i heard this today on NPR, but when i looked it up, the story was from 2008. what's up with that?

according to NPR, folks in the military are supposed to get a 20% discount on the local price of tobacco products, but they sometimes get up to 50%. that's subsidized with our tax dollars which is just super because then we also get to pay for their medical care. 40% of these folks who smoke started smoking after they joined up. most say they smoke to relieve stress, but the irony of tobacky is the only stress that it relieves is the stress it inspires. that's addiction.

what? where was i? oh, right addiction. sorry, lost my train of thought because i had to get up and ransack the house for a burt's bees. what? my lips are dry! sheesh.

did you know that a pack of smokes cost $12 in brooklyn? in other scary brooklyn news, junior revealed the other night that he'd really like to name his hypothetical future daughter "brooke lynn". i laughed, but he wasn't joking. ah, dear great creator of the earth and all its realms, help the poor unconceived child. brooke lynn. phew.

back to the tobacky in the military issue. NPR went on to remind us that smoking lessens one's stamina, which is of course an excellent physical trait for a soldier. smoking also slows healing, which again is great if you're in combat. and, by great, i mean not great. smoking lessens strength and endurance. super! and, here's one that i didn't know - smoking reduces one's manual dexterity. who knew? not i.

i have, per the title, since i heard it this morning, learned that this story appears to have originally aired on NPR in 2008. WELL THAT'S JUST GREAT, NPR. jeez! how'm i supposed to trust you when you're diggin' up old sht posting it like new? c'mon!!