Obviously, I agree with the idea: you don’t smoke in front of nor around young children. Period. That’s pretty obvious to me, most parents, and smokers of all kinds everywhere. Yet I have some fond memories of sitting with Grandpa after dinner at the ranch, sometimes inside and sometimes out on the porch, watching the sun go down over the lake, the sweet smell of his pipe a perfect compliment to fading odors of the fried fish and greens Grandma used to cook for him. I suppose it’s a small sacrifice to make, to know that my nieces and nephews will be healthy nonsmokers with no romantic or foolish notions about why smoking is “cool.”

Still, I call bullshit. There are a hundred better ways to ’protect the children.’ Starting with universal health care and programs for poor parents to help them quit smoking. You and I both know how this law will be used: when they can’t find another legal reason to pull over some black or brown person, bingo! Time to Protect the Children! We can add “Smoking while Black” to “Driving while Black” and the rest of that long list of Laws for Thee but not for Me. Yes, I’m sure some poor White folks will get tagged by this too, but trust me- you won’t see a lot of rich smokers worring about this.

I’ll point out that cars themselves produce quite a large amount of poisons that one breaths while around them or in them. Are we rushing off to regulate their emissions, punishing automakers for failing to employ the cleanest technology and make the air safer for even those kids who walk and take buses? No, of course not. But we can pass laws that punish the poor regressively, and give even more opportunity to racist cops to crack heads, all to “protect the children.”

From something called Eurekanet, (of which I know nothing) via Blondesense comes this interesting piece about some research in Yurp about smoking and brain activity. Check it out:

While nicotine is highly addictive, researchers have also shown the drug to enhance learning and memory—a property that has launched efforts to develop nicotine-like drugs to treat cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.  Read more 

Let’s review. Bill Clinton liked cigars, although he kept that more or less to himself before the Monica thing made it “fashionable” to joke about it. Betty Ford was a drunk. Pickles was a pot dealer and “go to girl” for her sorority sisters. Al Gore inhaled, a lot, and did so often with his Negro best friend in school. I haven’t looked it up, but I’m sure each and every major candidate running for high (snicker) office in 08 has “something to be ashamed of” when it comes to poisons in the body. Now we learn that in addition to being a white-wimmin lovin, Koran reading, madrassa schoolmate of his namesake Osama and Afropower paganist, Obama also…gasp…smokes. Cigarettes, that is.

It’s a sad statement that we even have to have this discussion, “oh, but what of the children,” blah blah. The man is running for high office, and he’s rather young- it’s unlikely he’ll die of it during his term if elected. I’ve never seen him light up in front of a camera, and I doubt he ever will. As Sean-Paul and others note, “who cares?” We’ve all got a flaw or two, we’re all human (Republican die hards not counting). But…but(t). In this day and age, I think it’s worth a second look, or thought, or something. What kind of man thinks he’s got an honest shot at office and still smokes?

Being cynical, there are actually positives to this, if you’re a candidate.  Read more 

So a family member has inspired me to look into Chantix. Like most people with a habit, I’ve reached that point in my life when it is Really Important that I quit smoking. I’m one of those ’serious addicts’ and have never been able to make it more than 10 days without a smoke. The longest I’ve ever gone is when I was in boot, and when I got kicked out of the Corps, well, let’s just say that felt like a really good time for some self-destruction, and I lit up again almost right after signing my final papers. The gum never did it for me and that other drug that’s been out for a while sounded scary and not too effectual. So what do you all think about Chantix? Anyone tried it? There’s a slim chance, poor blogger that I am, I may even qualify for a free trial for a few months. Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated. Consider this a Smoking Open Thread, where we’d love it for you to share your stories, smoker and nonsmoker alike.

Since I’ve outed myself at KosVegas, I have no problem tossing this picture of myself (in the black wig, I’m currently a bottle blonde) out for general consumption in the blogosphere. I am 36 years old, and I’m sorry but you just cannot tell me that I look 17. I’m so angry right now, and I’m not even angry at the store owner who balked at selling me a pack of American Spirits; I understand that there are stings and undercover cops and that they exist for no other reason than to make his life hell. But having just wasted some soldier’s blood in the form of the extra gas to come back home and get my ID, I’m just a little pissed at how complacent we’ve all become when it comes to Showing Our Papers.  Read more