Charlie,
I asked this already, but I'm asking it again. It won't hurt you or anyone else to tell me the answer to this abstract question. Please tell us definitively what causes Mad Cow disease. John knew the answer, and so should you. Is it prions, pesticides or something else? Your refusal to answer this will clearly show us who and what you really are. That's a nice way of saying no one here will believe in you, or try to help you locate John. John was more than willing to tell us about things that we could do nothing about, and obviously knowing what causes this disease will help no one and it will change nothing, so let us in on it.
Have a nice day.
Mike