b r a v e c r e a t u r e s

Now I was just reminded of this from my days in China.

There is a custom all over the world to take the new expat employee out for lunch on their first day and make them eat truly disgusting local delicacies - all in the name of fun. Using my seafood allergy yet again as a shield, I was fortunately able to dodge the worst of this. This got my new work mates a tad miffed until I started telling stories of truly gross things I had eaten - which of course got them talking about theirs.  

Apparently there is a dish from the Guangdong Provence, just to the north of where we were, which really takes the cake - as it were. It seems there are things the Guangdong will eat that will turn the stomaches of the rest of China - no mean feat for the place that came up with 1000 year old eggs.

The dish is called ' Three Squeak" and it gets its name from the noise it makes.

Take one small mouse, live, in a basket. Grab it with your chopsticks (1 squeak), dunk it in the sauce (2 squeak) and then bite its head off (3 squeak).

Ah the joys of cultural diversity.

No I did not try it, although I have tried a few things that would get me in hot water so I might just leave this  line of thought where it is for now - and simply say of Three Squeak - Apparently it doesn't taste as good as it sounds.

irritable male syndrome n.

Anger and irritableness in men caused by a sudden drop in testosterone levels, particularly when brought on by stress. Also: IMS.

Example Citation:
Feeling anxious? Irritable, too? Has the stamina that used to fuel days and burn up the nights hit the road? …

Check your engines, gentlemen. There are thousands of males out there in the same sorry state, but now - thanks to a research scientist in Scotland - the condition has a name.

“Irritable Male Syndrome,” that state of hypersensitivity, frustration and anger is now used to describe men who suffer from testosterone deficiency. And while the condition may have been around for ages, the diagnosis suggests that men may be just as vulnerable to the complexities of biology as women. “This is very common,” said Dr. Philip Aliotta. “Low levels of testosterone manifest in irritability, depression, weak muscles, loss of self-esteem. Men have no interest in the joys of life. Their libido has dropped. Their interest in intimacy is declining. Sexual function diminishes. Work performance suffers. Oftentimes they are misdiagnosed as being depressed.
-Jane Kwiatkowski, “Goodbye, testosterone,” The Buffalo News, January 28, 2003

Earliest Citation:
It has to be said that her husband, Prince Philip, hasn’t helped the monarchist cause by asking an aboriginal leader: Do you still throw spears at each other? The Prince, bored by more than half a century in the passive role of royal consort, specialises in this kind of remark. On a visit to China, he once referred to the Chinese as slitty-eyed. The Australian tribal leader, William Brin, to whom he addressed the enquiry, said he wasn’t offended but surprised. I just told him: ‘No, we don’t do that any more’, he said. There has been the predictable outcry, but it doesn’t seem an altogether unreasonable question, given the tendency of some Australian aboriginals to emphasise their tribal roots by dancing semi-naked, painting their bodies, and doing other old-fashioned things. Who knows? They might easily still throw spears at each other. But obviously it was unwise of the Prince to ask the question. It may be that he suffers from the newly identified irritable male syndrome.
-Alexander Chancellor, “The Good Prince,” Slate Magazine, February 25, 2002