Thank You For Smoking

I don't think I've delved into many political issues, although I try to stay current on as much as possible. Perhaps they will become the subject of more posts. I bring this one up because it came up today and was humorous to me.

Working outside by myself I'm left to my thoughts and the radio most of the day. My headset is only FM so I'm not privy to any AM shows. My current radio lineup is:

• Rick and Bubba - when I wake up - 10:00 AM
• Glenn Beck - 10-11 AM
• Rush Limbaugh - 11-2 AM (If I can't pick up station or its a big sports day then "The Round Table")
• Variety Hour - either Paul Finebaum  or Todd Schnitt
• Rick and Bubba Replay - 3 PM til I pickup where I started in the morning
• Back to Finebaum, Schnitt, or News
• Michael Savage - 6 PM til I get home

I rarely listen to music unless its the weekend or some other situation which has yet to arise.

One issue that has always intrigued me is smoking. Let me start by saying I've never smoked, never intend to, and think its a horrible habit. The anti-smoking campaign was well ingrained to me. If you ask me what I remember about elementary school it would be tire swings and the D.A.R.E. Program.

If they wanted us to learn anything it was that smoking was bad. After one such program I intended to warn my sweet old neighbors Mrs Ernie and Mr. Buddy that smoking was killing them. I made it halfway over, then realized I was a small child and panicked at the thought of explaining to them how bad smoking was. Mrs Ernie is still living, still smoking, and has to be in her 80s.

Smoking has gone from common practice to being demonized and to avoid like the plague.

I'm not so much interested in discussing the health consequences of smoking, but rather the government response to smoking. As mentioned above, we have been inundated with the negatives of smoking since our youth. Everyone knows they're bad for you, yet some people still smoke. Fine by me. In fact I think it is the only product where the makers advertise for you to not buy their product.
So the government, on all levels, continues to tell you not to smoke and makes them out to be the worst thing in the world.

But rather than banning them all together because they are so bad, their way of "helping" you to not smoke are "sin taxes." A plan to try to make them so expensive you wouldn't want to smoke.

In some states they have become so expensive there are now black markets for them. These high taxes have become a big source of revenue for states. To the point they are dependent on them. I haven't heard on any government entity that is doing well financially right now, so they are scrounging for any source of revenue.

I have heard two stories as of late that made me think of this. First, several New England states are considering lowering their cigarette taxes and second, Illinois is in the process of passing a bill to reverse a 2008 ban on smoking in casinos. This seems to be sending a mixed message to the kids. Why would the states be trying to lower taxes or repeal bans? The answer....Money. The only reason to lower prices is to sell more in your own state. Perhaps their demonizing campaign over the years has actually worked and less people are smoking. Not good news for the government. The fact is they need you to smoke so they can keep funding all their projects. They have hurt their golden goose.

I recently heard a story about MSU's newly retired sports play by play announcer, Jack Crisitl. Cristil is now 85 and still smokes to my knowledge. Recently someone inquired about why he still smokes despite all the negative health aspects? Cristil responded by saying, "Son my dad lived to be (I forget the exact age) 95." The reporter responded by asking if his father smoked as well. Cristil answered, "No, he minded his own business."


If smoking is so bad then ban it. Don't demonize it in the streets and then get addicted yourself to the money.

If you want to smoke, then go ahead. I only want the government to intervene when your freedoms start to infringe on mine, and I don't think smoking does.

Weekend in Brandon

This past weekend took us to Rebecca's parent's home in Brandon. The initial reason for the trip was Mrs. Melanie's birthday. It grew into also celebrating Philip and Chouna's engagement along with taking engagement pictures for them and another couple whose wedding is coming up in May. So another weekend was spent mixing business with pleasure.

Another theme through the weekend was animals. Mr. Chip's passion is horses. Unless something else needs his attention he is at the barn or on a horse. So along with the horses he also has some cows and chickens. One of the mares was very pregnant. We were on watch all weekend for a baby horse, but she didn't go into labor. There is also a pond on the property and for the first time I took a fishing pole. I love to fish, so I don't know why I haven't in the past, but I will probably make it a regular occurrence from now on. I spent a couple hours on Friday before the engagement party fishing and caught 6 bass. I was the only one out there so my cell phone was the only camera available. They were all 'keepers' if I had been keeping them.

Massaging the pregnant horse.

The chickens were also a new addition. Rebecca has always had a soft spot for chickens. I think it was because she never really had one. She came close as a child when she got some chicks, but their cat got hungry one night. So we went out to see them. He has two roosters and two hens. One of the roosters has an hourly alarm along with the traditional sunrise notice. Their bobbing movement was very interesting to me. One of the hens got very protective of he food we brought them and lunged at Rebecca. I think she got her fill of chickens for a while.

These chickens were not bashful at the crowd

As we were walking back to the house that evening we came across Mr. No Shoulders. Rebecca and her mom were on either side of the driveway and walked right beside him. Rebecca noticed as she was right next to it. I was a few feet behind them, so now the water moccasin was in between me and the ladies. It was about 3 feet long and very still. Mrs. Melanie ran back to the house to get a shovel. She handed it to me and as I was coming down with my first whack to the head, it took off towards the water. I chased it and continued to swing as it dodged my every blow. Just before it reached the water I made contact. It tried to lunge at the shovel once it was wounded, but I continued the barrage. It eventually stopped moving and I carried it to the garage for closer inspection.

The water moccasin. A good portion of him had been chopped off by this point.

New Toy

Most of my business equipment is leftovers from high school days. All of it still runs fine, so I haven't had a reason to get anything new. However, even during our high school days we always had our eye on a Walker Mower. In many ways the Cadillac of mowers, it was always out of our price range. This past fall picking up leaves was definitely the limiting factor in my efficiency. This type of mower allows you to 'bag' while covering a larger area in shorter time. Along with the suction of the blades, it also has a fan that acts as a vacuum. The container on the back holds about 6 times the amount a bag on one of the Honda push mowers. Another future benefit it the ability to exchange implements on the front instead of the mowing deck. So all that and I get to sit down while I mow.

Dad found one on Craig's List a few weeks ago and we made Longscape's first big purchase. I'm still getting the hang of her, but I think she is going to be a great addition.

I think I have settled on the name 'Giselle'