Bird flu is endemic now. The H5N1 strain of the virus, which has been found in turkey Meleagris gallopavo flocks in counties CW MH MO this November, is notably concerning because it is particularly virulent if/when it jumps the species barrier and starts to scythe through, like, people. One problem is that bird flu circulates in wild birds, and the Department of Agriculture has NO resources to prevent sparrows or rooks vectoring the virus into free-range commercial flocks. What they have done is mandate that poultry farmers get their birds indoors to minimize the chance of passerine poop in the feeders or water troughs. We are a teensy bit concerned for our favorite free-range && organic egg farm halfway between here and The Déise. In supermarkets in Ireland you can but organic eggs or free-range eggs but not organic-free-range and I go all Buridan's Ass on making the choice.
Today, it's Thanksgiving in the USA, the Canadian having given their thanks in October as always. In Ireland it's a just a normal working day but tomorrow Black Friday the shops will be rammed because discounts are to be had. And because Kapital can never have enough retail incentives Cyber Monday is in 4 days time. Whatevs, we have family&friends in the US and I try to remember to send them a greet in the much-to-be-thankful-for vein. My quip for 2025 has been This:
is as close as we're getting to turkey this year. Not that we'd be eating turkey in normal times - a most over-rated thing on which to waste oven-time. A little chicken can go a long way: roast as an excuse for roast potatoes, cold for late night sangers, curry for St Stephen's Day, and soup for the next couple of days after that. And the best of all these, for my pref, is soup. The justification for chicken and ham at Christmas is somewhat diminished because half the family are vegetarians. But our favorite farm does a line in free-range pork and ham and we had an excellent collar roast last year. I am tasked to order another for this December.
But to reiterate: we have much to be thankful for: plenty of firewood, the use of our legs, minds not tooo confuse, and a distinct want of Want.
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