Companies plucking greeting cards (concerns over bird flu)

[sabra]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0601090168jan09,1,4542627.story

Companies plucking greeting cards
Associated Press


BROOKLYN, Ohio -- Public concerns over bird flu have led the nation's two largest greeting card producers to remove feathers from their products.

American Greetings Corp. in Brooklyn, Ohio, and Hallmark Cards Inc. of Kansas City, Mo., are looking at alternatives for real bird feathers used on cards.

The companies insist the moves are not safety precautions but rather are guided by public relations. Both companies say they use sterilized feathers, some domestically plucked, some Asian.

Feathers account for "a very small fraction of 1 percent" of the total number of cards American Greetings produces, spokeswoman Laurie Henrichsen said. Some of those have a "small fashion icon glued on the front--like a miniature fabric woman's hat with feather attachment."

[babylonsister]

1. Am I alone thinking this is a bit over-the-top? nt

[proReality]

2. No, you're not. It is over the top. n/t

[kestrel91316]

3. I think it's actually a smart corporate decision. Here's why:

If bird flu DOES hit in the US, the average ill-informed, uneducated, faith-believing, unscientific American will go into a major PANIC over any bird tissue/parts anywhere. Only a fool would believe that STERILIZED bird feathers could spread a virus like H5N1, but we live in a nation of fools. So AG is just being proactive, rather than facing false accusations down the road of spreading disease, or having to recall massive amounts of product to soothe irrational fears.

I understand why they are doing this. It's just sad that Americans are so dumb anymore.

[Ian David]

9. My electricity is radioactive because it comes from a nuclear powerplant

People believe that kind of stuff.

[Divernan]

11. You'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of average American

Our underfunded educational system has succeeded in dumbing down the American populace. "Don't know much about history. . . ." or geography, or economics, or science, or biology, or civics, etc.

[kestrel91316]

13. The worst thing is, somehow people have lost all desire or

incentive to learn on their own after they end their formal education. And now, with internet access available to just about everybody, there is simply NO EXCUSE for ignorance. You can go online and learn as much as you want about anything you want. Free.

But people would rather watch Survivor.

[bmbmd]

4. I guess I'll have to give up

fly-fishing....

[EST]

6. You can get it from flies??!!

:smoke:

[uppityperson]

5. What about that boa in my closet, from my great aunt?

Should I burn it? :sarcasm:
Not to say that the avian flu is not a concern, but lets spend time and energy where it should be spent usefully, not in merely feelgood ways.

[progressivebydesign]

7. You can't get it from feathers!! people get if from drinking blood.

Usually they get the bird flu from drinking the blood of an infected bird (grostesque delicacy), or eating raw fowl meat. Feathers on a card... shit. What next? Burn our down pillows and jackets???

[Mojorabbit]

8. That is not true

Bone up on your research before making such statements.

[uppityperson]

10. it is in their feces and can easily get onto feathers.

NOT just from blood.

[ucmike]

12. What next? Burn our down pillows and jackets???.

good idea. i'm burning my comforter.

[kineneb]

14. I will not get rid of my pet chicken.

If anything, she is healthier than either one of us. Besides, she lives inside most of the time and only goes out for "walkies." I think the card companies are over-reacting, but then as mentioned, the US public has the average IQ of a bread pudding (or was that tapioca?).

[gauguin57]

15. do you really have a pet chicken?

that is so cool. I wish I could have a pet chicken ... or duck, or goose, or swan, or turkey.

[kineneb]

16. yes, I certainly do!

She is a large gold-colored bird, is part araucana and lays jumbo-sized pale green eggs (shades of Dr. Suess). Most of the time she stays in her nice cage inside; while we are eating she even begs for treats (her favorites are cheese and bananas, sliced up, of course). We have an outside coop, but the weather in CA has been, well, ucky, so she has moved inside. If the weather is good, we take her out to eat down the grass, often in the portable enclosure we call the "lawn mower." Right now she is "talking" to me from her cage, making little bupping noises. She likes sitting in my lap and being petted, which I admit does sound strange.

I never would have thought of chickens for pets, but after my friend gifted us with Henrietta, I think they are great. If raised around people, they can be much friendlier than many pet birds, and with the bonus of producing eggs and fertilizer. (Just don't let them out in your house if you have carpets...I don't think I need to explain..."accidents" will happen.)

[daleo]

17. Feathers are a good way to spread pathogens

I recall reading that there was a lot of testing during WW2 about feathers and biological weaponry.