Berwyn IL Mar 04, 2008 Cigars and Stripes has been a licensed tobacconist for the last 10 years, serving Chicagoland and the western suburbs the finest in tobacco and smoking accessories since 1998.

In 2001, a fatal decision was made to expand and diversify growth in the American way, adding a lounge and small time entertainment, at the time, seemed to fit the bill.

Face the facts, this is a perfect time for expansion, says owner Ronnie Lottz. The state is broke, the business owners are on thin ice and the natives barley have enough dough to take the rugrats to the stinking dollar show. The timing couldn't be better to see a live comedy event. Now they can see 2 or 3 comics, have a couple of drinks for the same price it would cost for parking downtown.

Hey, I didn't want it this way. It's not my fault our American property rights are vanishing. Hmmm, what to do now? Hey I know, I'll change the name.... the same name that I work 90 plus hours a week for... sweating my blood the last 10 years of my life to lets say, maybe "Comedy and Stripes." No wait, "Communism and Stripes." Now thats got a ring to it. Hey that would have been huge in the 60s.

Speaking of blood, the economic condition that our state is in, makes me wish I stayed with Pro Wrestling management. Just the thought is comforting. AHHH the bible belt, on the road again, back in the ring, my world tag team champs by my side, screaming at southerners on Live Memphis TV.... when all of a sudden ...WHACK- BAMMMM!!!! my skull gets crushed with a metal folding chair. Come to think of it, I kinda miss laying on my back and watching the stadium lights of the Mid South Coliseum go blurry and slowly fade away. Hey, at least the Beatles played there and I knew going in, there was always that chance I could get my brains beat in, unlike this smoking ban, atleast there was a chance of survival.

I'll have you know, that a 40 year old attorney said to me, and I kid you not "the constitution ...hey man get with it, we don't go by that anymore, that's old news man. I'm a lawyer to make money, not fight for peoples' rights." At this point, I will choose to withhold his name so he doesn't sue the pants off me. Hey wait a minute, I should say his name so when my pants are gone, the State of Illinois politicians will have an easier time giving me the o'l high hard one.

DON'T GET ME STARTED... look at it this way... I love to screw my wife with the lights on. Problem is, I just can't do it in the middle of a crowded Walmart. Alright well maybe deep in a disorganized clothes rack in the back of a store might be possible. But the fact is, when I'm at home, as long as my wife agrees, the lights are on . Business owners across this state are seeing their rights violated. As part of their property has been seized for public use through smoking ban legislation. Those who are smokers themselves, have been told that a legal activity is no longer legal for them on their own private property. In addition to not being compensated, many have ended up paying for the partial property seizure with lost revenue and a loss in the value of their business.... this without due process of law or just compensation. Imagine that.

Here's an idea for ya... turn off the lights all together and ban smoking completely in Illinois, then let's see if groups of nicotine crazed maniacs take to the streets. Ya know like in the old days, better yet send em all to IRAQ and tell em Bin Laden has the only remaining cartons of cigarettes left in the world. Oh they will find that bastard and when they do, they'll smoke em, literally.

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