Venice Under Water

VENICE, Italy - Heavy rains and high winds left Venice almost completely flooded on Monday after surrounding sea levels rose to their highest in 22 years. Chairs of outdoor cafes could be seen almost fully submerged, while some luxury stores were also flooded. Officials said more than 99 percent of the city was under water and that sea levels in the Adriatic rose 1.56 meters (61 inches) -- a level not seen since 1986. It was the fourth-highest level recorded over the past century.

Delicious Food of Japan

There are 'weird' food in every culture without exception, even in Western countries. One man's meat is indeed another man's poison. Many others will be disgusted at foods like French escargots, American Rocky Mountain 'oysters' (cattle testicles) and English black pudding. If you're talking about insects, there are also candy & lollipops made by US companies that contain real scorpions, worms & crickets.

There are also plenty of other countries who eat insects, regarded as nutritious & full of protein, like Thailand, Japan, South America, Africa etc. Even Americans are becoming more accepting, with over ten insect festivals each year like the Bug Bowl at Purdue University and restaurants like Typhoon, in Santa Monica, that serves insect delicacies.

Insects have enjoyed a place at the Japanese dinner table for many centuries. There insect foods are exotic, local niche items that the vast majority of modern Japanese have never try even once in the course of their lifetimes.