![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Dec. 22nd, 2006 10:15 am | I am:James Tiptree, Jr. (Alice B. Sheldon)In the 1970s she was perhaps the most memorable, and one of the most popular, short story writers. Her real life was as fantastic as her fiction. |
Dec. 22nd, 2006
Octopussies Rule
Dec. 22nd, 2006 10:31 amLast night I ate Octopus for the first time. I was in Genghis Khan after work (it was 10.30pm and I wasn't about to go home and cook) and Miki-san rustled up something for me to eat. Octopus tentacles in a nice crispy batter, along with some very rubbery fried fish...things. I can't recall the name. The octopus was actually quite good, just like squid in fact.
However, I was on the National Geographic website last week watching footage of a giant octopus battling a shark, amongst other octopus footage. This has again left me with the feeling that these creatures are going to take over the earth. ( "Somebody's been reading too much Lovecraft," you may say. And yes, I have been re-reading good old HPL recently.) Therefore should I be eating them?
I decided that when I came to Japan I would have to eat a little more fish than I normally do, as a concession to the fact that vegetarianism isn't really recognised out here (a bit like the north of England). However, I was having thoughts on the way home about how intelligent octopuses (yes, that is the plural - I checked) are, and also about something I read about how octopuses are exempt from animal testing because it has been proven that they feel pain (how about every other animal then? - but that's another issue). The feelings of guilt returned.
This is an etiquette versus morals issue, and at the moment the etiquette is winning.
Miki also gave me a six-pack of Kirin beer as a present, and mentioned that Sam has been trying to set me up with one of the restuarant staff. I foresee me punching the big ex-Marine very hard. I wonder if he's ticklish, that might induce a suitable amount of humiliation.
However, I was on the National Geographic website last week watching footage of a giant octopus battling a shark, amongst other octopus footage. This has again left me with the feeling that these creatures are going to take over the earth. ( "Somebody's been reading too much Lovecraft," you may say. And yes, I have been re-reading good old HPL recently.) Therefore should I be eating them?
I decided that when I came to Japan I would have to eat a little more fish than I normally do, as a concession to the fact that vegetarianism isn't really recognised out here (a bit like the north of England). However, I was having thoughts on the way home about how intelligent octopuses (yes, that is the plural - I checked) are, and also about something I read about how octopuses are exempt from animal testing because it has been proven that they feel pain (how about every other animal then? - but that's another issue). The feelings of guilt returned.
This is an etiquette versus morals issue, and at the moment the etiquette is winning.
Miki also gave me a six-pack of Kirin beer as a present, and mentioned that Sam has been trying to set me up with one of the restuarant staff. I foresee me punching the big ex-Marine very hard. I wonder if he's ticklish, that might induce a suitable amount of humiliation.
(no subject)
Dec. 22nd, 2006 10:13 pm | My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess-Palatine Laura the Dulcet of Bampton Underhoop Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title |