No soap box here, just somethings that I don't understand. Smoking!!!! Who does this anymore?? Could it be the fact that I've concerned myself with my health and achieving new Pr's for every aspect of life? Smoking doesn't fit into my plan nor does it interest me? Honestly, its a pretty common thing these days to see the lack of popularity of those that smoke. The dangers are well known and we are inundated with all the negatives on a daily basis.
OK, so I know that no one reads these things, but I still wont get too personal with it. I work for one of these huge construction companies that does work all over the world. These days the safety factor can make or break a budget. In the old days there was a formula that basically came to one death per million dollars spent on construction. In today's world safety is scrutinized so that the chances of a finger prick is minimized by taking time to inform and educate the labor force on the importance of job site safety so everyone can get home safely.
My next point, in order for any company to be successful its imperative that only the best are hired and trained to enforce the policies of a company. 20 years ago the title "safety man" didn't exist, if it did it was a token job given to someone that was injured on the job. Unfortunately there was no training at the time and it was a job that required only observations and paperwork after an accident has taken place. In today's construction world college degrees and years or experience are required to become a "safety man," a light duty injury wouldn't qualify someone for this position. These "safety people" are required to inform and lecture almost like a clergyman to a congregation. The one major point that I has been beaten into me since I started digging ditches when I was 18 years old, is that safety on the job is as important as safety at home. The techniques are the same thus should the policies even at home.
Now, with all that said. Why do I walk out of the gym every morning and get hit in the face with a fast ball of cigarette smoke!!! And who's smoking these cigarettes, take a guess??? The same people who lecture me about my personal safety...
As Triathletes we can all appreciate the feeling we get after a good workout. Our endorphins are going crazy, blood is pumping, and were on top of the world. The last thing we want to do is walk through a wall of smoke built by a group of people that are "qualified" in personal safety and health....
Honestly, I don't care if people smoke, and I don't care about the tobacco companies. I could careless about smokers getting cancer, they know the dangers. I'm just annoyed by morons with ego's and the do as I say not as I do policy. Smoke all you want, just please go down wind. Just as I don't want to smell your fart I don't want to smell your smoke!!! 
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life." - Brooke Shields, during an interview to become spokesperson for a federal anti-smoking campaign.
Maybe it was a soap box after all....
