In response to the question of ever cutting open a weiner, well yes I have. Years back in my medical residency, a curious colleague and I made a histologic section of a hot dog and examined it under the microscope. It was 4 years before I could even look at a dog, let alone eat one again. Certainly put a damper on my previous addictive ritual at Indians games of beer and dogs with ballpark mustard. I'm back at it, however, but I can't think about it too much whilst in the process. That's where the beer comes in.....