Thoughts

Rush is on vacation.

Michael Savage is on vacation (or just not doing his own show at the moment).

Talk radio: the next best thing to paying attention to the road. Though, I must say, I'm getting sick of hearing about the Swift Boat Vets. The Swift Boat Vets are heroes. They're tools of the Bush campaign. They're telling the truth about Kerry. They're liars intent on destroying a brave and competent man. Whatever story you accept...

I NO LONGER CARE.

All that can be said about them has been said. Naturally this means we'll hear it all over again, just in case.

Nicotine is a wonderful drug. You won't hear many people admit that openly, because cigarettes are Evil. Lung cancer is a small price to pay for increased mental acuity, though. I get more done in less time when I have that burning chemical in my blood. Too bad about the whole "causes death" thing. Shame, really.

Actually, this brings up an important issue. If anyone were to say what I said, he'd be shouted down with knee-jerk anti-tobacco platitudes. But, really, why are cigarettes smoked if they have no beneficial properties? Beyond the pleasure of it, cigarette smoking does produce some nifty results. It's a stimulant that relaxes the nerves, it seems to help one focus better, and it just...gives your hands something to do. Smoking two packs a day and killing yourself at fifty is a terrible tradeoff for those meager benefits, really, but that's not the point. Were I to suggest that someone have a cigarette every once in a while to relax, I'd get the same raving denunciation.

Alcohol is lovely as well. Give it a chance. Some people, shockingly, understand and practice moderation.