Touché

In this morning's New York Times, Dr. Abigail Zuger points out that our health-related fears seldom translate into the application of common sense when it comes to our behaviours.

We lived in Europe when the spectre of Mad Cow disease first appeared. My neighbour informed me that the commisary had issued a recall for all beef products as some of it may have originated in the UK. Phil said, "I'm taking all our beef back in. I don't want to get sick!"

Then he took a good, long draw off his ever-present cigarette.