Well, it's been three weeks to the day that my clove cigarettes got banned.

The good news is that I've discovered that I have no physical addiction to nicotine. The only time I crave a cigarette is when I'm doing something I've come to associate with smoking. So, mental addiction yes, physical addiction no. I've smoked, perhaps, a pack and a half in the last three weeks, and I used to be a pack a day smoker.

So, I found out that I can go without tobacco if I want to. I do not, however, want to do so. Of course, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it.

For the Children

Well, I've been holding off on this, because I wanted to post something that wasn't just a string of expletives. On September 22nd, 2009, our great and wonderful government decided to outlaw my cigarettes. Needless to say, I'm not pleased.

First, some background information. I smoke, or rather, used to smoke, clove cigarettes. I am of legal age to do so, and never gave it a much more thought than that. Our elected idiots, however, decided that I shouldn't be allowed to smoke clove cigarettes, or any flavor other than regular and menthol. Why? To protect the children.

They claim flavored cigs appeal to kids. That's bullshit, but it sounds logical, so people believe it. Have a look at the numbers that Congress didn't bother to check. Yes, those numbers come from the people who sell the product. Most of their (fully cited) sources are national and university studies.

Look, I know smoking is bad for me. I accept that, because I enjoyed the habit. Yes, that is past-tense. If I can't have the cigs I want, I'm not bothering. Back to the point...

Even if flavored cigs did appeal more to kids than regular, that would not justify a ban on their sale and importation. Apparently, when Congress starts thinking about the children, they also start thinking like children. Because if it might cause one child to start smoking, several million adults aren't allowed to have it. That's the sort of psychology that most of us got over in grade school.

I'll be honest, a total cigarette ban would have made more sense. Then kids definitely wouldn't get them. Of course, that would be a lot of tax money, and banning just the flavored cigs allows the government to pretend that it's doing something about the problem of kids smoking without harming tax revenue noticeably.

If I keep typing this will never end.

See ya.

Post the First

Today, my fellow legion of heretics (and those believers who may read this for whatever reason), we shall discuss the Bible. But I'm not here to point out logical fallacies or blatant lies. No, that's easy, and easy isn't what I'm out to accomplish.

For a moment, I will, if only for argument's sake, accept that the Bible is the 100% accurate word of God. I shall now live my life according to its principles, and thus refrain from sin until such a time as I finish this little exercise.

And done. I would like to have said something, but I couldn't, because I refrained from judging others. I do notice, however, that those who claim to be believers in this book usually do not. In fact, if anything, they are those most likely to judge others. So, either you lot just skipped that part, or you're hypocrites.

Maybe you didn't know about that one though. I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. So, Christians, here is your chance to show that you really do follow the teachings of the bible.

Luke 6:30

Read that, then read it again. Read it in any version of the Bible you have, in any language you know. Now, send me the deeds to your homes, vehicles, and checks for the full amount of your bank accounts, please? See, I not only asked, but I asked nicely. If you're really Christians, you will do this.

I note a lack of deeds and checks in my mailbox.

Which, of course, brings us to today's topic: Bible literacy.

Show of hands, how many people have actually read the entire thing? Forgive my presumption, but I'm guessing only the atheists are raising their hands right now. I've no doubt that most Christians have tried, likely several times. Of course, the old testament is a bit dry at times, with all the passages about who fathered whom and whatnot, so it can be far too easy to be thrown off track. Fortunately, guilt can be assuaged with a bit more money in the offering plate.

No doubt there are Christians who will say that they have, indeed, read the Bible all the way through. To that, I say shenanigans. Better than half of the atheists that I know lost their faith in God when they read the Bible. Others have their own reasons, but reading the Bible seems to be a very quick way to stop believing it.

So, having established that you haven't actually read your 'holy' book, I must ask why you feel that you should be quoting it to anyone. So, why do you do it? You don't even know what it says, yet you feel that others should be living their lives by it? What the hell is wrong with you?

I think you're afraid. You live in constant fear that you don't believe enough, and so you try to get others to believe. After all, if these people who you think are intelligent believe, there must be something to it, right? And if nothing else, maybe God will look more kindly on you in judgment.

Well, I'm here to tell you not to fear. If something is worthy of respect and worship, then we should not fear it. And if your god inspires fear, you should tell them where to stick it.