In preparing for the Olympics, China hasn't had it easy. Plaguing the country have been the Sichuan earthquake and subsequent flooding, riots in Tibet, and even an algal bloom threatening the sailing venue (although isn't that Hong Kong's problem?). And, even though it's been several years, who can forget SARS?

What next? Locusts? 

Indeed, this airborne plague of insects could create a ruckus in Beijing. And as the Biblical calamities add up, let's not even talk about frogs ...

Peggy Shinn is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This blog was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.