I spotted a fly this morning. It was a sickly fly, wandering around down there on the floor of the men's room - when I moved my foot right next to it, all it did was try to crawl away, not fly away. But, of course, it got me to thinking. First - we never see flies in the winter. Second, how long before somebody in the local media puts 2 and 2 together and gets DEATH FROM ABOVE, i.e., a story about how our current un-winter means we're all going to die this summer from West Nile Virus/Eastern Equine Encephalitis/Lyme Disease/salmonella/something?

So ...

Let's have a pool: Reply to this post (or send me e-mail) with the date on which you think we'll see the first story in the local media linking the present weather to some horrible disease we all have to worry about this summer. For extra fun, note which media outlet you think will "break" the story.

Whoever guesses the right date will get a plush e. coli bacterium, from the batch I just ordered (click on the little guy to the right for more info). Guess the right date and the right media outlet and you'll get two.

All entries must be posted by 11:59 p.m., EDT, Jan. 15. All decisions of the judges are final. Results will be available for inspection on this site. Media outlets must not use this post as an inspiration for this story until at least Jan. 16 - otherwise, what am I going to do with three plush e. coli bacteria that my wife will think I'm insane for buying?