29 April 2009

When Pigs Flew

Mad cow, bird flu, swine flu. What do all these animals have against us? Is this their revenge for our dinners, shoes and viagra? Couldn’t they just rise up in some Orwellian fashion?



6 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know, I read the parts of the bible relating to what must be the base for your "kashrut" and find that there are perfectly logical reasons why some foods are proscribed, etc. I was thinking about this when I thought of Egypt and wondered at how many pigs there might actually be in that country. Farmers were rioting though I read so there must be enough to form a riotous assembly.

About flying to Mexico.. This reminds me that during my days of frequent flyers points and too much booze on airplanes headaches and missed meetings, I could not help noting that no matter where you ended up, planned or otherwise, there would always be an israeli couple. Usually a vociferous guy and a quiet young companion that spells wife. I think your people like to travel a lot. I just thought of something... I bet you speak with that flat south african accent. Our vet studied in the RSA and her english is from there.

Boonies is far away from civilization... like the outback or the bush or er Haifa?

Anonymous said...

Now, about this pig thing...

1. What is not clear about this flu virus is whether it transmits easily between humans. So far, it appears not to transmit easily although it can transmit. This is new. If it ever became virulent-easily transmittable-, the world could see up to 100 million deaths. This is why it is particularly dangerous.

2. Why Pigs? Simple really.

Pigs have the misfortune of being able to get infected from Birds. They are also an animal that can get infected by humans. With these two pathogenes coexisting inside of a living creature, a possible mutation involving the human virus with characteristics (the deadly ones) from the bird virus can result in something very dangerous.

This is the very little I know of this thing. It is enough to make me quake, perhaps not at my own death, but a fear I have for my family, etc. and then perhaps along the lines of the list you did earlier.

Mia said...

I always see Japanese and Chinese tourists wherever I go.

I sound like Helen Zille, only younger. And prettier.

MagicAlex said...

"Animals" hands down PF's best.

Anonymous said...

Otta Helene Maree the fist fight lady?

Sasha said...

It's growing more pandemic as we speak.