Four for Friday

(Link at left)

Q1 - Smoking Bans: There's little dispute that smoking and second-hand smoke is bad for your health. But did you know it could also be bad for your driving record? Last week in Maine, the Bangor City Council passed an ordinance making smoking while driving in the car with children under the age of 18 a primary offense, meaning the police can pull over motorists who are suspected of breaking the law, with violators being fined up to $50 per occurrence. Do you think the Bangor City Council made the right decision, or is this just another situation where the government is interfering in our lives?

Wow. That's harsh. Um, yeah, I do think that as long as motorcyclists aren't forced to wear helmets, this law is a little draconian. Let's crack down on the actually, immediately dangerous stuff instead of the long-term health effects stuff. Not that I have much sympathy for smokers--I'm allergic--but next they'll be pulling you over for giving your kids drive-thru food in the car!

Q2 - Time: Which do you prefer: Military Time/the 24-hour clock: "I'll meet you at the gym at 19:00," or the more traditional way of expressing time via the 12-hour clock: "I'll meet you at the gym at 7:00 p.m."?

I've never been in the military so it would sound affected for me to start talking this way. However, last time I was in England, I noticed most people there do use the 24-hour clock interchangeably: "Tea is at 4" and "The meeting is scheduled at 1400." Whatever. I'll stick with a.m. and p.m. for now.

Q3 - You're Outta Here!: Were you ever suspended from school, and if so, what for? If not, did you ever skip school? If you did, what was your most memorable skipping-school experience?

Ms. Goody-Two-Shoes here. The only time I skipped school was Senior Skip Day (high school) and Senior Prank Day (but classes were cancelled for that anyway), and when my dad went to the hospital, which wasn't really skipping as my teacher basically made me leave!

Q4 - Gas: Sixty-five percent (65%) of U.S. respondents to a new UPI-Zogby International poll say a rise in gasoline prices to $4.00 a gallon would cause them to make a significant cutback in driving. Another 13.3 percent said it would take $5.00 a gallon for them to change habits, while 3.1 percent said $6.00 would get their attention. How about you...at what price per gallon would you choose or be forced to make a significant cutback or change in your driving habits?

I live in the boonies where there is no good public transit around the immediate area. If the prices go up, I'll have to keep driving, but I'd probably start campaigning for better bus schedules. I'm not too happy about $3/gallon, so I'm freaking about $4-plus...but it's about time we started paying what the rest of the world pays. I'd like that increase to be for taxes set aside specifically for public transit, however, not for the Deep Pockets.