Thelma

This was interesting - thanks. The reference to mad cow disease reminded me -- I can no longer donate blood in the U.S. because I lived in Germany in the 1980s as part of a US military family. Because the meat we bought in the US Commissary was purchased in the UK - and because locations in the UK have had Mad Cow Disease - and because there is no blood test for it - my family members and I can't give blood.

They're not saying we'll come down with Mad Cow Disease, but they just don't know. And it's a risk they are not willing to take. So we can't donate blood for the red cross any more.