09 juin 2009
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26 mars 2009
Chesterfield Cigarettes interesting history
Chesterfield Cigarettes have a very rich and interesting history.
Chesterfield cigarettes were primary manufactured and sold in 1883 by
the Drummond Tobacco Company of St. Louis, Missouri in the United
States. They were later prepared by the Liggett & Meyers Tobacco
Company who later sold it to the Phillip Morris Company who is now
under the umbrella of the Altria Group. They have a flavor that
includes the three things that a smoker wants most such as great taste,
cooler smoke and a mild flavor that is enticing to every smoker both
male and female.
At One time, Chesterfield was One of the three most
smoked trademarks of Cigarettes in the United States. The non-Filtered
version is known for being very strong.For many years Chesterfield
Cigarettes were produced by the Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company.
Chesterfield was the preferred brand of James Dean, who was known to be
a heavy smoker, often taking in around 2 packs a day. Chesterfield was
also the preferred brand of Humphrey Bogart, and Lucille Ball.
Chesterfield was the brand of choice for famous college football coach
Paul "Bear" Bryant, who liked to smoke underneath the goalpost prior to
a game and continued to puff away as he prowled the sidelines once the
game started. Current NCAA strategy forbid the use of tobacco by any
on-field personnel. A stolen carton of Chesterfields was featured in
Jim Jarmusch's film Stranger Than Paradise. Chesterfields were featured
in Tony Scott's film True Romance.
14 juillet 2008
Iran still buys American
WASHINGTON — Nuclear weapons? No way. But there are plenty of items on Iran's shopping list the United States is more than happy to supply: cigarettes, brassieres, bull semen and more.
U.S. exports to Iran grew more than tenfold during President Bush's years in office even as he accused it of nuclear ambitions and sponsoring terrorists. America sent more cigarettes to Iran — at least $158 million worth under Bush — than any other product.
Other surprising shipments during the Bush administration: fur clothing, sculptures, perfume, musical instruments and military apparel. Top states shipping goods to Iran include California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to an analysis by The Associated Press of seven years of U.S. government trade data.
Despite increasingly tough rhetoric toward Iran, which Bush has called part of an "axis of evil," U.S. trade in a range of goods survives on-again, off-again sanctions originally imposed nearly three decades ago. The rules allow sales of agricultural commodities, medicine and a few other categories of goods. The exemptions are designed to help Iranian families even as the United States pressures Iran's leaders.
"I understand that these exports have increased. However, we believe that they are increasing to a segment of the population that we want to reach out to, we want to know and understand that the U.S. government, the U.S. people want to be friends with them, want to work with them to integrate them into the world economy and become partners in the future," Gonzalo Gallegos, a State Department spokesman, said Tuesday when asked by reporters about AP's findings.
The government tracks exports to Iran using details from shipping records, but in some cases it's unclear whether anyone pays attention.
Sanctions are intended in part to frustrate Iran's efforts to build its military, but the U.S. government's own figures showed at least $148,000 worth of unspecified weapons and other military gear were exported from the United States to Iran during Bush's time in office. That included $106,635 in military rifles and $8,760 in rifle parts and accessories shipped in 2004.
The Bush administration looked into those shipments after AP questioned whether the U.S. really approved the export of military rifles to Iran. A review found the rifles and parts actually went to Iraq; the wrong country was entered on the shipping record, Treasury Department spokesman John Rankin said. The government will correct the data, he said.
The remaining military gear is likely $33,000 in military apparel shipped to Iran under the humanitarian exemption to the trade sanctions, Rankin said.
AP's questions also prompted the government to look into U.S. records showing the export of at least $13,000 in "aircraft launching gear and/or deck arrestors," equipment needed to launch jets from aircraft carriers. Iran's navy is not believed to have carriers. It turned out they went to Italy rather than Iran, and the data is now being corrected, Rankin said.
U.S. law enforcement believes Iran is actively trying to acquire U.S. military technology, including aircraft parts that can sell for pennies on the dollar compared with what the Pentagon paid. Last year, federal agents seized four F-14 fighter jets sold to domestic buyers by an officer at Point Mugu Naval Air Station, Calif., for $2,000 to $4,000 each, with proceeds benefiting a squadron recreation fund. When F-14s were new, they cost roughly $38 million each.
Bush this year signed legislation prohibiting the Pentagon from selling leftover F-14 parts. The law was prompted by AP reporting that buyers for Iran, China and other countries exploited Pentagon surplus sales to obtain sensitive military equipment that included parts for F-14 "Tomcats" and other aircraft and missile components. Two men were indicted in Florida last week on charges they shipped U.S. military aircraft parts to Iran, including Tomcat and attack-helicopter parts.
Iran received at least $620,000 in aircraft parts and $19,600 worth of aircraft during Bush's terms. Iran relies on spare parts from other countries to keep its commercial and military aircraft flying. In some cases, U.S. sanctions allow shipments of aircraft parts for safety upgrades for Iran's commercial passenger jets.
Iran is a hot issue in Washington. The House plans a hearing Wednesday on U.S. policy toward Iran, and the Bush administration announced Tuesday it was freezing the U.S. assets of several people and entities accused of helping Iran develop nuclear weapons.
But the U.S. government seems uncoordinated on efforts to limit trade with Iran.
25 mars 2008
Lawmakers agree: We'll pass the budget
Despite having different opinions, leaders in the House and Senate say they can create a budget without a special session.
The legislature failed to pass a budget in regular session in 2002 and 2004. Public financing of political campaigns was the key sticking point in 2002. In 2004, lawmakers were unable to reach an agreement on proposed tax reform.
A tax revenue package proposed by the House that includes a 25-cent cigarette tax increase is a key disagreement this year.
However, House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, and Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, say there's no need for a special session this time.
Williams said he expects the appropriations committee to pass the budget this morning and it will be voted on in the Senate this afternoon.
Williams said a free conference committee could start negotiating tonight and would have about five days to reach an agreement.
"We look forward to working together in a bipartisan way," Williams said.
Williams said the budget proposed by the Senate will be different from the House version, which includes about $400 million a year in new taxes. The House revenue package would also include a plan to restructure the outstanding general fund debt and save $150 million a year.
Williams said the Senate plan will not include any tax increases or debt restructuring, which he called "irresponsible."
At the same time, Williams said the Senate plans to increase employer contributions to state retirement systems by $84 million. Gov. Steve Beshear froze contributions at 8.5 percent, which would add about $800 million to the unfunded liability.
Despite the differences, both Richards and Williams said they're not planning on a special session.
Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, said he's not certain legislative
leaders will be able to reach an agreement although he's optimistic
they will.
Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, said he expects conference committee negotiations to be successful.
"I think we owe it to people to make sure we come to agreement on a budget," he said. "I hope we don't leave this 60-day session without one. I would be disappointed."
Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, said the local sewer and water projects are likely to be cut in the Senate although he said he provided justification for each of the projects in his district.
"Each of those projects are of critical importance," he said.
As for not having a stalemate, Carroll said the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that executive spending plans are unconstitutional so without a budget, non-essential government services would shut down. Carroll said everybody wants to avoid that.
"Everybody is hopeful we can agree on a budget," he said.
Former House Majority Whip Joe Barrows said life continued as normal in 2002 and 2004 because Gov. Paul Patton and Gov. Ernie Fletcher were able to issue spending plans.
"You couldn't tell we didn't have a budget," he said.
Now with the court decision, things would be different, Barrows said, because non-essential government services would be shut down at the end of the fiscal year. Nobody is interested in having that happen, Barrows said, because it would damage both political parties.
"Everybody's political interests are best served by having a budget by June 30," he said.
As the final budget proposal is crafted, local leaders say they will work to ensure that funding for Franklin County projects is retained.
The House plan includes about $2.6 million for sewer and water projects in Frankfort and Franklin County.
Frankfort Mayor Bill May said $733,000 would be used to complete drainage and sewer improvements to the Holmes Street area. The project includes plans to extend a drainage pipe to the Kentucky River and separate the storm water and sanitary sewer systems.
"This would go a long way towards helping," he said. "It has long been a priority for me."
About $550,000 would also bring clean drinking water to the Peaks Mill area on U.S. 127.
The Frankfort Plant Board would also get $325,000 for water line extension projects.
The Farmdale Sanitation District also plans to use $550,000 to design a 750,000-gallon wastewater treatment plant. Bruce Lee, chairman of the sanitation district, said the treatment plant would replace failing septic tanks and privately owned "package" treatment plants south of Interstate 64 and west of the Kentucky River.
Lee said the equipment is more than 20 years old and needs to be replaced because it's creating a health problem.
"The Franklin County Health Department says it's identified as the number one problem in Franklin County," he said.
The Farmdale Water District will also have $992,000 to build a new water tank. Franklin County Judge-Executive Ted Collins said the project would improve service and supply to the area.
"They're extremely important projects for our community," he said.
The House plan would also restore funding to projects vetoed by Gov. Ernie Fletcher in 2006, including $17.5 million for repairs to locks and dams on the Kentucky River.
Kentucky State University would also get $7 million for a new parking garage and $4.9 million to renovate the Betty White Nursing Building.