The Black Death, closer than you think

puffthemutantdragon has a wonderful two part article on the history of the Yersinia pestis bacteria.  This little bug is known by many names.  Bubonic plague.  The Black Death. The Plague of Justinian. The Great Plague. The Great Pestilence.  The history of Y. pestis is facinating.  Go read mutantdragon's excellent article: part I and part II.

Education and what's wrong with it