Giant Microbes

Just when I thought nothing could shock me any more I got surprised - something did. I was cruising around on the net when I stumbled across a company based in Stamford, Connecticut called GIANTmicrobes that makes and sells "cuddly", plush, disease causing microbes and pathogens. Included in their list of "toys" is Polio, Ebola, the Plague, HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, pimples, bad breath, Typhoid Fever, E. Coli, Salmonella and more. Also included are lice, bedbugs, dust mites and other "critters". Each "toy" comes with a tag with a picture of the real microbe and a description of the disease. They are calling these "educational toys".

I also came across a price list:

single microbe $7.95

starter collection (15 pack) $85.00

Venereals (2 pack) $12.00

maladies (6 pack) $33.00

intermediate set of 31 $178.00

critters (5 pack) $30.00

collection of all 47 $275.00

This has to be the epitome of bad taste. I'm sure that people who are victims of these diseases, not to mention those who have lost loved ones to them, do not consider this a game. This has to be one of the most disturbing examples of capitalism run amok that I have heard of since serial killer trading cards.