It was certainly a vocal week on City of Ate. People like bc, jamey, curmudgeon and DallasDude churned out more words that I did--at least it seems that way.
Of course, we're still on our 'no prizes' kick so their efforts earn them little more than our appreciation. We did have a real winner this week, though: our own demented artist and web guy Patrick Michels beat all comers in a hot wing eating contest. Of course, the loquacious bc put the victory in perspective: "I ate 50 Fire in the Holes and a piece of Cheesecake in one
sitting prior to going vegan. Picture's still on the wall. Do you hear
that? You got beat by a vegan in a wing eating contest. For shame."
Oh, well: Patrick's feat earned him a $100 certificate for more wings. The words of bc--however timely, clever and worthy we think they are--get nothing. Nor do this week's other non-winners:
Responding to the fried chicken battle between Babe's and Williams,
bruce explained "I can't eat Williams chicken ever again thanks to a
guy that ran a restaurant across the street from the Williams that
opened in my neighborhood. 'That place makes the whole area smell like
piss' he told me. I'll be damned if the guy wasnt right."
Wine guy Paul Burrough, bravely using a real name, revealed a zealous
streak with this comment in response to Veggie Guy's survey of
vegan-friendly beers: "but what about all those poor litle yeasts that
were killed to make your beer? WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE FALLEN
YEAST!!!???"
He later apologized for his warped sense of humor.
It was the week bc dominated, so we'll give him another nod for this
response to the vegan-meat eating debate: "In today's reality there are
too many competitive advantages for the larger companies and their push
for these advantages through favorable regulations for themselves isn't
in our best interest as consumers. If we can all agree that there are
reputable farmers/ranchers who use sustainable and ethical practices,
wouldn't we wish that they be able to use those practices to the end?
If I raise livestock in such a manner, only to have to send it for
processing at a plant that has less than desirable employees, controls,
and could be contaminated as a result of the unsustainably raised
animals processed the day before (or even the same day), could it be
construed that all of my hard work and dedication might be lessened in
the end result? Until there are more sustainable operations who can
demand these changes, we're at the mercy of the decisions of what's
best for business for the big boys."
Hard to argue with that. In fact, Bob Dobbsson couldn't even understand
why people bother debating the topic: "I don't see any sense in arguing
it. I mean, your morality is your business as long as you're not
breaking any laws. I'll leave you to it, if you'll kindly leave me to
mine. Which brings me to what I really don't get about the whole issue.
I just don't get the vehemence surrounding it. Whether you're a vegan
or not, why do you feel the need to degrade the other side? I mean, I
guess I shouldn't be surprised. Humans do it in every other aspect of
life."
And for the final word, we'll turn to Chuck Watts, commenting on
another person's suggestion that Goats Head Soup by the Rolling Stones
should have made the top 10 food-related album covers list: "If you
think Goats Head Soup has food on the album cover, you're a more
broad-minded diner than I."
Real non-winners want no prizes.
