Thursday 29 October 2009

TOBACCO gradually losing its political influence

In downtown Raleigh, just a few blocks from the state legislature building, opened a new trendy bar in the last month.

It's called "Tobacco Road". But the whole bar non-smoking.

In those days, that little bit of irony is not an isolated case. For smokers, and for the tobacco industry, which is crucial for the country's economy for centuries, the landscape is changing rapidly.

"Our customers, of course, faced with a finite number of situations, whether in social work situations, or situations where they feel comfortable to smoke," said Mor Payne, Representative Reynolds American inc.

Changing social views of smoking is accompanied by a reduction in political support for tobacco companies. Over the years, Reynolds and other major tobacco players enjoyed some home-field advantage in the policy of North Carolina. However, the 2009 forms to be a difficult year for tobacco products in the country's largest tobacco producing state.

Here are some recent developments:

Last week the powerful legislators in the NC House of Representatives resumed its Push to ban smoking in restaurants and indoor workplaces in North Carolina.

In the NC Senate, the other powerful lawmakers want to raise taxes on cigarettes this year.

At the federal level, former Senator Elizabeth Dole, a staunch supporter of the tobacco companies, was replaced by Sen. Kay Hagan, who last week voted in favor of increasing the federal tobacco tax to pay for health insurance of children.

North Carolina politicians have increasingly argued that the health risks of smoking outweigh the important legacy tobacco state.

"I know that this state has a rich history of tobacco growing, and we love our farmers, and we respect them," said State Republic of Jennifer Weiss, D-ring. But, she added, "it comes to health and safety of workers in our state."

Weiss was referring to the proposed ban on smoking in indoor workplaces. The main author of the bill is the Republic of Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson, survived lung cancer.

Two years ago, Holliman filed a similar bill was narrowly defeated in the House of Representatives. This year is expected to face another tough fight. But even groups that are strongly opposed smoking bans in the past - such as the NC Restaurant and Lodging Association - take a softer stance this year.

Paul Stone, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association, said he believes that some type of ban on smoking in North Carolina is inevitable.

Holliman How does it seek a ban on smoking, some other state lawmakers want to raise state taxes on cigarettes this year. The main one is a supporter of Senator Marc Basnight, NC Senate leader, who also wants to raise taxes on alcohol.

Such tax increases would have little impact on closing the budget deficit the state, but Basnight said that his main reason for supporting them is not to raise revenue, while the lower state health-care costs.

Despite these broad anti-smoking efforts, the tobacco industry remains strong, and continued to be a major player in North Carolina politics and lobbying campaign contributions.

Senator Linda Garrou, D-Forsyth, defended the tobacco industry, last week. Garrou, chief Lt. Basnight, almost always in agreement with him. But it was opposed to increasing taxes on cigarettes.

Garrou, whose district includes Winston-Salem headquarters of Reynolds, said that Congress is on the verge of raising the federal tax on cigarettes. This tax, which is supported by Kagan last week. Another senator in North Carolina, Republican Richard Burr, opposed it.

"It will be difficult for us (government) to raise taxes, and on tobacco companies, Garrou said:" If we're going to maintain these excellent corporate citizens, preserve jobs and keep money in our state. "

Basnight said he understands the position Garrou in opposite directions to increase taxes on cigarettes States.

And I would too if I was represented by Winston-Salem, he said.

Payne, Representative Reynolds, said that the company still believes that he has good support in the General Assembly, despite the proposals this year.

"I think in the parliament of North Carolina is a very broad and deep understanding of the importance of tobacco, both historically and economically, the state," she said.

But she also acknowledged that the political situation is changing. More legislators are prepared to consider increasing taxes on cigarettes, she said, and several other laws of North Carolina in recent years, has banned smoking in places as varied as prisons, adult care homes and state government vehicles.

"There are social changes," says Payne.

"And our legislators are part of this society, like all the others.

Wednesday 28 October 2009

Alternative Retro

Plot of the film "Coffee and Cigarettes short black and white films, in which they hold discussions, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes ...

The nexus of all the shorts is the scene, bars and cafes in different parts of the world where actors, musicians, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes, discuss various topics, from classical music to alternative medicine and the detrimental effect of coffee nicotine diet.

Jim Jarmusch is stuck in a black and white film, with the effect of the gray half-tones, which he often used while shooting the film, he also does not depart from its traditional expressive pauses and leisurely pace of the narrative, a lot of rock 'n' roll as the soundtrack helps to create a fascinating director cozy original alternative retro atmosphere. The participation of different actors, the cult of rock musicians, and just interesting people, making "Coffee and Cigarettes movie, which should be observed.

Nevertheless, despite the great temptation to complete the survey with exclamation marks, I would not recommend this film to an unprepared audience. Coffee and cigarettes as well as in many works Jarmuschs there is no action in the traditional sense, an integral part of modern cinema. To some extent, the film is close to the documentary, in which the Home Video is usually carried out during the parties.

I think the movie is intended for a narrow circle of romantics, rock and roll fans of underground aesthetes, or, at least for those who can feel the beauty of simple moments, won over from the daily hustle and held a cup of coffee in the company with an interesting conversationalist. Coffee and cigarettes worth considering, provided that this is your movie.

Tuesday 17 March 2009

Advertising


KENT outdoor advertising

In 1965, the Ray Conniff Singers had a hit song called "Happiness Is", which listed various examples of things that make people happy ("To a preacher, it's a prayer-prayer-prayer / To a Beatle, it's a 'Yeah-Yeah-Yeah'" and so on). The same group, or a soundalike group, produced a series of commercials for Kent that were written to the same tune and style, with the punch line always being, "To a smoker, it's a Kent."

Monday 15 December 2008

The best Kent cigarette

Kent brand of cigarettes was introduced in the mid 1950's for and by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. It is a global well-known brand of cigarettes, produced by British American Tobacco - the second largest cigarette company in the world. By its name Kent, as a cigarette’s brand, is obliged to Mr. Herbert Kent - a former executive at Lorillard Tobacco Company.
After being made accessible to the public, Kent rapidly became one of the best selling brands of cigarettes in the United States and in many different countries around the world. They essentially held the number one spot from the years 1966 to 1972. Much of the credit for this success was given to the motto at the time -- "Kent tastes good like a real cigarette should".
In a more current survey, performed in the year 2005, the Kent brand of cigarettes ranked numeral six on the most accepted brand of cigarette list, tied with the Kool menthol trademark of cigarettes. More recent advertisement campaigns have included claims that the ingredients used in their products are "additive free". Though this declares was 100 percent true, a secondary message was soon added to Kent packages. This message stated that being additive free did not make their products safer to smoke. While the first statement is true along with the declaration that followed closely behind many people feel that Kent is a better cigarette because of its lack of additives.
Kent favorably differs from many other cigarettes due to the particular charcoal filter contained the activated carbon. Among others, the most desired flavors are Kent Lights cigarettes, Kent Super Lights cigarettes and Kent Premium Lights cigarettes!
However, because Kent does not use additives, many people are remaining faithful to the brand and studies show that among those who have tried Kent cigarettes 84% of them identify Kent as their brand of choice and an additional 10% say Kent is their second brand of choice if their first brand is not available. Without additives, a smoker and can enjoy the taste of pure and naturally grown tobacco which is what the “real” smoker is looking for and Kent knows that. Although Kent is sixth on the list of most well-liked cigarettes in the United States, they rank fourth on the list of the most popular cigarettes worldwide.
Like most other brands of cigarettes, Kent comes in many different varieties to please all of their customers. Some of these varieties include, but are not limited to:
  • regular Kent full flavor


  • regular Kent lights


  • Kent Selects


  • Kent Select lights

Slims and Super Slims are also popular varieties of Kent cigarettes. The company has made every effort to appeal to smokers with different preferences, including women smokers. Slims and Super Slims were produced with the same idea as "Capris" and "Virginia Slims" -- to appeal to female smokers with their more "feminine" look and design.
Smoking a Kent cigarette is really a very pleasant experience. Kent cigarettes are famous for their large taste and high quality. Besides they are often treated as safer cigarettes, because of the very good filtering system based on the latest technological advancements. If you like easy and mild cigarettes with guaranteed tobacco and additives high quality “ Kent cigarettes will satisfy your demands.
Kent cigarettes are one of the best selling brands on the US tobacco market. Smokers of all ages prefer Kent for its superb taste, unique aroma and outstanding filtering system.