In the interest of full disclosure, I am a former smoker. I quit almost 20 years ago when a pack of cigarettes went above a dollar - I was outraged that they'd charge that much. Go figure. Anyway, my mom still smokes (like a chimney) and I more than anyone would love to see her quit. But she chooses not to. Despite the second-hand smoke my father complains about.

So having revealed that sordid bit of history, I applaud Scott LoBaido from Staten Island. Who is he you may ask? My hero for today - he was the lone dissenter on the steps of New York's City Hall as Bloomberg signed into law the most restrictive anti-smoking ban in the country. Even with the compromises added to his original bill.

Now don't get me wrong. I'd rather enjoy a beer without a cloud of smoke over my head. But when Bloomberg claimed that he saved 1,000 lives by enacting this legislation, I had to draw the line. It's outrageous and, if actually true, should be enough to make cigarettes illegal everywhere - screw the bar ban. Think of the black market that would instantly appear; think of the government bureaucracy that would be created. We've done less to save a 1,000 lives in the past.

I never like New Year's Eve Day. The end of a year is so...final. I'll be better tomorrow. I'm tired of the year in reviews but I found this review of 2002 quite interesting.

Here's to 2003 - may it be an improvement over 2002. Not that that would be too difficult.

From the "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" School of Government. (Kudos to RD for sending me the link.)
Or, one more addition to my list of "Things to Thank Ronald Reagan For," in this life or the next.

Just before the start of the Giants/Eagles game on Fox this afternoon, there's Jillian Barbieri making sexual innuendos to the Fox NFL pre-game show team. Followed by outright leers from Terry, Howie and the other degenerates. What does this have to do with football? They should all be ashamed of themselves. And god forbid, maybe Andy Rooney was on to something after all.

Airbags were often a big topic of conversation in my house when I was growing up in the 70s. So long ago it seems. But then I happen to come across an article that says automakers want stronger warnings to prevent "death by airbag" of young children or the very petite-est of drivers. My, how times have changed.

I am in no way unsympathetic to the 22 families cited in the article. But I can't help but ask: doesn't everyone know that the front passenger seat is called "The Death Seat?" Nothing unclear about that. So my question: why would anyone put an infant seat in the front of a car, airbag or no airbag? God help us if the automobile industry is actually taking steps to protect consumers - that used to be Ralph Nader's job. Things must be really bad. (Don't get me started on Nader - his egocentric bungling of the 2000 presidential race was what inspired my idea for Outrage.com in the first place.)

I grew up in a house consumed by automobile safety, thanks to my dad's work on Capitol Hill and then for a major German automaker. Seat belts, child locks, ABS, air bags, supplemental restraint, crumple zones, crash test dummies -- ahh, the fond memories of childhood.

I thought it would be hard to get outraged at Christmastime. I was wrong. Leave it to the good ole state of California to consider implementing an Internet sales tax to bridge its budget gap.

I can't remember any more how many times this issue has been raised - just to be cast aside when they realize the layers of obstacles that would arise if some dimwit - or group of dimwits - tried to impose it.

One last note: to the lucky gent in W. VA - donations to the Church of Outrage.com are always welcome. I'm serious.

More saddened than outraged, the news of Joe (The Clash) Strummer's death is hard to take. In college, I played London Calling on my record player until the record gave out. Literally. The CD may last longer, but I will never forget the first time I heard that album - and how The Clash shaped my taste in music forever. The punk movement was always about politics and class warfare. No one understood that better than Strummer. One of my favorite songs is Death or Glory - sometimes you get both.

I work far from home - an average of 100 miles round trip. I know that traffic nightmares can be found all over. But I'm outraged over the number of drivers who do not know how to drive in the rain. They seem incapable of applying pressure to the accelerator when the road is wet. Why does this happen?

I understand accidents, construction, volume -- all are valid reasons to stretch an hour and a half New York to Connecticut commute into a three hour torture fest. But when the only thing holding up the lanes is stupidity, I have to draw the line. Maybe New York State can implement a road test in the rain - and if you fail, it's marked on your license. So if you cause a traffic mess, you are faced with a massive fine. Or jail time. Or both. Just a thought...

I've seen four apologies from Trent Lott. But has he once explained what he meant by "all these problems over all these years'' we wouldn't have today if Strom had been elected? I've been scanning articles but haven't seen any real explanation to that supposed off the cuff remark.

Why doesn't some enterprising reporter, or better yet, Michael Moore, dog the man until he answers that one question. Someone please set up camp outside his office - #487 Russell SOB - that's Senate Office Building, not son of a bitch - to get the answer for me. Or better yet, email him like I did - senatorlott@lott.senate.gov - and ask him yourself.

One parting thought: when an elected official has to tell the press that he plans to remain in office to serve out the term he or she was elected to, they're usually already one foot out the door, right? Until tomorrow...