Politics

First, I'd like to take a moment to remember the thousands of people who died in the terrorist attacks 7 years ago (I can't believe it has been 7 years already).

Today marks the beginning of the Pennsylvania smoking ban. Granted, there are plenty of exemptions (casinos, bars that make less than 20% profits in food sales, etc.), but it still scares the shit out of me that the government is telling private business owners that they can't allow a legal activity to take place on the premises. You know what they say: absolute power corrupts absolutely. *Update* I just got an e-mail from the PA State System of Higher Education that smoking is no longer permitted on any campuses. Between undergrad and grad school, I've put tens of thousands of dollars toward PASSHE and now I can't smoke outside?? I guess most people are so wrapped up in being happy about not having to smell smoke that they aren't concerned by the government's erosion of our rights.

And while I'm writing about politics, I just read that Palin's church is hosting a conference to "pray away the gay."