Breaking the Law Every Day

I'm back from a short trip to New York City, where I'm happy to report that at least some natives are treating the new anti-smoking rules with all the discourtesy they deserve. Tromping 'round the Lower East Side with me yesterday, my friend Sarah casually pointed out one smoke-easy, where tobacco is surreptitiously permitted, and mentioned that others were springing up around town.

In still other bars, she added, one response to the ban on smoking tobacco has been to break out some weed instead. Not that that's any more legal. I get the impression that it's the sort of thing that would go on in the Lower East Side anyway.