Mayor Bloomberg, in his never-ending crusade to turn NYC smoke-free, is looking into banning smoking at all Big Apple beaches and parks. The health of kids figures prominently in his argument. Bloomberg’s health commissioner, Thomas Farley, said “We don’t think it’s too far to say that people shouldn’t be smoking in parks, and to try to protect our children from getting addicted to tobacco.”

Like Bloomberg, I’m a former tobacco head who now absolutely loathes the stuff. I’m always incensed when folks (sometimes even parents) light up in or right outside the playground where my daughter is playing (which is illegal by the way). Just the other day I tried Antonia Kidd’s tactic of shaming a smoker into stomping out her butt. Didn’t work. That said, I don’t personally have a problem with people smoking in public areas that aren’t specifically geared toward children. As much as I hate the smell (not to mention the potential risk), I strongly believe in personal rights, and I think Bloomberg’s proposed ban is unfair, not to mention unenforceable. Smokers are people too!

The Mayor faces a major battle, and I suspect it won’t pass, although it might. Other states including Utah, Louisiana, Maine and California have enacted similar bans. Frankly, if we’re going to ban something smoking related, how about those seriously disturbing anti-smoking commercials? (The one with the lady missing fingers just kills me!) They’re just nasty (which, I guess, is the point).

What do you think about the Mayor’s plans? Do you support a park and beach-wide ban, or do you think smokers should get a pass?

• Travolta’s trauma

On Friday, it was announced that Jett, son of actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston, died abruptly after suffering a seizure while on a family vacation. Although there’s been plenty of controversy surrounding his death, his passing is still a tragedy that no parent should ever have to face.

• Smoke signals

Though more places around the city are banning smoking, new research suggests the dangers of the habit could remain even after the butt has been extinguished. The Times calls it “third-hand smoke,” which refers to the gases and particles that remain on the smoker’s body and the materials around them, such as carpeted floors—a huge hazard for little ones who could ingest them from crawling. Yet another good reason to kick the habit for good.

• Barack’s back-to-school babes

Sasha and Malia Obama started at their new school, Sidwell Friends School, in Washington, D.C. today. According to People, each of the girl’s tuition is rumored to be around $30,000 per year.

• Cardboard creations

You know how your kids are entertained for hours on end by an old, worn-out cardboard box? One second it’s a pirate ship, the next a hidden tomb—the possibilities are endless with a child’s imagination. Now you can create actual furniture out of cardboard with the help of foldschool.com, with instructions easy enough to execute along with your little one.