Save Toby Book

You may recall the pathetic tale of SaveToby.com. I blogged on it previously here and here. A short recap: two uproariously funny dudes threatened to eat cute Toby the Rabbit unless we do what they want–initially, pay $50,000 by June…

Thanksgiving and Vegetarians

I don’t think meat-eaters fully appreciate how many Thanksgiving rituals revolve around the bird. The turkey determines when dinner is served. The turkey occupies the center of the table. The head of the household displays his or her carving excellence…

Turkey Prices and Economic Inefficiency

This kind of stuff drives vegetarians crazy. Wholesale price of turkeys: $0.70/lb or more. Retail price of turkeys during Thanksgiving: $0.39/lb. The reason: grocery stores subsidize turkey sales as a loss leader to increase traffic. I don’t have a problem…

eBay Removes Auction for Right to Hunt Deer

eBay Britain removed an auction offering the right to bag a specifically-identified “21 point farmed master stag,” which is probably a “semi-tame” deer. eBay responded to a complaint from an animal rights activist group about the auction, even though print…

NY Enacts Anti-Internet Hunting Law

I’ve lost track of most state initiatives to outlaw Internet hunting, but this article from Michael Gormley at the Associated Press caught my attention because of all of the rhetorical posturing/intellectual dishonesty. Consider the following quotes: NY Gov. George Pataki:…

“It is now illegal to blast Bambi over the Internet in 11 states”

Mark Matthews of Stateline.org has written a good (and pointed) update on the efforts to ban Internet hunting. He contacted me based on my San Jose Mercury News editorial on the topic.

VegNews Best of… Survey

VegNews is running its annual survey of the best of vegetarian products and services. I voted for Native Foods (LA, Palm Springs, Palm Desert) as the best vegetarian restaurant. I was torn because I also cannot get enough of A…

New(ish) Vegetarian Restaurant in Milwaukee–Riverwest Co-Op Grocery and Cafe

In Fall 2004, the Riverwest Co-op Grocery & Café (733 E. Clarke St., Milwaukee, WI 53212, (414) 264-7933) quietly launched an all-vegetarian café next to its grocery store (which is located in the Riverwest district, an eclectic and somewhat dilapidated…

Will Poodle Burgers Be Next?

A New Zealand restaurant offers “Mr. Ed is Dead,” a meal made from char-grilled horse steaks. The restaurant received a number of complaining calls that were “pretty lively and disgusting and not comforting for the staff.” Nevertheless, the restaurant sold…

What Happened to Toby the Rabbit?

You may remember the silly story of Toby, a cute bunny featured on the website SaveToby.com. The owners threatened to kill and eat Toby if they did not get $50,000 in donations by June 30. I’m sure you’re as shocked…