A Knight in Dragonland

Interesting idea for a board editorial, Pekin Times.
Do I hear an echo?

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Now, according to this Journal Star article, several area municipalities are wasting our tax dollars on the purchase of outdoor ashtrays and free personal ashtrays to be given away at local taverns.  Why?  Because litter-bug smokers can’t clean up after themselves.
I’m really tired of the arrogant sense of entitlement some smokers seem to have.  Just [...]

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The top story in today’s Pekin Daily Times announces “Smoking Ban Taxes Downtown Litter Control.”
That is incorrect.
Litter-bug smokers who selfishly and irresponsibly believe that the world is their ashtray tax downtown litter control.  Don’t blame this problem on the smoking ban.

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(Deep breath in) … AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh … No more smoke!
The Smoke Free Illinois Act is now in force. Ain’t life grand?

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India and the U.K. are now requiring large, picture-based health warnings on tobacco products.  Canada has apparently required such warning labels since 2001.
Hat Tip: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids International Resource Center.

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Well, it’s heading outside to the patios, at least. The Smoke-Free Illinois Act becomes the law of Lincoln Land on January 1st, 2008. Our “good” governor Blago stopped staring at himself in the mirror long enough to do something decent for a change – he signed the Act into law yesterday.
The right to [...]

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A legislative double whammy against the tobacco industry is making its way through Congress. Barring a veto by President Bush, we may actually see long-needed policy changes to reign in the biggest death-dealer in the United States.
The first measure is FDA regulation of tobacco products. According to this recent New York Times article, [...]

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In a comment to my recent post about the imminent passage of the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, local blogger Emtronics asked the following question:
If they were really concerned, then why not ban cigarettes and all tobacco completely?
Em’s not the only one I’ve heard making this argument. The same point has come from many sources, including [...]

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The Smoke-Free Illinois Act has now made it through the Illinois General Assembly by an overwhelming margin.  The vote was 73-42, far more than most supporters of the bill expected.  When asked about the bill, Governor Blagojevich said it was likely something he would “enthusiastically sign.”
If Blagojevich does sign the bill, Illinois will become the [...]

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What does the non-binding referendum in support of an indoor smoking ban in Peoria really mean? C.J. Summers doesn’t think it means much at all, and even I disparaged its relevance last night on WCBU. In contrast, Eyebrows McGee makes a good argument in the comment section of the Peoria Chronicle post about [...]

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Mike Scanlon, President & CEO of the Thomas and King restaurant company, started out his business with two partners by borrowing $20,000 each on their credit cards. Talk about high risk financing in a high risk business! Now his company operates 95 Applebee’s and Johnny Carino’s restaurants in three states. Either Scanlon [...]

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After watching the Daily Times / Friends of the Public Library forum, I think I have better idea about the personalities of the city council candidates and where they stand on the issue of a public smoking ban.
Barb Strand was the most sympathetic to the idea of a public smoking ban. She’s the only one [...]

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In the last week or so I’ve been repeatedly reminded that my opinion is in the minority around here. Public smoking bans – a standard of civilization in much of our country and in many other countries across the world – seem to be the height of controversy in the Heart of Illinois. [...]

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OK, I was so ragingly PO’d about the Journal Star’s Pekin school consolidation editorial today that I’m probably the last one in the local blogosphere to notice that I was quoted in the Chicago Tribune regarding my “Smoking Mad” post.
They obviously didn’t realize that I’m not an anonymous blogger anymore, since they just quote me [...]

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Deep breaths, Matthew.  Slowly, in and out.  OK, I’m calm now.
Ahem.  In case you didn’t notice, I get a little fired up (pun intended) about the issue of smoking in public places.  I feel strongly that it’s an issue of public health and respect for the personal liberties of non-smokers.
There is no right to smoke.  [...]

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