{
    "video": {
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        "description": "<p>These Icelanders share a secret shark recipe that goes back to Viking times: let it rot.</p>", 
        "is_us_only": "false", 
        "title": "Rotten Shark Meat", 
        "url": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/places/culture-places/food/iceland_rottensharkmeat/", 
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        "allowUserEmbed": "True", 
        "related": {
            "link": [
                {
                    "url": "http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/iceland-guide", 
                    "name": "Learn More About Iceland"
                }, 
                {
                    "url": "http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/iceland-map/", 
                    "name": "Get Map of Iceland"
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            ]
        }, 
        "credit": "National Geographic", 
        "smil": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/data/xml/iceland_rottensharkmeat.smil", 
        "country_code_allow_list": [], 
        "HTML5src": "/video/player/media-mp4/iceland_rottensharkmeat/mp4/variant-playlist.m3u8", 
        "still": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/exposure/transcode/0/480/360/?url=http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/media/iceland_rottensharkmeat/iceland_rottensharkmeat_480x360.jpg", 
        "transcript": "<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In the town of Reykjavik, Siggi, a traditional Icelandic cook, is preparing one of the signature meals of the Thorrablot festival as the Vikings once did.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):\u00a0Siggi Hall, Chef -\u00a0\"Feel the pungent aroma of the shark.\"</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">This freshly caught 1700-pound Greenland shark is naturally full of urea and other toxins.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">These chemicals act as antifreeze, allowing the shark to live in waters as cold as minus two degrees Celsius.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">The toxins are so concentrated that to eat this meat could make you seriously ill-or possibly even kill you.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">But Hildibrandur Bjamus's family has a secret shark recipe that goes back generations.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">And he knows that the only way to prepare it\u2026 is to let it rot.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">As the meat decomposes, it oozes toxic ammonia\u2026the chemical found in most household cleaning products and human waste.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):Siggi Hall, Chef -\u00a0\"I don't want to say the word which will probably describe it best\u2026pee.\"</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">In Viking times, shark meat was buried out of sight.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">But Hildibrandur prefers to see his delicacy.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">That way he can keep track of the decaying process.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):Siggi Hall, Chef -\u00a0\"His nose decides when it is ready to try it-it's like wine-making, you know?\u201d</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">When the meat is at a perfect rotten state, it's hung to complete the breakdown process.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">After six months, it's ready to be served.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):Siggi Hall, Chef -\u00a0\"This is going to be very good. In just two more months, it's going to be a great, great shark, this one.\"</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):\u00a0Vox Pop, Restaurant Patron -\u00a0\"It's a social thing for us to come together and eat this.\"</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):\u00a0Vox Pop, Restaurant Patron -\u00a0\"I don't like the shark.\"</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):\u00a0Vox Pop, Restaurant Patron -\u00a0\"It's like ammonia.\"</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English):\u00a0Vox Pop, Restaurant Patron -\u00a0\"Tastes and smells like piss\u2026it does.\"</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Despite this feast of oddities, these Icelandic partygoers see nothing bizarre about tonight's main courses.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">No matter what dish is served, Siggi and the Icelanders agree - there is more to this tradition than just taste.</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">SOUNDBITE (English)</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">\"The point is taking care of this tradition, having fun with it, know what it is, don't forget it, don't forget where it comes from.\"</p>", 
        "id": "iceland_rottensharkmeat"
    }
}