FACT: Oregon state law requires all bars in Oregon to be smoke-free starting this month.

It's no surprise that the American Lung Association is trumpeting the popularity of the new law. They cite over a 90 percent approval rating. Look, smoking is bad. We get it. If 90 percent of Oregonians prefer smoke-free places, then democracy has worked. But the problem here is that the people who are currently smoking inside will now be smoking outside. We're not expecting that smoking will disappear, and hopefully it doesn't because the state of Oregon relies on the dirty habit for a significant amount of tax revenue.

FACT: State employees enjoy a private concierge service.

A state representative got upset after finding out that state employees have a special perk that allows them to call a number and receive directory assistance. It's probably not surprising that it was called Concierge Service, like the guest services desk at hotels. The Department of Administrative Services' answer to the complaint regarding the concierge service was to rename it "Help for Busy People." Really? Renaming it makes everything A-OK? Are we, as a society, dumb enough to look past this friendly marketing scheme? It should be said that the service is exactly the same, only the name has changed. If the state department feels that this service is beneficial to their employees, then they should defend it.

FACT: April 15 is fast-approaching.

Tax season is a-comin'. April seems so far away, but tax season officially begins much earlier in the year. While Americans pull out their calculators and try to figure out just how easy the EZ form is, let us not forget how unfair the current tax system is. Isn't it ironic that those who can afford to pay for tax help get all the perks and loopholes while the rest of us are given simple forms that make us end up paying more? It's time to stop dumbing down the populations. I think we're capable of adding up lines of numbers.

FACT: According to the National Retail Federation, retail sales are down 9 percent over last year.

Somehow the economic crisis actually hit home. Apparently Americans finally woke up and realized that their children don't need a brand new talking Elmo doll every holiday season. Here's to less consumerism and more thoughtful gifts in the coming years.

FACT: A proposed $800 million natural gas pipeline would cut across up to 66 streams and rivers in the national forest.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden recently came out publicly against the addition of the new gas pipeline. We hope that Senator-elect Jeff Merkley follows suit. Natural gas is a temporary solution to a much bigger, permanent problem. Building a pipeline that interrupts so much of our forestland and costs nearly a billion dollars is not a reasonable step forward.