Skippy munching

Hi folks. Had an exciting evening last night - came home, cooked up some dinner, and then finished the Harry Pooter. I won't bore you all with discussions about Pooter, as those of you interested will have had your fill, and those not interested even more so.

I will bore you about something else. A piece on the radio this morning prompted some thought. A state in the US, no less than California, has banned the sale of adidas sports shoes made from Skippy leather, despite attempts to create an industry in roo meat and other products. This makes sense to me, as they are in ever-increasing proportions in the bush, and if farmed would be a darn-sight less environmentally damaging than the baa-baas and moos that we run currently.

Why this issue today? Dinner last night was some corn on the cob (yummo) and a Skippy steak sambo. I eat Skip from time to time, but not all that often, and every time I do I am struck by its flavour, leanness and how easy it is to cook. Why don't we eat more of it?

Is it a philosophical issue with eating something from our coat of arms? I don't quite understand that, as we (or at least most of us) are quite happy to eat other animals that are probably treated far less humanely than roos would be if farmed (I am speculating here, but don't let that get in the way of a good opinion, or my opinion for that matter).

It comes in steaks, snags, plus even marinated for those of you either too lazy or unimaginative to come up with something yourselves (ooh, controversy).

Is it too 'gamey' for you? I don't really understand this either, as the taste is not as strong as venison or other 'game' meats, but then I do have a robust appetite, to say the least, and while I like to think that I am discerning about what I enjoy, I am not what one might call a 'fussy eater'.

Plus, it is cheaper than other red meats (certainly of equivalent standard), not to mention other exotic meats which can cost a fortune.

Or is the problem just the fact that it is called 'australus'? Jesus, who won that write-in competition?

What do you think?