Don't let the alligators cause you to forget your mission was to drain the swamp.

Recently, vice President Joe Biden stated publicly that he was advising his family to avoid crowed modes of transportation such as subways and airplanes during the current flu epidemic.  Predictably, a travel industry representative took Biden to task for this statement.  Now, there were some really high sounding reasons for the criticism, but the bottom line is the travel industry is worried that fear of travel will affect their 'bottom line.'  Thus, a high level government official can't dare suggest that crowded transportation is unsafe during an outbreak of a highly contagious airborne disease.

Well, I say;  Good on you, Mr. Vice President.  And to those who would object to such a statement, I say, shut up and get a life.  Have any of you naysayers who are worried more about next quarter profits than my health ridden on a crowded Washington Metro train lately?  I did, just this morning, and let me tell you about my experience.  During my one-hour ride from Shady Grove Metro Station to Crystal City, I noticed no less than five people sneezing or coughing without covering their mouth or nose.  Just spewing their toxic body fluids out into the car to share with all and sundry.  Just before my train pulled into Gallery Place station, a young lady behind me sneezed; loud enough to vibrate my eardrums, but worse, oh much worse - I could feel the moisture from her exhalation on the back of my neck.  The little droplets of potentially virus-laden spittle dribbling under my collar and stuck in my hair.  Now, it would helped a little - only a little - if she'd said 'excuse me.'  No such luck.  She remained silent except for the sniffling that usually follows a sneeze that registers that high on the Richter Scale.  I know now how Adrian Monk, one of my favorite TV characters feels, and can really sympathize with him.  Right on, Monk, Right on, Mr. Vice President.