Don’t be purposely obtuse, please. Of course nicotine or vaping isn’t going to be on that chart. But apparently you’re OK with hooking 'em young…so they can have other smoking-related diseases when they’re no longer on that chart. And after almost one hundred years of the tobacco industry marketing their product, you think just because you don’t see direct ads on Nickelodeon or cereal boxes that kids aren’t being influenced insidiously. Wow, are you that blind?

And yes, kids are dumb as a bag of hammers. That’s what parenting is all about. Hopefully when the heavy lifting is done, they’re a little smarter than those who made 'em.

Seriously? You’re comparing sugar to nicotine? Suckers (the lollipop kind, not the vaping kind) are a major factor of obesity? I thought we were having a semi-intelligence discussion here but I guess not. Thanks anyway. Peace.

Hey, seriously, as far as I’m concerned, you can buy menthol heroin or strawberry exocotin. I do however have a big problem with flavored nicotine whatever being marketed and sold to children. And nobody wants to address that problem because “muh freedoms”.

And firearms are the leading cause of death in children? Whether that’s true or not, that’s because adults bring and store firearms into the home. Guns are undeniably an American cultural problem.

Easy, killer. I never said I want control of anything…well, except my life and the immediate surrounding area. Yes, I kind of do see vaping-as-aid as a crutch but moreso as a con, preying on people’s weaknesses. If you want something flavored to occupy your mouth and lips, buy a bag of Dum-dums! But otherwise, by all means, continue to throw away your monies on whatever you like.

Again, sincerely, congrats on quitting smoking.

I’ll just call partial bullshit as I’m not exactly sure what the existing laws are regarding vaping and minors. Are persons of questionable age supposed to be “carded” like with alcohol? What is the vaping age in Michigan anyway? 16? 18? 21? In any case, how is this “counterproductive to society as a whole”?

Regarding your quitting smoking questionably thanks to flavored vapes: obviously we don’t know each other and I don’t know your exact circumstances but…

• If you were using vapes (flavored or not) containing nicotine, then vaping was only a psychological crutch. Regardless of gradually decreasing nicotine intake or not, you one day made the decision to stop. Thinking otherwise is a fallacy: switching from a 12mg nicotine cigarette to a 10mg or 8mg cigarette in fact only leads to increased smoking.
• If your vaping was nicotine-free, then again, vaping was again a crutch. Unless, you alternated between cigarettes and vaping, you quit the first time you chose to vape instead of smoking cigarettes.

In either case, congratulations. You are no longer a slave to nicotine. Be strong. Nicotine is a powerfully addictive substance with zero benefits. Be it smoking, vaping, gum or patches, a user stops only when they are ready. Like the old joke…

Q: How many psychologists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change.

And then I’ll print a picture of your gift and tape it under your printed tree. Shhhh…it’s a Lamborghini.

Full disclosure: I am an ex-smoker (twice). No matter what you are telling yourself about your smoking/vaping, it’s a lie.

You are a slave.

Totally possible. Actually, with the coming out regarding the offers of paid opposition, it may even strengthen her position.

Politics is truly a distasteful (but lucrative) occupation.

I did consider the source before posting and you may be right about the intent of the article. Then again, as they say, a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day. My concern is the quoted sentence from the article and it appears (at least to me) she is doing almost nothing to prove otherwise, n’est-ce pas?

Ya see, that’s just it. I don’t know nor am I convinced that Ms Tlaib is against genocide. Chanting “from the river to the sea” certainly isn’t winning her any points in my book.

And what does “liberal white supremacy” mean anyway? How am I supposed to parse that?

Wow! My apologies to all readers. I had no idea the Detroit News was behind a paywall. Thanks, @mateomaui@reddthat.com! 💖

From the Detroit News’ article…

The new rates will be effective Dec. 15 for DTE’s 2.3 million electricity customers in southeast Michigan and the Thumb area.

Rep. Mike McFall, D-Hazel Park, said he was “appalled” the commission would allow DTE to push the “financial burden of long-overdue infrastructure upgrades to residents” based on reasoning that is “tired and clearly not made in good faith.”

“This is despite DTE recording over $1 billion in net profits last year and after the company boasted about their $332 million 2023 Q3 earnings to shareholders,” McFall said in a statement.

“I recognize that $368 million is still a tremendous rate increase and is too high for many ratepayers, especially right before the holidays," [Attorney General Dana] Nessel said in a statement. “I will remain a vocal proponent for the interests of utility customers and urge the Legislature to pass measures compelling DTE to demonstrate this money is being utilized to ensure more reliable service and not to enrich its shareholders.”

From The Detroit News: Whitmer signs bills criminalizing election official intimidation, curbing AI in campaigns

“In Michigan, we are proving through our actions that we stand for fundamental American values of freedom and democracy,” Whitmer said.

The legislation would require campaigns to clearly state when a political advertisement was created using artificial intelligence and would prohibit use of AI-generate deepfakes within 90 days of an election without a disclosure indicating the footage was manipulated. The measure is meant to prevent AI-generated footage meant to impersonate a candidate or manipulate what they’ve said.

Additional legislation signed Thursday makes it a crime to intimidate an election official with the intent to interfere with their election-related duties. First and second offenses are treated as misdemeanors, but a third or subsequent offense carries a felony charge. Intimidation, under the law, is defined as actions meant to cause someone to fear injury or to actually injure an individual; the definition excludes “constitutionally protected activity or conduct that serves a legitimate purpose.”

You mean these three Palestinian students in Vermont? How about this six-year-old little boy in Chicago? Does this look to you like “no concern”? Worldwide media coverage certainly doesn’t appear to me like “no concern.”

I wasn’t aware we were keeping score.

I said beat it, bot.

Scram, tin man.

This land is your land, this land is my land… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So your take is that Trump had no knowledge nor any part of whatsoever of the planned insurrection and domestic terrorist attack of January 06, 2021?

Further reading:

• Michigan Advance: Courts, state officials hesitate to keep Trump off 2024 ballots

Scram, tin man.