If surreyman is right, then the Masai, who shoot an arrow into the vein of a cow or bull, collect the blood and drink it, are vegetarians, since the animal does not die. The subtle difference between blood and meat also calls to mind the argument in the Merchant of Venice, that Shylock could have his pound of flesh so long as not a drop of blood was spilt. Is Dick Cheese related to Richard Head? His answers may be funny, but it's hard to tell when your tongue is in your cheek when you are typing.