a little south of two years ago i, look you see, wrote a concerning piece about one of the unexpected aspects of that whole 'brexit' business. you can read that, if you so wish, by clicking here. for those in more of a rush, the gist (or if you like basics) of it is that them fancy warning images on fag packets are held under copyright by the EU, so strictly speaking when the UK leaves the EU, or "does a brexit" as many might say, we will not have them beautifying cigarettes here.
my initial hope was that maybe (or perhaps) we in the UK could be trusted to have proper packaging once again, especially for things like the iconic Marlboro packs. rules have been bent before by governments for cigarette companies. the most high profile of such was undoubtedly Tony Bliar, what with formula one (going around in a circle the fastest) racing and to a certain extent snooker rather 'mysteriously' being exempt from some sort of tobacco sponsorship ban.
but, such a return is as unlikely as, well, as Bliar returning to frontline politics. sure, he mouths off a great deal, especially about his vested interested (be it financial or ego), but i mean active party politics. my understanding is that he would not be welcome. and many do-gooder, herald the nanny state, speak on behalf of others by divine (self) appointment types would have a right temper tantrum about fag packets looking all smart and proper (or proper smart) once more.
should it be so that the dull, dreary and inept (some figures released relating to all that coronavirus plague thing show an increase in smoking, April 2019 to April 2020, and no i have not increased my own by that much) so-called "warning pictures" are here to stay, then we (or rather the government) need to cut a deal as soon as possible with the government (or ruling body) of Thailand, and with the Japanese. why, exactly, should be fairly clear, in a rudimentary way, from the given image here of a warning placed on them smart mevius fags what Spiros got me.
this, as a picture, i like. no, i probably should not, and to be impressed with it, or express admiration, is likely to be at odds with the intention and purpose. but i do try to main a reasonably consistent level of honesty with all that i do. and this picture is just class, it is, to be sure. if we, the British, the UK, could secure a deal with whoever owns this image and get it licenced for use on our own fags, then that would be reasonable and acceptable to me.
before i forget, yes, the usual disclaimer for those worried about such things. smoking is a (very) silly thing to do, and one should either not start doing it, or seek help to cease doing so. quit now, etc.
whilst i cannot be sure, i am fairly confidently certain that this warning image is meant to represent a chap who likes a cigarette (or is addicted to them) having some major (substantial, indeed) coronary issues. possibly even a heart attack, but my understanding is that a heart attack manifestation is something to do with your arms, where you would grab, rather than a rough approximation of where the heart is. let me not seem or be seen to downplay the importance of the warning, for it is a decided possibility for smokers (and indeed non-smokers) alike. yet still i am drawn to the charm, the sophistication and perhaps the elegance of the picture. or maybe i just like the shirt he has on.
one, when admiring this picture, cannot help but have a natural sense of pathos for the protagonist of this image. indeed, we must be careful, for they may be rather an antagonist in whatever story is being told. a strong sense of tragedy is evoked by this, be it from folly, misfortune or other such fall from grace. we simply don't know, unless further explanation is given in all that text over the image which i simply do not understand and would not even know how to translate. whatever my talents, many or minimal, alas สามารถพูดไทยได้ is simply not one of them, not even in a conventional sense.
i, and just perhaps yes this is likely symptomatic of the unexpected levels of free time i now have available, like to think that this is a publicity still from some class play, or film. maybe this is one of the more pivotal moments in a Japanese (or likely Thai) production of, say King Lear, or maybe even The Godfather. or an entirely original Thai (or Japanese) drama thing. possibly a comedy, too, maybe in their corner of the world it is different things which amuse them.
yes, dear reader, i am indeed quite aware of the (frankly) peculiar theory, or idea, possibly even by now proven notion that smoking can in some way, shape or form fight against this whole coronavirus, or if you like covid 19, plague business. preposterous would be my thinking, but from what i can ascertain some science types have looked into it and do that sort of nod thing they do when there's an answer they do not like. overall, though, i would have thought being a smoker would leave one rather more prone to a respiratory infection of the plague, so i am not sure, if true, this should be championed too far or too high.
maybe government officials (hello if you are one) are reading things like this on the internet, whilst being paid many thousands of pounds a week, to try and find ideas for replacing the EU images on fag packets. if so, well, you can stop reading other stuff, here is your answer. this picture or just back to normal packaging, please, with particular emphasis on and a greater wish for normal packaging.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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