You swine

The latest outbreak of the influenza virus is giving journalists something new to talk about. Companies are restrcting travel to and from Mexico City and the US is declaring it a public health emergency, though President Obama is telling the US not to be alarmed. Meanwhile, the World Organization for Animal Health, according to The New York Times, is telling all of us not to call it the "swine flu" because people will think they can get it from eating pork. Huh?

What's really happening here? It's a good news story. Americans have grown tired of hearing about the economy, how the healthcare system is a mess, and we've long since figured out that "reality TV" is carefully staged. We needed something more interesting: an epidemic that can strike anyone, any where fits the bill.

Stay tuned.