Thank you for Smoking (not a movie review)
Current mood: annoyed
I don't think anyone thinks smoking is good for you. I think everyone is pretty much aware of the health risks. I use to be a smoker myself; I quit but I can't say that heath concerns were at the top of my list of reasons to do so. I lost my taste for it, but I do know the appeal and satisfactions of dragging on a fag.
I'm old enough to remember when California still had smoking sections in restuarants. I actually thought it was just fine when they did away with that. Cigarettes should be enjoyed after a meal, not during. But then they banned smoking from Bars. And this I had a bit of a issue with. For one, alcohol is not without it's own health risks. It's a substance just as, if not more, dangerous than cigarettes. These two poisons go together damn it. what's the point in saving your lungs if you're going to kill your liver? In my opionion if you choose to go to a bar you aren't a health contentious person and you've got no damn right to complain about smoke. Whisky smells just as bad as cigarettes people. If you're not drinking or smoking get the fuck out of the bar and go to church or something.
But the lastest assult against the smoker I just can't swallow. The city of Santa Rosa has now passed an ordinance banning smoking from ALL public places. this includes public parks, outside private and public business and outside bars. It's as bad as Denis Leary once predicted it would be. To parapharse a portion of his act: "Pretty soon the only place you'll be allowed to smoke is in your own home, under a blanket, with the lights out." That's just what this ordinence does. It takes way the right to smoke, without providing any alternative place to smoke other than a private residence. ( this also means if you live in a public apparment complex you aren't allowed to smoke at "home" either). Apparently this measure was on the ballot and voters approved it. I sure never saw it. Now, if you do smoke in public you can be slapped with a $250 fine for doing so.
I feel very strongly that this measure is a violation of personal rights. That's right smoking is a "personal" right. If you wanna to possibly shorten your life span with cigarettes, you have a right to do so! But Sara, what about second hand smoke, Sara! Studies have shown second hand smoke kills! Um....I'm sure it does, but so does air polution and what the fuck are we doing about that? I'd wager that the carbon monoxide and other fumes you breathe in everyday from operating your car is just as dangerous as second hand smoke. And another thing about studies and statistics is that they can be manipulated or swayed to have whatever outcome you desire...it all depends on who pays for the study.
I know for a fact that there are companies who create free standing smoking enclousures for urban areas. I got a press release about one such company back in 2000 when I worked for a magaizine in San Francisco. Now if the city of Santa Rosa wanted to provide some of these smoking enclousres, I wouldn't have a problem with thier stuffy no-smoking ordenence. I just don't think it's right to take away someone's personal freedom without offering them and alternative. Ciggarette are not and illegal substance (yet). No smoking? fine. Show me the designated smoking area.
I'm glad Hunter Thompson isn't around to see this. If there's one thing he truly beleived in and stood for, it was personal rights. and this would have disgusted him. I wonder what he would have done if Aspen passed this ordenence? Surely he would not have gone gently into that good night.
So I say thank you for smoking, because it represents a big fuck you to the establishment. I suppose it always did, but now that smoking is a kin with leporacy it seems to mean just that much more. So thank you for smoking, because they way things are going we really don't need to live to be 80 anyway.
Current mood: annoyed
I don't think anyone thinks smoking is good for you. I think everyone is pretty much aware of the health risks. I use to be a smoker myself; I quit but I can't say that heath concerns were at the top of my list of reasons to do so. I lost my taste for it, but I do know the appeal and satisfactions of dragging on a fag.
I'm old enough to remember when California still had smoking sections in restuarants. I actually thought it was just fine when they did away with that. Cigarettes should be enjoyed after a meal, not during. But then they banned smoking from Bars. And this I had a bit of a issue with. For one, alcohol is not without it's own health risks. It's a substance just as, if not more, dangerous than cigarettes. These two poisons go together damn it. what's the point in saving your lungs if you're going to kill your liver? In my opionion if you choose to go to a bar you aren't a health contentious person and you've got no damn right to complain about smoke. Whisky smells just as bad as cigarettes people. If you're not drinking or smoking get the fuck out of the bar and go to church or something.
But the lastest assult against the smoker I just can't swallow. The city of Santa Rosa has now passed an ordinance banning smoking from ALL public places. this includes public parks, outside private and public business and outside bars. It's as bad as Denis Leary once predicted it would be. To parapharse a portion of his act: "Pretty soon the only place you'll be allowed to smoke is in your own home, under a blanket, with the lights out." That's just what this ordinence does. It takes way the right to smoke, without providing any alternative place to smoke other than a private residence. ( this also means if you live in a public apparment complex you aren't allowed to smoke at "home" either). Apparently this measure was on the ballot and voters approved it. I sure never saw it. Now, if you do smoke in public you can be slapped with a $250 fine for doing so.
I feel very strongly that this measure is a violation of personal rights. That's right smoking is a "personal" right. If you wanna to possibly shorten your life span with cigarettes, you have a right to do so! But Sara, what about second hand smoke, Sara! Studies have shown second hand smoke kills! Um....I'm sure it does, but so does air polution and what the fuck are we doing about that? I'd wager that the carbon monoxide and other fumes you breathe in everyday from operating your car is just as dangerous as second hand smoke. And another thing about studies and statistics is that they can be manipulated or swayed to have whatever outcome you desire...it all depends on who pays for the study.
I know for a fact that there are companies who create free standing smoking enclousures for urban areas. I got a press release about one such company back in 2000 when I worked for a magaizine in San Francisco. Now if the city of Santa Rosa wanted to provide some of these smoking enclousres, I wouldn't have a problem with thier stuffy no-smoking ordenence. I just don't think it's right to take away someone's personal freedom without offering them and alternative. Ciggarette are not and illegal substance (yet). No smoking? fine. Show me the designated smoking area.
I'm glad Hunter Thompson isn't around to see this. If there's one thing he truly beleived in and stood for, it was personal rights. and this would have disgusted him. I wonder what he would have done if Aspen passed this ordenence? Surely he would not have gone gently into that good night.
So I say thank you for smoking, because it represents a big fuck you to the establishment. I suppose it always did, but now that smoking is a kin with leporacy it seems to mean just that much more. So thank you for smoking, because they way things are going we really don't need to live to be 80 anyway.
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
autumnfade:
good point, in about ten years I bet they outlaw coffee. control and power to no end 
thats MM right?
thats MM right?
nomia:
hey thank you