Don't worry, Snooki already has a new fake tanning method to promote

The tanning bed tax is expected to bring in $2.7 billion over the next decade to help fund increased health care coverage. According to the World Health Organization, tanning beds are a proven cause of cancer. Dermatologists used evidence that indoor tanning is unhealthy, especially in young people, to persuade congress to tax the service rather than cosmetic surgery. Also proposed in some states, notably New York, was a tax on soda, another proven health risk. Cigarettes already carry a tax, with New York Cityâ€s combined federal, city and recently increased state tax totaling $6.85 and registering as the highest in the nation. {The Boston Globe, The New York Times}

The potential for job losses is the only obvious downside to the new tanning services tax. Perhaps the added cost to using tanning beds will discourage people from continuing the unhealthy habit. The tax is also quite logical, as cigarettes are also a known cause of cancer that carry a tax. However, little evidence exists as to whether the increased cost cuts down on smoking. The new tanning bed tax is also in line with the recent national health care overhaulâ€s goal of focusing on preventative services.

The Jersey Shoreâ€s Snooki, an unofficial spokeswoman for tanning bed advocacy, is not too pleased.

“I don’t go tanning anymore because Obama put a 10 percent tax on tanning,” she said. “He did that because of us. McCain would never put a 10 percent tax on tanning. Because he’s pale and he’d probably want to be tan.” {Second City Style}

Snooki said she switched to spray tanning to avoid the tax, perhaps unintentionally proving the law effective in other ways than simply producing revenue. If she is any indication of the average tanner, it looks like the tax could in fact reduce the use of tanning beds.

These nifty, one-time-use wristbands monitor sun exposure and tell you when to reapply sunscreen and to get out of the sun. The bands work with sun lotion of SPF 15 or higher and cost around a dollar a piece.

After applying sunscreen to your body and the band, the band turns purple. When it’s time to reapply sunscreen the band turns a peachy pink and then yellow when it’s time to get out of the sun. The changing colors are meant to protect your skin down to the deepest layer. With concerns about tanning beds being raised, it’s important to keep the skin cancer risks of any kind of excessive tanning in mind. Added bonus: the wristbands are recyclable through most recycling programs.

This week, they may understand. Or not.

MTV’s taking the Snooki, J-Woww and Situation show on the road and pushing it out to more than 30 countries this week, pushed up from an originally planned late spring/early summer roll out.

Antonio Campo Dall’Orto, Southern Europe manager of MTV International, says they couldn’t wait {New York Times} to introduce international viewers to “the lifestyle of the ‘Jersey Shore†team — their habits, their attitudes.”

In Latin America, Gym, Tan, Laundry (the daily Jersey Shore mantra) will become gimnasio, bronceado, lavandería. And the Situation? Well, he’ll be the Situation in every language. Somehow we don’t think anything will get lost in translation.

The Jersey Shore crew has headed to an undisclosed location, widely thought to be Miami, for season 2 of the popular show. There’s still no word on whether the duck phone was able to join in on negotiations for a recurring role.