I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS REAL

No really, I can't.

Some neanderthal who runs a restaurant in North Carolina has decided to take the "French" out of "French fries", renaming them "Freedom fries".

Neal Rowland, the owner of Cubbie's, now only sells his fried potato strips as "freedom fries" -- a decision that comes as Americans watch French officials back away from support for possible war in Iraq.

"Because of Cubbie's support for our troops, we no longer serve french fries. We now serve freedom fries," says a sign in the restaurant's window.

Rowland said his intent is not to slight the French people, but to take a patriotic stance to show his support for the United States and the actions of President Bush.

"It's our way of showing our patriotic pride," he said, noting that his business has a lot of local military troops as customers.

First of all, a lot of Orwelian nonsense has come from the Bush Administration as of late, but this plucky restauranteur has topped it all! "Freedom fries"? Sounds too much like "victory gin" to me...

Also, unless given an order to do otherwise by their superior, the troops will still call them "french fries", or just "fries". Deal with it. I usually just say "fries".

Finally, a question for Mr Rowland, columnists like George Will (or even Tom Friedman), and conservative nitwits across the country: You are driving in your town or city, and you come up to Lafayette Street. Does that mean anything to you? Anything at all?