Okay, just a bit of politics. Mostly just a FYI. I figure the arizona primary is coming up on september 12, and then we got a couple months before the big November 7th date.

Just wanted to get the bug out about one of the ballot issues for you AZ residents. There are statewide ‘smoking bans’ on the ballot this fall. The first is prop 201, the “Smoke-Free Arizona Act”. This is the REAL smoking ban. This would effectively ban smoking in all restaurants and bars, statewide. It’s backed by the american lung association, american cancer society, and american heart association. It’s effectively the same thing that passed in new york state in 2004, and in california in 1998. It’s a good thing.

Alternatively, proposition 206, the “Arizona Non-Smoker Protection Act” is a load of crap. It is backed by RJ Reynolds (ya know, the tobacco company) and would ban smoking in retaurants, but would allow smoking in bars. This seems like no big deal, except it would also supercede the local ordinances in flagstaff and tempe which currently ban smoking. I shouldn’t really need to say anything more except who is backing them, and that should be just about enough. In case you haven’t figured out, I am a non-smoker, and a supporter of smoking bans.

The sad thing about these two propositions is that RJ Reynolds is pumping huge money into a campaign for prop 206, and since 201 doesn’t have a company with deep pockets backing it, there isn’t even a website for it.

In case anyone wants an unbiased opinion, here are the summaries of the propositions on the ballot this year.

Alright, enough politics. I don’t make my voice heard too often, ‘cause this ain’t a politics blog. I’m sure you can find a few out there if you look.

However, this is a blog of biking. I haven’t been doing a lot of it lately, giving the legs a bit of time off after the race. I still haven’t decided about this weekend, but I’m not super-psyched about another long race just yet. We’ll see.

In lieu of fun biking stories, I give you the latest piece of singlespeed blingle-licios componentry. The paul’s singlespeed cranks. Man, those are gorgeous. They definitely give the white industries a run for their money. mmmmmm…..... Still not the same “street cred” as a pair of profile racing cranks but then again, they probably weigh half as much….

outie 5-0