Wicked Bugs; Quit for Love campaign

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 17:26

Wicked Bugs; Quit for Love campaign

Written by Scott LaMar, Director of Radio Smart Talk

Radio Smart Talk for Thursday, February 23:

Appearing on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, best-selling author Amy Stewart, who has written one of the most unusual, and fascinating books you'll ever read -- Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army and other Diabolical Insects.

In the book, Stewart tells little known stories about slimy, creepy insects and how they interact with humans, each other and the rest of the natural world. Wicked Bugs is probably not for the squeamish but Stewart writes in such a clever, dark-humored sort of way, it makes the book hard to put down.

The sub-title refers to Napoleon's 1812 defeat in Russia. His army wasn't beaten by the cold and Russians as much as it was by body lice that infested the troops' clothing and made them sick. That's one of dozens of stories about insects and how they changed history.

Amy Stewart will give a free public lecture on “Wicked Nature” on March 1 at the Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, in Lancaster, sponsored by the North Museum of Natural History & Science. The North Museum is hosting the exhibition Wicked Bugs between now and May 13.

Also on Thursday's program, the Pennsylvania Department of Health will discuss the second annual "Quit for Love" anti-smoking campaign. Free nicotine replacement therapy kits will distributed as part of the campaign. More information about how to quit smoking can be found by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or online.

Listen to the program:

Published in Smart Talk

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comments

# Jorge Santiago-Blay 2012-02-23 08:54

Dear Dr. Stewart:

I am the Editor-in-Chief of Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews (http://www.editorialmanager.com/tar/) and I would like to invite you to write a review article on arthropods of importance to humanity. There are no page charges for authors and color plates are welcomed. Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jorge Santiago-Blay
Editor-in-Chief
York, PA

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# Mike Price 2012-02-23 10:26

Like many other smokers, I tried many times to "kick the habit". Even after friends and loved ones succumbed to smoking-related maladies, I still continued to smoke. Smoking was a habit I picked up in the US Navy when shipboard stores sold a pack of cigs for about a dime. I am happy to say I quit. I have not smoked for 40 years. I smoked my last cigarette on March 24, 1972. How do I remember the date? It was the night before I got married. I figured it was the best wedding present I could give my new non-smoking bride and my future kids. I will have been married 40 years on March 25, and my wife never had to inhale any second-hand smoke generated by me!

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# Tom 2012-02-23 10:30

I just buried a good friend who died from bladder cancer. His oncologist explained his bladder cancer was caused by his smoking. The nicotine traveled to his bladder via saliva and caused tumors in his bladder. He died after two years of fighting.

So please explain that many different cancers and other diseases are caused by smoking.

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# Blaine 2012-02-23 10:30

The state should run more stings on convenience stores. I rarely see young people getting carded. Make it harder for young people to purchase

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# Lisa 2012-02-23 10:32

Regarding the question of those who die of lung cancer and whether they were secret smokers, perhaps their parents were smokers. I know a family where both parents smoked. Both parents died of cancer. All three children also died from lung and/or throat cancer, but as older adults. Two of the children were non-smokers, never smoked a day in their life, but their parents' bad habit killed them. Often the effects of parents smoking is not seen in their children for 50 years.

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# Josh 2012-02-23 10:41

The lady is a Prohibitionist. Zero nicotine, always, forever? Ridiculous. Occasional tobacco use can be beneficial.

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# Rich 2012-02-23 10:47

About the only ones of Napoleon's soldiers who were killed by the Russian Winter were stragglers, deserters, and prisoners of war. They were killed by the Russian Autumn. The Grand Army entered in to Lithuania by December 20, 1812.

I have read a similar book that mentioned so many of Napoleon's soldiers were made ill by their time in Poland that he actually may have only had 95,000 healthy soldiers when he entered Russia.

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# Sarah 2012-02-23 11:00

What is latest info on mosquitoes & Lyme Disease link?

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