THANKS A LOT: Gorillas Gave Us "The Crabs"

Livescience.com has the rather disappointing news that we humans more than likely first got "the crabs" - a kind of lice that take up residence in our pubic hair - from our old friends, the gorillas. That's just wonderful. Just when I was feeling good about trying to save them from extinction.

Of course, it wouldn't be the first time our simian friends have screwed us. Yes, it's true, other animals have sent us to both our hospitals and to our graves. Malaria and the West Nile virus come to us courtesy of the mosquito, for example. And rats have long been hazardous to our health, as well. But generally speaking, we don't like those animals very much (although I do have a particular liking for fancy rats), so there's not much of an effort to preserve their futures. Conversely, gorillas - along with other apes - are supposed to be like family to us humans. We want them to live. So, it's kind of like they're stabbing us in the back. Ain't it?

Well, maybe not exactly. They're not doing it on purpose, after all.

Or.... are they?

Something to ponder as you sip your morning coffee.