Meat Eaters in Denial, Guilty-Ass Cats, Stuffed French Toast, and McDonald's is Insane

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• PETA is up to its usual shenanigans, and this time, they foray into domestic abuse! Sigh. There's so much wrong with this ad that there isn't time to go into it all, and I know PETA will consider it a success based on page views alone, but how many of those are people who click it are going to be turned off from ever looking into veganism? Who knows? I know nonsense like this turned me off for a LONG time. I can safely say that I would've gone vegan a long time before I did if it hadn't been for PETA campaigns. In fact, I vividly remember talking shit about them with friends in college. PETA, you've accomplished amazing things, but this has got to stop before you find yourself fucking AXE Body Spray in a gutter.

• Make me homemade vegan brioche, please. I find you very attractive. Also, this vegan lasagna soup. I love you. I know I don't tell you that enough, but I'm going to start today. Now, when will you be over with my snacks? I love you.

Celine Steen

Stuffed French toast made with brioche HOLY CRAP

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• Check out this study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, "Don't Mind Meat? The Denial of Mind to Animals Used for Human Consumption." If you're not smart enough to understand study-speak, congratulations! You're in roughly 97 percent of the population, which also includes people who don't own driving loafers or understand Werner Herzog documentaries. Luckily, Psychology Today has our backs, explaining:

Many people like eating meat, but most are reluctant to harm things that have minds. The current three studies show that this dissonance motivates people to deny minds to animals. Study 1 demonstrates that animals considered appropriate for human consumption are ascribed diminished mental capacities. Study 2 shows that meat eaters are motivated to deny minds to food animals when they are reminded of the link between meat and animal suffering. Finally, Study 3 provides direct support for our dissonance hypothesis, showing that expectations regarding the immediate consumption of meat increase mind denial. Moreover, this mind denial in turn reduces negative affect associated with dissonance.

Crazy, right??

• Megan at Vegansaurus put together a gallery of guilty cat photos because cats be creepin'!

• Michael Bauer has an unfortunate piece up praising foie gras in the Chronicle. Here's the thing: I don't think foie gras is any crueler than most animal products -- which is to say, it's VERY FUCKING CRUEL -- so I understand people who are upset about its banning when all sorts of other factory farming bullshit still occurs. However, it's kinda like saying, "My shoes might be ugly BUT look at that bitch wearing the flowered clogs!" It's like, your shoes are still ugly, ya dig? I stand behind ANY and ALL reform of an industry that thrives on the backs of abuse, and honestly, if you don't, what kind of person are you? Someone on the wrong side of history, my friends. We need to take our wins where we can get them and hope that thoughtful omnivores will think compassionately about the issue. DO IT. xoxo.

• McDonald's claims they're going to not buy dead pigs from companies that use gestation crates. This is a good thing, as McDonald's is like, one of the biggest buyers of dead animals ever. I'll believe it when they actually do it and don't decide five years from now to back out of the plan they gave themselves 10 years to complete. I'm tired of PLEDGES, I want ACTION. Also, I NEED AN ICE CREAM SANDWICH RIGHT NOW GOD.

• Speaking of McDonald's, they think petting a pit bull is more dangerous than eating their Chicken McBites. In related news, there is a dish you can order called "Chicken McBites" and also, the world is insane. Also, love that it's like, "getting bit by a dog is a bit riskier than eating our food." Good one, Mickey D's!

• Grist has a good piece up that's all, "Yo, Chefs! Make me something veg or stop pretending to care about sustainability!" and I'm all, "HELL YEAH MAKE ME SOME TOO."