Cigarette smokers are feeling "abused" by...

...the government's new tax hike.

{Warning...cynicism levels are extremely high today.}

I'm a person who values my lungs. I like them pink and fleshy, not black and tarred. Yet over and over and over again, I get stuck sucking in the remnants of their cancer sticks simply because I'm walking down the street. My least favorite place to go because of smoke? Bowling alleys. I love to bowl. I grew up next door to an alley. But I hate coming out feeling like I've spent two hours wallowing in an ash tray.

Now, I have friends who smoke. And I, occasionally, will go sit with them while they have a ciggy. In that instance, it's my choice. But even then, I chat with them from several feet away. Even more, they know I don't like it, and they'll arrange themselves so that they're not blowing it at me. It doesn't fully solve the problem, but it helps.

Here's the thing about cigarettes: They're not good. For anybody, for any reason. Even smokers know that. Sitting in a car with a smoker friend a few weeks ago, I was warned, "Carolyn, never ever start smoking." Check. Got it. Not only are they bad, they're not self-contained. The damage you do to your body is shared amongst your friends (congratulations on passing kindergarten...I kind of wish you'd skipped that lesson). So do I have sympathy when the government decides to place a higher tax on cigarettes?

Sorry, no. Much love, but no.

{On a side note, I also realized that gasoline, in many ways, is not good either, pollutes the air, and affects the whole world. I'd be happy to buy an electric or solar-powered car if they make it affordable. And I was planning to sell my car and buy a new bike if I'd moved to Boulder...but alas, that didn't happen. Anyway, this is me recognizing a counter-argument before it can be used against me. Still much love.}


In unrelated news, this is hilarious. Who gets arrested for riding a barstool drunk?? I'm 1) impressed at his ingenuity (was it thought of sober or drunk? I'm guessing drunk...) and 2) uncertain whether the DUI was justified. I mean, if that puppy goes up to 38 miles per hour, you could theoretically kill someone with it. But it was a lawn-mower-engine-powered-barstool. Cases like that make me want to go to law school and work up to being a judge, just so I can be like, "Um, what? You're a crackhead, but you made me laugh, so I'm going to reduce your fine by just a bitty bit."