Also: Ice cream can make you fat

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In recent news: Fried chicken is bad for you
A doctor and a consumer group have sued KFC in an effort to stop the chicken chain from cooking with high-fat oil. "KFC ... recklessly puts its customers at risk of a Kentucky Fried Coronary," Jacobsen said. Hoyte and the consumer group are seeking class-action status for the lawsuit and asking a judge to let Hoyte represent anyone who ate at a Washington, D.C.-area KFC in 2004 and 2005. "If I had known that KFC uses an unnatural frying oil, and that their food was so high in trans fat, I would have reconsidered my choices," Hoyte said. Dr. Hoyte said he is suing to force KFC to change its cooking practices "for my son and others' kids, so they may have a healthier, happier, trans-fat-free future."
Excuse me, doctor, but what the hell did you think the Colonel was cooking his chicken in, if not a gigantic tank of grease? I suppose it never occured to the esteemed Dr. Hoyte to just not order the family bucket of extra crispy poultry parts with a double side of gravy, and just have a salad instead, did it? In tomorrow's news, we will cover lawsuits claiming "Morton Salt promotes sodium" and "Crisco contains too much grease."
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Critter anniversary

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The Critter is 4 years old this week. 4 years ago, my Bride and I had no idea what we were about to get in to. Sleep deprivation. A ridiculous portion of our Tivo being dedicated to the latest episode of "The Doodlebops." A hugely disproportionate amount of time dealing with, encouraging, or the discussion of bowel movements. We didn't know this because the Critter came 6 weeks early and we had not taken any of the courses. I was a little surprised that they let us take her home, even without our certificate of course completion. To celebrate the Critter managing to survive another full year without breaking any major limb or driving us to either the nut- or poor-house, we bought her a new bike. Still with training wheels ("stabilizers" in Brit-speak), and sent her out the door to race the neighbor kid. We also got her a copy of Tangoes Jr. Sadly, she's already better than her mother at it. Even better, we're busy planning another musical beer-and-meat-fest. The 2nd Annual Cheshire Bluegrass BBQ. This Time With A Whole Pig. Me: What do you want to do for your 4th birthday, sweetheart? Critter: I'd like another barbeque, please. Me: Are you sure? You wouldn't like a princess party, or something like that? Critter: No, Father. I'd like a barbeque. With more pig. And a bluegrass band. Me: It's your birthday, sweetheart, so we'll do whatever you want. Critter: Thank you, sir. And can you please make sure that the beer is extra cold for you and our guests? That would make my birthday complete. Me: That's my girl. Because nothing says "I'm 4" like grilled pork and banjos. She'll be the envy of all her classmates.
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Make mine con las cebollas, por favor

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nur Englisch, bitte
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A sign in a landmark Philadelphia restaurant asking customers to order in English is sparking controversy in the metropolis known as the "City of Brotherly Love." The owner of Geno's Steaks said on Thursday that the sign, "This is America -- when ordering speak English," is intended to encourage immigrants to learn the language and assimilate into U.S. society, but one Latino activist said it's racist. Vento denied that anyone would be refused service if they ordered one of the sliced beef-and-cheese sandwiches, a famed bit of cuisine in the Quaker-founded "City of Brotherly Love," in a language other than English.
The sign is, of course, posted only in English. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I suspect the wait-staff at the oh-so-cosmopolitan Geno's Steak Pit aren't hired for their multi-lingual capabilities. So the sign might be considered more a friendly tip. Sign or no sign, I'm guessing that if you were to order a "viande et fromage aux oignons" sandwich, you'd get back the same dumb look I get when asking my local British grocery boy which aisle they keep the grits on.
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