Thursday, January 31, 2013

CRANIAL PARALOGISM: The Final Stage of Quitting Smoking


Cranial Paralogism is a crafted reasoning by 
my “shadow mind” to dismantle whatever resolve I’ve 
established since I quit...this time. It’s the worst. 
My mind builds a case for giving up quitting by reversing 
the negative viewpoint into the positive to justify 
abandoning the effort. Logic does a 180. North is South. 
Good is bad and bad is good. It’s all the lies I tell myself 
about smoking. The convincing ones. It’s creepy how 
expansive it can get, and how fast it can work.

Cranial Paralogism is entirely mental. It showed up after 
I’d quit for some months. I’ve conquered this condition 
only once. The most insidious of withdrawal disorders, 
it requires concentrated vigilance of spirit and resolve 
to sweep this condition away as soon as it appears. 
It’s my brain at its worst trying to talk me into doing the 
stupidest thing.

ORDER IT TO GO AWAY.
                                               















I am an un-smoker because I get fierce whenever 
Cranial Paralogism tries to speak. I give myself my lecture.

Shut this part of your brain up. Then tell it to shut up 
again. And again. Make beating cigarettes your game, 
your goal, your passion. Tell your shadow mind to go 
back where it came from. When you see a cigarette on 
the ground, stomp on it. That always makes me feel better.

Be a warrior for fresh air.

Once I handled this final condition of withdrawal (which 
will continue to rear its ugly head forever), I was done 
with cigarettes for good. Breathe a sigh of relief.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Commissioners Ban Smoking on all Travis County TX property

Who'd have thought Texas would be stepping 
up to lead the way about banning smoking? 
Commissioners  have banned smoking from all 
Travis County property. This ban takes effect 
April 7, World Health Day... Great irony.
Way to show them, Texas!!!!
The link to the article...
http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/290203/commissioners-ban-smoking-on-all-travis-county-property

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Reaching a Milestone...Breathing it all in....




It's been said that sixty is the new forty...


and whoever started that rumor is,
obviously nowhere near sixty...

It's somehow surprising that I got here 
with all the smoking I did from the age 
of ten till I quit for good a few years ago.  
Had I continued,  the book never would 
have gotten written. I would have lost the 
capacity to breathe without serious medical 
assistance. I would have been too busy 
coughing to do anything.

I'm saving more than $5,000 in upcoming health 
provider program costs for being a non smoker.
So will you at this age if you don't smoke. 
It's worth it.
It's truly what they call a new lease on life...
I don't get winded, I feel great; I can smell and taste 
and I no longer smell like a slow moving forest fire. 
Free.

I am smoke free...and am living to tell about it... 

Mozart, Baryshnikov, Lewis Carroll, Johnny Melville, Billy Scudder and 
Keith Olbermann....what company I've been keeping through the years...
















Saturday, January 26, 2013

The Rest of the Story by Dr. Michael Siegel

The Rest of the Story: Tobacco News Analysis 
and Commentary is a blog by Dr. Siegel that has 
a more enlightened take on the realities of the 
anti-smoking campaign. It challenges the half-
truths and scare tactics and it's worth reading. 
It tells the whole truth about tobacco...
http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/

Even though Groundhogs don't smoke, they'll be there next Saturday at Tecolote Books


An ex-smoker's nightmare of Romancing The Smoke

Every couple of months I have a dream where dozens 
of faceless people are smoking away, blowing smoke 
in my direction. It takes place in an underground pub
or a crowded piazza. It's asphyxiating, incredibly foul 
smelling and the smokers seem to think it's very funny
that I am annoyed and overwhelmed by their actions.
As I try to get away, more appear laughing and in my 
way as I attempt to escape. 

Someone bellows, "you'll never get free!"

I am determined though- and weave my way through 
the Bruegelesque mass of debauched humanity up the 
stairs or out of the piazza in the cool clear night air of 
a sultry winding street in a little Italian town. I'm alone.
The smell of smoke is gone.
The nightmare is transformed into a pleasant journey.

My book suggests that the fourth stage of withdrawal is 
Cranial Paralogism, where your "shadow mind" tries 
to convince you to return to the habit after you've quit.
This episode is one way your brain tries to dismantle
your entire mental state as a non-smoker. Ignore your 
thoughts anytime they tell you smoking is okay. It's not. 
Never will be. Period. Remember...
it was only a dream...

NY Times article counts the years lost by smoking

















There's something so creepy about this photo, I had to repost 
it. It reminds me of me using my grandfather's lighter. 
Courtesy Damon Cummings (AP)
A very thoughtful article by Anahad O'Connor that appeared 
in the NY Times 1/23/13. According to the CDC, I've gained 
back 4 to 6 years I would have lost by continuing to smoke. 
That's a relief.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/putting-a-number-to-smokings-toll/




Friday, January 25, 2013

Russia finally clamps down on smoking...

We first reported on Russia's changing tobacco laws 
in late Oct '12; now the State Duma, their lower house 
of parliament, almost unanimously passed a progressive 
ban on kiosk cigarette sales, curtailing public smoking 
and related advertising. It marks a noted clamp down 
on tobacco by the world's # 2 consumer of cigarettes. 
It's the end of smoking in Russia as they know it. 
This Reuters article was brought to my attention today 
by #TobaccoFreeKidsCA. Thanks for the heads up...
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/25/russia-smoking-idUSL6N0AU8U520130125

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Equality is not always good....

Because more women are smoking earlier & smoking 
more, they have caught up to men with the risk of lung 
cancer because they've adopted mens' ways of smoking.
This Yahoo Health article states that in countries where 
the "liberated woman" is  smoking younger, the 
incidence of lung cancer almost equal now in men 
and women. This is a phenomenon that is happening 
worldwide. In one thing at least, equality is not all it's 
cracked up to be...

http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/ap/women-have-caught-up-to-men-on-lung-cancer-risk

If you're a smoker, you're not going to like Obamacare...

The Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, 
will allow health insurers to charge smokers up the wazoo 
as a penalty above & beyond the premium...up to $4,250 
for fifty-five year olds and $5,100 if the smoker is sixty. 
This MSN article points out the confusing options and 
painful monetary fees smokers will soon face.
Another really great reason to quit.
http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20130124&id=16034133

It is very dangerous to smoke in Northern Mali...

If you get caught smoking in Northern Mali, you will 
be publicly flogged... Islamist extremists have swept in 
and imposed Sharia Law, inflicting horrible punishments 
for any sort of normal western behavior. This CNN article 
brings to light the darkness that has descended upon Mali.
if you have ever wondered where Timbuktu is...
it's here... and it's not the paradise it used to be...
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/24/world/africa/mali-victims-speak-out/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Monday, January 21, 2013

Today, I did not see a single cigarette...

The Ojai Valley Youth Foundation sponsored an inspired celebration
of Dr. King's life today by the Fountain in Libbey Park in Ojai, CA.
Singers and poets of all ages lifted up their voices to the heavens.
We put some chalk on the sidewalk. This is what happened.
The entire day, I did not see or smell a cigarette...at last!
January 21, 2013- a memorable day in so very many ways...

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Take the Oath to Become Smoke Free...

Monday January 21 On Amazon,
Romancing The Smoke is FREE 
as a Kindle eBook to our fans! 
Our gift to let you know we're 
on your side! Smoke Free at Last. 
Pick it up here!
http://www.amazon.com/John-Aaron/e/B008WGVXGY

The American Lung Association Gives California a Critique on Smoking


This story came in as a tweet from #Toxic Butts 
out of the Sacramento Bee...
About 1 in 8 people smoke in California...
National average is 1 in 5....
California is ranked 49th...getting better, but...

Friday, January 18, 2013

Romancing The Smoke KDP Select FREE Giveitaway Promotion on Amazon Jan. 21

Kindle Promotional Giveaway of 
Romancing The Smoke
eBook on Amazon 
ONE DAY ONLY 
Monday Jan 21 All day FREE! 
Perfect 4 the Kindle Fire!
Giveitaway giveitaway giveitaway now...
http://www.amazon.com/John-Aaron/e/B008WGVXGY

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

The Kindle Fire Lights Up Romancing The Smoke

The jury's in...and the Romancing The Smoke eBook
is downright awesome (as in Grand Canyon awesome) 
when viewed on the Kindle Fire! Kindle did a fabulous 
job transforming the book into an electronic format.
The images explode off the page; RTS was made to be 
read as an eBook, though we didn't know that at the time...
Get it here; it takes only a second...
http://www.amazon.com/John-Aaron/e/B008WGVXGY

At this rate...

Creepy Nicotine Factoid #32: the average cost 
of a pack of cigarettes in NYC is now 11 dollars. 
Annual cost to the pack a day smoker in NY-
over $4,000...
there are better things to do with that money...

Monday, January 14, 2013

Two Out Of Three Indonesian Males Smoke...

Graphic photo warnings are coming to cigarette packs in Indonesia.
This is a success despite the resistance from tobacco farmers and the
tobacco industry. Still, requirements call for only 40% of the pack to
be covered with these warnings. Single cigarettes can still be sold.
The majority of these single cigarettes are sold to school children.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/indonesia-add-photo-warnings-cigarette-packs-18176739

















It is estimated that two out of three Indonesian males smoke;
and Indonesia is second only to Russia in overall percentage
of adult smokers- 39%-35%.

Also, according to the suppliers of the above photo, AntaraNews.com,
a staggering 70% of the income of those in poverty in Indonesia is
spent on cigarettes.

Even more stunning- there a pack only costs a dollar.





Saturday, January 12, 2013

Keep up that New Year's Resolution! Be Strong!

Nice work to those who made quitting smoking 
their New Year's Resolution! Your whole life is 
changing as you read this because your body and 
mind are unbelievably happy that you quit! 
(So are your friends and family...)

When you find yourself wanting one...
don't think of it as ONE more,
think of it as TEN THOUSAND more
(that reminder works for me)
Don't give in-

Breathe 
    Breathe 
      Breathe
          BREATHE

...repeat as needed...

YOU CAN DO IT!


Friday, January 11, 2013

The Artwork of Romancing The Smoke

For those of you who would like to see the visual art component of
Romancing The Smoke without all those bothersome words....
this gallery was made for you! The Art of the Book!
http://modernarf.smugmug.com/BookArt-1/Romancing-The-Smoke/16586885_xNpDCG#!i=2315240251&k=PMkg2rk















shown: Romancing The Smoke, Ojai City Hall, Ojai, CA

Monday, January 7, 2013

Graphic gruesome Shock Ads are the current strategy to get people to stop smoking...

The British journal Medical News Today addresses the tactics
currently employed as the marketing strategy to get people to quit.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/254461.php




















Anti-smoking shock tactics are in style to get people to quit. 
With all due respect, I'd rather encourage them to see and breathe
a clearer, cleaner, healthier more beautiful world as the reasons to quit. We've heard all those other reasons for decades. 
Let's go for something new and positive...

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Tobacco Tax in Australia Set To Send Price of Cigarettes Over $20 a pack...

Australia is about to raise the price of cigarettes to more than $20
with their Tobacco Tax. A buck a butt. Revenues from cigarette sales
are plummeting.  I wonder why.  See the Huffington Post article here....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/australia-tobacco-tax-cigarette-prices-pack_n_2411188.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
photo: Richard Powers

Thursday, January 3, 2013

John Aaron's Romancing The Smoke to be featured in the Ojai Bubble magazine

Romancing The Smoke will be featured in the Ojai Bubble
magazine's first 2013 issue. This issue will introduce readers
to the story of how this book came to be, the state of tobacco
addiction today and the beginnings of the smoking experience
for the author. Complete with the artwork of Chapter One...
http://www.theojaibubble.com