In some outdoor environments, like football grounds and railway stations, there is genuine cause for concern. But in other places, there are pretty obvious facts about air circulation which mean the potential for harm is far less. Certainly, stopping people smoking in their homes is taking things a bit far.

For decades, cigarettes were marketed as symbol of virility, as in the macho Marlboro Man ads.

You've got to get this issue down to what's reasonable and sensible. That's an extreme, fundamentalist position. And I don't think we're that kind of country, are we?

It was just heart-wrenching to see people's outpouring of sympathy and concern.

[In the technical industry, there is concern about losing workers in highly technical jobs, such as engineering and science.] The concern is if you have a large proportion leaving at the same time, ... how is that knowledge being captured (transferred)? Many companies are looking at how to do this through phased retirement.

We're all trying to get ready for the playoffs. It takes 20 guys in here to do it every night. When we have that commitment, we're a really good team.