On Wednesday 02 Jul 2008 4:36:38 am Perry E. Metzger wrote: > I, at least, am clearly melanin deficient. If I wasn't, I'd get > sunburned less often.
I am not melanin deficient, but I get sunburned too, and its worse at high altitude. Melanin offers some protection, but ultimately cultural habits also help. By "cultural habits" I am referring to the statement about the afternoon sun in India - "Only mad dogs and Englishmen" would venture out into the hot summer sun in the afternoon in India. Another cultural thing that Indians have not figured out is the absurd and completely useless add on for cars in India called a "sunroof". I hear car reviewers in India saying "A sunroof would have been a nice touch". Balls. A sunroof in a car in India is an idiotic touch. A waste of money that makes a clueless Indian car owner think that he lives outside India in a place that he was taught to admire as a child. Kaalus (dark complexioned people - literally "blackie") should not imagine that they need more exposure to the sun. An in India it is not at all politically incorrect to use the word "kaalu". Most of us are "kaalus" anyway :) shiv
