FOIE GRAS FUTURE BAN ACTING NOW?

There have been some, and you know who you are, who have argued that the foie gras ban in California, which doesn't take effect until 2012, was worse than useless. And in terms of the most literal, legal effect, that may be true. But this story might make you wonder: Foie gras leaving restaurants early in face of state ban,
it's called, and it asserts that in one Califronia country, "the delicacy has all but disappeared from county restaurants after pressure from people who see its production as cruel to animals." It goes on to note that "Pamplemousse Grille in Solana Beach last February was the first area restaurant to voluntarily remove foie gras from its menu, and 13 others in the county have followed this year, according to Kath Rogers of the Animal Protection and Rescue League in San Diego." Are other counties picking up the slack, or is this a real trend?

AFTER THE FLOOD

I wish I could blame my week-long absence on Hurrican Katrina, but actually I was just really busy with other stuff. Speaking of the hurrricane, it's probably no news to anyone reading this that there are still animals trapped and starving in New Orleans and elsewhere. The Humane Society of the United States is doing heroic work finding, feeding and rescuing these animals. If you haven't donated something yet to help the hurricane's victims, or even if you have, please remember these victims as well.