Thursday, April 10, 2014

See which of YOUR Facebook Friends "Likes" these Dubious Scoundrels

I took a break for a while to attend to other business, but The Mutha Blog is back with a vengeance!  In this issue, you'll have the opportunity to easily see what kind of FB friends you really have.

Just click on any of the links below.  If you're already logged in to FB, you'll instantly see a list of all of your "friends" that "like" the dubious person or organization listed.  Otherwise you'll be prompted to log in.  What you do with the information is your business...

If you have any suggestions for other "targets" or categories to add, please let me know via the "Comments" section below, and tell me why it should be added.  If you find this info interesting, PLEASE take a minute to share the link for this page.  There are buttons for FB, Twitter, etc. near the bottom.  Thanks in advance!

Distorted Media Outlets & "Journalists"











Self-Serving Politicians











General Evil


Companies With Anti-Gay Policies or Contributions






Cruelty To Animals


GMO's


Recipients Of Federal Corporate Welfare














Ass Clowns

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Friday, March 21, 2014

Why The US Is Not Happy: Income Inequality

Original article by Mutha Bob

Yesterday, CNN informed me that in addition to being the first day of Spring, it was also the 2014 United Nations International Day Of Happiness.  Pretty cool, I thought, but how does one measure such a thing?  And
why didn't the US rank in the top five?  It turns out that there is a think tank in Sweden known as the Global Happiness Organization, recognized by the UN.  They conduct extensive polling worldwide, asking people to rate their happiness on a scale of one to ten.  More on the results later on...

Curious being that I am, I did a bit of research (my sources will be cited).  The first thing that I thought of was income inequality.  In other words, what percentage of a nation's wealth goes to the top 10% (or even 1%) compared to, say, the "middle class" (whatever that is). What impact does this have on happiness?  I thought back to an interesting 2013 documentary I'd seen on Netflix, Inequality For All.  In it, former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich makes a  strong case about why the average American is screwed due to the rapidly widening economic gap.  Worth watching; a good way to spend an hour.  

But wait, I thought.  There's got to be a lot more to "happiness" than just how well or poorly the average citizen earns compared to the "top 1%" in their country.  What about things like war?  Climate?  Government?  Education?

It turns out that the UN also tracks and ranks countries by a thing called the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI).  Simply stated, the IHDI measures health, education, and income.  There's also a version that's not adjusted for inequality, but all things considered, IDHI seemed like the best meter I could find.  The results of a comparison between national happiness and IHDI didn't surprise me:

2013 Top Ten Happy Countries

1. Denmark
2. Norway
3. Switzerland
4. Netherlands
5. Sweden
6. Canada
7. Finland
8. Austria
9. Iceland
10. Australia

2012 Top Ten IHDI Countries

1. Norway
2. Austria
3. Sweden
4. Netherlands
5. Germany
6. Ireland
7. Switzerland
8. Iceland
9. Denmark
10. Slovenia

In other words, seven out of the world's ten happiest countries also score in the top ten for health, education, and income.  The US?  17th for happiness, 16th for IHDI.  Mexico beats us in happiness at 16th despite an IHDI of 55th (?)  BTW, the US moves up to 3rd place if income inequality is taken out of the equation (HDI, 2013). 

Conclusions?  For the US, the answer to greater happiness comes back to my first thought.  REVERSE the income inequality that has become our plague since the late 70's.  How to do that will be another topic. I suppose that if you want to be happier in America (as it is), you could decide to be a CEO, sports, or entertainment star.  That, or occupy Wall Street, Hollywood, and Yankee Stadium.  Good luck with either one...What do you think?  Please comment below!

Sources:
World Happiness Report (http://unsdsn.org/resources/publications/world-happiness-report-2013/)
2012 IHDI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_inequality-adjusted_HDI)

2013 HDI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index)

Favorite Pic/Meme/Vid Of The Day:


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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

You Probably Qualify For Free Money: $310M Computer Memory Settlement

$310 million DRAM price fixing settlement could get you $10 - or much, much more

From PC Magazine article by Jared Newman 
"If you bought a computer or other device that uses DRAM around the turn of the century, you could be eligible for a payout as part of a price fixing settlement.
The settlement is the result of class action and attorneys general lawsuits against a dozen DRAM manufacturers, including Samsung, Toshiba, Hynix and Hitachi. In total, the manufacturers have agreed to pay out $310 million in a nationwide settlement, and roughly $200 million of that money will go to consumers and businesses who were affected."
The full PC Magazine article is available HERE.
This one's a no-brainer.  If you bought any kind of computer (or related) equipment between 1/1/98 and 12/31/02, you qualify for at least the minimum settlement, which will vary depending on how many people place claims and how much stuff you bought.  BTW, you are not expected to have receipts or even have the equipment any more.  Don't remember the exact brand of the stuff you bought?  No problem; you only have to state how many of them.
In my own case, I was quite the techno-geek at the time.  The claim process took me under 5 minutes to place my claim for 2 computers, 2 printers, 1 memory module, 2 aftermarket graphics cards, 1 video game console, and 1 PDA.  I'm pretty confident I'll see some money, but not anytime soon.  Claims will be accepted until 8/1/14.
Place YOUR claim by clicking HERE, and may the odds be ever in your favor!
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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Buycott App/Spade

Buycott:  App allows you to easily "vote" with your wallet

Suggested by Johnny G's Page.  I tried it, and I like it.  Read the full Forbe's article HERE.
"In early May, then-unknown 26-year-old freelance programmer Ivan Pardo quietly added an app he’d spent 16 months creating to the iTunes and Google Play stores. Then he called Forbes, and all his servers crashed.
Los Angeles-based Pardo hadn’t anticipated the level of interest in Buycott, a simple but clever tool aimed at enabling shoppers to make smarter choices in the aisles with their smartphones.
Use Buycott on your iPhone or Android to scan the barcode on any product, and the free app will trace its ownership all the way to its top corporate parent company. These include headline-hogging conglomerates like Koch Industries (owned by conservative billionaires and liberal bogeymen Charles and David Koch) and Monsanto, the agricultural biotech giant that’s become a byword for “evil” among those opposed to genetically modified food.
Once you’ve scanned an item, Buycott will show you its corporate family tree on your phone screen. Scan a box of Splenda sweetener, for instance, and you’ll see its parent, McNeil Nutritionals, is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson 
Even more impressively, you can join user-created campaigns to boycott business practices that violate your principles rather than single companies. One of these campaigns, Demand GMO Labeling, will scan your box of cereal and tell you if it was made by one of the 36 corporations (most of them household names like PepsiCo) that donated more than $150,000 to oppose the mandatory labeling of genetically modified food."
Spade:  Huge congrats to these guys.  On Thursday, they didn't come out on top in Wormtown's Battle Of The Bands competition, but they proved that they can play with the big boys.  You've got a lot to be proud of, and we'll all be hearing a lot more about you.  And soon!

Today's Link: (and every day until the contest ends) The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  Then visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!    Good Luck!

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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Obvious WINNERS of the Wormtown Battle Of The Bands: SPADE


I would have written this post yesterday, but I mistakenly thought the gig was on Friday...WRONG!  Tonight, March 13 we need a FULL VERNVILLE PRESS at Gemstone's in Lowell, MA to support SPADE in Wormtown's Battle Of The Bands! These guys ROCKED the 44th Woodstock Reunion last year, came in 3rd in the initial voting for the BOTB (out of over 30 bands) .  Plus, they're true friends of this dysfunctional family of ours, still in HIGH SCHOOL, and a couple of members are the talented fruit of our good friend Carl Grimace Westlund's loins. Do you need ANOTHER reason to support these guys? OK, here it is: IT'S A FREE SHOW! Just tell the guy at the door that Mutha Bob sent you...(Nudge, nudge, wink, wink) 

Please, if you and your friends are anywhere near the Lowell area, come out and show your support for their quest to make it to the StrangeCreek lineup...They're on at 11, closing out the three band competition. Let's see them move on to the next round! Gemstones: 105 Market St, Lowell, Massachusetts, 01850 (978) 458-1288

https://www.facebook.com/bandthespade

 Favorite Meme/Pic/Vid of the Day:

Today's Link: (and every day until the contest ends) The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  Then visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!    Good Luck!

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Northeast Storm- Live Well With No Power

How to live well through an extended power outage (on the cheap)

 Please add your own questions, tips or tricks in the Comments Section below

 With the coming March Storm, I thought it would be worth posting this if even one suggestion can help just one person, now or in the future. 

 Every household has a different utility situation, and every family has a different comfort level. Ours is pretty close to a worst-case scenario; yours is almost certainly MUCH better. We live
Forecast by Wild About Weather (https://www.facebook.com/wildaboutweather)
on the north east side of a mountain in central NH, in a VERY rural area that is last on the power company's list to restore due to the sparse population. In the past, we've had our power out for up to four days and were not prepared for it. Never again!! 

 I'm not going to get into the obvious preps like having batteries, flashlights, drinking water, etc.  

 That said, the key for us is a gizmo called a Power Inverter.  They're inexpensive, easy to use, and have the ability to keep you warm, fed, and entertained while your neighbors are shivering, eating Slim Jims, and playing Scrabble by candlelight.  Sound like fun?  Sure, a gas or diesel generator hard wired into your home's electric system is best, but you're talking about THOUSANDS of dollars instead of under $100 for a decent inverter.  And what if you rent your home?  You're probably going to need it only once or twice a year anyway...The Power Inverter simply clamps onto your (running) car's battery terminals.  Then, run a heavy-duty extension cord through a slightly opened window (seal it with towels or something), and you're good to go.  Just Google "Power Inverter" and you'll find one that will fit your needs and budget. 

 So here's our situation at home.  Like I said, most people will have it a bit easier.
-Electric powered well water (useless during an outage)
-Satelite TV & Flatscreen
-DSL internet
-WiFi
-Kerosene furnace w/electric pump and blower (useless during an outage)
-Fireplace w/electric blower (blower is useless during an outage)
-Electric oven/stove (Draws too many watts to use with an Inverter)

 Here's how we deal with it:
Water: We have two bathtubs that we fill in advance of a storm. No "city" water here, so we use this to flush toilets and wash. Of course, use bottled water to drink and don't forget the pets!

 Heat: In the past, we found that the fireplace was pretty useless for general heating if the electric blower didn't work. Our solution was a to use the inverter to power a small, efficient (and quiet) "squirrel-cage" fan in front of the fire, blowing out into the home.

 Power: This is the big one, since the lack of it is what's causing your problem to begin with...Duh!  Most importantly, KNOW HOW MANY WATTS YOU ARE DRAWING!  An inverter can only do so much for you, but you might be amazed at what you can do with 1200 Watts. The one we have is rated at 1200W max continuous (better to keep it at 1000), but can handle a momentary spike of up to 2400W. By "spike", I mean that most electric devices draw about double their "running" wattage when it first starts, especially anything with a motor like a fridge or a fan. The UL label on the back lists the max spike wattage and will typically run much lower. For example, our fan's label says "120W", but only draws 60 while running. You can use an in-line Watt meter to monitor your total usage, or just keep track yourself. A good chart for most appliances can be found at: http://www.donrowe.com/usage-chart-a/259.htm

 Tips: 
-ALWAYS use heavy-duty extension cords!  A good rule of thumb is that if an extension cord is warm to the touch while in use, you need a heavier one.  Also, forget about the part of the inverter that plugs into a car cigarette lighter; use the alligator clips on your car battery instead. Remember that your car's gas engine was not designed to run idling for extended periods the way a diesel can.  Go outside and gun the gas every few hours.
-Stay away from anything that has a heating element, like a space heater (if you can) , toaster oven, or coffee maker. If you MUST use these, shut EVERYTHING else off first. Maybe make a pot of coffee ahead of the storm to be reheated later on.
-Refrigerators are important, but do not have to be run constantly. Ours starts at 600W and settles in at about 350. The problem is that you never know when it will kick in and spike back to 600. Just plug it in every few hours until you hear it shut itself off, then unplug.  Keep the doors shut as much as possible.
-If you've got an electric stove, consider getting a propane powered camping stove. Now you can reheat your coffee, pan fry or pot-cook your dinner.
-You can use your router for other WiFi devices like tablets even if the computer is shut down
-Flat screen TV's use MUCH less power than "standard" TV. Our 32" HD only uses 35W (instead of 300), and the DVR powering the satellite dish uses 30W.

 Using this strategy, we've found that we can enjoy Satelite TV, Internet, electric light, heat, flushing toilets, and unspoiled food for the duration. Good luck with the storm!
Today's Link: (and every day until the contest ends) The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  Then visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!    Good Luck!

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Monday, March 10, 2014

CBS 60 Minutes- Privacy, Schmivacy.

The Data Brokers: Selling your personal information

|Steve Kroft investigates the multibillion dollar industry that collects, analyzes and sells the personal information of millions of Americans with virtually no oversight.

See the full segment: CBS 60 Minutes Stream

A friend watched this last night, and posted a response on Facebook: 

"Did anyone watch the 60 Minutes show this evening? Interesting story, it was about how Data brokers steal all your information from sites you visit, order things online, face book, dating sites, reading the news even. They sell all your information to companies to make new commercials on TV for more ways for you to buy more stuff from them and then some. Just thought I would share this info with everyone, and I do not care if those brokers read this either, because I feel they are invading our privacy already, which is so unfair. Oh, and stealing info on your cell phones also, even know every where you go as a GPS and by you swiping your debt cards as well to steal info. We should eventually go back to old ways, writing letters and mail them, talk on house phones and other ways."

 Give Us This Day Yer Mutha's Rant: I watched it, and wasn't even a little bit surprised. It will only get worse, as generations continue to grow into the culture of "no privacy whatsoever" and consider it the norm.
Private Sign, Do Not Read
People read it anyway.
Those that find the systematic invasion of privacy wrong will be (are?) considered the oddballs. The corporations will find new and even more heartless ways to exploit this "new normal", and become
even richer and more powerful. The average worker-bee will make minimum wage, and won't even think there's anything wrong with it. Because the corporations told them it was OK, and that's what "normal" is. I found the very end of the segment the most interesting and foreboding: The two largest corporate "harvesters" of private info (Google & Facebook) don't sell the info to other companies the way most harvesters do. They keep it for themselves...

 US Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia) said it well, recently calling this issue "The dark underside of American life."  BTW, he's not running for reelection, so he now has the freedom to say what he really thinks.  So what do YOU think?  Is this a real problem?  Is it just paranoia?  What will this lead to, in real terms for real people?  COMMENT BELOW!

 Today's Favorite Meme/Pic/Vid: 

Today's Link: (and every day until the contest ends) The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  Then visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!    Good Luck!



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Sunday, March 9, 2014

Bend Over...Facebook Throws Us Another Curve

From Computerworld.com:

Facebook launches redesign with a bit of the old, a bit of the new

The social networking company heard user complaints and made changes to News Feed

March 6, 2014 07:51 PM ET

The new Facebook News Feed redesign keeps the older layout and navigation users liked, but mixes it with the bigger images and photos. (Image: Facebook)

Computerworld - If you, like a lot of people, didn't like Facebook's News Feed redesign last year, you're in luck.
The social network is trying to change what you don't like -- with another redesign.
Facebook announced Thursday afternoon that it's launching another redesign of its News Feed and it's going to be a mix of the old design and the revamp launched a year ago.
Read the full Computerworld.com article HERE
Give Us This Day Yer Mutha's Daily Rant:  Well, here we go again...Do you remember all of the fun you had the last time FB changed their format?  Of course you do.  I'll bet you also remember your last root canal, right?  Maybe stubbing your toe in the dark?  
Time will tell, and soon:  The "improvements" are scheduled to roll out "in the coming weeks", which tells me that I have absolutely no reason to believe FB will work at all anytime after tomorrow.  Or maybe the day after that.  Or maybe the one (rare) day that I actually need FB to accomplish something in the real world.  At least this "improvement" won't affect mobile devices.  Yet.
I don't know about you, but I'm mentally prepared to bend over.  Again.  After all, it's gonna be an IMPROVEMENT.  And that's the one they told us about.  How about the one(s) they're keeping to themselves?  Please comment below...

Today's Link: (and every day until the contest ends) The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  Then visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!    Good Luck!

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Saturday, March 8, 2014

In Honor Of Women's Day, 2014


What's Happening:  In honor of Women's Day, 2014, I declare a temporary moratorium on sexist jokes.  Instead, I hope you'll enjoy this video honoring women as much as I do.

Tomorrow, back to our regularly scheduled offense...Have a GREAT day, Ladies!

Luv,
Yer Mutha

 Today's Link: (and every day until the contest ends) The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  Then visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!    Good Luck!

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Gupta on MJ/Fox News Shenanigans

Gupta: 'I am doubling down' on medical marijuana

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent
updated 8:40 AM EST, Thu March 6, 2014



Editor's note: Don't miss "Weed 2: Cannabis Madness: Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports," at 10 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Also, Dr. Gupta will be answering your questions on Reddit at noon ET Tuesday.

(CNN) -- It's been eight months since I last wrote about medical marijuana, apologizing for having not dug deeply into the beneficial effects of this plant and for writing articles dismissing its potential. I apologized for my own role in previously misleading people, and I feel very badly that people have suffered for too long, unable to obtain the legitimate medicine that may have helped them.I have been reminded that a true and productive scientific journey involves a willingness to let go of established notions and get at the truth, even if it is uncomfortable and even it means having to say "sorry."

Today's Rant:  Short and sweet.  Enough is enough  The time has come to end the prohibition on marijuana.  Whether for medicinal or recreational use, this nation is not only ruining the lives of otherwise law-abiding citizens, it is wasting BILLIONS of dollars to do so.  This, when we could instead realize a huge source of much needed jobs and tax revenue.  It's time for our elected leadership to say "Uncle".

 Today's Best Meme, Pic, or Vid:

Today's Link: (and every day until the contest ends) The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  Then visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!    Good Luck!
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Friday, March 7, 2014

Day Of The Dude/Lousy Sandwich

Happy Day Of The Dude!

Today marks the 16th anniversary of one of the greatest films ever made: The Big Lebowski.  Don't forget the White Russians...The Dude abides.

What's Happening: I've figured out an initial format for this thing, subject to future change.  My idea is to put out information, photos, videos, rants, reviews, and humor that I feel rises above (or WAY below) the norm usually found around the internet.  Hopefully, you'll find it enjoyable and/or informative.  From time to time, I might recycle stuff that I posted on FaceBook in the past, but I'll try to keep things fresh.  Absolutely NO topic will be off limits, so if you like what you see, please click the "Subscribe" button at the bottom of the page.  Updates will occur on more days than not, and occasionally several times a day if I see something funny or newsworthy.  Finally, I'll be including small (unpaid) plugs near the bottom.  These will be for things like bands, shows, causes, etc.  Please do us both a favor and don't contact me with suggestions; I really don't want you to feel insulted if I don't use it.

Today's Rant: This one is actually recycled from a couple of weeks ago, but still applies.  Please share your own take out/ restaurant horror stories in the Comments section, but please refrain from naming the establishment in question.  Liability and all that horseshit...
Venting: Went to an Enfield NH diner after a hard day of snow removal for some take-out. Ordered something pretty simple; turkey sub with bacon, lettuce, tomato, leave it dry. $9 out-the-door with tip. Get it home (1/2 hour away) to find some diced green crap mixed into the shredded lettuce. Turns out to be SWEET pickles. Also, added some kind of mystery cheese and onions.  What kind of sick mind decides to put sweet pickles on a friggin turkey sandwich? Dill, I could almost understand.  Picked them out, put on my mayo, salt, pepper, but the insidious pickle juice had infused the entire sandwich. DISGUSTING!!!
Have you ever seen the old Bob Newhart show?  You know, the one where he's the only sane person and is surrounded by Vermont crazies who all think that Bob is the crazy one?  I'm certain that the extra crap was the cooks's idea of doing me a favor, and complaining a half hour later would have 1) Been futile and 2) Turned me into their own private "Newhart".  Just not going to go back there...Except for their Buffalo Wings.  Best in the valley!  I'll prolly pull a "Kramer" and get someone else to pick them up for me...

Today's Link: The Rock N Roll Resort is doing a VIP Hotel Package Giveaway in The Catskills April 4-6…Check it out!  First, click ROCK N ROLL RESORT to enter.  It only takes seconds, and the winners will be announced on 3/20/14.  Dozens of bands will perform, and you'll get the full VIP treatment!  Then, visit their EVENT PAGE and click "I'm Attending" to complete the contest entry process.  Good Luck!

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Thursday, March 6, 2014

1st Edition/Oscar Selfie



At the suggestion of several friends, I've decided to create this blog.  Here you will find my ramblings about life, news, media, humor, celebrities, politics, and whatever else comes to mind on any given day.

Do not expect to see any form of political correctness here.  Expect the unexpected.  Also, expect off-color humor.  If you're offended, go elsewhere.  Most importantly, expect the truth as I see it, right or wrong.

Wiith that, let's begin...

Today, March 6 2014 I've decided to quit smoking.  It's a fucking BITCH, as I've been doing it since age 13.  Already cheated a few times despite wearing a patch.  Stole a few of my wife's, and toked a few puffs on an E-Cigarrette.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a more successful day.
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