Movie companies aware of RiffTrax yet?

[AmandaGal]

and just how to they figure nuts are part of the 'Meat' food group?

A friend of mine had some chocolate covered peanuts the other day and I love those.  She offered some to me and, in all sincerity, said "Oh, sorry. I forgot you were a vegetarian."  I'm like "huh?  I eat chocolate." (I thought she maybe thought the milk in the chocolate?) and she said, "Do you eat peanuts?" and I was like "yeah."

It never struck me until now but maybe she's just that much of a moron.

Here's a question: Why do people think fish is a vegetable?  Even better, why does the Catholic Church think capybaras (the largest living rodent) are fish?!

(I always get "but you eat fish right?" When I did a semester abroad in France, I sent ahead that I was vegetarian and every freakin' day, they made me a special fish dish. WTF? I HATE fish).  And yes, the Catholic church does classify capys as fish...I know why but I won't tell   

[Ranika]

The actual why of capybaras isn't completely known though. It's generally assumed it was because of incomplete or inaccurate descriptions of capybaras (not clarifying that they did not live entirely in water) led to a decision that it was alright to eat them for Lent, because the church in Europe thought they were describing a type of fish (given how long capybaras lived in water). It's more a matter of oversight that it's never been reversed, though.

[Sharktopus]

The actual why of capybaras isn't completely known though. It's generally assumed it was because of incomplete or inaccurate descriptions of capybaras (not clarifying that they did not live entirely in water) led to a decision that it was alright to eat them for Lent, because the church in Europe thought they were describing a type of fish (given how long capybaras lived in water). It's more a matter of oversight that it's never been reversed, though.

Since abstaining from meat meant eating more fish, and eating more fish meant more iodine, people who followed the rules and ate fish on Fridays lived longer lives. That odd coincidence gave credence to the Church's wacky rule. Where it comes from, though, I'm not sure.

It's more a matter of oversight that it's never been reversed, though.

Plus, hardly anybody really cares anymore. The Cardinal of the New York Archdiocese always gives a special dispensation to eat corned beef any year St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday. I think the Cardinals from other dioceses with large Irish populations do the same.

[Ranika]

Originally, Catholics (and the Orthodox) didn't eat meat but fish on Fridays and Wednesdays, and ate no meat and drank no alcohol (except sacramental wine) during Lent, instead subsisting, based on the primature or patriarchate, on fish and grain, or only grain; they didn't originally give up something else like modern Catholics do, they all gave up meat collectively, hence the birth of 'Fat Tuesday', everyone had a big feast to eat all the extra meat and drink all the harder spirits you weren't allowed during Lent. Have to mind that there are many rules specific to different diocese; individual bishops carry a good chunk of power over the rules in their area (not that they can do whatever they want, but, rules in various diocese can vary in a lot of subtle ways one might not notice unless actually examining them). I heard also, about the capybaras, at this point, it tends to be forgiven (when anyone bothers to consider it at all) on the basis that it is a cultural norm there now. Many rules are based on what local culture embraces in various ways, like, Ethiopian Christians tattoo a cross on their forehead. The Catholic Church generally recommends one not get tattoos, unless it's a local custom and common and doesn't break established rules (the capybara in this case would remain considered a fish based on tradition, and be acceptable); as such, Ethiopian Catholics are permitted to get the same tattoo as other Ethiopian Christians. I try to keep proper to old tradition, only eat fish and grain on Friday and Wednesday.

[Sharktopus]

I'd like to thank Mike Nelson's book Death Rat, for teaching me what a capybara is. I knew that knowledge would come in handy someday.

[Brak]

I'd like to thank Mike Nelson's book Death Rat, for teaching me what a capybara is. I knew that knowledge would come in handy someday.

I have Mike's other book Movie Mega Cheese, are his others ones just as good? the one i have made me laugh out loud at work and i got some wierd faces from co-workers.    but if his other ones are worth it ill have to go searching for them.

[Pak-Man]

Mind Over Matters is an awesome collection of essays that are just as funny as Megacheese. Death Rat is a beautiful work of comedic fiction with the best timing I've seen in a book.

[Brak]

well that's good enough for me then, ill have to go grab em.