Smoking or Non-Smoking?

[jaguar]

While there are contributing factors to obesity that aren't controllable the vast majority of overweight people are overweight because they eat too much of the wrong stuff and don't do enough bloody exercise. End of story. One can't help their race or their sex but in most cases, one can do something about one's weight.

On the smoking thing though, it all seems bloody orwellian to me. I mean what the hell? If my health insurer asked for a urine sample for *anything* I'd cancel the policy, let alone something perfectly legal. Let alone a workplace, christ, no matter the money, my time, my choice, get the fuck out of my private life. I do my job, they pay me, end of interaction.

[Trilby]

What is with the secret name? Is it like the Ruplestilskin thing where he then has power over her? What is a super duper LDS undie? Like, underwear? Are they secret bedroom animals? WTF? Or, did you mean "Fundies"? I am now reading my JW literature, so thoughtfully left by the two impeccably dressed young men who came to see me this morning. I always feel bad for them because they seem so sincere and are very polite.

[lookout123]

i like the mormon missionaries better than the JW's. the jw's will not leave you alone. when you question and debate they can only regurgitate the script or get the deer in the headlights look. LDS, most of them anyway, want to share their faith, but they recognize it is theirs and don't try to force it on you. they also can debate intelligently without getting upset. and when you say you are done, they thank you for your time and go on their merry way. the jw's just keep coming back.

[Trilby]

I've a book, given to me by a Southern Baptist, that lists cults and the Mormon's are right up there in Culthood. Even still, they too are impeccably dressed and polite. A veritable Donny and Marie of Goodness and Decency.

[Happy Monkey]

I work at a large company with different rates for smokers and non-smokers. They take your word for it, though. But if you say you're a non-smoker, and come down with a smoking-related illness, you may be in trouble.

[Kitsune]

Ever apply for an engineering position with the city of New Orleans? You get to do the piss test, with a twist: alcohol consumption in the previous forty-eight hours will disqualify you from getting the position.

[Beestie]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Ever apply for an engineering position with the city of New Orleans? You get to do the piss test, with a twist: alcohol consumption in the previous forty-eight hours will disqualify you from getting the position.

So only people from outside New Orleans can work there?

[Trilby]

Seems like in a city like NO it would be pretty hard not to have had a drink in the past forty-eight. Good news, though, if they are only doing a pee test--booze is out pretty darn fast...you'd almost have to be drunk right when they took the sample to fail it.

[Nothing But Net]

When somebody dies of liver cirrhosis in New Orleans, the death certificate lists it as 'natural causes'.

[warch]

The smoking thing is not that surprising. As long as the ever exploding burden of health care costs are placed on the employer, these types of restrictions and intrusions will continue and deepen, screening for the lowest maintenance. Its just good business. Targeting the obese is given. Soon they'll clearly screen your genetic disposition for an array of diseases.

[breakingnews]

Not surprising there would be so much civil liberty backlash now, but maybe in the end Americans can make light of the situation.

Take NYC's smoking ban, for instance, now in the second month of its third year. Initially people were kicking and screaming about it, but the latest reports and surveys find people appreciate the ban and consider NYC venues healthier and more pleasant. Smoking among 18-30 year olds has declined dramatically, and dry cleaning bills have decreased proportionally.

A similar-ish situation, but the big point is that people learn to cope with such measures.