Smokers, croakers and jokers

French surrender again: This time it's their cigarettes. France has joined the U.S. and several European countries by banning smoking in restaurants, cafes and bars.

Some French purists, especially those with pencil-thin mustaches and berets, complain that the ban will kill the atmosphere of the French cafe. Maybe so, but they'll always have Jerry Lewis.

The bigger chill: Beginning this year, the first of the baby boomers will be eligible to draw their Social Security benefits when they hit 62.

Generations X, Y and Z can now look forward to years of watching their inheritances and their shot at Social Security frittered away on RVs, vacation homes, Grateful Dead CDs and lots and lots of erectile dysfunction drugs.

Our time will come: With just a day before Thursday's Iowa caucuses, Republican and Democratic candidates were making a final pitch for supporters.

Until now, Iowa and New Hampshire have taken the brunt of campaign stops and attack ads. They're heading our way soon for caucuses and a primary in February. Should you want to avoid it all, we hear Iowa and New Hampshire are lovely this time of year.

-- Jon Bauer, Herald Writer