So why don't you give blood, you didn't ask. I'll tell you.

It's not that I don't want to. I'd love to be able to donate and think it's one of the easiest ways to give a teeny something back. They just don't think I'm a suitable candidate.

I dunno somethin' somethin' Cows, England, madness. Red Cross Eligibility:

In some parts of the world, cattle can get an infectious, fatal brain disease called Mad Cow Disease. In these same locations, humans have started to get a new disease called variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (vCJD) which is also a fatal brain disease. Scientists believe that vCJD is Mad Cow Disease that has somehow transferred to humans, possibly through the food chain.

And so:

You are not eligible to donate if: From January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1996, you spent (visited or lived) a cumulative time of 3 months or more, in the United Kingdom (UK).

Bummer.