Native_Floridian's Blog

Okay, I feel sorry for those folks that lost people, but the key question here is WHY IS THE STORM TO BLAME in MANY of these DEATHS when the storm really had nothing to do with it.   Think about it:

Storm is coming, YOU ARE TOLD to STAY OFF THR ROADS due to possible flooding and high winds.   Yet, people continue to venture out AFTER being WARNED and then get into vehicular accidents with another car or just themselves and either geet killed or kill someone else.   But why is the storm to blame for peoples INEPTNESS to either STAY HOME as they were told or because of their INABILITY to DRIVE in INCLEMENT WEATHER?     

The ONLY way I would "blame" a storm on a persons death would either they or their home got struck by lightning, destroyed by high winds and they stayed (why didn't they listen and evacuate if an order was given?) in their home or if during the evac their vehicle was blown off the road by high winds (but this shouldn't happen if they had LEFT when told and NOT waited!

So in ALL REALITY, if a person dies in a vehicular accident because they didn't stay put or because they didn't evacuate in a timely manner as they should have, again, why is the storms fault?  It's NOT, it's so many folks inability to comprehend and understand that these storms ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and by NOT LISTENING to what's happening and doing just what you're told NOT TO DO,  it's these folks own lack of common sense and NOT listening that brought about their deaths.

The ONLY and I do MEAN ONLY EXCEPTION to this is if the folks that died did it in the line of duty, like the Police, Fire, Ambulance, Doctors, Nurses and National Guard.

But because your DIMWITTED RETAIL STORE wants to remain open, sorry, but I'm not jeopardizing my life because Wal-Mart or 7-11 wants to turn a buck because they think such storms are nothing to worry about and everyone should come to work.

When these storms occur, there SHOULD BE A NATIONAL LAW that REQUIRES not only Schools to close down, but ALL BUSINESSES with the exception of the aforementioned and Hospitals.   Otherwise we should all be either home, evacuated to a shelter or a relatives home further away from the storm if at all possible.

We've seen the pictures, we've heard the stories of flooded homes, but how are the Zoo's doing?   For example the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne and ESPECIALLY the "Central Florida Zoo" since it is DIRECTLY ACROSS the STREET from the St. Johns River!   How did they fare, we haven't heard a thing about them at all.   Any damages, lost or escaped animals due to the storm and the flooding?   Are they even open for regular or any business, closed?

C'mon FOX NEWS, how did these attractions fare out?

FOX NEWS on Wednesday night (08-13-2008 10pm-11pm) showed a video clip from Texas of the "goat sucker" or "Chupracobra" as it is well known by most folks.   But the FOX Video IS NOT the first proof of this in Texas, and the beast actually got it's start in Puerto Rico, which actually depicts it quite a bit differently from the "Texas" or "American" version of the animal.  The Puerto rican animal walks on it's two HIND legs as opposed to the Texas version which runs on all four.

Yes, the creature DOES exist, and YES there is PROOF that it does, the video from FOX, but I also watched a program on either Discovery or the History channel that also gave even more video proof of this creatures existence, two people in Texas have the skeletal remains from them,  one actually scooped it up from roadkill, the other actually shot and killed it on their farm, so yes, they have been videoed prior to the FOX NEWS video.   In the story (not FOX's vid) two guys set out to try and trap a live one for study, unfortunately all they caught was a dumb Armadillo that walked into their trap.

Also the program went into depth of the creature to determine what it is, or where it's roots are from, they did DNA, hair and some other testing, the results came back that the Chupracobra IS OF CANINE ancestry!   The animals have longer than normal fangs both upper and lower.    Also they did rule out any domestic dogs with severe mange or skin condition that caused the hairless-like appearance of the animal as well. 

They just are not sure from which canine linage that it came, or developed from, if it's a hybrid of domestic dog and coyote or even if toxic waste such as radiation or contamination from other chemicals could have generated a "mutant canine type of animal".   And despite what FOX said about not wanting them in Florida, they are IN and ALL over Florida too.  So don't believe for a moment they are only in specific regions.   

These creatures do exist and they are dangerous!  Do not approach one if seen, get away from it and into somewhere safe as quickly as possible, these things have also been known (per the original telling of them) to attack and drain humans of their blood as well.   So if you're not a professional trapper, leave these things to them!

Too me they look sort of like a MUTANT OVERSIZED HAIRLESS CHIUAHAHA (i know that isn't spelled right! LOL).

Here's ONE you folks HAVEN'T even THOUGHT ABOUT: WELFARE and UNEMPLOYMENT RATES RISING because of company REFUSALS to hire (a) smoker(s)!

Now that companies CAN (seemingly) DISCRIMINATE against someone because they smoke, doesn't anyone see that this WILL ALSO INCREASE the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE?, Not to mention that these same idiot companies forcing this ban ARE and WILL BE CREATING POSSIBLE WELFARE CASES as well!

So now you folks tell me, would you rather keep the SMOKER EMPLOYED or would you idiots that want to maintain and FORCE people out of a job because they are a smoker, do you really want YOUR TAX MONEY to support these folks on WELFARE? Just remember, some of these idiotic bans CAN and WILL CAUSE EXCESSIVE UNEMPLOYMENT and this too, WILL AFFECT the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, which is already at an all time high! Not to mention possible hardships on families!

Even if I were a die-hard NON-SMOKER (and I was at one time), I would not want to have my tax money paying welfare checks to a person perfectly capable of working, but because they may be a smoker, have lost or been denied a job and NOW WE (all of us) will have to foot the bill to help them along.

No, I'm not trying to make this a NON_SMOKER vs SMOKER issue here, I am just trying to point out by imposing such IDIOTIC BANS as not being allowed to smoke on or off the job, on breaks, or our own time, WILL CAUSE UNEMPLOYMENT and WELFARE CASES to RISE where these lunatic bans may be put into place!

So now THINK ABOUT that and WHERE SOME MORE of YOUR TAX MONEY may be going because of such lunacy.

Or has NO ONE even thought about this side of the coin and the repurcussions it can cause?

So just try and think about that the next time your company/organization or a person says:  I refuse to hire a smoker or insist that not hiring a person that may smoke is a good thing to do.

This is a fact, wether or not the NON-SMOKERS like it or not!   Why do I say this?   Well let me tell you a little true story that just happened the other day, ready?, good, here goes:

I was sitting INSIDE my own personal vehicle in a parking lot, and yes, I smoke, but I was MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS waiting in my vehicle while my wife had ran inside the store to get a couple of things, I was parked in a legal parking space with the driver side window rolled down and the sun/moonroof open, I WAS NOT flicking ashes or butts out my window, I have an ASHTRAY I keep inside my vehicle for that, nor do I intnetionally blow smoke toward anyone.   Okay, that's all well and fine, UNTIL this BIMBO(lady) drives in and parks, gets out of her car with her kids, gives me a REAL NASTY GLARE and then YELLS at me about "smoking in front of her children is setting a BAD example and that I should put out that cigarette immediately, not only because it's a bad example to her children, but you're NOT supposed to be smoking in the area!    Note, THERE ARE NO no smoking SIGNS anywhere and there was an ASHTRAY in front of the business where you could put your butts or smoke out before entering the store just a little ways before the doors.   Then another BIMBO, alone chimes in with this other BIMBO and BOTH start harping about MY SMOKING in MY OWN VEHICLE, well EXCUSE ME, but last time I checked NO LAWS have been passed BANNING ME FROM SMOKING IN MY OWN VEHICLE!

So after these two BIMBO's tirade and barrage of insults and such, I let them have it with not only both barrels, but a full on barrage of my attitude, damn right I WAS ANGRY, THEY WERE INVADING MY PERSONAL SPACE which MANY NON-SMOKERS DO have a habit of doing and then acting the fool, by coughing and hacking like the idiotic MORONS they are or by making asinine statements to the smoker(s) that were there BEFORE they came up, smoking and MINDING THEIR(OUR) OWN BUSINESS.

I gave this bimbo some of her own right back and this is what I said to her(this has been "censored" by me, because I REALLY let this MORON have it hard and can't post some of the verbage I gave her, but she deserved every syllable of it!!):

I'll bet you drink ALCOHOLIC beverages IN FRONT of your children, DON'T YOU?   And I'll bet you DRINK ALCOHOL and DRIVE too and probably with your children in the car.  She actually said she did to BOTH counts!  Now THIS IS A LOSER, not a smoker that DOES NOT do this and I DO NOT!

I also gave her an ear full on how SHE WAS A WORSE INFLUENCE to he children by DRINKING ALCOHOL, which is by far worse than smoking will ever be, yea, smoking may (NOT NECESSARILY) kill you over time, but a ALCOHOLIC DRINK and DRIVING could do it a LOT SOONER than smoking EVER WOULD! And also an earful on how would she like it if her right to drink or anything else she enjoyed was taken away from her as well.

You NON SMOKERS need to STOP AND THINK about the things YOU DO AND SAY to SMOKERS that CAUSE these type of feedback to you.   NON SMOKERS also need to STOP AND THINK about how would they like it if some of their "HABITS" were BANNED at all their favorite places.  

Again, I've been on BOTH sides of this fence, I was a NON SMOKER for 30 years BEFORE I took it back up and I am one of the few who could, if I so desired, quit COLD IMMEDIATELY, but I won't until STUPID PEOPLE in our government and those "private citizens" that do not smoke WAKE UP to the fact, that, they may think they've won by banning smokers and smoking, but sooner or later, they too are going to find themselves in a situation very similar to where something that is LEGAL will be banned from them.    All these idiots are doing is GIVING AWAY our AND THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS to do what should be legal and of our choice to do. 

NO ONE, NOT ANYONE SHOULD BE MAKING THESE CHOICES FOR US or TELLING US WHERE WE CAN OR CAN NOT DO LEGAL ACTIVITIES.

If you don't like smokers or smoking, then DO NOT INVADE THEIR SPACE, use your intelligence and walk away from them and keep your commentary to yourself, othwerwise don't be surprised if you annoy them and they INTENTIONALLY BLOW SMOKE YOUR WAY.     So if you come up to me and act an a$$ while I'm smoking and MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS, don't be surprised if you DO get a face full of smoke in that instance.   I ONLY do this to those that INVADE my space and start acting like a MORON by making hacking/coughing sounds and commentary in my face, leave me alone to my own devices and personal space and you have nothing to worry about.

So now you see how you NON SMOKERS can make someone that smokes "SO RUDE" as you put it, NINE, that IS CORRECT, NINE out of TEN times the NON-SMOKERS brings this on themself!

Okay, so we've all pretty much seen or heard the story about the Semi vs Train or Train vs Semi depending on where you saw, read or heard the story.  And we've heard, read or seen other news stories from time to time, but do you REALLY KNOW how to KEEP YOURSELF SAFE and FROM BECOMING A STATISTIC at a RailRoad Crossing?

Do you really know how to handle these malfunctioning signals?

Do you know what to do if you see a RED Road Flare burning at a crossing?

Do you know what to do if a train has stopped PRIOR to a crossing or just past it?

Do you know what to do if your vehicle gets stuck on the railroad tracks?

Now I do a lot of railfanning and I am around trains quite a bit, I am also around many different "highway rail crossings" where signals and gates are set up to protect the rails and trains from oncoming traffic, BUT these things DO MALFUNCTION from time to time and sometimes they will also GHOST long after a train has passed through the area.

I will explain what a GHOST or GHOSTING signal is after the following tips to help YOU to REMAIN SAFE at a Railroad Grade Crossing.

Now here is how YOU, as a driver, should approach ANY railroad crossing, these tips could very well SAVE YOUR LIFE!

#1. SLOW DOWN, ROLL YOUR WINDOW DOWN, TURN DOWN YOUR RADIO, GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE and LISTEN and be prepared to STOP, if that gate malfunctions and you do not have a clear view of the tracks from BOTH sides of your vehicle, you are setting yourself up for a possible train vs vehicle collision.   If you DO NOT have a CLEAR VIEW of the tracks from either side of your vehicle, then you "should" STOP, LOOK and LISTEN BEFORE proceeding "carefully" across the tracks.  With todays advent of quieter vehicles, when your windows are up, and if you have a radio on or yapping it up on a cell phone, you MAY NOT hear the crossing signal warning bells if so equipped or even the trains horns and bells as it approaches the crossing.

#2. If you are approaching a grade (railroad) crossing and the lights are active and gates down, DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THEM, even if you DO NOT SEE or DO NOT HEAR a train, WAIT for a few minutes, if the gates and lights are on and you still hear no train, again, DO NOT DRIVE AROUND THE DOWNED GATES, get out of your vehicle and if you happen to have a cell phone, CALL the 800 NUMBER on the small white placard on the signal mast,  make sure you tell the railroad official you talk with the numbers he asks for off the placard, this tells them EXACTLY where the signal is located and where to dispatch a repair person to correct a faulty crossing signal.  Then once you've done that, make a U-TURN and drive to another area to cross the tracks to get to your destination, it is NEVER smart or safe to drive around downed gates UNLESS DIRECTED by a Police Officer or Railroad Official.

#3. If you approach a crossing and the crossing signals are not working or the red alternating flashers are working but the gates are still up AND you see a RED FLARE BURNING on the ground, this means the Railroad KNOWS the crossing has a problem and chances are they have already dispatched someone to fix the problem(s).   If you see a BURNING RED FLARE in the center of the road at a crossing and the gates are up and lights are either off or possibly flashing, refer to #1 to protect yourself.   Especially if there are more than ONE TRACK, on multiple track crossings you run a risk of another train either coming right behind the last train or a second train coming from the opposite direction.

#4. Once a train has passed and the gates are moving up and the signals still flashing, DO NOT CROSS the tracks, this is where many people don't realize that they could very well get hit by a train that may BACK UP(if stopped), another train could come from the other direction (multiple tracks) before the gates are up fully and the lights off.  You SHOULD NEVER, NOT EVER cross any Railroad tracks while a signal flasher is still active, even if the gates are completely up, WAIT until the flashing lights are COMPLETELY OFF and then wait a second or two, then proceed.    If the signal GHOSTS, chances are you're going to have damage to your vehicle!

#5. If a train has STOPPED just past the crossing and even though the gates may be rising, DO NOT CROSS the tracks!, the train MAY START A BACK UP MOVE and guess what, you're going to get hit!   Always and I do MEAN ALWAYS WAIT until the gates are completely up and the flashers have shut off completely, and if there is a train sitting just past the crossing, wait a second or two, then proceed quickly across the crossing.  The main reasons for trains stopping just after a crossing is they may be about to back up, they too, have signals just like we follow and may have a red indication because another train will be coming from the opposite direction or even in the same direction, but on a different track in a multi-track crossing.   Some trains HAVE PRIORITY over others, so one will be halted to allow another to pass, or those multi-tracks end up the line and merge back into a single mainline and two trains going opposite directions can not occupy the same tracks, so one has to wait.   This is what happens quite often in downtown Winter Park and Downtown Orlando when you see a train stopped on the tracks.

#6. If your vehicle gets stuck on the tracks and no train is coming, hopefully you have a cell phone with you, immediately get out of you vehicle and go to the nearest crossing signal and call the 800 number on the placard immediately to inform the railroad of the situation, you may just save your vehicle from becoming scrap metal.   Now if a TRAIN IS COMING, GET OUT of your vehicle IMMEDIATELY, RUN toward the train OFF THE TRACKS, NOT AWAY from it, and AWAY from your vehicle, waving your arms at the train crew in a criss cross fashion above your head,   Chances are they will still hit your vehicle, but the impact may not be as great, but if you run away from the train and it impacts your vehicle, there is a chance your vehicle when hit will end up slamming into you, injuring you seriously or killing you.  So always exit the vehicle quickly and run TOWARD the oncoming train alongside the tracks but at a minimum of 20' off to the side of the tracks to protect yourself from anything that could break loose from the train or from possible derailing rail cars if the train does hit your vehicle.

#7. Also NEVER, EVER crawl under, walk, crawl or climb between or over a STOPPED TRAIN, it could start moving again WITHOUT WARNING and you could be killed or seriously injured by loss of a limb or limbs when either the train starts moving or you get hit by the train that is about to roll by on the other track!   Also there is NO WAY the train crew can see you or know you are crawling, walking between or climbing over their train.  And even if you do survive after doing such a STUPID thing, the Railroad WILL CHARGE YOU with TRESPASSING!   Also you should NEVER, NOT EVER WALK, JOG, RUN, RIDE YOUR BICYCLE or USE Railroad tracks for a shortcut, if you are closer than 20' on either side of the tracks, you are on the Railroads Right of Way (RoW) and it is a citable offense by the railroad, again trespassing.   So stay off  and from between the railroad tracks and cross only at designated crossing areas!

Also note: Where signals are KNOWN to be malfunctioning, the Railroad does a STOP and FLAG of the crossing where the signal is not working properly, the train will stop PRIOR to the crossing (all tracks on multiple track crossings) and the conductor will climb down off the locomotive and set out (ignite) a red road flare and place it down on the center of the crossing on BOTH sides of the crossing.   When a conductor does this, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO STOP and WAIT for him to clear the train through the crossing,  even though the flare will still be burning for a few moments AFTER the last rail car has passed, once the last car has CLEARED the crossing, you may then proceed, but still refer to #1 above ESPECIALLY if you're at a grade crossing with multiple tracks involved!

GHOST/GHOSTING crossing signals, what this is and how it happens.  What it is, is when a train has already passed through the grade crossing and the gates and lights have turned off, train is already a god distance past the crossing, but the flashers and gates RE-ACTIVATES when no train is approaching the crossing.  This will usually happen  just a few seconds after the train has passed, sometimes it can be up to several minutes AFTER the train has long gone.  So even though the signal may be GHOSTING, always treat it as if a train were coming, again, the life you save may be your own!  Because even though the signal may Ghost, there still could very well be another train on it's way.  Always be prepared, better safe than sorry!

How it happens, this was never a real issue with "jointed" rail where the rails are bolted together, but this happens more and more on WELDED railroad tracks where there is no insulator between the joint to denote the start and end of the circuit to energize the crossing signals and gates.  With welded rail, again, there is no insulator and the circuit is more complex on how it senses a train to turn on the signals and lower the gates, sometimes this circuit gets "confused" and will reset the lights and gates, thinking it still senses a train in the "block" and turns on the signaling system even though no train may be coming.  Usually a single will only GHOST ONCE, if it does it more than once, then the Railroad needs to be called and informed they have a malfunctioning signal.  This by no means the most technical explanation of how a signal GHOSTS, but putting it in the most simplistic terms I know to explain it where it's understandable by most people.

Hope this may help to save someones life!

Remember, when at a Railroad Crossing, EXPECT a train at ANYTIME and from ANY DIRECTION!  STOP, LOOK, LISTEN and LIVE!

Here is the actual law on the books taken directly from the websites at:

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/misc/MoveOver.htm

and

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?mode=
View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Sear
ch_String=&URL=CH0316/Sec126.HTM

Drivers are now required to "move over" or "slow down" when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle that is stopped on a highway in Florida. The "Move Over Act", passed during the 2002 session of the Florida Legislature, was signed by Governor Jeb Bush on May 1, 2002.

There are several important provisions concerning this new law. Effective July 1, 2002, on interstate highways or other highways with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a roadway with their emergency lights activated, are required to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, as soon as it is safe to do so.

When approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a two-lane roadway with their emergency lights activated, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.

The "Move Over Act", designed to protect law enforcement and other emergency workers on our highways, was sponsored by Senator Victor Crist, District 13, Tampa, and Representative Mark Flanagan, District 68, Bradenton. The support of the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) was instrumental in getting this important piece of legislation passed.

During the five-year period of 1996-2000, motorists in Florida crashed into working law enforcement vehicles that were stopped/parked along Florida roadways 1,793 times, resulting in five deaths and 419 injuries.

====================== end of move over info =========================

---- Additional Information - More than you probably were really aware of! ----

The 2007 Florida Statutes
Title XXIII
MOTOR VEHICLES Chapter 316
STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL View Entire Chapter

--------------------------------------- End of additional information -------------------------

And what if you're on one of those multi lane highways and can not move over due to heavy traffic?  Well it's not on the website or in the above text, but this is how my State Licensed Traffic School Instructor said to handle this scenario:

Follow the SAME EXACT rule as for a two lane road where you slow down 20mph UNDER the posted speed, so if the posted speed is 50mph, you drop to 30MPH, if 30MPH, then your speed should be no more than 10mph before you even get near the patrol car or emergency vehicle off to the side of the road.  

And how many times have you passed them on a multi-lane road when they've been in the center lane on a multi-lane highway?   This would be handled the same as above.

And I've also noticed that when they have someone pulled over in the "center turning lanes" on a 5 lane highway, no one moves over to the farthest right (slow) lane either, but you're supposed to!

Just thought I'd toss in some more facts as to where this got started and how to handle some scenarios that some drivers may not be aware of either.

Well hope all you drivers in Florida may have learned something from all this information.

316.126  Operation of vehicles and actions of pedestrians on approach of authorized emergency vehicle.--

(1)(a)  Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle, while en route to meet an existing emergency, the driver of every other vehicle shall, when such emergency vehicle is giving audible signals by siren, exhaust whistle, or other adequate device, or visible signals by the use of displayed blue or red lights, yield the right-of-way to the emergency vehicle and shall immediately proceed to a position parallel to, and as close as reasonable to the closest edge of the curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by any law enforcement officer.

(b)  When an authorized emergency vehicle making use of any visual signals is parked or a wrecker displaying amber rotating or flashing lights is performing a recovery or loading on the roadside, the driver of every other vehicle, as soon as it is safe:

1.  Shall vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle or wrecker when driving on an interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle or wrecker, except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.

2.  Shall slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at 5 miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, when driving on a two-lane road, except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.

(c)  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall provide an educational awareness campaign informing the motoring public about the Move Over Act. The department shall provide information about the Move Over Act in all newly printed driver's license educational materials after July 1, 2002.

This section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

(2)  Every pedestrian using the road right-of-way shall yield the right-of-way until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by any police officer.

(3)  Any authorized emergency vehicle, when en route to meet an existing emergency, shall warn all other vehicular traffic along the emergency route by an audible signal, siren, exhaust whistle, or other adequate device or by a visible signal by the use of displayed blue or red lights. While en route to such emergency, the emergency vehicle shall otherwise proceed in a manner consistent with the laws regulating vehicular traffic upon the highways of this state.

(4)  Nothing herein contained shall diminish or enlarge any rules of evidence or liability in any case involving the operation of an emergency vehicle.

(5)  This section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

(6)  A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as either a moving violation for infractions of subsection (1) or subsection (3), or as a pedestrian violation for infractions of subsection (2).

History.--s. 1, ch. 71-135; s. 1, ch. 84-204; s. 122, ch. 99-248; s. 2, ch. 2002-217; s. 2, ch. 2004-20

So were you folks aware that this MOVE OVER LAW also INCLUDED WRECKERS picking up or off-loading vehicles?

Even I was unaware that wreckers were also protected under this law until I did some research after hearing FOX 35's report and thought there was still a lot of information that needed to be said!   And the above says it all!

So did you learn anything new that you didn't know before?   I **sure** did!

.

Yes, I AM a SMOKER, and YES, I have been a NON-SMOKER and can see some BUT NOT ALL sides from the NON SMOKING PUBLIC.

But this latest one I find totally offensive in the respect that DISNEY and possibly other filmakers will cut anyone smoking cigarettes or cigars out.  That is, no more smoking characters, this is assanine.

Look back at a lot of our greatest actors that smoked in their movies, The "smoking man" in the X-Files, and one of my all-time favorites Clint Eastwood for one, in his movies, not a one of his characters would look remotely correct for the type characters he played in many of his movies.   Even though I don't drink anything alcoholic, Clint Eastwoods character and many other characters just would not be in their proper perspective WITHOUT their drinking OR SMOKING in an OLD WEST SALOON or as his Dirty Harry character.

So, if Disney and others are going to follow suit and post notices about smoking, are they going to do the same with characters that drink alcohol, that is are they going to BAN DRINKING ALCOHOLCI BEVERAGES in these SAME MOVIES where smoking is now cut out?    If Not, I want to know why that a character drinking booze and/or getting drunk on screen is ok, but smoking is not!

Second Hand smoke STILL has YET TO BE PROVEN that it affects anyone with little or limited exposure on a daily basis, YET, WE KNOW FOR A FACT, ALCOHOL(Drunk Driving) has KILLED, MAIMED and CAUSED MORE INJURIES to people than ANY SECOND HAND SMOKE.   So why do we continue to accept ALCOHOLIC beverages as ok, but tobacco is a big taboo?, especially when ONE (ALCOHOL) IS, IN FACT, WORSE than the OTHER(TOBACCO!   After all, smoking a cigarette or cigar (the LEGAL ones) DOES NOT IMPAIR YOUR REFLEXES, Nor does it make you WEAVE all over the highway, run red lights, drive too slow or a multitude of other things.

So why is SMOKING CONSIDERED WORSE than DRINKING ALCOHOL?   I WANT ANSWERS and to date, every blog I've created HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER this VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.  Why?    Because folks KNOW EXACTLY what I am saying is the truth and many have had first-hand experience with drunk drivers killing a family member or several members or friends that WERE NOT DRIVING DRUNK!

Sorry, but I honestly feel the tobacco companies SHOULD FILE a DISCRIMINATION SUIT, after all, they don't allow them to advertise anywhere!  Yet, ALCOHOL is all over TV, BILLBOARDS, at SPORTING EVENTS, FLEA MARKETS, etc. and this appears to be okay?   Again why is ALCOHOL ok and tobacco NOT?

So if I see some jerk drinking ANY FORM of ALCOHOL, DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF I "BREAK THE LAW" and LIGHT UP INSIDE!   I think a BAND OF SMOKERS SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND PROTEST this UNFAIR PRACTICE of continuing to allow alcoholic drinks at all these places, yet, we can't smoke.   IT'S A 2 WAY STREET HERE, but the smoker is the one getting DETOURED DOWN A DEAD END ROAD and I, for one, DO NOT LIKE IT and I WILL FIGHT, SUE and PROTEST FOR MY CIVIL RIGHT TO SMOKE WHEN and WHERE I WANT, PERIOD!  

Why isn't the ACLU jumping on this bandwagon for the smokers?  They stick their nose into everything else, but I guess the ACLU doesn't have any smokers on board, and why they look the other way, if there were a lot of smokers in that organization, I CAN GUARANTEE they'd be shoving it down everyones throat as to how UNFAIR this is.

Well I've fumed enough, but I do think it is HIGH TIME THE SMOKERS REVOLTED AGAINST ALL THESE RIDICULOUS RULES (LAWS) THAT ARE BEING IMPOSED ON US!