Beware the Jagrafess, my son!

[strange_complex]

I've just been out to the doctor to get my annual 'flu¹ vaccination. I qualify for a free one every year because of my asthma, and have been having them for six years now: ever since I actually did get 'flu over Christmas 1999, and realised that a small amount of forward planning and a slight prick in the arm was more than worth going through each year in order to avoid it.

So, the jab went fine. I hardly felt it, and that's another 'flu-free winter to look forward to. But while I was there, I noticed the leaflets the NHS have printed up this year to encourage those in vulnerable groups² to get the injection:



Let's take a closer look at those little gremlins, shall we?



Now is that, or is that not, the Jagrafess? Hmm? Is that its goal in the 21st century, then: to take control of Earth through the medium of viral infection? Is that what the NHS are desperately trying to tell us by printing suggestive pictures of it on their literature? Has it had itself cloned and miniaturised a billion times over for an attack not unlike that of the Swarm in The Invisible Enemy? Is it a coincidence that that very story also saw the debut of the lovable K-9, who is set to return to our screens this coming spring? Will he, by then, be deeply involved in a real-life battle against the new and mysterious Jagrafess virus?

And do I now know far more about Doctor Who than I thought I did or ever expected to? I may be protected against the Jagrafess now, but you lot clearly took over my brain some time ago...

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1. That's 'flu as in Actual Influenza: not the same as a cold. Even a bad cold.
2. For the record, you qualify if you're over 65, or have kidney disease, diabetes, reduced immunity or any serious chest or heart complaint, including asthma. If that's you, get it! Don't have 'flu.

Comments

[angeoverhere.livejournal.com]

Being also a sciencemedia geek, I happen to know that this campaign was running last autumn as well, because I used it in my teaching. So unless they nicked the Jagrafess from the NHS, there might be a small problem with your theory*

*yes I know, timetravel, etc.

On the other hand, both of 'em look rather like the head of a lamprey (nasty jawless parasitic fishthing):

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Eep! *jumps away from screen* It's trying to get me!

Mind you, the whole point of the Jagrafess is that it was itself manipulating the world's media, so maybe it has engineered its own presence on 21st century Earth in both the NHS literature and Doctor Who? Maybe it's planned a subtle long-term campaign whereby we are increasingly exposed to its image, until we come to love it and covet it and welcome it with open arms to our juicy and succulent planet?

[damien-mocata.livejournal.com]

Or is the Jagrafess merely a mutation of Influenza? :)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Eep! again. It's the dreaded Claw! *runs away*

And perhaps you're right. Maybe it's a giant influenza virus that has grown to 10 trillion times its original size thanks to nuclear radiation?

[captainlucy.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, Penelope! We'll saves ya! :D

Of course it's grown to immense size because of radiation. Doesn't everything? ;)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Yay! icon.

And is that kitten incredibly scary - or incredibly cute? I'm so confused!

[angeoverhere.livejournal.com]

Cute I think - was wondering if I could attempt to icon it - would that be OK?

[damien-mocata.livejournal.com]

*insert maniacal laughter*

[mr-flay.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you recall, but one Hallowe'en, we saw a tv programme with some nutter exposing himself to many "natural bloodsuckers" (hence the Hallowe'en connection, haha, how terribly witty, I can well imagine some programming commissioner slapping himself on the back over that one, bloody schedulers, *mutter* *curse*), including fleas, ticks and lampreys.

He waded around up to his knees in stagnant water, and sure enough, a lamprey soon clamped on to his calf. It was not pretty. *shudder*

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Oh, believe me, I've never forgotten! I had forgotten the Halloween connection, but the image of that guy with lampreys trailing from his leg has never left me!

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

I've never quite understood why anyone one want to die of a surfeit of those.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

I thought Vedius Pollio's victims were largely unwilling?

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

It was not Vedius Pollio I had in mind, but King Henry I (1068-1135) of England, who the chronicles reported as dying from a "surfeit of lampreys," of all things.

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Ah! I suppose there's no chance he ate too many, or anything slightly-less-unplesant lke that? I know the Romans liked to have a good munch on a lamprey when they got the chance.

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

He was, apparently, known for his gluttony where lamphreys were concerned. Which brings me back to my original question - why anyone would have chosen to die of eating those things is beyond me ;)

[strange-complex.livejournal.com]

Still, got to be better than being eaten by them, eh?

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

Quite!