Smoke up Johnny!

I think I have officially quit smoking now for around two years and have turned into (almost) the worst sort of ex-smoker. There are bars and clubs I will refuse to go into due to the cigarette smoke. Even when the new Grog Shop moved and opened up I found myself passing on shows that I would have loved to see because I just cannot handle the air in there. Despite pleas to turn the fans on to suck out the smoke instead of pushing it back down on the crowd I usually find my eyes watering something awful.

Come November Cleveland has a lot of options to counter smoke in public places. There is my favorite Smoke Free Ohio that is looking to ban smoking in public places. Hey, I understand, it is your right to smoke, but no where in the world is it acceptable to poison someone else so you can enjoy a frivolous habit. Smoke at home, kill your plants, etc, just get that crap out of my face.

Also, the new cigarette tax is poised to put some monies back into the public arts. As one of the few major cities that DOES NOT RECEIVE PUBLIC MONEY FOR THE ARTS Cleveland is sorely lacking and it is only due to private contributors and the hard work of our local talent that lets us enjoy the level of culture that we do. I, for one, am constantly amazed at the sort of things local galleries and theatres are doing and even though I am still young enough to take it for granted I try hard to take the time to appreciate what is being done around me.

Anyway, some of the new proposed tax is slotted to go to public arts giving smokers the chance to act "holier then thou" from the privacy of their own home. Some say this affects the poor more. I don't really understand how. When I was strapped for cash you know what I didn't buy? Cigarettes. Wasn't that hard a choice to make. Stop eating or stop smoking. Sort of a no-brainer. Heck, if it actually worked that way we would have a lot of healthier poor people on our streets that wouldn't be so poor.

I see this sort of thing creating even more attention in the upcoming elections then the govenor's race and although I find that a little bit sad, at least people will be getting to the polls and voting. Heck, go into work late, hang out with some friends and make some changes.

Just don't forget your id. That link was easy as pie to find so let me copy in the necessary information.

Identification Requirements
Ohio voters are now required to provide proof of identity before voting. The form of identification that you may use includes your current and valid state-issued photo identification card, military identification, copy of utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, or government document showing your name and current address. (Note: You cannot use as proof of identification a notice that the board of elections mailed to you.) If you do not have, or fail or refuse to provide, the required proof of identity, you may cast a provisional ballot.

R.C. 3503.28(A)(1)(6)
Voters must bring identification to the polls in order to verify identity. Identification may include a current and valid photo identification, a military identification that shows the voter's name and current address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document, other than a reminder or a voter registration notification, that shows the voter's name and current address. Voters who do not provide one of these documents will still be able to vote by providing the last four digits of the voter's social security number and by casting a provisional ballot.
Voters who do not have any of the above forms of identification, including a social security number, will still be able to vote by signing an affirmation swearing to the voter's identity under penalty of election falsification and by casting a provisional ballot.
(The above requirement is effective June 1, 2006)