Blowing Smoke

In time for the fall elections, Wolraich pens a witty and penetrating political analysis of the wacky world of rightwing "persecution politics," mixing polemic, history, and strategy.

Blowing Smoke argues that we are losing the drug war because of our devotion to the disease model of substance abuse. That model has become the driving force for our two main strategies in the war: prohibition laws and drug rehab. The book traces the history and science behind each to show how they paradoxically enable drug use.

From the Foreword by Prof. Judith Curry of Georgia Tech: “Istvan’s insightful and incisive writing in Blowing Smoke tackles a diverse array of topics related to climate and energy that are highly relevant to the current public debate. His writing is accessible to the public who may not have the inclination, the time, or the ability to dig deep into the literature and emerge with a simple factual 'big picture'… Blowing Smoke is an important contribution to the public understanding of the debate on climate change and energy.”

HAS AMERICA LOST ITS MARBLES? Television sensation Glenn Beck warns of White House plots to institute fascism, communism, and other terrifying “isms.” Radio titan Rush Limbaugh charges that a racist Obama regime encourages black schoolchildren to beat up white kids. Evangelical luminary James Dobson frets that Christians will be arrested for thought crimes and people will be allowed to marry donkeys. Protesters in knickers and colonial-style hats march on Washington with signs that order Hitler-like caricatures of President Obama to return to Kenya. As madness reigns, pundits, politicians, and cab drivers debate the source of the hysteria. Some blame ignorance; some blame racism; some blame the economy. After poring over mountains of political screeds and heedlessly subjecting himself to countless hours of Fox News, author Michael Wolraich discovered the secret formula that turns ordinary men and women into fire-breathing, smoke-blowing, right wing maniacs. It’s “persecution politics” . . again. In Blowing Smoke, Wolraich documents, dissects, and deconstructs the myths that underlie the right’s growing reliance on the politics of persecution, from Joe McCarthy to the Tea Party movement. In the process, he delivers an original and compelling hypothesis with penetrating insight and blistering wit. At turns hilarious, disturbing, and edifying, Blowing Smoke is a must-read account of modern American politics.

An intricately plotted story with red herrings galore. The corking-good plot will keep you turning the pages until the very end. An outstanding addition to a wonderful series. --Booklist Blowing Smoke Getting involved with the rich and their problems is never a good idea, as far as amateur P.I. Robin Light is concerned. But when the mercury is rising to a steamy level, the bills are unpaid, and the investigation promises real money, the only answer is yes. Robin figures the case to be a no-brainer: the three adult children of an eccentric heiress, Rose Taylor, are convinced their mother is the victim of a scam operated by a psychic named Pat Humphrey, who has just earned a large place in Rose's will. Assuming the woman is a fraud, Robin pays her a visit and is startled to discover that Pat could be the real thing--and that she knows far more about the Taylor family than she admits. . .enough to get her killed. As the air grows thick with the promise of rain, the case takes one shocking turn after another, plunging Robin into the dark secrets and twisted loyalties of a troubled family, where money may not buy happiness, but it can be a powerful motive for murder. Now, Robin's own premonition about the rich is coming true, because a cold-blooded killer is about to turn the dog days of summer into the most dangerous season of Robin's life. "Interlocking mysteries and layered family secrets nudge Block's seventh toward Ross MacDonald territory." --Kirkus Reviews "This female PI ranks right up there with the tough-guy detectives in taking her lumps and dishing them out as well." --Library Journal

With a series of insightful, creative cartoons, Jack Ohman and Brian McConnachie portray the humorous side of the overly serious world of cigar smoking. When McConnachie unleashes his sardonic wit there are no survivors. An original staff writer for National Lampoon and Saturday Night Live, his is some of the funniest writing around. A great gift for your favorite cigar smoking friend or loved one. Line art.

Blowin' Smoke II is written as a continuation, not sequel, of Blowin' Smoke, as the main characters are related to trapshooting in one way or another. Many of the stories intertwine with those of the first publication but will appeal to a much larger general readership which will include sports fishermen and general aviation amongst others.

This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.