A sign you'll never see in New York is "Hug a Cop" just like a sign you'll never see in California is "Kiss a Smoker..." though chances are you'll never see that sign anywhere. The poster that comes most to mind is the one along the lines of, "Kissing a Smoker is Like Licking an Ashtray."

Smoking is about as unpopular an act as you'll ever see in today's world. Nearly every other vice has been justified in some way, but one that won't be justified is that of smoking. A glass of red wine a night is good for the heart. Heavy amounts of beer keeps the brain nimble by killing the slowest brain cells. Eggs, they're what's for breakfast. "Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health." One of these things is not like the others.

The previous quote was taken from the Surgeon General's warning that was written on a pack of Kamel Reds. Thanks to warnings like these, the general public now knows that smoking, if not plain bad for you (think smoke inhalation), will probably kill you. California has all but made a felony crime out of smoking. Both that state and New York have levied enormous taxes on the buying of cigarettes. Nobody likes smokers, and most smokers want to quit were it not for the damn addictive effects. Or so it's told. What about those that like to smoke?

Those who like to smoke are never mentioned in the billion dollar lawsuits, or cried over in the television movies, but they exist. The largest shareholder, not to mention the CEO, Chief Content Officer, and Design Director of spudWorks are all avid smokers for no other reason than they enjoy the act of smoking. Do they know the risks? Yes. So then why? The answer is, "why not?" Just because it's bad for you does not mean that it should be illegal.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Although the point was not to get on the good side of big tobacco, advertising rates will be given to interested parties upon request.