Swine Flu Scare Kills Lebanese Kissing

Nevermind that the Swine flu has yet to claim a life in Lebanon (or even make an appearance, no Lebanese have fallen ill), Health Minister Mohammad Khalifeh isn't taking any chances.

In an effort to cut down on the Swine flu outbreak, Lebanon has put a temporary end to their three kiss on the cheek greeting. They've decided the touchy, feeling custom is a bit too germy in this volatile environment.

"If you visit someone, don't exchange kisses... Let's stop the social kissing habit," Khalifeh said during a news conference yesterday.

This sounds great. Can we enact a similar rule here in the U.S.? Namely amongst certain circles in New York City who can't meet without a phony, fake-kiss cheek stamp?

Since when did this cloying (and apparently unsanitary) habit become a socially acceptable practice, anyway? While we're by no means prudish—we give the healthy thumbs up and clothes off to sex in various forms, positions, climates and tricky situations, a lack of face smooches by strangers may in fact be the silver lining in this pig influenza.