You're joking, right?!? Apparently, the nation's largest cigarette maker has failed in yet another attempt to sell Americans on a potentially safer cigarette....the "Ultra Smooth"...they tried to use a high-technology filter. This product failure highlights the cigarette giant's challenges in finding something ot offset their loses in sales. In the past, U.S. sales declines did not impact that much as international business was stable and even growing, but now the servere U.S. sales decline is not even mitigated by the overseas business.

So, here they go again trying to put resources into engineering reduced-risk products, like carbon-activated filters that still deliver nicotine but at much less exposure of carcinogens than the convential products. Oh, and then there's the product that "heats" the cigarette, versus burning the tobacco....bizarre! Well, there's more, how about the smokeless product? Hey, it's "spit-free" (more attractive you know), if you want a pinch between the cheek and gum! And last but not least, there's the moist product...."snuff" and that product apparently is growing in popularity....."Marlboro in a can". I guess "taste and flavor" does matter, even with tobacco users!

Well folks, I know that for those who smoke, it's just plain 'ole almost impossible to quit...but as you know, there's nothing "safe or reduced-risk" about it! If you smoke and are motivated to quit, I applaud you and wish you the best...there are some awesome resources out there and a tremendous amount of success...keep at it, you can do it! Life is precious and good health even more so.