The patron saint of high school economics, Cal Ewing, taught me the ins and outs of supply and demand. We discussed how high demand can lead to a strain on supply, which in turn drives prices higher. We touched briefly on the point of alternative supply that comes from extremely high demand, but I had never really seen this in a real world scenario...until now.

There was an article in the New York Times this weekend that made me sad, worried, physically ill, and slightly amused. Japan is freaking out about a Tuna shortage, and is now considering alternatives such as raw horse meat sushi and smoked deer sushi. "Yes, waiter, I will have the Bambi roll and the Seattle Slew nigiri." For those of you that don't eat the "sush", well, you are missing out on life. It is delicious, healthy, and the thought of weekend sushi pushes me through my week. But, horse sushi.

Cal Ewing never discussed this horrifying possibility. Oddly enough, I do enjoy seeing economics at work. I think I am going to go call my friend, Chip, to see if he wants any real sushi for lunch before I end up taking chop sticks to the Kentucky Derby.

Waiter, there's deer in my sushi (New York Times 6/24/07)