California Likes Its Slaves Smoke Free; The Sad Story Of Larry King

I remember when people were concerned back in the day when all this smoking hysteria began sometime in the late 80s that we'd embark on a slippery slope. I even thought that. We were all told we were crazy and the smoking was a dangerous, foul habit and - surprise, surprise - it was for our own good. Even back then the more prescient and wise among us warned it wouldn't stop at that. It would eventually move on to the private sphere and, to stretch it, become a war on junk food at some point. The 'Broccoli theory' that asks whether the state can one day compel us to buy broccoli.

Guess what?

The slippery slope is nice and slippery.

And California loves lubricating the people.

The slippery slope, in addition, isn't always a logical fallacy just like eventually anecdotes do become fact at some point.

Boston is no better as it mobilizes to ban smoking in public parks.

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Speaking of California, my wife was watching a documentary on the murder of Larry King in Ventura County while I worked on some stuff and was only listening peripherally. And that was enough for me.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing in defense of the murderer. From the teachers of the school to the lawyers defending the accused - one of the lawyers tattooed on her wrist 'Save Brandon' (the defendant) to the jurors. It was almost as if they had no regard for the transgendered teenager who lived in foster care all his life. It was like watching the court scenes in 'To Kill A Mocking Bird.'

It was shocking and disgusting. I understand all the 'try him in juvenile courts' because he was 14 at the time but it's galling to have listened to the justifications and excuses. The kid shot someone in the back of the head in cold blood.

It takes a special kind of mindset to do that.

Horrific really.

What did their moral contorting amount to? The 'if she didn't want to be raped, she shouldn't have dressed that way' defense. The 'that uppity nigger had it coming.'

That's what they were saying about a gay kid who tried to come on to a straight kid who didn't know how to handle it.

The cue is, 'hey man, no matter how trivial take a gun ans shoot someone if you feel you're dignity is threatened.'

So tragic. The elders of Ventura County need some serious soul-searching lessons.