Women Smoking Cigarettes

Thursday, November 10th marks one year since South Dakota’s smoke-free law went into effect. The law bans smoking cheap Dunhill cigarettes in bars and restaurants. While smokers and business have adapted with outdoor smoking areas, those who supported the ban are touting its’ success. Darcy Ellefson a respiratory therapist says the health benefits are already being realized.

“There is just an overall sense of relief in South Dakota that workers don’t have to be exposed to secondhand smoke and consumers don’t have to worry about which bar or restaurant can I go to and have safe air to breathe”. Said Ellefson.

Erik Gaikowski with the American Cancer Society agrees

“With the smoke free law more people are choosing to use that as a reason to quit and that was our hope to begin with. Said Gaikowski

Amy Harms is a 15-year volunteer she says she has talked with smokers who voted against the law, but now are happy it passed.

“I think people were really scared about what it would mean for businesses but I believe that businesses are seeing that there are more families out going to restaurants and bowling alleys. Now when people have to go outside, especially in the state of South Dakota, people don’t care for the habit as much.” Said Harms.

Smoking in downtown Chico, near businesses in the city limits and in Bidwell Park could soon be illegal. “There’s the rights of people to smoke cheap Camel cigarettes in public versus the rights of people to breathe clean air,” Internal Affairs Committee chairman Jim Walker said.

Walker said the city has to protect both, even if smokers represent the minority.

The committee voted unanimously today to refer the issue of a year-round ban in city parks to the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission.

The committee also voted to re-address a regulation against smoking within 20 feet of building entryways after it hears a report from the Downtown Chico Business Association and the Chico Chamber of Commerce. That limitation would effectively ban smoking downtown because the entryways are within 40 feet of each other, said Heather Keag of the DCBA.

Butte County has an adult smoking rate of about 19 percent.

The Chico City Council referred the issue to the Internal Affairs Committee Sept. 20 after receiving a letter requesting the smoking ban from the American Lung Association.

Smoking is already prohibited within 20 feet of public buildings, in City Plaza, in Caper Acres, and in upper Bidwell Park from May to November because of the fire hazard.

A number of high school students asked the committee members Tuesday to support the ban to limit second-hand smoke and to cut down on cigarette butts littering Bidwell Park.

“It’s more than just gross — it’s
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disgusting, it’s repulsive,” said Chico High School freshman Jacob Sturgis. “It’s really hard for me to enjoy Bidwell Park with (cigarette) butt litter on the ground.”

Committee member Bob Evans said he’s unsure if a littering ordinance would be necessary or enforceable since state law already prohibits littering.

“You don’t want to make ordinances just for the sake of making them,” Evans said.

Keag said a number of downtown businesses endorsed the smoking ban but the business association has yet to take a stance.

Shelly Brantley of the American Lung Association signed the letter to Mayor Ann Schwab. She told the committee she understands smokers have rights, but asked that they not be allowed to do so near building entryways and in parks.

Evans said he is concerned about downtown employees who are smokers.

“I don’t know if they can go out, jump in their own cars and drive out of downtown, or quit their jobs or be cited,” Evans said.

Though he said the best option would be for them to stop smoking, Evans thinks it puts the employees in a precarious situation.

The committee might address the ban at its next meeting, on Dec. 13.

Walker said as a medical professional, he understands the health concerns of smoking but he also sees the smoke as an annoyance.

“Part of me sees our society becoming less and less tolerant of others’ annoying habits,” he said.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s smoking in Bhansali’s Guzaarish is picking up heat. But with young women fast taking to smoking in reality, wonder if it’s being accepted as ’sexy’…

Winona Ryder, Mira Sorvino, Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman smoke much more on the big screen than people do in real life, a study had claimed some time back, calling them dangerous role models for young women.

As trailers of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan smoking go on air, there’s a global concern if smoking on-screen is sexy.

Aishwarya Rai smoking

Aishwarya-Rai-Bachchan Vogue

Not that it’s the first time an actress is shown smoking on screen, for similar furore was witnessed when Kareena Kapoor lit a ciggy in Chameli, Rani Mukerji in Bichoo , Manisha Koirala in Company or when Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranaut made smoking look like some style statement in Fashion.

Winona Ryder smoking

But isn’t ‘women-smoking’ a part of the real world too?

Smoking-scenes-in-movies

Smoking on screen

In a country, where cigars, hookahs and cigarettes were once regarded as symbols that spoke of man’s machismo, though the acceptance to the fact may have been slow, the fact is – women have caught up with the trend, and fast.

“So, what’s wrong? I mean if smoking is bad, it’s bad for both – men and women alike. Then why is there always an eyebrow raised and a special mention made when it’s about girls smoking, on screen or off screen?” reasons Jyoti Khurana, a chain-smoker who works with a BPO. So even though Jyoti admits the habit is bad, she shares, “the addiction for anyone starts almost the same way. The fact that girls are as independent and high earning, and facing the same stress as men, the reasons for taking to smoking too, are similar.”

As for women smoking on-screen, “Perhaps those ’so-called’ keepers of traditions, who say smoking on screen influences young women, have turned a blind eye to what the society has become with girls now far from being those simple, domesticated, dependant women.

When there are so many lifestyle changes that we’re ready to accept for the good, these are just some others that come with the change too. And that’s what these actresses are doing on screen – portraying the real woman of today. Then why this fuss?” reasons Anu Dayal, a smoker once, who quit smoking a couple of years back.

Following celebrites smoking:

• Jesse Metcalfe
• Jude Law
• Ashton Kutcher
• Macaulay Culkin
• Sienna Miller
• Billy Bob Thornton
• Danny Masterson
• DJ AM
• Jack Osbourne
• Robbie Williams
• Kirsten Dunst
• Stephen Doriff
• Tommy Lee
• The Oasis boys
• Kate Moss
• Pete Doherty
• Matthew McConaughey
• Christian Slater
• Russell Crowe (I guess Russell didn't learn enough when starring in the Insider. Let's hope he quits for himself, his family and his fans.)
• Simon Cowell
• Courtney Love
• Mary Kate Olsen
• Slash
• John Cougar Mellencamp
• Benicio DelToro
• Colin Farrell
• Orlando Bloom
• Hayden Christensen
• Chad Michael Murray
• Johnny Depp
• Charlotte Church (Charlotte, you have too good a singing voice to destroy by smoking: for yourself and your fans, please stop smoking.)
• Natalie Portman
• Lindsay Lohan
• Lara Flynn Boyle
• Matt Damon (Matt quit smoking sometime after this photo was taken).
• Keith and Theodora Richards
• Britney Spears
• Pink
• Dave Navarro
• Jennifer Aniston
• Vince Vaughn
• Brad Pitt (At the request of Angelina Jolie, and for the benefit of his new family, Brad quit smoking sometime after this photo was taken. Angelina Jolie had quit smoking before taking on the role of being a mother).
• Jack Nicholson
• Leonardo DiCaprio

Ben Affleck (At the request of his wife, Jennifer Garner, and for the benefit of his new family, Ben quit smoking sometime after this photo was taken. It seems getting married, having children and families are strong motivating factors for some movie stars to stop smoking).
• 16 year old Hayden Panettiere

We reveal the singer’s pre-hols raw food diet

Gwen Stefani looked stunning as she strolled the decks of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's yacht Luna on holiday in Cannes - and we can reveal how the 41-year-old got her smoking hot bod.

It's all thanks to a secret raw food diet.

According to a close pal, Gwen began the raw regime and ramped up her exercise programme to seven days a week in the run-up to her family holiday with husband Gavin Rossdale, 43, and sons Kingston, five, and Zuma, two.

‘Gwen wanted to look incredible on her break, so she went on a strict 10-day cleanse,' says the friend.

'She only ate raw foods, which she found really hard as she loves cookies and pizzas, but she was determined to be able to indulge in the fabulous French food on offer.

'Her diet consisted of fruit for breakfast; raw meat or fish for lunch and dinner; and lots of raw veg.

'Gwen was also doing a daily super-high intensity cardio workout in the gym.'

The singer's diet allowed her to tuck into the meals on Roman's yacht, where world-class chefs cater to guests' whims.

‘Gwen says she's been eating pain au chocolat for breakfast without guilt,' adds our source.

‘She feels her cleanse was worth it to be able to do that.'

Read the full story about Gwen Stefani in Now magazine dated 30 May 2011 - out now!

Miley Cyrus says that being caught smoking a bong was a ‘bad decision, because of my fans.’
The pop star’s comments are published just days after she was voted the celebrity with the worst influence on teens in a survey of youngsters for the second year in a row.
A video of the 18-year-old smoking a bong allegedly filled with the herb salvia was posted on the Internet in December.

Speaking about the incident Cyrus tells U.S. Marie Claire: ‘I’m not perfect…I made a mistake…I’m disappointed in myself for disappointing my fans…’
When it is suggested that her actions were no different to thousands of American 18-year-olds who smoke bongs, the Disney star says: ‘But they’re not Miley Cyrus. They’re not role models.
‘So for me it was a bad decision, because of my fans and because of what I stand for.’
The former Hannah Montana star seems to be very concerned about what her fans think of her, especially when it comes to her music.
The singer has been heavily criticised for filming raunchy pop videos for her last album, Can’t Be Tamed.
But she says: ‘What I never wanted was for my fans to ever feel like I betrayed them…to feel like I said I was something then turned around and was something that I’m not.
‘But I’ve never, ever claimed to be perfect.
‘I mean, since I’ve started the show, I’ve always said: ‘I’m gonna make mistakes’. I know this.
‘And I think that that is one of the reasons why people related to me. Why kids related to me.’
Cyrus also slams rumours that she was caught kissing actor Avan Jogia in a photo taken at her 18th birthday party last year.
She says: ‘If you look at the picture, I’m turned away, and he’s kissing me on the cheek.
‘It’s very hilarious to me that people say: ‘They’re making out’. In making out, there’s a tongue.’
Cyrus also speaks out about her parents pending divorce. Last year her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus split from her mother Tish.
The pop star said: ‘Of course anyone is going to be upset when there are troubles in their family, but I have a lot of hope in our family and, no matter what happens, we’re gonna stay strong.
‘I just want my mum to be happy and my dad to be happy and, most of all, my little sister to be happy.’
Outside of her family unit she reveals that she has found her own role models in Hollywood including Demi Moore with whom she filmed the upcoming movie LOL.
‘It really felt like Demi was my mum because we had such great conversations and I feel like it shows onscreen,’ she said about the actress, whom she reportedly talks to and texts almost daily.
‘I can’t wait for LOL to come out. It’s what I’m most proud of.’
In the meantime the teen that made an estimated $48 million in 2010 reveals that she is frugal.
She said: ‘I’m very careful about the things I buy, because a year from now, I know I’m gonna look at a thing that I spent 30 grand on and say: ‘What the heck was I thinking? I don’t want a diamond skull,”
In the immediate future Cyrus says that she would like to do more charity work, including serving as a missionary in Indonesia building wells and bringing water to people who need it.
She says: ‘Honestly, I cannot sleep at night because I get so excited about doing good things for the world, changing the world.’