I am posting this because I want to have a place to cut and paste. The smoking issue is one that this country has been in denial about ever since the scientific evidence first SUGGESTED that second hand smoke might be harmful. If you read below, it's not a suggestion any longer. It's cold hard black and white in-your-face fact.

Conclusions of the U.S. Surgeon General's report on secondhand smoke:

Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control.
Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.
Source: The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General.

What does this mean to me specifically?

Until smoking is no longer permitted in these buildings, I will no longer be setting foot in the following locations:
1. Sheboygan Family Restaurant
2. Chissys
3. The 1907 Club.
4. The Rightway club.

Upon reflection, I'm wondering whether our favorite steak house, Nino's, allows smoking? I bet they do in the bar. Hmmm, might be hard for me to stick to my semi-fanatical stand here. But does this issue not beg a fanatical stand? I think it does. It's about life and death. How much intelligence does it take to digest this?