Philip Morris and the Kingdom of Tobacco

I recently quit smoking, and I’m always looking for good reasons to not start again. I guess the first really good reason for not smoking is the price of cigarettes. We don’t really think about heart attacks or not being able to breathe when we’re having our morning coffee (morning coffee is always consumed with its partner The Cigarette if you’re a smoker) – most of us are more concerned with the cost of being a smoker when it comes to short term reasoning. Long term though; definitely health.

Let’s say that you’re a smoker who consumes 20 cigarettes a day. If you go to Smart Club, the cost of a carton of Marlboro Lights is $48,67 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. One carton contains 10 packs of smokes, and each pack 20 cigarettes. That makes your direct weekly cost of smoking $34;

48,67/10 = 4,867
4,867*7 = 34,069

At this rate you will have spent $1.772 by one year, given of course that you only smoke 20 cigarettes per day for that entire year. As a smoker for years, I know that when consuming alcohol or spending time with friends who also smoke that budget is quite level-headed. Thankfully bars and restaurants don’t allow smoking inside their establishments anymore (most places), which seriously cuts down any smoker’s budget.

The profit after costs of those $1.772 goes to the people behind the cigarette companies. Philip Morris, who produces, among other brands, Malboro is one of them.

As King of the Kingdom of Tobacco Philip Morris made a profit in 2008 of $16.3 billion dollars – and that was just for sales outside of the US!

If I had been a more dark and devious person, I’d say that the cigarette industry is a good thing to invest in. Based on profit alone it is, but then there is the tiny little fact of perhaps dying a gruesome death from smoking that’s stopping me from recommending it. People actually die from smoking – right here and right now. The estimated number is 50 per hour in the US alone. 50 per hour! That means that the United States looses 1.200 people by each passing day and night from a drug that’s still legal.

Addiction followed by death – is it any wonder I’ve quit?

Although Barack Obama is working on limiting accessibility to cigarettes by increasing the taxes significantly, the cigarette industry will find a way to sneak around that. As they should – they are a legal business after all. In this day in age I have issues with blaming the industry for a problem affecting all of mankind. Even though they are serious enablers it is we, The People, who chooses to buy and smoke cigarettes. We are killing ourselves on a legal substances – which then raises the question “Why is it legal?”. It seems that the world is panicking over the swine influenza, and giving all the risk groups vaccines to prevent it – well, then, why aren’t we getting vaccines for being addicted to smoking? Why isn’t anyone who’s anything in terms of government anywhere loud and obnoxious about the risks and dangers? Are the tobacco industry too powerful, or too good at lobbying?

Are the Kings of Tobacco truly Kings of Mankind?

Confessions of a Smoker

I admit it; I’m a smoker.

As of Monday however, I’m a non-smoker. And I intend to keep it that way.

Smoking is just stupid. I feel embarrassed about my bad habit – and not mention how expensive it is! Expensive, stupid and lethal – a recipe I wish to not live by.

I’ve been a smoker for nine years. The last time I tried to quit was back in 2003. That did not go so well (let’s just say that quitting before a party where there are wine and other smokers is not a good idea), and I haven’t tried it since. This time around though, I’m deadly serious about it. Literally.

First of all I don’t want to die a gruesome death at a terribly young age. Second, I’m fed up with smelling like an ashtray. What’s the point with wearing perfume when the scent is overshadowed by nicotine and tare? I want to shower on Monday morning and feel completely clean and fresh.

Third, and most importantly; I have other, more important things, to spend my money on! Save them, for example, would be a better thing to do. I should save whatever I’m used to spending on cigarettes on a monthly basis and see how rich I am this time next year.

Well, let’s make it july 1st 2010. In August I’m hopefully a poor student who probably needs a new sofa.

Better idea; save up money spent on smoking until next summer and buy a nice couch! Yay! We have a plan!

All I need to do now is smoke up what I have left and start a new and better life on Monday. I hope I can do this! If I fail – please yell at me. Deal?


Oh yeah, and I’ve quit drinking coffee too. It reminds me too much of smoking. Green tea and smoke free? Wow, I’m like… superhealthy.

Business has been slow & Advanced Algebra

I’ve been working very, very hard for the last couple of months. Not on the million dollars directly – more indirectly in the form of perhaps earning a master’s degree in the US. So now the language test is over and done with and I find myself prepping for a math test. Not really a math test, more of a how-much-have-you-learnt-in-twenty-five-years-in-general kind of test. GRE it’s called. Graduate Record Examination. AKA Oh Dear God.

It’s hard to be ambitious. Especially when the thing that motivates you is one year into the future. I haven’t even planned what I’m doing tomorrow, and yet somehow I find myself working hard towards a goal many, many Sunday afternoons in the future.

Well, not a full year. But a full 10 months.

And I haven’t even gotten accepted yet.

I will get accepted though. I see no other possibilities. With ambition comes a sense of having to be confident. Not confident always, but most of the time. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I have to believe in order to stay motivated. I propose a toast; here’s to getting accepted for grad school in 2010! Cheers, everybody, and have a great Saturday night :)

The Longest 51 Weeks of my Life

Guess what! Change in plans! I’ve narrowed my list of schools down to a lovely little group – and Minnesota had to go. Right now Iowa State University is leading in the Race for School of the Year. Competing are six schools primarily in the Midwest and in Texas.

I have written my application essay, told my boss that I’m applying and might be leaving, asked three people to write me letters of recommendation, organized a moving-party and storage facilities, gotten my birth certificate in the mail, signed up for the GRE- and TOEFL-tests, asked our lovely financing place for a green light, on Monday I’m being tested for tuberculosis and on Thursday I get the rest of my shots.

Whatever could I be forgetting!?

I feel that I have everything just the way I like it (under control), but I feel as though there is something I haven’t done yet. I’m busy as ever, but I like it! It keeps me sane, literally, sane, and I’m so excited and full of anticipation at this point in time that I don’t really know how I’m going to make it through the next 51 weeks.

First, there’s the TOEFL-test at the end of August. Then there’s a meeting with a student association in the beginning of September, before it all finishes off with a GRE-test in the end of October. Then I guess we just send in a complete application packet – and wait.

The longest waiting game of my life is about to go into phase two – Studying. Phase two was Organizing, Phase 3 is Applying, Phase 4 is Waiting and finally – Phase Five which is Doing. Doing everything I haven’t been able to now –like ask for a visa, for example. And apply for housing and book a seat on a plane. Phase 5 might also be The New Personal Great Depression if I don’t get in. I don’t have a plan B – so I’m taking a risk and hoping for the best when it comes to Plan A.

Fingers crossed people. Fingers crossed.

Remember when I mentioned wanting to shop at Sam's Club?

If you don't, you can read about it right here!

Anywho. That idea has taken on a whole new life since it was published. I was thinking “why only think about how cool Sam's Club is, and how cool the US is” - which then turned into thoughts like “I should move there. How do I move there?”. From that I've figured out that the easiest way to get a visa for more than 3 months is to study. Since I've already got a bachelor's degree, I'm about to apply for a Graduate Degree (in Mass Communication).

If I'm lucky enough to be accepted as a student at one of the colleges I'm applying to, that means that the 1.000.000 Project will move with me in exactly one year from today. Holy crap.

So what have I done to make this dream-move come true?

1. I have signed up to take the TOEFL-test and the GRE-test

2. I've contacted a university in Minnesota

3. I've asked two people to write me letters of recommendation

4. I'm meeting up with an association for students abroad next week in order to pick their brains for useful info.

HOLY CRAP! I can't believe I'm actually doing this. However, I do remain cool and collected for the most part. And I also try to think that I probably won't get in. Thinking negative thoughts like that is my way of coping with rejection – should that Day of Rejection come.

I've always felt a connection with, or felt drawn to, the US of A. It might be the culture that has been a part of my life since... well, forever. American culture is everywhere. I even have American readers right here on my bloggielog– which is very cool, by the way ;) More specifically there's Oprah. And 11 years ago the Backstreet Boys. Nowadays it's basically everything on TV. And in my stereo. Sometimes even in my fridge.

Wish me luck – I'm going to need it! And, if you're a clairvoyant who can tell me whether or not I'm a student in Minnesota as of next fall – please let me know at 1000000project@gmail.com!

PS! To top the whole thing of, this is what my horoscope said this month; “Your life is about to be turned inside out in months to come, but changes are long overdue.”
I'm just saying....

What can you buy for $1.000.000 in 2009?

A new list. I love lists.

In 2009 one million US dollars can get you…

… a high-end 2 bedroom apartment in New York, New York

or… a lot of houses in Detroit, MI (foreclosure, foreclosure, foreclosure.)

… 202.020 copies of “Pride and Prejudice” from Amazon.com (paperback)

… 150 one-way tickets from Frankfurt, Germany to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan with United Airlines on August 3rd

… The Complete First Season of “The Ricky Gervais Show” (podcasts) times 168.067

… to be continued…

I Dream of Sam’s Club

I love Sam’s Club. Not that I’ve actually been there before. I just know that Sam’s Club is the store, excuse me; club, for me.

Sometimes I dream of living in the US of A. I spend some time trying to figure out how to get there and what I’m supposed to do once I’m there. I could put my stuff in storage, resign from work (or maybe just ask for a couple of months off...), move out of my leased apartment and head out on the first available plane seat – or I could not. The I-could-not- part freaks me out.

I just turned 25 two weeks ago. Yeah, that’s right – I’m old and used up now. So if I want to live in the USA for a while, isn’t now the time to do it? After all – I’m not going to get any younger or more adventurous anytime soon.

Six years ago I kissed this guy called Gary in London. He was in London, and I was there, we talked/argued about Iraq and he asked me to come to Washington D.C. with him. I turned him down. Why!? Gary, if you’re out there, single and all – call me. Oh, and I’m sorry, but I lost the eagle pin you gave me (and I’m also sorry that we thought that the eagle-pin was actually a microchipped installation from Pentagon, and that we sometimes talked to it whilst under the influence of alcohol (“Gary? Hello? Over!”). We suck, and I apologize for that too also as well.).

Since I might need an income in order to make the move over from Europe – does somebody need a good, stabile, relatively not-lazy employee over there? Sam’s Club – are you interested? Call me! No, you know what – send me an e-mail instead; 1000000project@gmail.com . I promise I can speak English even though I’m clearly foreign. The English words I don’t know I can make up for by using my irresistible charm and/or fancy body language.

Do I have a Green Card? No, not yet! But let me know a couple of months ahead of time, and I’ll make a green card happen. You see, I can make things happen – I’m that kind of great employee!

After writing this I’m more pumped up and excited about this potential move than ever before! Yay, USA! And also – yay, Sam’s Club!

Always Coming Back from Something

I’m ba-aack! This time I’m coming back from Sweden. Ah, Sweden. Where the mosquitoes come to fornicate and reproduce millions of baby-mosquitoes every single year in the month of June (veracious, veracious!).

Except from being synonymous with itching, Sweden is also known for IKEA. I love IKEA. I could decorate an entire villa with furniture from IKEA. Most people frown upon that statement, and I want to take this opportunity to frown back at them: :S

Official statement: I could never marry an IKEA-hater. Official statement over. Roger!

OK, so back to IKEA;

Ingvar Feodor Kamprad turned 83 this year. He founded IKEA in 1943 – at the mere age of 17. At the beginning they only sold smaller merchandise such as frames and jewellery, but rapidly expanded and by 1955 IKEA were designing (and selling, of course.) their own furniture.
The name IKEA consists of Kamprad’s initials (I.K.), and is followed by Elmtaryd and Agunnaryd – respectively the name of the families farm and the village he grew up in.

IKEA's annoying (yes, I’ll admit it; annoying!) flat packs went into production in 1956. Well, at least they started testing it out in 1956. Unfortunately, it worked. They still have everything packed really flat.

IKEA kept growing and expanding through the years, and in 1983 they hired their 6000th employee (multiply that number with 8,83333 and you’ll know how many were employed there 10 years ago. Geek.). Two years later their first warehouse in the US of A opened.
http://www.ikea.com/ become a reality in 1997, and although we might not know exactly how many visitors they have a month I’m guessing it’s quite a few!

And the silver lining? We could ask Kamprad, but with his billions of dollars to spend I’m guessing he’s just too busy to answer!

Jealous.

Gillette – the Best a Man can Get

I read an article recently that made my moneyheart melt. The people who make and sell razors, among those Gillette (the best a man can ge-e-et – a commercial that sticks to your brain like dried up shave gel sticks to your skin.), make their products for a dime and sell them for a whole lot more.

According to the Daily Mail they have a «(...) a mark-up of more than 4,750 per cent.», which means they buy in at a superlow cost and sell it to consumers for a lot more.

Of course, you can't run a business with exceptionally high mark-ups and still have a clear conscience. At least not if governments around the world wants their say in the matter. According to the article the price of shaving products in the UK is now under investigation.

I wonder how much it costs to produce tampons. Or aluminum foil. Or candles. It can't be much – so maybe our money-making-future is in the hands of all consumers everywhere? We all need a candle once in a while, so why not a small handmade candle for a lot of money? If it's handmade it's definitely worth more, we know that for sure.

I'm not sure about hand-made tampons, though.

Does this intro make you want to continue reading?

From: Me
To: Friend
Subject: This is what I’ve become.

Trying to figure out which TV-shows to watch later. Have great expectations. I really should concentrate on getting some work done. Been thinking about Presidential Elections in the US of A. Would’ve voted for Obama, if I could. Pro-life - what’s that all about? How do you love a baby who shares the genes of you and a rapist? One may never recover. So, mostly looking forward to watching TV.

From: Friend
To: Me
Subject: Re: This is what I’ve become.

Yeah, that would suck. My back hurts. I’m handicapped. Want to start a club for the handicapped?


I’m in. Not because I’m disabled, but because I want to join a club. And to get handicap parking. Also, my hand hurts a little. I think it’s because I spend 18 hours a day in front a computer. Typing, and moving the mouse around. Sometimes I click on it to make stuff happen on my screen - about as interesting as my days get. If that’s not the case, the pain might come from old age. Or just age, seeing as how I’m not that old. I am 24 and half, which means I am halfway to 49. 49! Shit. Memo to self: Must get life in order before age of 26. 25 is too close to make serious bets with oneself about ones life. Twenty five is only a heartbeat away - the way Celine Dion would’ve put it if she made a song about my life. Why wouldn’t she sing my lifestory – after all, it is a ballade waiting to happen.

On a more serious note, my life isn’t truly all that bad. It’s actually pretty great; good family, good job, nice friends and I live alone. In an apartment.

The apartment I’m renting is my castle, and I am the king. “Apartment” – it’s more like a room with some added benefits, like a bathroom and a kitchen area. But still, it’s my very own “apartment”, and I love it! Something bigger and not so close to the refuse storage area (just trash, basically, in a trashy room, right underneath my window – it’s slightly worse during the summer months than when its cold outside.) would be good though. And also, maybe not so close to a busy street. I don’t have dust anymore around my windows, just black powder-like debris. It comes from the exhaust of the cars and busses, I guess. My flat sounds more like a waste plant than a place of comfort and homely refuge, doesn’t it? I might get cancer if I stay here much longer – but if it’ll get me out of work for a little while, then… no. No! I did not mean that. Not cancer. Just the flu. Like a little bit. A cold, even. Anything that’s not lethal. All I want is a couple of days off work. You might think that taking some time of work is doable. But then again… you haven’t met my boss.