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Friday, May 1, 2009

When swine fly

I heard someone on the national news this morning define the word gaffe as when a politician accidently speaks the truth.

In case you don’t pay attention, the latest ‘gaffe’ from DC is Vice-prez Biden’s comment about staying out of enclosed spaces like airplanes to avoid contracting the swine flu.

Of course the airlines are all pitching a fit because he said that and now there is all kinds of backpedaling going on to kiss and make nice with the airlines. Whatev. That's nothing unusual, but is there anyone who does NOT think that flying in a commercial jet is the viral equivalent of French kissing 147 strangers? I've not only seen the 20/20’s (Jane's generic term for all news shows) about airplane air quality, I have experienced it first hand.

I’m generally a pretty healthy specimen. I don’t usually get more than the odd cold, possibly two but maybe none, each year. Unless I fly.

I’m a big hand washer. I don’t touch my eyes or nose and I avoid phlegmy people like I avoid polyester and still it seems that half the time I deplane infested with something.


Maybe I’m just bitter because I believe the virus that ate my hearing was contracted a mile in the sky, but methinks the airlines protesteth too much.


It’s probably already too late for this particular epidemic, but maybe the airline spinsters should throw their resources more toward letting some fresh air into the cabin and less toward corralling the hot air in Washington. Who knows? They might even save something more important than their bottom line - like some lives.

Have a great weekend.

Peace, Love, Jet me to Costa Rica, I'll take the chance!

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Get me a ticket and big sombrero and I'll join you..oink flu or no oink flu!

Diane said...

I almost ALWAYS get sick when I fly.

And you just reminded me, I have a friend coming from London next week... 8 hours on a flight... if he doesn't feel well when he gets here (and, as such, scares the bejeebies out of me), I'm going to kill him.

Kathy B! said...

My hubby is flying to Germany this weekend and it seriously makes me nervous. Now Costa Rica? That would not make me nervous :)

However, I totally agree with the sentiment of your post, and I think your French-kissing analogy is spot on.

Life With Dogs said...

This is one of those cases where we can applaud the Biden slip-up. Nothing like speaking the truth to land you in hot water - especially when money is on the line.

Unknown said...

I agree that Biden should have spoken out about close places and airplanes are certainly in that category.

Debz said...

I am just about to purchase my ticket to Texas so I really, really hope the airlines will lower their fares to get peeps to "come fly with me, come fly, come fly away". Then I shall send VP Biden a thank you card. And maybe a fruit basket.

Sultan said...

Just another reason to truly hate flying.

Joe Biden often says stupid things. It is ironic when he says something reasonably cogent that he criticized for it and forced to retract it.

Anonymous said...

Even our health is all about money. To REALLY stop the spread of the virus from Mexico they would stop all flights in and out of that country. But that would hurt the airlines financially. And the virus originated from a pig farm owned by Smithfield, an American company who moved to Mexico for the cheap labor and lax rules/requirements. Hmmm... Isn't greed one of the seven deadly sins?

zelzee said...

Joe Biden just doesn't seem to learn........politicians are supposed to speak what they think people want to hear........
not what is really on their minds!!

Tsk! Tsk!

Ash said...

I saw that gaffe definition as well - I'm pretty sure Chuck Todd made that up on the spot ;-)

Does Biden have hair plugs? That man scares me on so many levels.

Angie Ledbetter said...

I keep hearing that about 63,000 folks here die from "regular" flu each year so I can retain some perspective. Will be glad when the whole thing's over!

ShanaM said...

French kissing! That about sums it up !!

Debbie said...

You know that airline air is never great. Seems like a given to me.

Anonymous said...

I'm SO glad I'm not the only one who avoids touching the eyes nose and mouth! Not sure when it started and I certainly wouldn't call myself a germ-ophobe...but ew!
They are closing schools down here in TX ... every day a new one closes. They cancelled Proms too. PROMS! Can you believe it! Oh the horror! ;)

Anonymous said...

I'm SO glad I'm not the only one who avoids touching the eyes nose and mouth! Not sure when it started and I certainly wouldn't call myself a germ-ophobe...but ew!
They are closing schools down here in TX ... every day a new one closes. They cancelled Proms too. PROMS! Can you believe it! Oh the horror! ;)

Mary@Holy Mackerel said...

Darn tootin'!! You tell 'em!

I also get sick at least half the time when I get on a plane. And no one's gonna tell me it ain't the plane and its damn recirculated old virus-laden air!

Paige said...

God willing, I have a vacation coming up in a month. I had to confirm this week and begged off a week with the resort by blaming it on this whole swine flu problem---the only thing worse than being sick is being sick on a 10K vacation. No thanks!

Hit 40 said...

Folks in other countries love to wear a mask. Maybe... we should start on the airplanes. They are vile pits of germs. I always get stuck by a sick one coughing and hacking. The airlines need a sick section to put them all.

Big word...phlegmy ? I need to grab some coffee and look that one up? Maybe it will come in handy for scrabble.

Hit 40 said...

Dah... snot, mucus, goobers, ....

I feel better now. I'll get that coffee.

Oh... and some chocolate cake with raspberry filling. Yummy.

Deedee said...

Yeah, planes are definitely germ incubation machines. I am always a manic hand washer and try never to touch my face either. The vast majority of us will survive whether or not we get this or any other flu. I'll be glad when this trumped up media frenzy finally dies out.

Noanie said...

I've also had my share of sickness after flying. I'll be leaving on a jet plane in June for a family reunion in AZ - wonder what's I'll contract this time.

Stop on by and take a spin with me while I'm doing my happy dance - I finished my course work and will gradute on May 16 - woo hoo!
Peace

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

Perhaps they should should bring back smoking on airplanes???

I think that smoke killed everything!

Barrett said...

I wish all the politicians had to fly the friendly skies with the general public. Maybe they'd all contract something........ we could do without most of them.... .i'm just saying... :)

gail said...

He also told a guy in a wheelchair to stand up at some gathering!

Being a germaphobe is now popular. Who woulda thunk we'd all wind up like Mr. Monk?

Unknown said...

Hey Jane. Wassup?

Mary@Holy Mackerel said...

There's no denying it that planes breed nasty germs.