Flu Prevention Plan

In case you’ve been living under a rock, this is one of the worst flu seasons we’ve ever had, especially in Chicago. Yippee.

I’ve had my shot, and I’m pretty good about washing my hands and using hand sanitizer. But even the best of shots and the strongest of Purells isn’t going to help much when the person behind you on the train hacks up a lung into your hair.

Yeecccccchhhhh.

It seems to me that flu (and any other contagious illness) is mostly spread when people fall into one of two categories:

1. A person doesn’t know that they’re sick yet.
2. A person knows they are very ill, but goes out in public anyway. And then doesn’t wash their hands between blowing their nose and grabbing the railing.

So I’ve come up with a solution that will take care of both the unwitting and the uncaring assailant.

Mandatory neon signs that light up as soon as your body starts being ill.

Think about it. In category one, the sick person would know as soon as possible to start taking care of themselves and avoiding others. For people in category two, everyone else could give them a wide berth and vicious glares.

Problem solved. You’re welcome, Earth.

Smoldering

I saw something gross today.

I was walking back from lunch to my internship (lunch = peanut butter and jelly from home eaten at Caribou Coffee next door) and was generally in a pretty good mood. I really like the internship, and there was a good amount of work to do that I was actually looking forward to. The sun was shining and all that.

The woman walking in front of me was smoking. So, you know, ew right there. Walking behind a smoker is very unpleasant.

Then.

Then, without missing a stride, she threw her cigarette on the ground and kept walking.

It’s gross enough to throw your cigarette on the ground. The world is not your personal ashtray, everyone. But then to not even have the decency to step on it, make sure it’s out? That it won’t rub against some dry leaves and spark The Great Chicago Fire 2.0?

(Yes, I know that’s near impossible – we don’t have wooden buildings in the Loop, nor do we have wooden sidewalks with kindling hanging out underneath. Nor do we rely on a firefighting system of a guy looking out from a really tall building to point the firefighters in the right direction. But still, you catch my drift.)

Normally, I’d just roll my eyes and move on after one occurrence – but the sad thing is, I saw it happen again when I was leaving work. Guy smoking, hailed a taxi, threw it on ground before getting in.

This is not a Lonely Island song, people. We do not throw things on the ground.

Don’t worry, I glared at both of them. From behind them. So the backs of their heads got some real heat.

Is this a normal occurrence? Do people still just throw their cigarette butts wherever they like?