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Monday, August 05, 2002 |
News: New cigarette tax may push more people to quit, but is that a good
thing for the state budget? --
http://www.detnews.com/2002/health/0208/05/c01-553967.htm
Comment: If more people quit, then fewer people will buy cigarettes, which
will lower the tax take and put more pressure on the state budget. The
response from the Legislature will probably be to increase the cigarette tax
again, which will push more people to quit smoking and further lower the tax
take, etc.
Unless, of course, that you think that there are a certain number of people
who are so hopelessly hooked that they will keep smoking no matter how high
the cigarette tax goes up. But is it right to financially stick it to these
"addicts"? Especially when they tend to be lower-income folks who can least
afford to pay a tax increase?
News: Friday night star gazing was really terrific. And a new comet is
coming to the northern sky --
http://skyandtelescope.com/news/current/article_685_1.asp
Comment: Very clear atmosphere minimized the light scatter from Lansing, so
Friday night got some of my best sky views ever of Summer Milky Way objects
(at least from southern Michigan). Impressed again with exceptional optical
quality of the ETX. Of course, I'm limited to objects of about 10th
magnitude vs. 12th magnitude with my 8-inch scope. But what I can see I can
see really, really well.
11:39:46 AM 
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© Copyright 2002 Michael Rogers.
Last update: 10/2/02; 8:38:59 AM.
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