This Is Not A Poker Blog

I live in a smoke free state and as a migraine sufferer I have no sympathy but you'll always be my favorite twin!

How was the concert? (That was tonight, wasn't it?)

I'm not a smoker; it's not about that for me. It's about freedom of choice and the (agreed, slim) possibility that live music venues in town are going to be hurt by this (this city has fucked them over enough already). If a bar or club wants to be smoke-free, then they can make that choice themselves - they don't need the city to mandate it for them. And while I understand the plight of people like you who are really affected by smoke, the truth is, no one really smokes much in this town anymore anyway. I noticed about 5 people smoking on my way to class Friday, and I was shocked as hell. I think it was the stress of finals. And the only smoking I saw tonight? Done by the band. So yea, if no one is really doing it anymore, then what's the bother of the ban? It's the principle. I'm all about freedom. Call me kooky. And then there is the whole, this is Austin factor. We shouldn't be banning anything.

/end political rant

Show was awesome. I tried to get the camera phone to work, but alas, it sucks for night shots. Great venue, great band, and yummy yummy beer...

What about the freedom for me to breathe smoke free air?

Stay home!

Hmmm... I've often been torn on this issue. I do appreciate how people should be able to make their own choice on the matter...

But...

I HATE cigarette smoke. It annoys the hell out of me.

I'm a smoker, but I don't think it's a big deal for smoking to be banned in clubs, bars, etc. Now if we could just ban b.o. and overly loud speakers....

Where the anti-smoking thing starts to annoy me is when people start saying that smokers should only smoke inside their houses and cars.

That's just it Phil. Come September, Austin will be smoke-free. It's a long-standing fight that has already caused restaurants and such to make modifications to be in compliance with the current ordinance...and then here comes another one... I wouldn't be too surprised before the no-smoking anywhere idea gets brought up by someone.

It is a big deal for it to be banned, because it's just another right being taken away. The right for a business owner to decide how they want to run their business, and the right for someone to decide how they want to live their life. And I realize non-smokers have the right to breathe clean air...but then we get into the whole "who's rights matter more" arguement. So the solution is to have alternatives, and choices. Can't do that now.

/no, really - end political rant

A lot of pubs/lounges went right out of business within 6 months after the ban in California. They're ultimately the biggest losers in this.

You know what they're doing now in CA? Banning smoking at the beach. The "slippery slope" argument is extremely valid.

I happen to smoke, but, more importantly, I'm for the government staying the hell out of my business. At a bar o restaurant, everyone has a choice. Smoke, don't smoke. Hate smoke? stay away from smoky environs. THIS, and legislation like it, removes personal choice from the matter.

All this is yet another reason Vegas > Everywhere.

Soon Joe, soon...

I'm definitely not a smoker and love hanging out in smoke free environs, but I hate the fact that certain things are being legislated that should be regulated by the businesses. I don't go to certain restaurants in town due to the smoke and have a tendency to frequent the ones with realistic smoke-free areas or ban smoking altogether. My libertarian (unrealistic, I know) leanings allow me to dislike some things others do but like the fact they are allowed to do it.

Don't smoke. It's unhealthy and annoying. I just don't want the non-smokers to force the governing bodies to legislate certain actions in a freedom-loving land. Next think you know, they'll tell us gambling is bad for us and ban that. Except for the lottery (http://www.sceducationlottery.com/)of course. It's good because it pays for our schools. Yeah, right.

There's a bill under consideration that would allow property owners to sue for monies lost as a result of these kinds of regulations. The Dallas city council is freaking out because it's probably going to pass this session of the Lege, and a lot of bar & restaurant owners are talking to trial lawyers, and the numbers are ugly (ugly if you're the sort that wants to regulate private property usage without compensation.)

I'm sad to see the smoking ban passed. It's ridiculous though; you're never going to get the smoke smell out of Barfly's or any of my other favorite Austin bars. I was in NYC a couple years ago and there all the smoking ban seemed to mean was that they didn't have ashtrays, but people still smoked (at least at the bars I went to). Even as a non-smoker I'm willing to support a local business that doesn't uphold the ban.

I can actually bring my kid to the bar that sponsors my softball team now because of a similar ban in Minnesota.

And I enjoyed not having to take a shower after bowling too.

Look what I started! I didn't mean to come off anti-freedom of choice. I sometimes forget that the world doesn't revolve around me and my preferences. When I become supreme ruler of the universe I will ban smoking all over the world and allow drinking and gambling everywhere. Until then I will just deal with it when I have to (like when I go to Vegas). Besides, my headache medication goes down so much better with large quantities of alcohol.