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Turkey stuff

If you watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, one thing you will not see is an ad in which a little girl talks about burnt feathers and turkey poop.

PETA says NBC and a few of its stations rejected the PETA ad you can view below. NBC claimed the ad did not meet “NBC Universal standards” while the general manager of stations in Raleigh, NC and Savannah, Georgia said it was “not appropriate for the spirit of the parade.”

The transcript:

Dear God. Thank you for the turkey we’re about to eat. And for the turkey farms where they pack them into dark, tiny little sheds for their whole lives. Thank you for when they burn their feathers off when they’re still alive and for when turkey gets kicked around like a football and killed by people who think it’s fun to stomp on their little turkey heads. And special thanks for all the chemicals and dirt and poop that’s in the turkey we’re about to eat. Oh, and thank you for rainbows.

‘Grace’: PETA’s Thanksgiving ad

Elsewhere, President Obama pardoned two lucky turkeys this morning. And a group of university scientists has secured almost $1 million to finish mapping the turkey’s DNA. The scientists say the turkey genome project will help turkeys live healthier lives through a better understanding of what might cause diseases. Of course, that’s not the only potential result. From the Washington Post:

The possibilities for genetic manipulation seem endless. At a bare minimum, the turkey might be genetically engineered to convey a bit more flavor. And turkeys aren’t the most comely of birds; could they be bred for better looks as well as taste? How about a turkey that arrives pre-stuffed, or packed with extra endorphins to pacify a dysfunctional family? Or thighs thick enough for the NFL?

Freakonomics has some other turkey facts you may not want to know if you’re planning to ingest a succulent bird tomorrow.

• Nov 25, 2009 9:40 AM — Scott Jagow
• 3 comments