One game playoff
By Bob Williams
October 1, 2007
Big ups to Viking Sports Cafe in Glenwood and the Bar and Grill on the Hill; both establishments hooked up the G-man and I this weekend with unexpectedly low tabs for the incredibly high amounts of intoxication achieved. Kudos to both bars. It was a decent way to enjoy our last indoor Minnesota lung darts.
While there, we heard from Al the Closet Organic Genius who popped in with the phrase of the daze that pays. It's quite difficult to relate it in this censored forum. Something along the lines of: "I personally believe if women didn't have certain attributes, there'd be a bounty on their heads."
I think a thanks is in order to Steve the bartender as well. I think his name was Steve. It got a little blurry at the end of the night, especially after he decided we deserved a goodnight last-call shot of Yukon Jack for the road. Good thing we were walking.
Before I get into it, the whole point of this post is the Padres/Rockies one-game playoff tonight. 6:30 pm CST on TBS. Do or die for both teams. Just pray it isn't a blowout.
One place I won't be watching the game tonight is where I'd normally be for such an event: at the bar. Deserved thanks should be given to the babysitting public health department, the lined-pockets of our Reps and Sens and finally the cowardly business owners who allowed the institution of this fascist smoking ban to be instituted upon themselves rather than make their own business decisions.
It's quite sad when groups of non-smokers have to band together and promise each other to all go out on October 1 to "support" local businesses. "Hey everyone, let's all go to the bar where the smokers would normally be so our silly rules won't seeminly appear to have the monetary effect they will once we go back to our non-bar patronizing lives!"
Ya see, let me tell ya a little something about how bars operate on those nights when people who worry about second-hand smoke are too frightened to drive their vehicles through a blizzard to the bar. That's something we smokers do. It's 15 below temp, 50 below wind chill, there are 10 people in the bar. Nine of them are smokers, one has a reason not to be or is a closet "only when I drink" smoker.
Where will the hail of non-smokers be on those nights? Tucked into bed, getting 8 hours of sleep because they have to work in the morning and aren't capable of working hungover. Now I'm not saying my legion of lung-darters and I won't be there. We will be. We'll just be standing outside under a lone heater wondering why we didn't stay home like the non-smokers since we can no longer belly up.
I want to give some credit to the Fergus Falls VFW, a bar I will now be patronizing more. When those cats heard the ban coming down they got out and built an enclosed patio. I will happily donate my cash there to defer the cost. I know a few other joints in town are making some kind of accomodation for those of charred lung, but big kudos to the VF.
It's going to take an entire table of you non-smokers to stay all night to cover the number of drinks that would normally fester in front of me. I think I'm going to go buy a new recliner with my first month's bar savings.
I'm not all anti-anti-smoking. I do know a couple ladies who are allergic to cigarette smoke and I do look forward to seeing them in the bar now that they can go in and not have their heads blow up. And as M says, "as a non-smoker, I will be pleased as punch when I don't have to set my clothes on fire after a night at the bar. But you have my condolences!"
At least there's some respect.
There, I've gotten that out. It won't matter. We smokers will all drop dead sooner or later and you health freaks, who buy pills that fix one of your problems while giving you the squirts as the most minor side effect, can go on living your extended lives in peace belly up or not.
Gee Bob, need some cheese with that whine? The whole non-smoking thing is really a Liberal cause, not a Fascist thing - a leftie like you knows that and should embrace it - more government is good when it is taxing me more, why is it not good when it denies you the right to smoke whenever and wherever you like? I guess it all depends on whose ox is getting gored. Should be some interesting conversations between you and the VFW regulars - maybe open up with a volley on Bush, followed by the Iraq War, and then close with a little patriotism talk. You may be escorted to your comfy recliner rather shortly in that case. Better to just stay with the female jokes - the most you get there is an occasional slap, which at times may actually be enjoyable. Smokers are still more than welcome at every bar - just step outside, that's all - you'll get used to it. And clean air makes the non-smokers welcome as well, and will help our bar staff to live a little longer. Clean water, clean food, and finally, 10/1/07, clean air, what a great concept.
I'm trying to figure out the logic here Bob. The "sad" non-smokers who are trying to patronize a business that may or may not be adversely affected by this legislation are somehow more pathetic than a guy who chooses to sit in his recliner and suck on his pacifier, oops, I mean "lung dart" in staunch opposition to a law. Gosh I think your idealism is just great.
Did I mention brand new recliner?
hah!
It's all about me!
So, are you an alcoholic? because it seems like every one of your blog posts talks about you drinking. a lot.
And really, is that something the FFDJ wants to endorse?
This may come as a surprise to you, anonymous, but liberals often make the best fascists. Remember a fascist is someone who believes eliminating individual liberties and freedoms for some "greater good" gives them the moral impetus to tell everyone else what to do, or not to do. How apropos you remain anonymous, as that is how fascism typically succeeds: a nameless, faceless populace bleating along with some self-righteous (expletive deleted) who thinks they know best.
How apropos that you remain anonymous, even as you criticize others for doing so. Perhaps it is the Daily Journal's blog software that deletes our hnndles.
Welcome to the facade, James.
I see now you were not intentionally anonymous, apologies, that changes little.
And for the record, I don't give a rat's fart about this smoking issue, I believe both smokers and anti-smokers have issues they need to evaluate on their own time.
I am, however, an ardent anti-fascist, and this law is blatant slippery-slope fascism. The democratic presidential candidates ensured I won't vote for a single one of those d-bags, just by accepting the idea that the federal government could impose a draconian measure like this. It's bad enough that we already have national ID cards, it won't be long before the public health police are knocking on you're door asking for you're liver. Lucky for Bob, they won't take his!
Users/Handles are currently not appearing in blog comments. The issue has been noted and I'll try to have that repaired as soon as possible. - Bob
And thanks for reading. I appreciate all comments, especially the ones which call me out. Good stuff.
First of all, it is not the Federal govt, but the states (17 and counting) that are implementing these smoking bans. And they are far from slippery-slope or draconian. They are in the interest of public health for workers and patrons alike - just as we have clean water and food, now we have clean air in places that are open to the public. That is called good government at work. What liberty or freedom is being taken away from smokers? The right to fill others' lungs with their poisonous by-product, that's what. They can still smoke all they want, just not wherever/whenever they want.
Not talkin about the smokers, bucksteel, but the bar owners who are seriously concerned about the health of their businesses. In the latest dem debate, the question was posed as to whether or not the federal gov't should impose a nation-wide smoking ban, & none of them would fully dismiss the idea.
OK, I see your point(s). I believe that the right to breathe clean air trumps the right of the bar/restaurant owners to allow smoking - you disagree - no big deal. I also believe that the public health issues that ensure clean water and food are a good deal as well. Similar bans in other states have shown no long-term downtrend in bar/restaurant business with a level playing field, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the coming months in Moorhead, Breckenridge, and EGF, with smoking allowed just across the river.
Answer me this d-bags. I work in a welding shop and endure far worse smoke inhalation then any bartender or server, but yet, am not allowed to rip a lung dart in the shop. What sense is that??!! Question: Who's shoulder do I cry on to get some laws passed so I don't have to go to work and breathe that crap? Answer: No one. Reason: Because I choose that profession and fully have the option to leave if desired. The same option all you cry babies have! Get lives! Live them! Enjoy them! Then, and only then, will you see The Bob Show's Point of view. Peace
Personally I found Bob's blog entry a hoot, I couldn't have said it better myself. It was whiners that started the whole thing in the first place. I agree with the "no smoking" restaurant side of the argument but the bar?
It's a BAR!!! I've already seen people bringing kids into the bar. It may be smoke-free but is this really an environment you want to bring your kids to? I can just see bars turning into a "family place", people will bring their kids like it's a Burger King. I'm sure the drunks will like the indoor playground and little paper crowns but really it's still 'A baby...in a bar' Nice!
Thank you basca for catching the humor. It's lost on some.
everybody's still selling cocktails, except for yes, it's slooowwwer. A few new faces this week to our delight but we missed a lot of our regulars. Oh well. only time will tell I guess...... I myself have quit smoking, as the honorable captain always goes down with his ship.. And if the ship doesn't go down? Well, I used to like smoking, I was good at it (started back when Bugs Bunny smoked, when it was cool) but not in my house (kids), not in my car (kids), but at the bar (not cool to drink with kids). I'm just too lazy to go outside and smoke in minnesota esp. Nov-May. At any rate I'm saving money, Maybe for a recliner (good plan Bob). In holland I didn't see a Burger King, but at McD's I had a beer and a smoke. No cool free hats though, bummer. I should email them.
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