Blogger Health
So I’ve been thinking about putting together some sort of fun summer project focusing on blogger health. We’re always talking about the health of communities, so I figure I should see what I can do, as long as I consider myself part of the blogging community. The Great Blogger Smoke-Out, or the Blogger Pound Down, or the Week of Walking and Weblogging. I don’t know. Address smoking, or sedentary lifestyle, or nutrition. Or something. Anyway. Let me know if you’re interested in helping out, or what you think of the idea. I think if it gets going, it could really work–people could post on their blogs about their progress, others could comment and support each other, motivate each other. Photoblog the meals they’re eating, compete with each other. Just an idea. Whatcha think?
In related news, there’s a great piece in the NYT on New York’s 11% drop in cigarette smoking. Tax the hell out of it, and by golly, people will quit, or at least reduce their smoking. Not only will New York have fewer premature deaths attributable to smoking, it will have lower future costs to pay for the long-term health problems with smoking (cancer, heart disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension… the list goes on), and fewer people suffering from the painful consequences of smoking.
In other related news, Dan Benjamin announces The Cigar Project. Irony at its finest.
Do you think the reduction in smoking among NYers is not only due to the tax but also to the banning of smoking in bars/restaurants?
You’re absolutely right, Gina. Didn’t mean to imply otherwise. The combination of multiple policies has definitely helped. I think I’m just more aware of tax effects; I did some research on them as an undergrad.
G
Off-topic, but which are you?
http://theunderweardrawer.homestead.com/twelvemedstudents.html
Definitely painfully enthusiastic.
I’m glad to see it’s working somewhere…the county just outside DC banned smoking in bars last year, and as far as I (or anyone else I know) can tell it’s only served to drive customers away. I’ve always viewed taxation as a better option.
I’d participate if you did a blogger health thingey.
Graham — haha, you’re the painfully enthusiastic type? That’s fun :>
I’m totally down with the blogger health idea. I’d love to help create it (hey, im leaving my AMSA job in two days and then what the heck do i DO with myself with just 4th year left?)
But seriously, I think it’s a magnificent idea. I don’t know if bloggers are less healthy than others, but it’s probably true that bloggers spend MUCH more time than the avg american online, and that means less time for well-being and exercise and healthy home-cooked foods (i mean on an average level — i’m sure there are a lot of “healthY” bloggers).
It could even be expanded to sharing what bloggers decided to do with some free time outside in nature, making their own foods, or enjoying other hobbies off the computer.
Yes, i’m speaking from my public health side (some of you may accuse me of paternalizing…you’re all suckers).
Ahead of the news but behind The Times – the NYT’s editorial never fails to trail GA by a few days.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/17/opinion/17MON2.html
BTW – the right align on the comment fields (name, email, website) are a bit counterintuitive.