"One Root Cause of Pandemics Few People Think About" Topic

"It's easy for those of us in the Western world to shake our heads at the live wildlife markets in China that appear to be the origin of the coronavirus pandemic now paralyzing the globe. Easy, that is, since such a practice is so literally quite foreign to us. (In their defense, at least, China has now banned such markets.)

But what's more difficult is to be honest with ourselves about what kinds of pandemics we may be brewing through own risky animal-use practices. And while the new coronavirus, crippling as it is, might have a somewhat merciful case fatality rate (proportion of those infected who die) of less than 1 percent, we know that this catastrophe may be just a dress rehearsal for an even more serious pandemic that could take a more gruesome toll—akin to the 1918 global flu pandemic, which originated in Kansas and killed at least 50 million people…."
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Amicalement
Armand

It's our seemingly insatiable desire to eat meat

Yup and I try to exercise that desire each and every day.

Oh since I have spent 8 years overseas (4 of them in the Far East and 1 in the Middle East) those wildlife markets are not foreign to me at all.

So yes I am a bit more traveled than your common American.

And they do say that travel broadens the mind.

There is a great difference between various forms of travel in terms of that "Broadening" effect. If one travels on an organized tour, or, worse, a cruise, one sees a tiny slice of the foreign land and interaction with the culture and peoples is very limited and brief. Stereotypes are prevalent and even encouraged. You see "Sights" and little more, from the privileged position of affluence.

If one's travels are military, one is highly isolated in your units, and where you are stationed has a high probability to be in a troubled land. Your interaction, and knowledge, of the places and peoples around you is not likely to be "broadening" but suspicious and warped by danger.

If one has gone as an individual and traveled and interacted with the locals, perhaps spoken their language, and have some acquaintance with their culture and history, then you will probably come away with new perspectives and appreciations for the places and peoples you meet.

It isn't the travelling that is the criteria, but the being there with an already accepting and educated mind.

+ 5 Repiqueone

of the places and peoples around you is not likely to be "broadening" but suspicious and warped by danger.

Really, I met my wife of nearly 40 years overseas and I have spent more time in other cultures then you Repiq.

Mithmee, you have no idea what I have done or not done. I suspect your entire itinerary was set by Uncle Sam. I have great respect and empathy for your wife.

I suspect your entire itinerary was set by Uncle Sam.

Only when I was in Germany since I got to spend basically 110 days out of the year either in the Field getting ready to go to the field and recovering after we got back.

So for the most part no Uncle Sam did not set my itinerary.

Only what country and how long I would be there.

Oh and Thank You for the kind words about my wife.

This August will be our 40th.

If one's travels are military, one is highly isolated in your units, and where you are stationed has a high probability to be in a troubled land. Your interaction, and knowledge, of the places and peoples around you is not likely to be "broadening" but suspicious and warped by danger.

I was stationed in Japan for two years. Lived out in town. Went to the local monthly festivals (me too, when I was at home). Kids worked downtown. Spoke Japanese passably enough that people in shops/train stations would be a little startled when they turned and looked at me.

Sailed on a JMSDF ship as a liaison for a multi-national exercise. Ate the same food. Went to the same briefs. Stood the same watches. Worked with the Thai Navy on another exercise. Hung out with my peer ops officer. Played rugby against the Aussies. Poorly.

I can't remember the number of different countries I worked with on a tight, daily basis in Bosnia and Kosovo. Didn't get to crossdeck for any extended period of time.

The biggest culture shock I got was being stationed in New Jersey. The natives there were extremely different than growing up in Ohio/West Virginia and living in the Netherlands for a while. I picked up the language and spken idioms all right; never got used to the driving, though.

Virginia was a little different as well but Norfolk, being the largest naval base in the Known Universe, is actually extremely metropolitan and possibly retains cultural mixing (vice amelioration) better than much larger cities. We pretty much raised our kids there.

While the Democratic People's Republic of Maryland shares several borders with Virginia, being steeping in several of Virginia's cultures still wasn't enough to prep me. Of course, for this change I was no longer on active duty and moving from being a DoD civilian employee to another federal agency.

At various times, I would conduct week to month long travels to various other sites, most of which were repeated locations. Three distinct cultures in California, four in Texas. I could easily settle down in the mix of cultures that is Kansas City (that's KC in Missouri). Or Huntsville – it's Alabama adjacent. Not so much in the panhandle, sun coast, treasure coast, central, south, or other Florida regions. Great places, just not for me to be permanently.

And so on … gotta go make pancakes now.

It isn't the travelling that is the criteria, but the being there with an already accepting and educated mind.

It's not the educated mind that matters. It's the humility. If you're not humble, you won't learn a darn thing.

+1 EiC Bill

Humility won't get you a table at a French Bistro or the attention of the waiter. 🍷

The greatest gift you receive in school is the ability to measure your ignorance.

Humility won't get you a table at a French Bistro or the attention of the waiter.

You need to frequent a better class of bistros in France.

Dining out is about experience first, and food second (though food is certainly a component of the overall experience). Of course, you can find a place to suit any desired experience. Personally, I wouldn't return to one where the expectation was customers act like disruptive es.

My experience in France (mostly Elsass and le Midi, though I have been to Paris) has been that waitstaff is extremely obsequious.

The greatest gift you receive in school is the ability to

Actually it is to "Think for Yourself" and not have others do it for you.

Oh and to be open-minded and understand that if you are in another country it is not America so do not act the fool.

Trust me I saw plenty of G.I.'s act the fool in all of my overseas assignments.

The French are very good at that, Etotheipi. And the more oblivious the diner is, the more "obsequious" they become. It is a form of sport for the Parisian French, especially with the prototypical American tourist.

It varies, and certainly Paris is as far from La Rochelle and Bergerac in manners as New York City from Topeka. I have found the West Coast of France to be delightful, and few can resist the charms of the Cote d'Azur. On the whole, the French are good hosts, and remain friendly to Americans even when we elect people that they find a menteur patente'.

Your are decidedly wrong on one point, It is the FOOD first, which makes the experience. This is why a small restaurant in rural France can make the Michelin and Chefs commit suicide over a lost star.

The French are very good at that,

People who survive on gratuities become good at being obsequious or they become hungry.

Your are decidedly wrong on one point, It is the FOOD first, which makes the experience.

Everyone has the right to frame the issue however they want. If you every want to question your own believe that the food overrides all other considerations in the creation of the experience, I am certainly willing share a meal with you where I fart, pop zits at the table, and occasionally stand up to drop my pants and adjust my truss.

Backing off from those extremes – cleanliness, visual appeal, smell, physical comfort, ambience, friendliness, and service all impact your dining experience and set the mood for your appreciation of the food before you order.

I would guess most people have the experience of entering an eating establishment and leaving before ordering. Even before entering, you pick a location based on your mood.