Noobies VÜ

Swine flu has come to southern Utah. Yee haw.
I don't typically get the flu, I did the math and the last time I recall getting it was oh, sometime in the early 90s. That doesn't mean that was the last time, just the last time I can recall.
Both main bosses at work have apparently had it, a couple people from the office are out, not sure if they have it or not.
We've been informed that the bug is so new that insurance groups aren't prepared to pay for the test for it and it runs around $300 and if you take it, you are required by the CDC to start treatment before the results even come back 6 weeks later. So, many area hospitals are just having people skip the test and just take the prescription.
It really kills me that with a virtual pandemic on our hands (is it virtual if it has already been declared a pandemic?), and the cost of tests running a few hundred dollars a pop, as well as the cost for prescriptions, and with the uninsured in this country topping 47 MILLION (that's 20% of the population, myself included) that so many people (probably insured) are contesting the idea of nationalized health care under the guise of *gasp* communism/socialism. WTF man?
If ever there was a need for socialized medicine now is the time. I don't think I speak for just myself when I think that many of us uninsured, especially in this economy, can afford to go to a doctor or take the time off from work if we come down with this thing. I think it is very possible we will see the death toll rise due to this illness mainly because so many of us can't afford to treat it.
I am not really in a high-risk category, I do not have children, nor have many friends who do, (yay gays!) and I am somewhat isolated here at work with only a few people in the same office of which only 1 has children. But I am not immune to the flu by any means. And, let's face it, it only takes one. You go to the mall, or the gym, or a restaurant, or shopping, and you are surrounded by people and children who are at risk, and may even already have it, and of course they spread that around.
People, if you or your kid is sick, don't be parading around town. This could be a serious problem, and though I am all for a bit of "thinning of the herd", this thing could reach some epic numbers. It could probably be knocked down if people just followed the precautions set forth by the CDC and kept them and their kids home if they come down with it.
But, that's not how our society runs. People are always out for themselves, and if it inconveniences them, or somehow affects their quality of life, or challenges the sanctity of marriage (had to put that in there), then, by all means, smash it down and destroy it. WE don't want socialized medicine because we'll become communists, or socialist, (boo Obama, you commie! You've destroyed America single handedly in less than 6 months- so say the emails I keep getting from family members) we won't let you socialize medicine!
God knows our government, especially one run by an apparent commie who has destroyed the country, mangled people's names, uses a *gasp* teleprompter, doubled the national debt (he of course caused all the problems the previous years that caused the need for a bailout), and wants to make all the people making over 250k (i know no one, who makes that personally- but with the amount of bitching I hear you'd think all the republicans close to me do) pay more in taxes, is incapable of running health care. reminds me of this lovely blog I read a while back. You have to laugh a little.

Hello all, (2 or 3 of you)
No, the title isn't an allusion to the Nickleback song, though it is one of the few of theirs that I tolerate. It's just been a looooonnnnngggg time since I last posted. Shame me, Shame! No biscuit.
As you all know (again, all 2 or 3 of you) I live in southern Utah and it has become overrun this past week with the q-tips and walker hobblers that descend on St. George for the Huntsman Senior Games. I am all for old people getting out and running and jumping and having a grand time competing with one another. I am curious as to what the events are though. Getting out of bed? Making it down a flight of stairs without a broken hip? Making it to Vegas without stopping at every available toilet or soiling their granny pampers? Those are all very exciting and, I'm sure, have caused more than their share of nail-biting moments. But, I have to admit to being a bit inured to the whole thing when I find myself competing with these same competitors on the roadway. And, let's face it here, these people are not here competing in any kind of driving events. Unless said event happened to be tying up traffic for hours as they make their slow plodding way from venue to venue in their Cadillac Land Yacht. Imagine 7000 of these people storming your city at 23 mph. It's not very pleasant. I'm sure all these grannys and grampys are wonderful people, but they should have drivers provided for them. I cringe every time I pass a car and all I see are two hands on the steering wheel at 11 and 1 and the top of a puff of cotton candy hair, like a geriatric version of Kilroy. (Google that if you aren't familiar with the term). The sudden influx of Metamucil guzzlers just exacerbates an issue we already have here in southern Utah: shitty drivers.
Now, I've already ranted about them previously but, this is a whole new rant.
Here at my job just off of Bluff I have noticed a large increase of traffic lately and (well I've noticed it all over actually) I've noticed that no one in this town seems to know how to merge left so that incoming drivers can enter the roadway. What is it with people that they will travel in the right hand lane for miles with no intention of turning right? They don't turn in the immediate future nor, oftentimes, in the far future. Many of these people actually hang a left onto Sunset 4 miles down the road. I don't understand this mentality. As soon as I get onto a road, unless I'm turning right soon, I merge left. For 2 reasons: people enter the roadway more on the right and 2, exit more on the right. I don't like having to speed up and slow down constantly as people enter and exit. We have turn lanes here in Utah for people turning left (a source of constant amusement and irritation when getting stuck behind some yahoo who doesn't understand the concept of GETTING IN THE DAMN TURN LANE!) so people don't impede traffic when turning. But not so, for people turning right, for the most part.
It gets really frustrating when you sit at a road wanting to turn onto your next chosen road to see 90% of the traffic in the outside lane while the inside lane is almost completely clear.
Wake up people, this isn't rocket science. You too have sat waiting to merge, frustrated at the amount of traffic, yet you can't think enough to do something to alleviate the situation when you are on the other side?
I just don't get people.