One Smoker Fires Back

So, the new trend across Corporate America is to deny applicants employment or fire their current employees for smoking tobacco – outside of the work site. Last time I checked, while smokers are now utterly banished to the outdoors or their own homes, the purchase/consumption of tobacco is legal for adults in the United States. I’m employed by an insurance company. I thoroughly understand there are increased risks for specific habits/activities. I absolutely understand the concept of charging increased premiums for those increased risks. However, these increased risks reflect GENERALIZATIONS; no one can predict the future of an individual.

Overweight people COULD develop diabetes or heart disease – should they be banned from employment?

Horrible driving habits COULD result in serious/permanent injury – should they be banned from employment? If so, what defines “horrible”?

Sexually adventurous (and careless) individuals COULD develop AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, etc – should they be banned from employment?

Families, regardless of the number of children, are charged a flat rate for health coverage. Families with 5 children COULD have increased health care costs over families with only one child – should a parent with more than one child be banned from employment? What’s the cutoff – one child, two children, five children – and who decides what the right number is (let’s call China to see what they think)??

Individuals who have successfully battled cancer in the past COULD have a relapse – should they be banned from employment?

Alcoholics COULD develop liver disease or become suicidal – should they be banned from employment?

Children and grandchildren of cancer victims have an increased risk of also developing the same disease – should they be banned from employment?

Certain ethnic lines are susceptible to Sickle Cell Anemia – should they be banned from employment?

The generalizations could go on and on. Should Corporate America begin refusing employment for all these groups of citizens as well? Something tells me there would be quite a spike in unemployment across the country. I would understand if the employers made the move to charge smokers (sure, go ahead, do the random testing to check for nicotine) more for their health insurance – but completely ban them from employment? The concept just seems wrong to me….very, very wrong. It leaves me scratching my head…and this view comes from an ex-smoker. What's your opinion?

Lake Effect is a Beach

Yep, Thunder Snow freaks me out...so does only having two seasons over the past few years - Summer and Winter. The North Coast Snowbelt received almost 3 inches of snow last night, with another 5 inches predicted to arrive by 6pm.

Do you think they'll shovel the field for the Friday Night playoff game???

In Memory of 9/11

Never Forget

Cuz I've been neglecting ya'll...

KatJam posted the list - I supplied the answers:

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
Yes, thankfully not by my brother.

2. Do you close your eyes on roller coasters?
never

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
1987, unless you count the time last winter that I slid down the icy front steps on my ass.

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
I’m a snuggler, for approximately 4 minutes, and then I want to be alone.

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
Absolutely. I do, I do, I do believe in ghosts....and I can tell you stories !!

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
nope – sadly, I'm completely analytical.

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
my Magic 8-Ball consistently states it is so.

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
can I choose death?

9. Do you stay friends with your exs?
Rarely

10. Do you know how to play poker?
it’s my second income.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
there are 50 hours in a day, right?

12. What's your favorite commercial?
TiVo doesn’t allow me to enjoy them.

13. What are you allergic to?
Bee venom, tree nuts, and apparently...decent boyfriends.

14. What is right to the right of you?
my cat, licking his ass.

15. Have you ever had a Choco Taco?
it’s a food group, no?

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
can I choose death?

17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
I made it to Junior Sectionals when I was 12, then I discovered boys, gymnastics, and the mall...more recently, I skated down I-90 for about 200 feet last January.

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
not so much anymore, but they used to be quite vivid and memorable….I blame work.

19. When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried?
Certainly not the most recent, but one of the most memorable times was at the theater during "Titanic" – as Rose pried Jack’s dead frozen fingers from the piece of wood on which she was adrift….highly inappropriate for those around me who were actually enjoying the movie.

20. Can you name 5 songs by The Beatles?
Not a problem:
Let it Be
Golden Slumbers
Penny Lane
Strawberry Fields
Lady Madonna

21. What's the one thing on your mind now?
will the after-hours work calls ever stop?

22. Do you believe in love at first sight?
nope – lust, perhaps…but not love.

23. Do you put salt on a turkey dinner?
just jellied-cranberries

24. Do you always wear your seat belt?
yeah - it's in my copssister's contract.

25 what cell service do you use?
Verizon – can you hear me now?

26. Do you like Sushi?
sushi – yes, sashimi – not so much

27. Have you ever narrowly avoided a fatal accident?
yes, by about 5 car-lengths.

28. What do you wear to bed?
t-shirt, full of cat hair

29. Been caught stealing?
glances, kisses, singing along with Jane's Addiction….yes.

30. Have you ever been on the funny website?
I prefer the non-funny one.

31. Do you truly hate anyone?
nah, karma electra will eventually get them back for me.

32. Classic Rock or Rap?
is this even up for debate? I’m from the 70’s/80’s, dammit.

33. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
Colin Firth

34. Have you ever been punched in the face?
nope – I fight with words, then I bob and weave.

35. What food do you find disgusting?
raw oysters

36. Do you sing in the shower?
the acoustics ROCK in there.

37. Did you ever play, "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours"?
certainly – with Danny Paul.

38. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
yeah – it sucks when they turn around and catch you doing it.

39. Have you ever stood up for someone you hardly knew?
absolutely – I’ve made some really good friends that way.

40. Have you ever sang in front of the mirror?
what’s a mirror?

*Holding my breath until I turn BLUE*

"CLEVELAND -- President George W. Bush landed at Cleveland Hopkins Airport Wednesday afternoon, in town for a fund-raiser. Bush touched down shortly before 4 p.m. He is now heading to Mentor, where he will meet with Lake County Emergency Management officials and thank those who assisted in rescue efforts during the recent flooding disaster in Lake County."

Yeah, there I was, parked on the freeway (5 mile deep backup) with 1,000 of my closest friends....for a full HOUR...during RUSH HOUR....while it's 97 degrees...while they closed the freeway so his motorcade could pass. All this hullabaloo so the Prez could make his way to a benefit dinner later this evening. Sure, he stopped for a few moments at my county's Emergency Management Services building (not actually MEETING anyone affected by the floods)....a stop which then allows him to bill the taxpayers for the travel expenses of Air Force One flying him to this Republican fundraiser. Oh, and "those who assisted in rescue efforts"...each and every person invited to that meeting are elected officials. Not so much the fire fighters and police officers who worked double/triple shifts to rescue people from the flooding.