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Cell phone has built in cigarette lighter. In other news, I have officially seen it all. 

Straight out of China comes “The Machismo!” – billed as “the world’s hottest cigarette lighter mobile phone.” Does that mean there’s more than one? Like, are there other, lesser, not-as-hot cell phones with built-in cigarette lighters? Nothing would surprise me after seeing this.

According to the product description on Chinavasion.com:

“The problem with modern life is you have to carry around too many things in your pockets. Wallet, keys, iPod, cellphone, and if you're a smoker - a cigarette lighter too. Well here's the perfect solution - The Machismo. Instead of carrying a phone AND a lighter, just turn this amazing phone around, slide open the safety latch, and the underlying heating element heats up in under 2 seconds. Place your cigarette on the glowing element and puff. Your cigarette is lit and you can enjoy your smoke. Super huh? Yes, Machismo!”

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Critics say bill would overturn local smoking bans  

Supporters of a statewide ban of smoking in public places say a new bill in the Kansas Legislature would overturn smoking bans already enforced by cities.

The bill introduced Wednesday would impose a statewide smoking ban. But it would allow smoking inside public places with ventilated rooms, and with smoking and non-smoking sections. And it would let hospitality establishments pay a fee to allow smoking.

The law also would prohibit local communities from having a smoking ban stricter than the statewide law.

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Columbia’s smoking ban still hazy 

A month ago, Columbia officials were ready to go to court, accusing The Tobacco Merchant on Bower Parkway of violating the city’s smoking ban.

On Wednesday, council considered changing the ordinance to exempt cigar bars from the ban, but once again, the city postponed making any decisions. The outcome could affect many tobacco retailers.

Grant Collins owns The Cigar Box on Rosewood Drive, and he has big plans for his business. He’d like to add a bar to his lounge.

“We’re in a state with double-digit unemployment, and if we could of opened a full bar a year ago, we could of probably employed three more people,” said Grant Collins.

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GORDON: New York state must start collecting unpaid cigarette taxes 

Westchester residents awoke on a recent morning to news that Westchester County is facing a $60 million budget hole.

Just weeks into 2010, and we're already behind -- by a lot.

The grim news was delivered by newly elected County Executive Rob Astorino, who has the unenviable -- and always unpopular -- task of reining in spending wherever he can. Facing a $60 million deficit just weeks into his term, County Executive Astorino's job just got a lot tougher.

Westchester is not alone in projecting 2010 deficits. . . .

This is not a matter of sovereignty. New York has the power to collect tax on cigarettes that are sold to New Yorkers -- whether those cigarettes come from another state, another country or even a reservation. The Supreme Court said so. . . .

High taxes and spending are ruining New York state. But with the deficits we're facing now, it defies reason not to collect taxes already on the books, taxes that are legally owed.

We can't afford to wait any longer, Gov. Paterson. We need you to step up and start collecting the cigarette taxes now.

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E Cigarette Users: Help Save The Electronic Cigarette In The UK 

Ban it, regulate it or make it a restricted medicine?

These are the choices the UK Government is mulling over.

And it is asking for YOUR HELP in making the decision.

If you enjoy the electronic cigarette, or simply think that people should have a right to enjoy nicotine without having to inhale chemicals, carcinogens and tar, you can let the government know.

Click here to share your views and help save the electronic cigarette:

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Michigan Smoking Ban Exemptions and Enforcement 

On December 18, 2009, Governor Granholm signed a smoking ban bill into law. This new law, called the Dr. Ron Davis Law, will be put into action on May 1, 2010. The Dr. Ron Davis Law will officially ban smoking throughout the state of Michigan. Smoking will be banned in all public places including workplaces, restaurants, and bars. This law even goes as far as to ban smoking on the patios of restaurants.

The language of the Dr. Ron Davis Law, as provided in the bill, specifies that not only does the law prevent smoking in public places, but also at any public meetings and at government agencies. Furthermore, the owner of the bar, restaurant, or workplace must make an effort to prevent customers or workers from smoking on the premises. Not only does the law ban smoking but it places regular US citizens in charge of carrying out this new law, and does not take the typical police force approach. Obviously police will be involved when smoking is occurring in bars or restaurants, but they are not the main enforcers in this case.

The bill defines all the terms used and also describes specific measures that must be taken in order for this law to be properly carried out. For example, there are sections describing what a valid attempt by company owners to prohibit individuals from smoking would be. One of these sections explains that the owner of the public place must post no smoking signs.

Along with the original language of the law, there are two major exceptions.

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Massachusetts Governor Calls for Huge Cigar Tax 

The bronze statue of the Boston Celtics legendary head coach and cigar smoker Red Auerbach at Quincy Market in Boston. Auerbach would most certainly not approve of the new tax proposals.

Faced with a budget shortfall of nearly $3 billion, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has proposed raising the excise tax on cigars to 110 percent, a move one tobacconist believes would bankrupt the state's cigar business.

According to administration officials, a $2 cigar that costs $2.76 now would jump to $4.46 if the new tax takes effect.

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Smoking ban a gutter ball for bowling alleys?  

Holland, MI --

Some confusion surrounds Michigan's new smoke-free law that goes into effect May 1 -- especially among bar and restaurant owners.

"The state has stepped in and said, 'We know more about the hospitality business than you do.' Many of them are very upset," said Andy Deloney, the Michigan Restaurant Association public affairs director. . . .

At Century Lanes in Holland, owner Phil Huffman has been working to accommodate his smoking clientele. About 30 percent of the Century Lanes league bowlers are smokers, Huffman estimates.

"This is very high on my radar," Huffman said. "It's the single most important thing on my radar right now, period."

Huffman has been talking with bowling alley owners in states like California and New York, where similar bans are in place. Those owners report a one- to two-year lull in business following a ban.

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Cigar maker accepting resumes 

The maker of Davidoff cigars has set up an e-mail address to receive resumes for those interested in a position at its future Pinellas Park warehouse.

Oettinger Davidoff Group, based in Switzerland, is planning to relocate its U.S. headquarters from Stamford, Conn., to Pinellas Park within about six months. It is expected to hire up to 90 people at an average salary of $56,000.

Davidoff is accepting resumes at jobs@ddcls .com, according to the Pinellas County Economic Development department.

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Cigarmaker Oettinger Davidoff Group to open new U.S. headquarters in Pinellas Park  

Lured by incentives and the Tampa Bay area's cigar history, the Oettinger Davidoff Group is moving its new U.S. headquarters to Pinellas Park.

The Swiss cigar importer will begin hiring 90 people in the next six months at an average wage of about $55,000 a year, according to Pinellas County's economic development office. Most of the jobs will be front office and warehouse related.

Oettinger Davidoff makes cigars at plants in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. The company will take over a recently vacated 100,000-square-foot-plus building to house both the headquarters and warehousing and distribution.

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Tobacco Control in Africa - TCA 

The Africa Reporting Program funded by the Gates Foundation with the University of Berkeley looks like an interesting model although I think the program for tobacco control could hire more local journalists, in every country and with a detailed deadline and content requirements. Less than 10% of the budget could certainly pay for one journalist per country publishing one article per month. That would be effective communication and advocacy. A French speaking example is Baleki Congo Blog Net, the collective blog open in RDC with the support of the Lille's school of journalism. I am not sure there is any article in French in the Africa Reporting Program. I think each journalist is compensated $50 per post.

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Africa’s anti-cancer effort bolstered  

The global effort to counter the scourge of tobacco as a leading cause of cancer in Africa has received a huge prop up in the form of $7 million, courtesy of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The money, which comes in the form of a grant of over five years, is earmarked for the establishment of a new continental anti-tobacco consortium, according to a statement released by the American Cancer Society (ACS), which is tasked to manage the project.

According to the statement released, ACS will lead and coordinate the African Tobacco Control Consortium, a global coalition of public health-oriented organizations focusing on using evidence-based approaches to stem the tobacco epidemic on the continent.

The consortium includes the Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI), Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), Framework Convention Alliance (FCA), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), and the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), the statement said.

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Armory smoking ban supporters  

Lyle Hoskins wouldn’t have been fighting mad had the city council’s vote gone against implementing a smoking ban beginning July 1 for events at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center. However, the head coach and trainer of the Hannibal Armory Boxing Club admitted Wednesday he is pleased with the council’s decision.

“I’m definitely happy about it,” he said.

Even when no one is smoking in the armory, Hoskins says the odor lingers.

“You can smell it . . .

Hoskins was not alone in his support of the smoking ban. Some of the participants at Wednesday’s senior dance in the armory also backed the council’s decision.

“I’m glad,” said Lucia Arnold of Barry, Ill., who is a non-smoker. “I don’t want to be breathing anyone’s stale smoke.”

“I feel it should be smoke free. If they want to smoke they can go outside,” said Rose Curfman of Hannibal. “Smoking is not good for your health. So many folks have emphysema and don’t need to be around smoke.”

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The Business of Giving | Gates Foundation ramps up tobacco control efforts in Africa 

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is stepping up the fight against tobacco with a $7 million grant to the American Cancer Society announced today. That follows a $10 million grant to the World Health Organization in December.

Both are aimed at curbing the tobacco industry's inroads in Africa, where cancer is emerging as a serious public health threat in addition to diseases such as malaria, AIDS and TB.

The $7 million, five-year grant to the American Cancer Society (ACS), which has taken on a more global role recently, will go toward managing a health coalition called the African Tobacco Control Consortium.

Consortium members include the ACS, Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative, Africa Tobacco Control Alliance, Framework Convention Alliance, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. . . .

For a detailed look at tobacco control in Africa, see Philippe Boucher's bilingual blog here.

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• American Cancer Society to Manage New Effort Against Tobacco in Africa  

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given a grant of $7 million over five years to the American Cancer Society to lead and coordinate the African Tobacco Control Consortium, a global coalition of public health-oriented organizations focusing on using evidence-based approaches to stem the tobacco epidemic in Africa. In addition to the Society, the consortium includes the Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI), Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), Framework Convention Alliance (FCA), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union). In a part of the world that is notably affected by HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases, cancer is emerging as a serious public health threat. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, much of the rise can be attributed to widespread tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the world, and according to the World Health Organization, if current trends continue, tobacco use will cause one billion deaths worldwide during this century.

As the managing organization, the Society will collaborate with consortium partners to implement an ambitious tobacco control program across the 46 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The overall goal will be to reduce tobacco use in these countries by implementing proven strategies at the national and local level.

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