"Don't wanna be an American idiot..."

In the news recently, there have been many headlines that have made me seriously consider increasing the amount of blood pressure medication I take on a daily basis. There were actually times when I could feel the hot blood make its way up to my brain...

Lance Armstrong
C'mon people. Wake up and smell the Epogen. After years of speculation, we are finally hearing an admission to what anyone with a brain already knew. He's guilty of GASP! using performance enhancing drugs.

By all means, I do not know much about the sport of cycling, but it's pretty common knowledge that it's a fairly dirty sport. PED use is not at all uncommon. So he cheated and beat hundreds of others that were also cheating. Yes, we want to believe the fairy tale; that a man who overcame testicular, lung and brain cancer, the horrendous treatments that come along with those diagnoses, could somehow beat the odds and pedal his bike through the mountains of France faster and harder without having to cheat. It seemed too good to be true.

Guess what? It was.

I don't condone the lying, the intimidation, the threats, the abuse of power by destroying the lives and reputations of anyone that dared speak the obvious truth. For that behavior alone, he should have without a doubt been stripped of his titles and lose his sponsors and endorsements. He deserves that much.

But again, why is anyone all that surprised?

The Flu Shot
Healthcare workers across the country have been fired from their jobs for refusing to get the flu shot. Sometimes I want to jump into the TV or computer and smack the shit out of these people.

Guess what? No one feels bad for you for losing your job. Your stupidity is putting so many lives at risk. You already work with sick patients, many of which have compromised immune systems. Just because you may not show signs of the flu, does not mean you aren't passing it to the entire unit in which you work.

People die from the flu. That's right. Even young, healthy people who the only time they've been in a hospital is when they were born, die from the flu.  I've witnessed it. So if the flu can kill them, imagine what it does to someone who's already sick. It's not just about you. Really. It's not.

And just to clear the air....

1. The flu shot will not give you the flu
2. Getting the shot will not protect you from all strains. But 60% protection is much better odds than 0% protection
3. Antibiotics do NOT fight the flu. The flu is a virus, antibiotics fight bacteria. If your doctor tells you you have the flu then prescribes Amoxicillin, get a new doctor.

I'm a nurse for critically ill infants and children, so I never think twice about the flu shot. Even if it wasn't mandated at my place of employment, I would gladly get the flu shot. It's my job to protect my patients. In fact, we have a saying...

JUST GET THE DAMN SHOT

The Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theory
My Facebook feed has been inundated with articles and videos making the Sandy Hook tragedy out to be a government formulated conspiracy to tighten gun laws. I hate to admit that I've read many of these articles and even watched a video some looney toon made (can I have my 30 minutes back?). The articles/videos are like a bad car wreck... I just have to look.

Many of these articles claim the parents are grief actors, that the father who took a few deep breaths before he addressed the public in a press conference was getting into character. Another set of parents didn't look distressed enough, so they couldn't possibly be grieving.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure many of you know the articles and videos I'm talking about. I kept my opinions to myself (even when someone posted a picture of Obama with children and Hitler with children saying they are similar in that they both want dictatorship and used children to extort emotion. I unfriended her, and it takes A LOT to offend me) but a friend since 1st grade was posting articles and videos every five minutes and I couldn't keep it to myself anymore.

Friend from school's stupid FB status regarding conspiracy theories and gun control
Lots of previous comments about the parents being actors and not grieving and 2nd amendment from him and people I don't know
Friend: If the massacre even took place at all... tbd
Me: "If the massacre even took place at all..." Really Friend???
Friend: Really Marla... I'm not convinced... I could be wrong... But that's my opinion... As long as I still have that right...
Me: Oh, stop the dramatics, of course you are entitled to your opinion. But, would you be spouting off this shit if that was God forbid one of your daughters?
Friend: Now what in the world would drive you to say a stupid fucking like that?
Friend: Stay out of my conversations if u don't agree with what I'm saying... 
Me: Because I want to know. You are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to mine. Freedom of speech, no?
No response from friend
Me: I can't be the first person to think it, probably just the first person with balls to ask.
No response from friend
Me: And... End scene (my sarcastic comment to some drivel he was writing that the parents are actors. Friend did not pick up on my sarcasm)
Friend: End scene??? Right the whole thing looks like a Hollywood production!!! My point exactly Now ur catching on
Friend: Do you know the parents of any of the kids that supposedly were killed? Have you watched the video I posted on here? [sadly, I did] They look upset.
Friend: If my kids were killed in a massacre I wouldn't be disputing the fact that it happened now would I??? But since neither u or I know any of the parents of the kids that were supposedly killed then y would would u bring my kids into the equation? Just a rude thing to do
Me: No, I don't. Do you? But, I have been in a room when a child has taken their last breath in front of their parents. I can tell you from experience, that everyone grieves differently. I've watched parents laugh and smile minutes later. Make jokes, even. Are they not grieving? I laughed at my Mom-Mom's funeral. Was I not grieving?
Me: And it's not rude to post these ridiculous conspiracy theory statements, regardless if you know the parents or not?
Friend: (completely ignored my statement on grieving) How is it rude??? That's what a conspiracy theory is!!! If I dont think that the evidence I have seen  adds up I have the right to dispute it... if it bothers u... Ignore it or unfriend me
Me: Just stating my right of opinion... as long as I still have that right.
Friend: U absolutely do.. As do I.. End scene!!! Lol

And... end scene

I truthfully wanted to keep this conversation going, but it was clear he had enough of me. Was it crossing the line to bring up his children? I don't think so, but I'm not in the precious Parents Club. Is that an unwritten rule, never bring up someones kids, regardless if they are being total ass-hats?

He could dish it out but he couldn't take it...