Althouse: Time to stop eating bats.

March 25, 2014

Time to stop eating bats.

Too much ebola.

15 comments:

YoungHegelian said...: Well, I was going to make Mrs YH chauve-souris aux vin for her birthday dinner, but I guess that's right out now!

Damn food nazis!; 3/25/14, 7:31 PM
Tyrone Slothrop said...: I'll have to close my abattoir.; 3/25/14, 7:35 PM
cubanbob said...: YH Ebola is about as horrible a disease anyone can get. It's not something to joke about. 20% mortality is the very best outcome and that's only with the very best possible support care. Not likely to get that in a poor country.; 3/25/14, 7:36 PM
Jim S. said...: Wasn't there a bat-eating scene in The Three Amigos?; 3/25/14, 7:46 PM
YoungHegelian said...: @CB,

I realize that Ebolas pretty nasty, but I don't think that gallows humor is out of place.

The natives in these African countries have been told --- over & over by their governments & NGOs -- that "bush meat" is a health & ecological disaster, and yet they still continue to sell it under the table in the markets. Don't think that this is like American country folk eating possum & squirrel. The bush-meat that's sold is sold for its magical/medicinal properties as much as its food value.

This is like AIDS in Africa or smoking in China: just how many times do you have to told something's gonna kill you if you don't stop doing it before you stop doing it?; 3/25/14, 7:59 PM
Tyrone Slothrop said...: If any of Althouse's Guinean readers have been offended, I offer my abject apologies.; 3/25/14, 8:06 PM
YoungHegelian said...: @tyrone,

I offer my abject apologies.

Don't you mean your abbatoir apologies, you Wiccan perp, you?; 3/25/14, 8:26 PM
kcom said...: I used to live not far from there. Those could potentially be people I knew. It's the real deal. And keep in mind it kills doctors and nurses and others in the vicinity of the sick so they don't have to have been anywhere near a bat to get sick and die. Imagine if you walked past a smoker and died as a result.

When I lived there we were warned about Lassa fever, which has symptoms very much like Ebola but is a completely unrelated virus (as far as I know). Lassa is carried by rats, not bats. There's a great book called "Fever" that details the initial Lassa outbreak in Nigeria and some follow-up ones, including one in Liberia not so far away from the Guinea outbreak. (The book has no relation to the one that was made into a movie and has the same name.); 3/25/14, 8:49 PM
cubanbob said...: The natives in these African countries have been told --- over & over by their governments & NGOs -- that "bush meat" is a health & ecological disaster, and yet they still continue to sell it under the table in the markets. Don't think that this is like American country folk eating possum & squirrel. The bush-meat that's sold is sold for its magical/medicinal properties as much as its food value."

I don't have any knowledge with respects to how the bush meat consumption is allocated-food only or magical-medicinal value but being that these are really poor countries odds are its most likely food consumption.; 3/25/14, 8:55 PM
Quaestor said...: Voice over: One dead unjugged rabbit fish later:

Klaus: (putting down his knife and fork) Well, that was really 'orrible.

Mum: Aaw, you're always complainin'!

Klaus: Wha's for afters?

Mum: Bat cake, bat sorbet, bat pudding, or strawberry tart.

Klaus: (eyes lighting up) Strawberry tart?

Mum: Well, it's got some bat in it.

Klaus: 'Ow much?

Mum: Three. A lot, really.

Klaus: Well, I'll have a slice without so much bat in it.

Voice over: One slice of strawberry tart without so much bat in it later:

Klaus: (putting down fork and knife) Appalling. I vomited all over the Bishop of Ely, I've got diarrhea, and I'm bleedin' from every orifice!

Mum: Moan, moan, moan. You're always complainin'; 3/25/14, 9:07 PM
William said...: Well, someone tried oysters and that worked out.; 3/25/14, 9:11 PM
Titus said...: After receiving are annual bonuses/stock payout and eventually taxes back, the hubby and I have made the important and extremely critical decision of where we will be summering in 2014.

Years past we have been predictable with the Ogunquit/Ptown, and even occassional Fire Isaland, but this year we decided to change it up.

We agreed after much deliberation on Portland and Northampton. We have much anxiety still, natch, but we are committed. We want more urban and more vege (husband) restaurant options.

The 1 bedroom loft, with ocean views and in the old port, and access to the largest number of restaurants per capita of any city, with floor to celing windows, was a steal for 5k a month. Easy access to Bath, Kenneckbuckport, Belfrast, Ogunquit and Freeport were huge celling points. We plan weekend jaunts to Camden, natch.

The Northampton 2bedroomm cottage, was a paltry 3k a month and walking to vege, dr.hauschka and yoga. Short trips to Lee, Lenox and Tanglewood and Jacobs Ladder are pluses. We also are interested in exploring Berkshire ponds and waterfalls.

The great news is each destination is only 1 hour and 30 minutes away. Less traveling this year is sure to com in handy. And we must try Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires-Gwenneth's required summer destination....sady Chris won't be joining her this year.

Where r u summering? Reses are filling up fast, good luck gals!

tits.; 3/25/14, 9:31 PM
cubanbob said...: Gee Titus for a few extra a minutes driving you could rent in South Hadley for a hell of a lot less. True you wont have the ocean views but you will have a certain NE poverty chic and think of all of the money you will save, money you can use to spend on other really fab things.; 3/25/14, 10:24 PM
Rusty said...: cubanbob
Isn't Ebola Zaire something like the 90th percentile as far as mortality goes? And highly contaigous? Something like just close the hospital doors and walk away.

Titus
Really. Nobody gives a shit. If you're that into yourself go get your own blog.; 3/26/14, 9:04 AM
kcom said...: "If you're that into yourself..."

I thought that was anatomically impossible.; 3/26/14, 9:07 PM