggs, sweet potatoes, whole grain cereals, Oranges, black beans, mixed greens, salmon, whole grain bread, stir fry veggies, pasta, dark chocolate and low fat yoghurt. Along the way I hope there will be Yoga too.

A little over 7 months to go. May the force be with me.

First Impressions

Believe it or not I just spent 30 thousand bucks on an iced latte! However, I bought that latte at Jakarta airport at a Starbucks. So although I paid a lot more than I should on the usual overpriced Starbucks product, it wasn't as much as it sounds. Taking advantage of the fact that most Starbucks offer wi-fi (don't they?) I logged on to the internet to convert how much 30 K Indo rupiah means to me: the humble rupee earning Indian. It adds up to 135 rupees or about $3.50 which was a relief.

My journey into Indonesia left no room for complaint. Smooth visa-on-arrival for $10 USD. Smooth and courteous immigration staff, courteous customs staff and a guide from the folks organising the conference I am here for, who facilitated my transfer from the international to domestic terminal, checked me in and sent me on my way with a pat on the head.

My first thoughts are that brands are simply a fantastic creation. I had forgotten what the experience is like when one walks into a completely alien country for the first time: strange tongues, signs you can't read and you don't know if you're being ripped off or not. These were exactly my sentiments as I walked through the domestic terminal here in Jakarta and suddenly everything settled back to routine: I spotted first a Baskin Robbins, then a Krispy Kreme, a KFC sign board, an advert for Citibank, a pretty girl who asked me to sign up for an AmEx credit card and finally my current port of call Starbucks. It really doesn't take too much to feel settled, gather your thoughts and plan your next steps in a completely alien environment provided there are some familiar signs. I can already hear the anti globalisation folks crying themselves hoarse. Pipe down and have an iced latte will you?

As I breathe in the fumes of the inevitable clove-flavoured cigarette from the next table, I feel comfortable to be traveling in Asia again, the warmth is impossible to miss and although this is my first time here I begin to realise why the Orient has fascinated Westerners for so many hundreds of years.

I now board a flight to Yogyakarta and hopefully will get to see a little more of the culture food and customs of these people.