I think there is more of an awareness also because there are so many more people suffering from asthma and respiratory ailments in general due to the polutants in the air. Even Ashville, NC which is located in the mountains and absolutely beautiful, has some of the highest polution levels in the U.S. Not just cigarette smoke, but as many polutants as possible need to be removed from our air. However, due to lobbying, the cost of more efficient clean burning vehicles, and big business among other things, this is likely not happen anytime soon.

>>Progress? I'm not sure that's the right word. But I mostly agree with you. Smoking should be limited to areas off the beaten track such as the hotel bar and outdoors. It shouldn't be an irritant to those trying to focus on content. As a smoker, it's never really bothered me to have to go outside to smoke....except in bars ;-)
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>Progress in the sense that 20 years ago, if I'd suggested that a hotel lobby should be smoke-free, I'd have been laughed at. Now it's rare to find a hotel (at least in the North) where smoking is permitted in common areas.
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>I remember vividly taking one of my kids to the infirmary at Veteran's Stadium during a Phillies game because the smoke in our seating area had brought on an asthma attack -- that was 10-12 years ago. Now all the seating areas are smoke-free with smoking allowed only on the concourses. (I'll be curious to see what the rules are for the new ballpark that opens in about 18 months.)
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>There's been a tremendous change in the rules about smoking in one generation.
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>Tamar