The Future of Social 'Smoking'
They've done it. Blu, an e-cigarette manufacturer, has developed what amounts to a smoker's social network. The new packs, which hold five e-cigarettes, send and receive radio signals and vibrate whenever they are within 50 feet of each other. Additionally, whenever a retail outlet that sells Blu e-cigarettes is nearby, the pack notifies its owner. Although the latter feature doesn't exactly pose a significant advantage over traditional cigarettes (since those are sold virtually everywhere), the social aspect of these new e-cigarettes certainly does. It's long been known that smokers, who tend to be exiled to the outdoors or designated smoking areas, inevitably tend to bond over their common habit. Given that e-cigarettes, despite their health and economic benefits, are still far from mainstream, I think their new social capabilities will make them more appealing products--which is a good thing, of course, because e-cigarettes do not emit secondhand smoke.
Still, there is some reluctance to adopt the new technology. One smoker interviewed by The New York Times responded to the prospect of his social life being enhanced by a vibrating cigarette pack by saying, "I think that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life...And I’m saying that in full acknowledgment that smoking is one of the dumbest things I can do.” Hopefully, he still recognizes that switching to e-cigarettes is one of the smarter things that he can do for himself and others around him.
Smoke-free California Apartments
It appears that landlords of California apartment complexes are soon going to be legally able to ban tenants from smoking. If the state Assembly passes the bill proposed by Senator Alex Padilla, not only will obvious issues pertaining to secondhand smoke be addressed, but the relatively new concern over third-hand smoke will be too. However, I should clarify my stance on this law. Just over one year ago, I wrote about my internal conflict with banning smoking in apartments. In sum, I don't believe that government has the right to ban smoking in private places--only public ones--and because apartments are only quasi-private, I am somewhat torn as to whether a ban is just or not.
However, this law would not ban smoking in all apartment complexes. This is ideal; it merely gives landlords the right to ban smoking if they choose. So, as long as there are smokers, there will be housing options that allow smoking...and all will be fair in the world!
The Debate Over Casinos
"You come to Vegas, you know exactly what you're getting into." These were the words of a Las Vegas hotel worker interviewed by the local CBS affiliate, who appears to believe that people who come to visit Las Vegas assume the risks of immense secondhand smoke exposure in casinos. For the most part, she's right. But what about the people who work inside casinos--particularly the non-smokers? Take Vincent Rennich, a never-smoker who worked in Tropicana Atlantic City for twenty-six years. In his words: "I began working in a casino when I was 22 years old...I never knew it would jeopardize my health. None of us did." Since he quit working there in 2006, he has had a third of a lung removed, but successfully sued his former employer toward a $4.5 million settlement.
Will these lawsuits continue to favor the nonsmoker who chooses to work in an environment notorious for heavily-concentrated secondhand smoke? Considering how smoking and secondhand smoke are now known to cause cancer, I'm guessing not. So, the only feasible way for non-smoking employees and patrons to combat the risk is to eliminate smoking in casinos altogether, which is what some Las Vegas activists are now trying to do. Although I am inclined to side with the activists, I actually think that the most realistic 'solution' is to let time do the work. At the rate that other types of businesses are making names for themselves as smoke-free establishments, I would be surprised if Vegas doesn't see a smoke-free hotel and casino pop up within the next five years. In the meantime, I'm more than okay with cigarette smoking being associated with the term 'Sin City.'
Niagara Falls - Now Smoke-free!
Although this article does not explicitly say that the Niagara Falls park will be smoke-free, the city of Niagara Falls, Canada will be. $100 fines will be handed out to violators. Personally, I think the fines should be higher in the park, but that's beside the point. What's interesting to me is that, because the waterfalls straddle the international border, I'm wondering how Niagara Falls, New York is going to react to the strict measure adopted by its Canadian counterpart. Either way, I'm looking forward to visiting Buffalo, NY in a couple of months and hoping to see sidewalks free of cigarette butts!
Smoke-free Sonoma State University
I'd like to give a quick shout-out to my friend Katie Robinson for supporting a resolution that has successfully banned cigarettes in the central part of the Sonoma State University campus. Congratulations to the Seawolves on this big achievement.
First Day of New York City's Ban
Here is what the New York Times has to say. Stay tuned for next month's digest for the public's reaction. My prediction: It's going to involve a week or two of argumentation, but once smokers realize that it's a reasonable policy and the world isn't going to end, they'll stop complaining. Hey, China--a.k.a. the largest country on the face of the earth did it, so why can't NYC?
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