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Q: Not that I’m interested in being one, but I’ve always been fascinated with cannibals. In some cultures, cannibalism is common; however, I never have heard anyone comment on the flavor. What does human flesh taste like? Is there any way to know for sure without trying some yourself? A: While not as common as it used to be, cannibalism appears throughout history in multiple cultures around the world. Although many explorers have visited these cultures, few have participated in their man eating customs. However, there was one famous journalist from the New York Times who actually did participate in the West African Guere tribe’s custom of eating human meat. In the early 1900s, William Buehler Seabrook visited Guere tribe to research a story. According to Seabrook, he asked a chief what man meat tasted like; however, he wasn’t able to attain a straight answer. Ultimately, Seabrook agreed to sample the cooked flesh of a man who’d recently fell victim to an accident. Later, he recounted the experience in his book, Jungle Ways, writing that the flavor was most similar to veal, though the texture was a bit tougher. Although other reports have compared the human flesh taste to sour pork, experts have suggested that the actual flavor is dependent on the individual’s diet and lifestyle, as well as the particular cut of meat. According to Seabrook, he sampled roasted loin and rump steak during his time with the Guere tribe. |
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What is the GOP?
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Q: I’ve heard the phrase frequently, and I know it has something to do with Republicans; but what is the GOP? A: The acronym you refer to stands for “Grand Old Party.” It is a nickname associated with the Republican Party. Originally, GOP stood for “Gallant Old Party.” Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, helped earn this nickname when the party was still relatively new. Many gave the Republican Party significant credit for helping to win the Civil War, though this isn’t universally accepted as truth. At the time, Republicans who were already fixed within the Federal Government began using the term “Gallant Old Party,” which was ultimately shortened to GOP, which subsequently became known as a shortened version of the term, “Grand Old Party.” What is the GOP symbol? The Republican Party is also known for having an elephant as its representative symbol. The origin of this dates back to 1874, when Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, crafted a cartoon depicting a donkey in a lion costume frightening other animals at the zoo. One of the frightened animals was an elephant wearing the label, “The Republican Vote.” Ultimately, this cartoon had the power to impress this image on voters’ minds, and the elephant has continued to represent the Republican Party ever since. |
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