A reader writes:
Dear SC,
I recently came across your thoughts on Civet cats. Though I certainly
sympathize with what you say, aren't you also a little worried about
the
people who have group execute the Civet cats? These people are putting
themselves at risk of catching SARS, a disease which is noteworthy for
not
being a big load of media hoo-haw and alarmism.
Get back to work,
Jack
Fair points all. But consider: an interested party to Somenotions once entrusted his parka to a colleague. Said colleague is one of these absent-minded sweethearts who needs his mittens sown on his sleeve. In any case, the bag holding the parka and a number of other things ended up in the care of some Cantonese people-truckers for several days. Upon recovery, the parka and all the other clothes were covered with a sickly Asian mold. The point is, China is full of strange diseases.
Also, Somenotions had never heard of civet cats before this SARS business, despite a love for odd wildlife. So I don't think anybody will miss these hideous plague monsters.
Readers are implored to look into the fact that coffee made from beans eaten and then excreted by civet cats is a delicacy in Vietnam and Indonesia. Somenotions asks: "Why not Laos?"
