AFP has the story on the effects of the swine flu on the nation of Afghanistan, where officials have locked up the country's only pig for the time being. That's right. The nation's ONLY PIG has been locked away in the interest of public health:
Afghanistan's only known pig has been taken off display at Kabul Zoo and locked away to avoid panic among visitors who may be worried about swine flu, the zoo's director said Wednesday.
"We put the pig temporarily in his winter house under quarantine because of swine influenza," director Aziz Gul Saqib told AFP.
"Most people don't have much knowledge about swine influenza and seeing a pig, they panic that they will be infected.
As it turns out, life is a real mixed blessing, being the only pig in Afghanistan:
The interned animal -- known simply as "Pig" -- was one of two given to Afghanistan by China in 2002, months after the ouster of the hardline Taliban regime, to help reestablish the zoo after it was destroyed during civil war.
However, the other pig -- and their offspring -- were killed in an attack by a bear.
Despite being the only pig, it was not too lonely, Saqib said.
"The pig made friends with a goat and was happy sticking to the goat in the enclosure, where some other goats and deer were on show for visitors," Saqib said.
What, did his best friend the spider die, too? That is, like, tha SADDEST THING I HAVE READ TO TODAY. (And I read stuff about Bank of America!)
Sonia Sotomayor Might Not Be The Terrible Monster Previously Believed: TNR's Jeffrey Rosen proved that with enough anonymous innuendo and a complete lack of awareness of relevant decisions, you can nonetheless satisfy your word count and pretend to have written some sort of lengthy criticism. But are other interests at work? Brian Beutler thinks maybe! And hey, as it turns out, clerks willing to praise Sotomayor on the record exist!
Is It Too Late To Vote To Strip Ben Nelson Of Something?: "The voice vote that stripped Specter of his seniority was unanimous. When was the last time Senate Democrats voted unanimously on anything?"
Chris Lehmann Rules Everything Around Me: "Oh dear oh dear oh dear. Forbes magazine, which makes a point of being far too genteel for morale-boosting, is now dispensing Oprah-style advice to its plutocratic readership. Last week, a cover package was assembled: a 'Survivor's Guide for the Affluent,' and the introductory text wastes little time making with the tough love. There's the chilling report from New York society photographer Patrick McMullan that his subjects are stinting on party comestibles: 'There used to be caviar; now we are seeing a lot more carrots.' There's Annelise Peterson, 'a socialite and fashion consultant' (read: publicist) who testifies that 'disguised shopping' -- scoring the odd fur at a charity event or 'celebrity-sponsored rummage sale' -- has become 'something of a surreptitious sport.'
What If They Gave A Secession And Nobody Came?: Polls indicate that this wouldn't be surprising, actually. Outside of a small pocket of southerners, practically nobody wants their state to secede from the Union.
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