Andrew Hamm: the Bipolar Express

Ruminations on theatre, music, and just about anything else that crosses my bipolar brain.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Pet Peeve #0001: The World Is My Ashtray

Smokers: I beg you. Stop throwing your spent cigarette butts out the freaking window of your car.

What the heck are you thinking, huh? That just because it's small it's insignificant? How many of those damn things do you toss out of the car in a day? In a week? In a year?

I am so tired of coming up to stoplights only to see a gigantic pile of non-biodegradable filters heaped up against the curb. Is your mom going to come pick them up for you?

You have an ashtray in your car for a reason. You have a trash can at your house for a reason. Please stop using the public streets as a dumping ground for the dregs of your nauseating habit.

With love,

Andrew

Labels:

posted by Andrew Hamm @ 9:51 AM  

15 Comments:

  • At 3/04/2007 10:41 AM , Blogger Joey Fanelli said...

    Nothing is worse than going to a park and getting out of your car and, insted of taking in the beauty of the place, seeling a giant pile of cigarette butts on the ground.

     

  • At 3/04/2007 4:05 PM , Blogger Scott Wichmann said...

    It's so depressing to see. And even more so when you think of how many lives are being shortened by them.

     

  • At 3/04/2007 4:51 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Most newer cars do not have ashtrays anymore. So those poor smokers are forced into tossing them out the window. I'm sure they feel just terrible about this! In addition to this new hardship by automakers...they will most likely die before their time. They need our love.

     

  • At 3/04/2007 5:26 PM , Blogger Joey Fanelli said...

    Yeah, and a lot of new cars don't have an in-car lighter either, yet another hardship.

     

  • At 3/04/2007 8:57 PM , Blogger Frank Creasy said...

    Anonymous is right about the design of new cars without ashtrays in most cases, but that's just too simple an excuse. I don't have a trash bag in my car but I'm not a litterbug.

    If someone wants to smoke in their car, they only need a cup with a bit of water or other drink handy to douse the ash and dispose of the butts properly. Most all cars these days DO come with a cup holder.

    I love the smokers. But I ask that they show some love back by not trashing my world. The love must go both ways.

     

  • At 3/04/2007 11:07 PM , Blogger Joey Fanelli said...

    Yeah, they need to protect the earth from which their tobacco is grown.

     

  • At 3/05/2007 7:25 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    There was something in the news last week about a major Richmond Restaurant going smoke free...but I caught the tail end of it and didn't catch the name. I want to support them...anyone know who it was?

     

  • At 3/05/2007 8:49 AM , Blogger Andrew Hamm said...

    You can buy round car-ashtrays that will fit in your cup holders, as well.

     

  • At 3/05/2007 10:57 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    OK, someone trying to smoke while riding a motorcycle with a strap on ashtray...that whole vision just made me laugh out loud!

     

  • At 3/06/2007 7:21 AM , Blogger Frank Creasy said...

    O'Toole's Pub on Forest Hill Avenue recently went smoke-free. I've enjoyed after-theatre events at O'Toole's many times, knowing it would be a smoky atmosphere, but I've often accepted that going in to a pub. Part of the pub culture, you know.

    O'Toole's management acknowledged the fact that since about 80% of the U.S. population are non-smokers (not sure how much of the Richmond population doesn't smoke!), that the move made sense.

    Philbiker, I've got no answer for you, but at least you've got a sense of humor about it!

     

  • At 3/06/2007 8:41 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    WOW! I love O'Tooles! That is so damn cool...I can't wait to spread the word! Years ago when I first moved to Richmond, O'Tooles was the theatre hot spot. And yes, over the years the loud music and smoke took it's toll...and then places like Davis & Main, White Dog and Joe's Inn became the place to go. And remember "The Lighthouse"...George...the crazy NY Greek would yell at you for bringing in too many people without calling ahead or asking for separate checks...but the food was amazing and there was always room for your cast of 20!

    We all need to start going back to O'Tooles!

     

  • At 3/07/2007 9:50 AM , Blogger Frank Creasy said...

    Geez, Anonymous - haven't thought about "The Lighthouse" for some time, but I remember it fondly (and yes, George was a crazy old Greek dude!) You're right, it was the best place for late night food and festivities. No slight to Joe's or the others, but it doesn't quite stack up...[cue soundtrack] "Memories, light the corners of my mind..."

    Back to O'Toole's? GREAT idea!

     

  • At 3/07/2007 10:41 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Yeah, I celebrated by 30th birthday there...which of course was only yesterday! God, he had an eggplant appetizer that was...oh, God...now I am going to cry!

     

  • At 3/11/2007 2:46 PM , Blogger Andrew Hamm said...

    We went to Capital Ale House after Twelfth Night last night, and even though I hjad been there before it was like a revelation. I will be spending many more evenings there, drinking amazing cask-conditioned brews and eating three little sandwiches for $4.79.

     

  • At 3/11/2007 2:47 PM , Blogger Andrew Hamm said...

    I'm really enjoying how the "comments" threads on this blog have increasingly little to do with the subject matter at the top...

     

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