To whom is may concern,
I am writing you this letter today to see if you would be able to offer any answers for my inquiries. Due to the recent smoking ban within Illinois, I, as a smoker, are no longer allowed to smoke in any bars or restaurants within state lines. I am also forbidden to smoke within 15 feet of any public entrance.
I am first wondering why you decided to make it a universal ban instead of allowing some bars and restaurants to allow smoking at their discretion? I ask this because there are many bars and restaurants in Chicago that are more prone to have cigarette smoke then others. If you look in any picture of a blues or jazz club, there is cigarette smoke and smokers throughout the picture. It just seems to be part of the culture. There are also many rock bars out there that follow the same pattern. If these are places known to have smokers attending frequently, isn't that a good enough warning for those that do not want to breathe in the smoke. Smokers know the consequences of their actions. I personally know that there are many things that can hurt your health within cigarette smoke, and acknowledge that second-hand smoke can be harmful as well. There are many places that I have visited that have had fantastic ventilation systems and were very efficient with making the air cleaner for all those within the establishment. Did you explore the possibility of having a specific zoning need for bars and restaurants to have up to date and effective ventilation systems?
I first didn't understand with the ban of smoking on train platforms that were outside. The underground platforms were understandable, but those out in the open have enough air movement not to bother those around you. I also wanted to ask about the 15 foot barrier around all public entrances. I, like many other residents of Chicago, take the train and walk to work. This means that I walk from the Grand Red Line Station to my office. During this walk I am passing public entrances well within 30 feet (this would be taking two entrances' 15 foot area and having them reach each other). Does this mean that I am no longer allowed to smoke on this sidewalk? Because most of the sidewalks in the city carry this same level of proximity. This would mean that I would not be able to smoke on most sidewalks around Chicago. Where is there left for me to smoke, the middle of the street?
The third and last inquiry that I have refers to Illinois cigarette taxes. I recently read an article that said that just under $5 in the cost of a pack of cigarettes is tax. This means that when I walked to 7 Eleven last night and picked up 4 packs of Camel Wide Lights, $20 our of the $29 it cost me went to the state. But if I am not legally allowed to smoke anywhere but my own home or in that sliver of room between public entrances, why do I have to give the state money? The state is enforcing rules that make me feel like I am a criminal for having a cigarette, but I still have to pay in excess per pack to the state.
If you look at this situation in a very literal form, it pans out like this. In order to not break the law, I need to smoke in the street. The biggest danger of standing in the middle of the street is being hit by a passing car. But whether or not that happens, I am rendered helpless and I am robbed. If I was laying there helpless, a state representative would be going through my pockets, counting how many smokes I had on me at the time and then taking my money to cover the tax on them. But what if I dropped a cigarette butt in the street when I was hit. I would most likely be ticketed for littering and possibly loitering.
If you could please answer these questions for me, I would greatly appreciate it. I started smoking because I chose to. This state feels the need to punish me in every way possible for making that decision. I have to tell you that if this is the route that you are using to try and make people quit, then you won't receive your tax money anyways. I would like for you to review your policies and see if you could work out a compromise.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely yours,
Hitman
(Smoking since 1999)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
9 Out of 10 Doctors Smoke Camels
Most of you will know the title if you have seen the old school Camel cigarette ad that showcases doctors with their patients puffing on a Camel. But let me get to the reason for this post. I have been thinking about writing a post about smoking for a while now. With all the TRUTH commercials out there and the recent smoking ban in Chicago, it has become an increasingly prevalent topic in society.
I have always had a problem with the TRUTH commercials. I think that they have a distorted view of big tobacco and of smokers. They are part of the reason that smokers, like myself, are seen as criminals. I am constantly told that I started smoking because of Joe Kool ads or Marlboro Man. But this is not the reason why I started smoking. It all started that faithful day back in Michigan when I was 16. My friends and I would always meet up at a pool hall out by our houses after classes. They were all older then I was so they were of legal age to smoke. But it wasn't them, it was the representative from Marlboro that searched me out and put a gun to my head forcing me to smoke. That's ridiculous. I started smoking because I got a buzz at the time and I wanted to. That's the reason. Don't tell me that Joe Kool ads had so much influence on me that I started smoking.
I started smoking because I wanted to start smoking. Why do I continue to smoke knowing all the health consequences? Yes, I know that there are consequences to smoking. I continue to smoke because I like smoking. It calms me down, it gives me time to think through something, and it goes great with a beer. Why do all smokers and I have to be seen as just a pawn in big tobacco's game? If I want to have one, I mostly likely am going to have one.
As I had mentioned I have wanted to do this for a while. But I needed a spark. Please pardon the horrible smoking pun. About fifteen minutes ago, I went outside in the freezing ass cold to have a smoke before going to bed. As I took the second hit of my smoke and still enjoying the warmth that I had, a puck ass kid on a bike was riding down the street and yelled out "Smoking is bad for you". Have you ever blinked and seen a whole chain of events go down in your mind in a split second. Well if you have, then you will understand. In my mind i chased the kid down, pummeled him to the ground and forced him to chain smoke. But then my eyes opened and so did my mouth. "Thanks for the fucking news flash asshole, isn't there a poetry reading or Dashboard confessional concert you should be at?" Who the fuck does that kid think he is? I am standing on the stoop of my apartment building having a smoke and not bothering anyone. There was no one coming down the sidewalk that would have to smell my smoke. We are in Chicago in the winter, so I know damn well that the piece of shit on his bike didn't have to smell my smoke. Keep your opinion to yourself.
So this serves as a warning. DO NOT TELL ME SMOKING IS BAD UNLESS I KNOW YOU. I have had comments walking to the train, standing in front of the building I work in, and now I have dealt with it at home. There are far worse things going on in this world. Please start with them. And then when smoking becomes the biggest problem, come knock on my door.
I have always had a problem with the TRUTH commercials. I think that they have a distorted view of big tobacco and of smokers. They are part of the reason that smokers, like myself, are seen as criminals. I am constantly told that I started smoking because of Joe Kool ads or Marlboro Man. But this is not the reason why I started smoking. It all started that faithful day back in Michigan when I was 16. My friends and I would always meet up at a pool hall out by our houses after classes. They were all older then I was so they were of legal age to smoke. But it wasn't them, it was the representative from Marlboro that searched me out and put a gun to my head forcing me to smoke. That's ridiculous. I started smoking because I got a buzz at the time and I wanted to. That's the reason. Don't tell me that Joe Kool ads had so much influence on me that I started smoking.
I started smoking because I wanted to start smoking. Why do I continue to smoke knowing all the health consequences? Yes, I know that there are consequences to smoking. I continue to smoke because I like smoking. It calms me down, it gives me time to think through something, and it goes great with a beer. Why do all smokers and I have to be seen as just a pawn in big tobacco's game? If I want to have one, I mostly likely am going to have one.
As I had mentioned I have wanted to do this for a while. But I needed a spark. Please pardon the horrible smoking pun. About fifteen minutes ago, I went outside in the freezing ass cold to have a smoke before going to bed. As I took the second hit of my smoke and still enjoying the warmth that I had, a puck ass kid on a bike was riding down the street and yelled out "Smoking is bad for you". Have you ever blinked and seen a whole chain of events go down in your mind in a split second. Well if you have, then you will understand. In my mind i chased the kid down, pummeled him to the ground and forced him to chain smoke. But then my eyes opened and so did my mouth. "Thanks for the fucking news flash asshole, isn't there a poetry reading or Dashboard confessional concert you should be at?" Who the fuck does that kid think he is? I am standing on the stoop of my apartment building having a smoke and not bothering anyone. There was no one coming down the sidewalk that would have to smell my smoke. We are in Chicago in the winter, so I know damn well that the piece of shit on his bike didn't have to smell my smoke. Keep your opinion to yourself.
So this serves as a warning. DO NOT TELL ME SMOKING IS BAD UNLESS I KNOW YOU. I have had comments walking to the train, standing in front of the building I work in, and now I have dealt with it at home. There are far worse things going on in this world. Please start with them. And then when smoking becomes the biggest problem, come knock on my door.
Monday, January 14, 2008
For Some People Its Whiskey
Many of the posts on this blog feature my triumphs over people such as assholes at the ball game or NYE party or failures of others such as the direction movies have taken as of late. But for this post, I will tell the story of one of my own failures. This failure came to me in the form of soupy red jello shots that were mostly 100 proof Vodka.
It started as many weekend nights start. Friends came over to our place to pre-drink. We busted out the tables and started a friendly competition of beer pong that wasn't so friendly. I should have really seen this coming. A bunch of people competing and drinking heavily, its a real shocker that tings turned out the way that they did.
My pong partner and I won a couple games and lost a couple games to start the night. But as you know if you have ever played beer pong, the longer the tournament, the more cases of beer. There ended up only being four of us playing beer pong. Two on two, and it was fairly even matched. After about an hour we had two cases of beer cans residing in the kitchen sink. We started off each new game with a jello shot as well. They were made and brought over by a lady friend of ours who did not let us know it was hundred proof until the next morning. Drunker and drunker the situation became. I should also mention that my beer pong teammate was a friend of my roommates that was out visiting for the weekend. When the two of them get together they became very competitive and huge smart asses.
As more and more beer was drank, the games became more heated and comments were being thrown around that consisted of everything from mothers to female anatomy. Occasional trips outside for a cigarette seemed to be used pretty efficiently to slam your opponent and warn about the next game. Hours went by and finally we were out of beer. But, luckily for us, we had jello shots. A female friend of ours somehow convinced me in my drunken haze that everyone was taking shots and that I needed to catch up. Within four minutes i had put down an additional five jello shots that could most likely be considered three shots of 100 proof.
Stumbling outside for another smoke, my roommate and his buddy started talking shit about me in some capacity. I don't really remember what they were saying but apparently it set me off. Next thing I know, I am being restrained by the two of them on the hood of my roommate's car. The roommate was on my right arm and his buddy on my left. I was screaming and the top of my lungs and doing everything that I could to break free. As the roommate tells it, I was sprawled out on the car screaming and cursing like a sailor. My veins were popping out of my arms and my neck as I fought with every ounce of energy I had. But the thing that was truly keeping this going was the fact that my asshole roommate was petting my face telling me to shush and calm down in a very condescending manner, which he fully admits.
This situation ended with me talking them into letting me go. I immediately started walking down the street so I could calm down. My heart was pumping out of my chest and my lungs screamed for cigarette smoke. I didn't really talk much more for the night. I went back in after a little while and ended up going to bed shortly there after.
For some people, whiskey makes them angry. For me, large amounts of 100 proof Vodka make me angry, apparently.
For those of you that may take this as my developing a "problem", please keep your comments to yourself. I drank on New Years Eve, please see preceding post, I had complete control of myself. After New Years Eve I decided to take a little time away from the bottle. I hadn't had a sip of booze up until this last Friday and I still didn't drink enough to even get a remote buzz. I am laying off the booze for a while and taken it easy.
It started as many weekend nights start. Friends came over to our place to pre-drink. We busted out the tables and started a friendly competition of beer pong that wasn't so friendly. I should have really seen this coming. A bunch of people competing and drinking heavily, its a real shocker that tings turned out the way that they did.
My pong partner and I won a couple games and lost a couple games to start the night. But as you know if you have ever played beer pong, the longer the tournament, the more cases of beer. There ended up only being four of us playing beer pong. Two on two, and it was fairly even matched. After about an hour we had two cases of beer cans residing in the kitchen sink. We started off each new game with a jello shot as well. They were made and brought over by a lady friend of ours who did not let us know it was hundred proof until the next morning. Drunker and drunker the situation became. I should also mention that my beer pong teammate was a friend of my roommates that was out visiting for the weekend. When the two of them get together they became very competitive and huge smart asses.
As more and more beer was drank, the games became more heated and comments were being thrown around that consisted of everything from mothers to female anatomy. Occasional trips outside for a cigarette seemed to be used pretty efficiently to slam your opponent and warn about the next game. Hours went by and finally we were out of beer. But, luckily for us, we had jello shots. A female friend of ours somehow convinced me in my drunken haze that everyone was taking shots and that I needed to catch up. Within four minutes i had put down an additional five jello shots that could most likely be considered three shots of 100 proof.
Stumbling outside for another smoke, my roommate and his buddy started talking shit about me in some capacity. I don't really remember what they were saying but apparently it set me off. Next thing I know, I am being restrained by the two of them on the hood of my roommate's car. The roommate was on my right arm and his buddy on my left. I was screaming and the top of my lungs and doing everything that I could to break free. As the roommate tells it, I was sprawled out on the car screaming and cursing like a sailor. My veins were popping out of my arms and my neck as I fought with every ounce of energy I had. But the thing that was truly keeping this going was the fact that my asshole roommate was petting my face telling me to shush and calm down in a very condescending manner, which he fully admits.
This situation ended with me talking them into letting me go. I immediately started walking down the street so I could calm down. My heart was pumping out of my chest and my lungs screamed for cigarette smoke. I didn't really talk much more for the night. I went back in after a little while and ended up going to bed shortly there after.
For some people, whiskey makes them angry. For me, large amounts of 100 proof Vodka make me angry, apparently.
For those of you that may take this as my developing a "problem", please keep your comments to yourself. I drank on New Years Eve, please see preceding post, I had complete control of myself. After New Years Eve I decided to take a little time away from the bottle. I hadn't had a sip of booze up until this last Friday and I still didn't drink enough to even get a remote buzz. I am laying off the booze for a while and taken it easy.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New Years Eve and Liquid Courage
New Years is a very different time of the year for many. This is the time that we decided to make life altering changes and try new things. The gyms will all be packed till the end of February and Krispy Kreme stock will take a small hit. But that is the way it goes every year. People make huge promises to themselves and only about five percent of those people actually stick to their resolution. I am not going to claim that I am completely innocent in this situation. But the difference in my case is that I usually just don't make New Years Resolutions. This kind of cuts out the whole failing part. If I am going to do something it is because I want to, not because of what month or year it is.
It is funny to watch how different people celebrate New Years. For many, there always seems to be that underlining common denominator of friends and booze. This is how I chose to spend my New Years Eve ushering in 2008. Our group of friends had a hard time deciding where to go for the night. So a couple of them stepped up and made an executive decision. We all went online and got our tickets for the Evil Olive, a bar that none of us had ever been to before. but it turned out pretty well. The bar was decent and the drinks were top shelf. One of the best part of this particular party was the fact that there was not a ton of people there. Since there were so many options for options for people to explore, the bar wasn't wall to wall people.
The night was turning out great. I had been drinking Johnnie Walker Black all night and we had talked the female bartender in giving us rounds of Patrone shots. Luckily, her manager didn't find out until after the 6th round. This is how I knew I would get that $90 back that I had paid to be there. But close to midnight, she was scolded and we no longer were allowed shots. Midnight hit, the balloons fell from the ceiling and everyone was happy. Friends were hugging and wishing each other a Happy New Year. I was very pleased with the way the night turned out. Until the bus boy came up to me at 12:02 and insisted that I put out my cigarette because the new law was in affect. I wasn't to pleased at this point. It could have been the Johnnie Walker or it could have been my addiction, but no matter what it was I was not pleased. At that point after the celebration, I was ready to go.
Just to add a little more to the night, here comes a douche bag. The group that we had went with was about 16 deep. Some of these people I had never even met before, friends of friends. But there was a guy that I had met a couple times before but never really made any attempt to become friends with since he was a complete tool. But I was civil and was nice because a couple of my friends were cool with him. Next thing I now, he's chirping in my ear about shit. Asking me if this girls dating anyone and trying to convince me drunkenly that he wasn't pretentious. I had mentioned that U of M grads are for the most part pretentious assholes to find out that he was a U of M grad. I finally just walked away from him. About twenty minutes later he was getting in the face of one of my best friends. I went up to make sure everything was cool. The douche was saying that him and one of his friends wanted to fight me and my friend. Of course he had already had a couple of drinks so we just blew it off as a joke and thought nothing of it. But he kept it going for another fifteen minutes about fighting us and blabbering on about nothing. His friend was trying to contain him but was having a hell of a time convincing the kid that fighting on New Years is just plain not the time to start a ridiculous fight. But he wouldn't listen. Most of his problem was with my buddy. As you could probably figure out, this entire situation stemmed from a girl. But I won't go into any more detail on that. people were coming up and letting us know that if something did happen, that they were behind us. But why does it have to come to this? Why do people get a bunch of liquid courage in them and want to prove their manhood?
Luckily, the asshole decided to just get his coat and leave. I think we actually just gathered a small group and walked out of the bar without saying anything to the rest of our friends. Everyone crashed after a few games of Guitar Hero and that was that. I came to find out the next morning that the girl that was the reason for the ridiculous pissing contest had gotten a drunken text message from the douche bag. I shall close this post with his text.
"Hope you had a good night tonight you whore. Go get an AIDS test."
It is funny to watch how different people celebrate New Years. For many, there always seems to be that underlining common denominator of friends and booze. This is how I chose to spend my New Years Eve ushering in 2008. Our group of friends had a hard time deciding where to go for the night. So a couple of them stepped up and made an executive decision. We all went online and got our tickets for the Evil Olive, a bar that none of us had ever been to before. but it turned out pretty well. The bar was decent and the drinks were top shelf. One of the best part of this particular party was the fact that there was not a ton of people there. Since there were so many options for options for people to explore, the bar wasn't wall to wall people.
The night was turning out great. I had been drinking Johnnie Walker Black all night and we had talked the female bartender in giving us rounds of Patrone shots. Luckily, her manager didn't find out until after the 6th round. This is how I knew I would get that $90 back that I had paid to be there. But close to midnight, she was scolded and we no longer were allowed shots. Midnight hit, the balloons fell from the ceiling and everyone was happy. Friends were hugging and wishing each other a Happy New Year. I was very pleased with the way the night turned out. Until the bus boy came up to me at 12:02 and insisted that I put out my cigarette because the new law was in affect. I wasn't to pleased at this point. It could have been the Johnnie Walker or it could have been my addiction, but no matter what it was I was not pleased. At that point after the celebration, I was ready to go.
Just to add a little more to the night, here comes a douche bag. The group that we had went with was about 16 deep. Some of these people I had never even met before, friends of friends. But there was a guy that I had met a couple times before but never really made any attempt to become friends with since he was a complete tool. But I was civil and was nice because a couple of my friends were cool with him. Next thing I now, he's chirping in my ear about shit. Asking me if this girls dating anyone and trying to convince me drunkenly that he wasn't pretentious. I had mentioned that U of M grads are for the most part pretentious assholes to find out that he was a U of M grad. I finally just walked away from him. About twenty minutes later he was getting in the face of one of my best friends. I went up to make sure everything was cool. The douche was saying that him and one of his friends wanted to fight me and my friend. Of course he had already had a couple of drinks so we just blew it off as a joke and thought nothing of it. But he kept it going for another fifteen minutes about fighting us and blabbering on about nothing. His friend was trying to contain him but was having a hell of a time convincing the kid that fighting on New Years is just plain not the time to start a ridiculous fight. But he wouldn't listen. Most of his problem was with my buddy. As you could probably figure out, this entire situation stemmed from a girl. But I won't go into any more detail on that. people were coming up and letting us know that if something did happen, that they were behind us. But why does it have to come to this? Why do people get a bunch of liquid courage in them and want to prove their manhood?
Luckily, the asshole decided to just get his coat and leave. I think we actually just gathered a small group and walked out of the bar without saying anything to the rest of our friends. Everyone crashed after a few games of Guitar Hero and that was that. I came to find out the next morning that the girl that was the reason for the ridiculous pissing contest had gotten a drunken text message from the douche bag. I shall close this post with his text.
"Hope you had a good night tonight you whore. Go get an AIDS test."
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