AWESOME trip I just made, 3,000+ miles - and finding van makes a GREAT
billboard. Not sure how many others would like to try it, but have had a
great experience so far. I did some of the lettering with that flat foam
craft stuff - made myself stencils with MS Pub in a size 480 font, and cut them
out. Painted them with glow in the dark, neon, and sparkly fabric
paint (WATERPROOF : ), Attached to windows with carpet tape. I drove
through some of the worst weather I've ever encountered on this trip -
torrential rain on the way up to NY, a blizzard with gale force winds on the way
from NY to VT, and more torrential rain and gale force winds between CT and
DE. The lettering held up fairly well for all of that, except did have to
check them, and replace a bit of tape from time to time, and did replace a
couple of them. I'd brought the foam stuff, some paint, and tape with
me. Didn't have time to do all in that fashion, so did the rest with a
huge magic marker on contact paper. That works pretty well too - taped
edges with the carpet tape - but not as water resistant as the foam. Had
to replace some of the contact paper banners a couple of times, but
was quick and easy to make another one and stick it on. But none of it
seems to hurt the van's paint.
I went up to PR of NY (People's Republic of NY : ) a week ago Fri. to
take two of my girls (canine) to someone who's taking them to Korea. Then from
there up to PR of VT to see my grandkids. Then decided (since I already
had the van 'decorated', and already getting wonderful responses - waves, thumbs
up, and even some applause! - as well as some 'stunned' looks - NOTHING negative
though : ), decided to tour all the rest of the NE People's Republics. For
those who are not sure exactly what I mean by People's Republics,
http://www.aalf.ws/smoking/smokers-BOYCOTT/.
I visited most of their State Houses, too - at least parked in front for awhile,
giving time for some folks to write down the web address. The URL I used for the van is the same as my regular www.aalf.ws/smokingmad/, but I shortened it to www.aalf.ws/smad/ for the van so it would fit better, and to make it easier for folks to write down.
Handed out flyers which includes airport piece by Mike McFadden (author of
Dissecting Antismoker's Brains
plus the
New Year's Resolutions
(by the way, HELP YOURSELF to ANY of this stuff you can use - flyer,
resolutions, ban map, etc. Copy away - permission granted to share)
When I pulled up in front of the State House in Augusta, Maine, a few poor
folks were outside smoking in 10 degrees, and they cheered - and came to talk to
me, so I gave them some of the flyers too. I toured MA, CT, RI, &
DE too, and visited most of their state houses - except with construction and
traffic I was not able to get to the one in MA, so just drove
around Boston for awhile. Then went to Washington, DC.
I managed to spend almost NO $ in the PR states. I gassed up in PA
just before entering NY. Carried food in my cooler, etc. Gassed up again
in NH (only had to buy 2 gals in VT - 0 in NY). LOVE NH - their state's
motto is 'Live free or die' <G>. I bought some t-shirts
there. Bought 2 gals of gas in CT, and 2 gals in DE - filled up in
the free state of VA on my way to DC.
On Thursday, 1/19/2006, I parked in front of the Capital in DC for
several hours, while I went in and chatted with the folks in the office of my
rep, and gave him flyers as well. Also visited as many other offices as I
had time for, passing out the flyers and New Year's Resolutions - all
states I could say I visited frequently - or have relatives in.
Discussed variations of: Private property is one of the fundamental
differences between our country and communists. It is
the primary reason USA has produced more wealth than any other country
in all the history of the world. I asked them all to please protect
individual private property rights with respect to legal
activities from states, city councils, and voters. This is a
constitutional republic, NOT a democracy - voters should not be able to vote
away a minority's individual private property rights.
Also told some of them (who seemed to want more
info) that I know smoke, smoking, and health is being lied about to gain
monopoly for pharmaceutical companies http://www.hosanna1.com/smoking/BIG-PHARMA/ (FORCES link), and stuff the coffers of lawyers and the
anti-smoking Industry. Pointed
out the link to report on cost of CA smoking ban (http://www.aalf.ws/smoking/bancostsCA100billiondollars.html Mike McFadden& study link) to a couple of the CA
reps. Not sure if any of them will do anything - but
hoping maybe at least one or two will investigate. (privately wondering if Big
Pharma and/or anti-smoking lobbyists have managed to pay them ALL off?).
Maybe they'll all ignore me - but maybe I'll go back again, with more time, and
maybe a bunch of help. Didn't have time to do Senate house - husband
wanted me home several days before I got here. Did drive all over DC for a
couple of hours, too - hoping some would get IDEAS, and at least be
encouraged.
Have had some VERY enthusiastic responses (over entire 3,000+ mile trip) -
and surprisingly, NO really bad responses - just the stunned looks from some (I
was LAUGHING - they were funny - but I also asked God to Bless them all).
There's a Bible verse - 'The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous
are bold as a lion.' <G>. I think if more smokers would stand up and
be counted, we might find resistance melting - might find we have more public
support than we realize. The general public is NOT getting any message
other than what they are getting from the (apparently big pharmacy &
anti-smoking industry owned) media right now. The New Year's Resolutions I
made are already proving to be a good educational tool. For the first time
EVER my daughter actually allowed me to smoke in her house - around my
grandkids! She's always made me stay in one room with my cigs. She
had not realized we all eat nicotine all the time - tomatoes, etc...
<LOL> ALso, the arsenic, and airport stuff - and regular
exposure to CO while driving - (thank you Mike McFadden for making
that info available).
I have a Christian friend who is telling me (after I've been educating
her a bit - she got the point from my smoking Christian's page
http://www.hosanna1.com/smoking/Christians/
) about many non-smoking Christians being self righteous and proud, anyway)
'First they came for the smokers' - she 'GETS' the property rights issue!
We ARE in the RIGHT! And a LOT of them know it. I also
left my BOYCOTT stickers all over the place, too - the Boycott NY,
etc.
http://www.aalf.ws/smoking/Chicago-Ban/page2.html
(you can get them there). I will be (when I have TIME) enlarging and
making the Free Graphics page for Smokers and Freedom Lovers bigger and
better.
We NEED to show RESISTANCE - LOTS of it - in a non-threatening way.
The stickers (if they were everywhere) would let them know we are not just going
to lie down and let them have it all their way. I think if there were a
LOT more vans & cars on the road - even with bumper stickers - might make a
difference. There are certainly enough (MORE than enough) smokers
and/or friends of smokers to make BOYCOTTING effective - especially if we
boycott more than only restaurants. Possible even the THREAT of it might
change some minds, if there were enough 'show'. "THEY" have apparently
bought almost all of the major media, and our 'education' system - maybe a lot
of our politicians as well. But most of us have our own 'free' billboard -
our vehicles. I LOVE the First Amendment - what I told all who gave me any
kind of 'funny' look - most of them then smiled and laughed along with me.
There do seem to be PLENTY of folks in this country who still believe in FREEDOM
(both smokers and non-smokers).
More van pics:
The other side is similar, but has Lexington, KY and the other PR states
ME-WA. These all seemed to show up well at night too, was getting
responses in the dark from folks who were passing me.
Had this on both sides.
Really, don't know who else has the nerve to try it, but a vehicle
makes a GREAT billboard! Don't think I would recommend it unless you are
not leaving it parked where you can't watch it, though - not sure if I'd left it
alone I would have trusted some whacky anti to do something. Since I
usually have dogs with me, I am not in the habit of parking anywhere I can't
keep an eye on my van. And I live in the thing while on the road.
I bought some of those sheets of magnet that you can print on a computer to
experiment with signs for the side panels. It would have to be laminated
though, as I don't think computer ink would stand up to rain. Also they
are kind of small. Might work to use my stencils to paint on them,
though. Then could take the signs down when parked, and stick them back on
again?
I have made countless trips over the years (40K+ miles last yr. alone), and
always at times have had experiences with just plain 'rude' drivers -
aggressive, or whatever. I almost never break speed limits (haven't had so
much as a parking ticket in past 30 yrs or so), so sometimes do get impatient
tailgaters, etc. They sometimes honk their horns, or make rude
gestures. NONE of that on this trip, though. The ONLY ones who got
close to my rear I could tell were READING, and when they did come around were
waving, giving me thumbs up, flicking their lighters at me, holding up their
cigs, etc. <LOL>.
At NO time on this 3,000+ mile trip was I harassed about smoking. Boy
howdy, I don't think the antis are really all that brave if you make a BOLD
statement. They MUST know that there are still 10s of millions of
smokers, and I'll bet in their heart of hearts, most of them know their whole
position is unfair, too. Almost every non-smoker has either lived with, or
loved a smoker - even if they've never smoked themselves.
Am thinking of having 'Smokers Boycott ALL Smoking Ban States & Cities
bumper stickers made up.
2 prongs of points are:
1. ETS 'harm' is a BIG FAT LIE, and stuffs the coffers of lawyers,
drug cos. & anti-smoking industry.
(news flash: it's on TV today that the greedy
blood sucking lawyers are now suing General Mills - over CEREAL. They want
the cereal cos to pay for med and dental bills for CHILDREN! When will
America get it? A huge part of the problem is the legal system, and the
lottery mentality of those who allow themselves to be used to stuff the pockets
of these lawyers. Next, we'll have a 'Uniform food company settlement',
and be paying $15 for a box of cereal??? And, they have used the 'hated'
tobacco cos to set the precedents for this stuff.)
2.
Govt. bans of LEGAL activities on PRIVATE property are COMMUNIST in nature.
(restaurants & bars & businesses ARE PRIVATE property in the USA).
PETS are PRIVATE PROPERTY TOO - that means Feds KEEP your PAWS OFF our
pets ! If you're not sure what I mean by that, see our
weblog at hosanna1.com
What I asked the Fed. reps whose offices I visited (and had on my sign in
DC) was 'Feds please protect Individual Private Property rights from states,
'tin hat' city councils, and voters. This is AMERICA (NOT communist
russia) - since when does even a majority get to vote away the property
rights of a minority???
Bumper stickers to make THOSE points would be great too. Bumper
stickers might not be as effective as using vehicle for billboard, but WOULD
help if they became common everywhere.
pic of my oldest daughter and grandkids I took while on this trip:
I am so blessed : )
Last year I traveled about 40,000 miles with this van. I plan to keep
the signs on it this year, and until private property rights are protected from
'government' or voter mandated smoking bans in all of the USA. I will
improve the appearance of the ones I did impromptu for this trip.
I'd rather FIGHT than QUIT!
My Resume
532 Farley Road
Edmonton, KY, 42129
(270)432-7272 CST
Email
jlfarley@scrtc.com
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