The sudden death of a Texas-based syndicated DJ named Kid Kraddick on Monday caused
an out-pouring of grief.
I had never heard of him or his show, though it is on the air in Dothan.
But several people who are from, or have lived in Texas, swore by him and were shocked he could die at the age of just 53 of apparent heart disease.
What they and most people didn't know is that the kid was a chain smoker who got photographers to promise not to show him puffing away.
I speak from experience in saying quitting is so hard as to be impossible for some folks. I was fortunate to kick the habit when I did over a decade ago.
Two of Alabama's three most recent Governors were also secret smokers...Robert Bentley's medical training apparently allowed him to refrain. But Bob Riley and Don Siegelman smoked off camera and away from voters...I have no idea if they've since quit.
Coincidentally, there's a new Gallup poll out this week showing an increasing in the percentage of Americans who want tobacco banned outright...and a much larger percentage who want it banned in public places.
[7-31-13 UPDATE: Gallup also reports about 3/4 of smokers want to quit.]
an out-pouring of grief. I had never heard of him or his show, though it is on the air in Dothan.
But several people who are from, or have lived in Texas, swore by him and were shocked he could die at the age of just 53 of apparent heart disease.
What they and most people didn't know is that the kid was a chain smoker who got photographers to promise not to show him puffing away.
I speak from experience in saying quitting is so hard as to be impossible for some folks. I was fortunate to kick the habit when I did over a decade ago.
Two of Alabama's three most recent Governors were also secret smokers...Robert Bentley's medical training apparently allowed him to refrain. But Bob Riley and Don Siegelman smoked off camera and away from voters...I have no idea if they've since quit.
Coincidentally, there's a new Gallup poll out this week showing an increasing in the percentage of Americans who want tobacco banned outright...and a much larger percentage who want it banned in public places.
Note that Southerners are the least likely to approve of a ban.
We dare defned our right to kill ourselves.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Alabama.
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