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Okay,

It's a little slow, and I guess Dr. Aaron would think that I am a loser, so wait a minute while I go slash my wrists!  Well, that didn't take long! ha  Now, to get back to my questions.  Basically, they are unrelated, but I just wanted to ask them. I am writing this on Sunday night.  I just saw a news piece on ABC.  It was about goat farmers in Pennsylvania.  Apparently, there is now a huge demand among immigrant families of all ethnic groups for goat meat.  The market price has gone up, and according to the news piece, some cattlemen are raising goats now because there is more profit.  All of that is a little interesting, but my question is:  Do you know if any of the latin people that many of you guys know eat goat meat?  I have already heard about the guinea pig thing in Peru (No Thank YOU!)
Goat meat does not sound bad, but it is not exactly main stream food here.  However, I also want to say that when I was a kid, my Dad and my Grandfather were in the rabbit business.  They eveidently made some money out of it, but I guess not enough people wanted to eat Peter Rabbit and Thumper!  Too bad, cause it tastes really good.   Actually, we raised New Zealand Whites, but whatever.   Anyhow, part of my question revolves around "alternative food sources"; or at least different kinds of food, especially meat sources.  I don't think too many of us will get into whale blubber, like the Eskimos eat, but I am sure there are many stories that you guys could share.  Now, to a totally, unrelated subject.  I went to Wal-Mart this afternoon to buy some sheets for a new bed I got this weekend.  It is a queen sized bed, so nothing unusual.  I will admit that it has been a little while since I was in the market for new sheets, but I got some simple cotton and poly. blend sheets. The Wal-Mart price was $25!  Now, I will admit that I am basically tight with the money, but for crying out loud! After taxes, it was $27.10.
And this was Wal-Mart, not Dillard's, Foley's, or some other high end store.  Now you guys from either coast will probably laugh, because everything is much higher in your respective areas.  But, I am in Oklahoma.  I didn't want the fancy stuff.  Just some basic sheets!  Maybe I am really out to lunch, but it just shocked me! What do you guys think?  I know that compared to a big ticket item like some electronics, and computers, or especially a car or a house, this is chump change.  Somehow, I was thinking $10-$15 range.
What do you guys think?  The other part of that question is what do sheets and other bedding items cost in LA, particularly Colombia?
We all know that some things are cheaper there, and a few things are cheaper here. But, overall, what about these types of items?

                         Signed,

                         I am bored- OkieMan

... in response to Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -long..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

"Do you know if any of the latin people that many of you guys know eat goat meat?"

I lived in Mexico for a bit, and cafes and street vendors that sold soft tacos with goat meat were quite common.  They also eat fried intestine, though I don't recall what it's called in Spanish.  The goat meat was alright, but the intestines were too chewy and the flavor wasn't appealing.  

Tripe (cow stomach) is a typical ingredient in menudo, and pig head is the core meat in pescada.  I've seen both made in the kitchen, and both are very good despite the gruesome look of the ingredients.
 
Aside from intestines, the only other food I've eatin' in Mexico that I held no regard for was cactus leaves.  Not much flavor, and has a sort of slimy/rubbery texture.

... in response to Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -..., posted by doombug on Apr 25, 2005

I believe that the cooked intestines are called, "tripas", I"m not sure of the spelling. My ex girlfriends mom cooked them frequently.(family is from Mexico)  Sorry to say, I did not find them appetizing at all. One other thing that they cooked was a complete cow's head wrapped in cactus leaves and cooked in a hole in the ground. They built a fire in the hole, let it burn down to coals, then placed the cow's head wrapped in cactus leaves in the hole, then covered the wrapped head with dirt and let it cook overnight.  The next day it was ready to eat, however, I didn't really care for it. To each his own I guess.

... in response to Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -..., posted by doombug on Apr 25, 2005

Doombug,

Where did you live in Mexico?  I have travelled there several times.  The first time I went to Mexico, I went on a church missions trip to Monterrey in 1972.  One day I was in the shopping area with the little lean to vendors, etc. Well, all of a sudden I saw some guy hauls two carcasses around, and it took me a little while to figure it out; but when I did, it was gross!  It was two dead, skinned dogs!  They were eating dog meat!  Gross me out of this entire universe!  I will never forget that.  But, for the most part, I have enjoyed the food and the visits to Mexico.  But, I certainly noticed several differences between Colombia and Mexico.  It's just hard to describe the differences, and even more difficult to imagine the differences until a person actually makes the trip themselves.  I really enjoy Colombia, and Colombian women; but then again, who doesn't! ha

                               OkieMan

... in response to Re: Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsens..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 25, 2005

Mexicans don't eat dogs, at least none of the Mexicans that I know. What you saw were 'cabritos' (young goats). And they ARE yummy! But you're right about one thing, Colombia is nothing like Mexico. But then again, Mexico has many different regions with different dress, customs, music food, speach patterns etc. just like the US. A Mexican from say, Monterey, can always tell that another Mexican is from Veracruz or DF or where ever, just like we can tell a New Yorker from a Texan.

... in response to Re: Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsens..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 25, 2005

I lived in Mexicali.

I never saw dog meat in the markets there, but I do recall seeing Fido hanging skinned in the windows of shops in Hong Kong.

... in response to Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -long..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

In Greece, the best skewered meat (souvlaki) is from goat. As others commented, lamb is also a great competitor with beef, but many places don't prepare it well and it turns out greasy.  If anyone goes to Santa Cruz, CA go to Vassili's out on Mission on the north edge of town.  Awesome greek food.

... in response to Go Greek, posted by surfscum on Apr 25, 2005

Surfscum,

 Thanks for the tips; but it's all Greek to me! ha

                           OkieMan

... in response to Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -long..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

Well cowboy

  Lession # 1 in ethnocentrism. Not all the world eats cows. In fact they are sacred in India. Goat is delicious. I eat it in Jamaican and cuban restaurants in Key West. Curried goat is one of my favorite dishes. I have also had it in Grand Cayanman. I have had roast goat in Southern Italy and in Paris. The arabs, the jews and the north Africans also serve it roasted. I am rather bored with beef. Veal and lamb are my favorites although a baby beef steak  is great in Cartagena.
  I have not found goat in Colombia. Thay do sell rabbit in Vivero and there is a restaurant in getsemanie that serves it. I was raised on wild jackrabbit in Michigan and love it.Rabbit is virtually fat free and winn dixie sells it frozen.

   Just call me mikey, I will try anything as evidenced by my pot belly, Food is an important part of my social life. To me there are people who eat to live while I live to eat.

Regarding the sheets I buy Martha Stewart on sale at K mart as well as her bath towels. The linnens in Colombia are priced about the same but are lousey material. The towels are half the thickness and won't absorb water. The sheets are very thin and basically cheap poly cotton mix.          

   If you are interested in outfiting an apartment in Colombia you will find it expensive to obtain what you may be acostombed to.   Electronics are double  as well as good furniture. Anything imported is out of siight, good luck. JIMC

... in response to Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -..., posted by jim c on Apr 25, 2005

Thanks, Jim.  I enjoyed your stories.

                    OkieMan

... in response to Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -long..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

I eat them once a week or so, I developed a taste for them when I lived in Mexico. Here (Dallas, TX) the meat is readily availble in the stores that cater to Latino clients. There's a guy at work from Africa (can't remember which country right this instant) and he eats them too, in fact, just last week he was telling me about a ranch not too far away where you can buy a whole one (they kill and dress it) at about half the price you have to pay retail.

Somebody below posted that they don't compete with cattle because they eat brush and scrub that cattle won't. That's true, also, goats will thrive on land that has too little vegetation (too arid) to support cattle, which is why they are so popular in northern Mexico.

Now, (I'm sure Okieman knows this, but the rest of you take a stab at it) the real, important, # 1 reason for raising goats in Oklahoma is: __________________

... in response to Goats is yummy!, posted by Michael B on Apr 24, 2005

Michael,

Boy, are you full of it! ha  So, based on your story, I guess Texas still has a lot of "goat ropers"? ha

                         OkieMan

... in response to Re: Goats is yummy!, posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

Don't know about Texas (although they probably do, too), I was talking about Oklahoma. When I lived there, they had plenty of them, some of my high school class mates even did it. They used goats to practice for the rodeo event known as 'calf roping', those small town boys (and some of the girls, although 'barrel racing' was the only event open to them) were QUITE serious about their rodeo'ing.

... in response to Re: Re: Goats is yummy!, posted by Michael B on Apr 25, 2005

I've done my share of calf roping and goat roping too along with my kids. They competed in youth rodeos a lot when they were growing up. The girls used to do an event called goat tying where they gallop on their horse from one end of the arena to the other where a goat is tethered to a stake. They have to tie the goat with their pigging string and get back on their horse and race back to the starting line. Fastest time wins. When we used to shear the angora goats, my boys would rope the goats and bring them in to be sheared so that the shearer was continually busy.

... in response to Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -long..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

Goat is very popular in the Caribbean.

Jamaica has jerk goat.  Trinidad has curried goat.  The Dominican Republic also has goat.  I have seen it offered on the menus of several restaurants.  I have tried it once or twice in DR and it was very good.  The meal was basically stewed goat with rice and beans.  I have not tried the curried goat or jerk goat because I don't like those spices.

... in response to Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -..., posted by Brazilophile on Apr 24, 2005

Brazilophile,

Thanks for the goat info.  I have found this food thing very interesting.  By the way, how would you rate Brazil on the bedding thing-- sheets, etc?  How about prices and quality of other household things?  How about availability?
Appliances?

                                OkieMan

... in response to Re: Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsens..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005


On Colombian linens...I was surprised how expensive nice sheets cost there just like good quality towels.  

Anything electronic from coffee grinders (hard to find) to clothes washers will cost you more.  Sounds like you are going to outfit an unfurnished apartment.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Goats, Sheets, and other non..., posted by pablo on Apr 25, 2005

Pablo,

No, I don't have anything going like that.  But, my little shopping experience here got me curious about the Colombian situation.  Thanks for your info.

                        OkieMan

... in response to Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -long..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

Pass on the goats.I would become a vegetarian first.
Bedding and towels are surprisingly expensive here.Colombiama manufactues textiles but I will tell you US prices are much better.
I have not been to an El Centro bedding store.Its probably better there but I doubt as good as the us.
Last trip to the US I bought these towels at Pennys.They were only like $5 for a big plus bath towel,then 30% off then a coupon to save 20% more if you spent $50.So it was $3 for a very ggod quality bath towel.I have not seen the quality at any price here.Ordinary ones can cost 40,000 pesos,like $17.
Sheets,I bought a king size set on sale in the US,excellent quality for $20.It would be twice that for half the quality here.
I guess this US stuff is coming out of Asia.Thats why its so cheap.
One of my girlfriends paid in advance for some bedding at an El Centro store.The bedding was coming in on a truck from Ecuador.The truck got hijacked just north of the Ecuador border and the store owners son got kidnapped also.They still have him.And the bedding.She lost her money.
My Colombian partner and I talked to some attorneys last week about importing computers.One thing they told us,ship them to Beaunaventura.Its 2 hours away.You can go get them and have them back in 2 hours.If they come in at an Atlantic port they are several days away and the chance of having them stolen is very high.

Pete

... in response to Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -..., posted by Pete E on Apr 24, 2005

Pete,

Thanks for your story.  You got a good deal on king sized sheets, if you paid $20 for the set.  They were going for $40-$50 today.  I would have been happy to pay $20 for a good set of queen sized today.  But, apparantely, you also answered about the quality of the products in Colombia.  That was some of the info that I was looking for.  Overall, I think that I can usually find good deals on most things.  But, this kind of ticked me off today.  I mean Wal-Mart is supposed to have good prices, etc.  Maybe next time, I will check out Target.  By the way, what do you think of Exito?  I understand it is a big chainstore, right?  What about selection and prices?

                               OkieMan

... in response to Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -long..., posted by OkieMan on Apr 24, 2005

[This message has been edited by utopiacowboy]

Hell, Okieman, I'm not Latino but we've been eating barbecued cabrito for a long time here. It's a favorite in Northern Mexico so I guess that's why it's popular in South Texas. I used to raise cattle and goats and for a while cattle prices were in the toilet which made the goat market look good by comparison. After the Angora (mohair) goat market crashed, a lot of people went into the meat goat business. Goats like to eat bushes and shrubs so they don't compete with cattle - in fact they're great for clearing out undergrowth that you want to remove. I don't see the Colombians eating a lot of goat meat.

About textiles, you used to be able to get high quality textiles in Colombia cheap but the dollar's fall ruined that. Until the Chinese came along and spoiled their party the Colombian textile business was doing well. My wife worked for one of the world's largest textile companies in Medellin for 17 years running several of the dying and weaving shops.

... in response to Re: Goats, Sheets, and other nonsense! -..., posted by utopiacowboy on Apr 24, 2005

Utopiacowboy,

Thanks for your stories.  So, because of the changes, the textile industry is hurting there, huh?  Based on that, maybe your wife would have been out of a job anyhow; if you hadn't married her?  Well,  I appreciate the inside scoop.  By the way, my Dad has always been a lover of animals.  He has raised about any critter you can thing of, at one time or the other.  Until a year or so ago, he had several goats.  But, Dad just loves to piddle with them.  He would take a few to a sale or something.  I had hoped that he could actually make some money with them.  But, eventually, he got rid of them and the pot-bellied pigs.  Now, he just has the fowls-- chickens, ducks, geese, and guineas!  I took my grandson over there yesterday, while I was getting some things from Dad.  My grandson is 2, and he was having a great time chasing the chickens!  I got a good laugh from watching him.  ha

                             OkieMan