Is the Times getting cute with us? Months after warning us of the teen hug epidemic they are now asking if teen hugs spread swine flu.

Mr. Mayor, what do kids do to each other?

"Kids touch each other, and that's the real world," the mayor said on Tuesday, when asked about the matter. "And I'm not so sure you want a kid that doesn't want to high-five or hug or something. But I won't get involved in that..."

Yes, ok. We can't wait for the confessional Times Magazine piece on how abstaining from air kisses due to the Swine Flu threat caused one New York journalist's deep depression, divorce, and drug abuse. It will cost $500,000 to report.