Open Thread (7/7/2008)

Posted July 7th, 2008 at 04:33 AM by IlliniPundit
in

Monday, July 7, 2008.

Hope everyone enjoyed the 4th of July.  We thought the fireworks were excellent, and the traffic didn't seem too bad.

 

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On July 7th, 2008 at 09:58 AM, Ralph Langenheim (not verified) said:

"History is bunk." Henry Ford -- he may not actually have said this, but it is one of those legendary quotes. Ralph Langenheim

Glock21's picture
On July 7th, 2008 at 12:06 PM, Glock21 said:

TheSquire had a cool link up on his blog to a travel site that generates a map for all the States you've been to:

 

Visited US States

 

So far in my road tripping I've hit up 36 States, Washington D.C., and 5 Canadian provinces.  Hoping to hit a good chunk of the southwest soon myself.  I blogged my last road trip: The Road Trip of the Confederacy. Got some cool pics for anyone interested.  It was a nerdy trip, but I had a blast. At times it felt like I was chasing General Lee's ghost.

 

So where y'all been?

 

--

Glock21 Op/Ed

redstatewannabe's picture
On July 7th, 2008 at 01:19 PM, redstatewannabe said:

just had a real nice trip to Memphis - great AAA baseball park.

Oil Man's picture
On July 7th, 2008 at 06:43 PM, Oil Man said:

Curently on my way to Denver for the 2008 Rocky Mountain Energy Epicenter.  Just a 'power' guy at heart so I keep going to these things.

On July 7th, 2008 at 08:29 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

I'd like to get everyone's opinion on this.  I went to the 4th of July fireworks at Lake of the Woods in Mahomet. I was enjoying myself until the lady sitting less than 5 feet away took out a cigarette and lit up. What the hell!?! Is that addiction so bad that it's impossible to go for an hour without lighting up? I thought it was rude but I didn't say anything. I'm not happy about my 2 year old being around it either. I know there are mixed opinions about smoking, but I've thought about it and I just can't come up with any rational argument that condones her behavior. If you want to go smoke, go stand out by the cars away from everyone else.

On July 7th, 2008 at 11:09 PM, Anonymous (not verified) said:

 

Curently on my way to Denver for the 2008 Rocky Mountain Energy Epicenter.  Just a 'power' guy at heart so I keep going to these things.

I prefer this one:

http://www.illinoisrenew.org/events/2008_fair.htm

I've been going for four years now and it's a good time.  A lot of interesting people, ideas, informative workshops and speeches...plus it's a lot closer than Denver (saves on gas that way : )

On July 8th, 2008 at 05:48 AM, Andrew Iverson (not verified) said:

Smokers are generally rude and obnoxious.  Smoking correlates very highly with a lack of intelligence.  Of course there are exceptions.  But generally, smoking in public is much like the formerly accepted practice of spitting in public.  As we mature as a civilized society most folks realize our nasty habits are better practiced in private.  Some are slow to catch on.

On July 8th, 2008 at 10:31 AM, Run4cvrlib said:

You must be the exception.

On July 8th, 2008 at 03:23 PM, Champaign Dweller said:

Smoking correlates with very highly with lack of intelligence?  What study reached that conclusion?

On July 8th, 2008 at 04:28 PM, ManicMondayMomma said:

Re: smoking lady. Ask her to stop smoking (probably not going to happen) or move. I guess you could also sue her. Seems like you could call the cops to make her stop, especially considering she was near your 2 year old. Did you know it says this in the IL Constitution:

ARTICLE XIENVIRONMENTSECTION 1. PUBLIC POLICY - LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITY
The public policy of the State and the duty of each
person is to provide and maintain a healthful environment for
the benefit of this and future generations. The General
Assembly shall provide by law for the implementation and
enforcement of this public policy.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

SECTION 2. RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS
Each person has the right to a healthful environment.
Each person may enforce this right against any party,
governmental or private, through appropriate legal
proceedings subject to reasonable limitation and regulation
as the General Assembly may provide by law.
(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

Glock21's picture
On July 8th, 2008 at 05:25 PM, Glock21 said:

"Smoking correlates very highly with a lack of intelligence."

 

Smoking is probably one of the dumbest habits I've picked up over the years.  I certainly wouldn't argue that it is a sign of intelligence, but given that smart people do dumb things sometimes, I don't think it is solid evidence to the contrary either.  Perhaps it may negate any claims to being an absolute genius though. :-)

 

--

Glock21 Op/Ed

Kevin Sandefur's picture
On July 8th, 2008 at 10:15 PM, Kevin Sandefur said:

"Is that addiction so bad that it's impossible to go for an hour without lighting up?"

Yes.  That's why it's an addiction, more powerful than heroin or alcohol.

"Smoking correlates very highly with a lack of intelligence."

Maybe yes, maybe no.  It is obvious, however, that smokers do not have the market cornered on rudeness.

"Smoking is probably one of the dumbest habits I've picked up over the years.  I certainly wouldn't argue that it is a sign of intelligence, but given that smart people do dumb things sometimes, I don't think it is solid evidence to the contrary either."

I smoked for the better part of thirty-five years.  I quit cold turkey in the hospital after the heart attack.  If I were somehow magically twenty years old again physically, I would probably start smoking again.  In public.

Whenever anyone complained, I always tried to adjust either the cigarette or my position so that the smoke blew away from them.  If I couldn't do that, I usually moved.  If I couldn't do that, I would put it out until I was no longer around them.

I was especially sensitive to children.  Most smokers are, and will try to accomodate you if you are polite and civil when complaining.  Cop an attitude or a tone, though, and you are just as likely to get smoke blown in your face.