Note: This is my token editorial but the effects on both people and equipment is very real.

If you still doubt the harmful effects of the chemical compounds in tobacco smoke on your health and that of others around you, whatever I say below probably won't matter and you may want to skip it since it may upset you. However, perhaps, you worry more about your fancy, costly, finely tuned electronic radio, TV, audio and computer equipment. In that case, read on.

The several hundred chemical compounds found in tobacco smoke have the following effects on electronic equipment. What isn't trapped in your lungs or in the lungs of those around you:

1) Coats the inside of radios corroding circuit board traces, AND plugs up air inlets causing premature aging / failure due to heat build up.

2) Coats the surface of microphones, AND plugs up grilles reducing overall sensitivity.

3) Coats sensitive components detuning crucial circuitry.

4) Coats the contacts of relays, AND all adjustable controls making them unreliable and noisy.

5) Coats mechanical parts, AND promotes the loss of lubrication in all equipment.

6) Coats the read/write heads of floppy disk drives, Zip drives, tape drives, AND the media they use.

7) Coats the screens of TVs and monitors, display windows of VCRs and other devices, AND the outside and inside of everything eventually resulting in ugly brown discoloration and a horrible stench.

8) Coats the tape path of VCRs and audio decks including the audio, video, and control heads, AND the cassettes and tape inside.

9) Coats the precision optics of CD and DVD players, CDROM and DVDROM drives, and other optical disc/k equipment, AND the media they use.

10) Contributes to deterioration of plastic and rubber parts.

This list of effects goes on and on.

The resulting film WILL eventually cause problems and is very difficult to remove. Damage done due to chemical action may require the replacement of costly parts. Increased maintenance will be needed or the equipment may simply fail before its time, and not be worth fixing. Contamination will often find its way into critical places that are not accessible and to media, which is irreplaceable.

When someone try's to get me to look at something that has been in a smoker's residence (I know because it will reek of stale tobacco smoke essence), my first inclination is to put it in a sealed bag to go out with the garbage. (I have been known to drop portable TVs directly into the nearest trash can under these circumstances).

If this isn't an option, my next objective is to get it evaluated and repaired or refused as quickly as possible. However, my concentration may not be at its peak for such equipment! It is a good thing that I don't need to do this for a living - I would have to refuse service to a good portion of the world's population :-(.

So, now you have a few more reasons to give up the stupid, disgusting, filthy, obnoxious, and inconsiderate of others, costly, dangerous, killer habit!

Sorry, end of editorial. :-)