Ever thought about becoming a Congressional Page? What is a Congressional Page you ask? Well if you are a DC resident about to be in 11th Grade you should STRONGLY consider this program!
United States House of Representatives Page Program is a program run by the United States House of Representatives, under the office of the Clerk of the House, in which appointed high school juniors act as non-partisan federal employees in the House of Representatives, (although they do work for the party members of the party of their sponsoring Representative ) providing supplemental administrative support to House operations in a variety of capacities in Washington, D.C. at the United States Capitol. -United States House of Representatives Wiki Page
So basically you get to be on the House Floor and see history in the making by helping the House Floor move through paper work and various tasks. When you are not on “The Hill” then you are in classes like you would be in school. My close friend Robyn from High School was a Page for a Utah Senator back in ‘99 and she LOVED it! I was also able to intern in the US Senate back in the summer of 2004 and it was the best decision I ever made. It is the reason I chose to go into public health and it is the reason I fell in love with DC and vowed to move back to the District the day I left the District.
So click on this image to link to Eleanor Holmes Norton Website and follow the instructions from there. . .Contact Tai.brown@mail.house.gov or call 202.225.8050 for more info!
RJ Reynolds you have really done it this time. . . to make a product that one can barely pronounce without basically needing to sign-up for a round of speech therapy I unveil . . . . (drum roll please)
SNUS
Now you can “receive pleasure everywhere” Camel SNUS comes in an array of flavors to KILL YOU. I discovered SNUS in a local Newspaper recently when out of the corner of my eye I noticed some flashy ad hanging out of the newspaper. After my worst fears were confirmed when I spotted the Camel, I simply took all the newspapers to my room, and removed all the ads which also included coupons that were being offered for this deplorable item “SNUS.” I kept the newspapers as well because I decided that my building didn’t need a newspaper that accepted tobacco money in their lives. (I can hear the anger already of people I know ha ha ha) I have since been trying to use my coupon which is “Buy a Camel product and get 1 FREE TIN of Camel SNUS” but I have yet to find a store owner that will redeem my coupon. At first I tried CVS (many know how I feel about CVS- if not you can click here to learn more) but CVS actually does NOT sell SNUS. It is in fact the Mom and Pop stores that carry SNUS.
One mom and pop store owner when questioned about SNUS in the foggy bottom area said “they are just a pain to redeem and not worth the hassle.” He continued to say “Most people don’t even carry that junk [the coupon] around anymore. “YAY I thought!!!!! RJ will do anything to entice children with his flavored SNUS!!!! DEPLORABLE!!! I also attempted to get onto their website and I guess they have to send you some kind of code to make sure you are legal. . . so that is positive. Grrrhhhhh is all I have to say as of now. On April 28, 2006 RJ Reynolds released Camel Snus in Portland Oregon and Austin Texas; the smokeless tobacco product expanded further in eight states, and in May 2008 RJ Reynolds and Camel Snus dove into the major markets of Los Angele’s; Chicago; New York; Atlanta; Washington, D.C. Camel Snus used print media to advertise until February 2008, when they decide that print media was not a viable marketing source. Camels Snus offers the spitless pouch in four flavors: original, frost, spice and mellow (mix between frost and spice). Even though Snus is not associated with lung cancer since it is not inhaled; studies show an increase in pancreatic cancer and heart disease from non-tobacco users, although these risks are 50% less for snus users than cigarette users. In December 2008, the Spice and Original flavors were replaced with a single Mellow flavor. In 2009, Camel Snus will be launched nationally. The newest version of Camel snus contains 8mg of nicotine per pouch, according to an RJ Reynolds spokesman.- http://tobaccoproducts.org/index.php/Camel_Snus
This bill will now go back to the House and then will head back to the President where he is most likely to sign the bill into law.
What does this mean?
Main provisions of legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products:
•Creates a tobacco control center within the FDA and gives the FDA authority to regulate the content, marketing and sale of tobacco products to protect public health.
•Requires tobacco companies and importers to reveal all product ingredients and seek FDA approval for any new tobacco products.
•Allows the FDA to change tobacco product content to protect the public health.
•Bans the use of flavors, including candies and fruit flavors, in tobacco products.
•Calls for new rules that would prevent sales to minors except through direct, face-to-face exchanges between a retailer and a consumer. Limits advertising that could attract young smokers.
•Strengthens warning labels.
•Bars the use of expressions such as “light, “mild” or “low” that give the impression that a tobacco product poses less of a health risk.
NO MORE BLACK & MILDS. . .
Check out this young man that is also passionate about making sure that Tobacco Products are regulated!
My good friend and I headed to Anacostia on Saturday by the “Big Chair” to listen to my “Youth of Today,” who I should clarify are actually young adults- ages 19-20 perform at the Unifest events! Topshelf Starz DC was in the house and as usual really got the crowd going! I was really impressed with the HUGE turnout from the event and I was saddened that I was not there in my condom costume. I didn’t make it too far down the street where the health screenings were taking place, but I know I would have been a really great addition to the event ha ha! In fact this just this article just came out in The Post on June 2nd: Amid Criticism, DC Plans Big Efforts to Spread the Word on Aids
“Earlier today, the U.S. Senate began debate on S. 982, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The Senate is expected to consider the bill over the next several days. The bill would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products. In April, the House of Representatives overwhelming passed the legislation by a bipartisan vote of 298-112. President Obama has indicated he would sign the bill if it is not weakened from its current form.”- American Public Health Association
Tobacco use KILLS 438,000 US citizens a year when used as directed
Tobacco cost the US $96 billion per year in health care costs
$97 billion dollars per year are lost in productivity
S. 982 would create FDA authority to effectively regulate the manufacturing, marketing, labeling, distribution and sale of tobacco products which means that Tobacco Companies could not deceive young children and other adults into believing that tobacco products are MILD, have LOW-TAR, taste like WINE, CHOCOLATE or mask the taste of a cigarette with MENTHOL.
Think about who smokes various BRANDS of cigarettes in your community?
A big thank you to Ms. Gelb and her team at the CDC for making these PSA’s available on YouTube so that it will be easier for bloggers to spread the word about screening for colon cancer.
A Big Thank YOU to “The Sexiest” with The Washington City Paper!
CVS continues to reduce access in black neighborhoods throughout the District!
Check out my interview about “Power Wings” or the little aisles at the front of the store . . . just click here. . . Also check out the “Save Lives Free the Condoms” blog @ http://savelivesfreethecondoms.blogspot.com
I don’t appreciate that the youth of today up-top that are not making it easy for other youth of today to live their lives who are working hard and doin’ right. Haters that steal from hard working individuals are totally and fully in the wrong. PERIOD.
Please watch this YouTube video and see if you can identify the young men who robbed this Universal Gear Store in the Logan Circle Area.
Contact Tai.brown@mail.house.gov or call 202.225.8050 for more info!
(I can hear the anger already of people I know ha ha ha) I have since been trying to use my coupon which is “Buy a Camel product and get 1 FREE TIN of Camel SNUS” but I have yet to find a store owner that will redeem my coupon. At first I tried CVS (many know how I feel about CVS- if not you can click 
