The World Cup is starting up in South Africa, and that’s got the vultures worried. You see, smoking vulture brains is apparently considered good luck in parts of Africa. No kidding. The brains are dried, ground up, and sprinkled over tobacco, then smoked. Supposedly it gives you visions, and dreams of winning lotto numbers.
This worries conservation groups, because apparently many of the species of vultures in South Africa are endangered, in part because of this practice. Of course, anybody with half a brain knows that the only part of a dead animal that’s the least bit lucky are fuzzy rodent feet.
This may be the oddest “good luck charm” I’ve ever heard of. Seriously. Can anybody top “smoking the brains of carrion eating birds?” If so, let me know in the comments.
First of all, rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents.
Secondly, I always thought mutant clover was a pretty odd good-luck charm.
Finally, posting a block-caps comment on every Facebook post you can find so that you’ll magically see the person you’re going to marry, or something. Maybe not a “lucky ritual” exactly, but close enough.
I’ll see your smoked vulture brains and raise you a Jason Giambi magical golden thong.
Most excellent. Baseball players almost shouldn’t count, though, since they’re like the most ridiculously superstitious people of all time.
I was kind of thinking that. I almost asked, actually, but then I decided that the thong was awesome enough that it was worth mentioning regardless.