Chicago Repeals Foie Gras Ban

Chicago has repealed its foy grass ban. City Council voted 36-6 to get rid of the ban on fattened duck/goose liver, which probably means more annoying articles about protesters in Philadelphia coming soon. Thanks, Rob

Update: PhilaFoodie has more.

Human Allies Of Ducks, Deer Come Out In, Uh, Force

It’s been a while since I’ve though about foy grass, the goose/duck liver delicacy that I have absolutely no desire to ever eat but also have no desire to ever prevent someone from eating it. But now! After being able to ignore a duck protest-related coffee throwing, I cannot keep my eyes away any longer. Hugs for Puppies and Professionals Against Foie Gras are hosting a “No Foie Gras Gala” at the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse this Saturday.

But wait, there’s more! Not only will there be a foy grass-free party near Rittenhouse, but there will be protesters outside promoting pro-foie gras ideals at the same time. London Grill co-owner Terry McNally is spearheading the “correct information” movement and a French documentary team will be in Philly to film the highly hilarious shenanigans.

Also exciting: Yesterday, a total of six protesters showed up at a population-controlling deer hunt at Tyler State Park in Bucks County. The sign the paper reported: “What’s next, Rudolph?” Rudolph? Haven’t these people ever seen a movie. Clearly, the deer that’s next is Bambi’s mother. Geeze.

Duck Duck Goose Liver

Hey, kids! Did you know that eighty-five percent of Pennsylvanians think foie gras (foy grass) should be banned? Sure, it was a ridiculously leading question — Do you want the stop the rupturing of duck organs or are you with the terrorists? — but, hey, eighty-five percent!

Despite an Inquirer Sunday cover story and the harsh words of smoking ban opponent/Daily News columnist Stu Bykofsky, a group of Philadelphia chefs continue to fight back against those who wish to stop the force-feeding of ducks. It’s hard, of course, for me to figure out a reason why I should really care about this issue at all, but the tactics of the anti-foie gras people are hilarious:

[T]he Hugs for Puppies group has moved onto other restaurants, picketing the businesses and homes of chefs like David Ansill who recently removed foie gras from his menu at his restaurant Ansill after protesters hounded his customers and staff and leafleted his neighborhood for months. “When I talked to him he hadn’t slept in 15 days,” says foie gras distributor [Ariane] Daguin. “The acts of the protesters are nearly terroristic,” she says. Said Ansill wearily: “It wasn’t worth it. I caved.”

Meanwhile, the London Grille — on the front lines of the most pointless battle ever — has invited the author of Foie Gras: A Passion for The Book and the Cook. Meanwhile, City Councilman Jack Kelly told Time (Update: Err, apparently, Kelly told Metro.) he “could care less about those snobby French chefs. They can stick their $5 foie gras up their rears.” Ha ha, get it, the French! Snobby! Putting duck liver up their asses!

Fight for Your Right to Pâté (cute) [Time]
The book, the cook… the war? [Metropolis]

More People To Tell Us What To Do With Our Lives

In the future, 9/11/07 will be known as the day that the tide finally turned and the ducks and geese would be free to, uh, die in peace. Yes, a new group has joined the fight against foie gras, bringing the total number of people who really care about this issue to 15. (This will probably get them about 48 more Sunday Inquirer cover stories.)

Foie gras — pronounced “foy grass” — is made from the fattened liver of geese and ducks. About 2-3 weeks before slaughter, the goose or duck is force-fed through a tube in its esophagus. Some people think this is cruel to the animals, sometimes pontificating about it while they chew on a juicy hamburger.

The new group that’s entered the fray is called Professionals Against Foie Gras; its members are attempting to convince City Councilman Jack Kelly to push a bill through City Council that would ban foie gras; he introduced a bill back in April 2006 but — surprise! — nobody who matters actually cares.

Meanwhile, a bunch of horses were killed today after breaking their legs on horseracing tracks, but that’s heroic.

Local Group Enters Fray Over Idea To Ban Foie Gras [KYW 1060]

Best To Read It Every Day

Some genitals fit, but what of the duck? [Inquirer]

Vote For The Duck! No! Vote For The Gorilla!

The race for Pennsylvania’s junior senate seat just keeps getting more and more exciting. (And by “exciting,” we mean “stupid.”)

While Rick Santorum is on TV proclaiming that a newspaper called him too liberal, and Bob Casey is, uh, in a secret underground bunker somewhere with duct tape over his mouth, interested parties are trying to sway the votes toward their candidate of choice.

The newest way to gain the public’s trust: Mascots.

Yes, that’s right. Rick Santorum has been sending a staffer in a duck costume to Casey events — because Casey “ducks” the issues, har de har har — for a while now, and a group that would like Casey to win is joining the fray with “Grandpa Gorilla.”

Grandpa Gorilla is an 11-foot inflatable gorilla that is supposed to show that Rick Santorum doesn’t care about old people, or at least Social Security. The DC-based group Americans United is angry that Santorum wanted to privatize Social Security.

So, basically, come November, you have a choice between a gorilla and a duck. Ain’t politics grand?

Monkey on Rick’s back [Daily News]

And You Thought The Ducks Were Annoying

KYW 1060 reports this morning of a new tourist attraction in Philadelphia: The Superbike.

Superbikes are run by the same people who run Super Ducks, and owner Alfred Krawitz said the Superbike is “a bicycle that holds seven passengers. One person drives it. It has a hydraulic braking system. It has a Porsche front end.”

City officials aren’t quite sure about the safety of these so-called “super” bicycles, but they’re not covered any city motor vehicle codes, so Krawitz went ahead and started selling rides on it. Councilman Frank DiCicco, naturally, wants to confiscate the bikes, perhaps so he can ride constituents around his district on them.

But, for now, Superbikes are here to stay. However, we do have a reprieve from at least one of the duck boats for a little while, as the article notes:

Meanwhile, the National Park Service has suspended Krawitz’s Superducks for seven days for aggressive solicitation.

Praise you, National Park Service.

Controversy Over New Super Bikes [KYW 1060]
Related: Stop The Duck

Duck Caretakers Can See Into Your Soul

There’s an interesting pet ad on Craigslist right now:

Wildlife care facility in Roxborough looking to place an adorable, friendly domestic duck to a good home with a pond and other ducks. It is a juvenile, flightless domestic black duck. It needs the companionship of other ducks. Free to any good home that meets the requirements. If you plan to do any harm to this duck, don’t bother contacting us because I will be able to tell when I interview you.

Don’t you dare go into your interview holding a Nintendo zapper. She’ll know you’re not a fan of Hogan’s Alley.

Domestic Duck free to good home [Craigslist]

Duck-Related Lead Of The Year

Returning from a 10-day Caribbean cruise, Jerry and Claire Miller got a fine-feathered welcome home that was so startling, it set their hearts aflutter. In medical terms, it was a near case of cardi-quack arrest.

Needless to say, this is from the Bucks County Courier Times.

There’s a duck at the door [Bucks County Courier Times]