The [Thanksgiving 2011] Papers

"Some are holding potluck dinners instead of springing for the entire feast. Others are staying home rather than flying. And a few are skipping the turkey altogether," AP reports.

"On this the fourth Thanksgiving since the economy sank, prices for everything from airline flights to groceries are going up, and some Americans are scaling back."

First, the economy didn't "sink." It was torpedoed. Let's be clear.

Now to the part that caught my eye:

"In suburban Chicago, the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry got rid of turkey altogether. Last year, the pantry had a lottery in October to distribute 600 turkeys between almost 1,500 families.

"The pantry's management has decided to give all of its families a choice between other kinds of meat - ground turkey, sliced chicken, fish sticks and hamburger patties - along with the other trappings of a Thanksgiving feast. The decision will save $16,000, money that can go to feeding the hungry for the rest of the year.

"'Do we give turkeys and hams to half of the people or do we give them to none of them and put that money back in the general food budget?' said the pantry's executive director, Kathy Russell."

* * *

Meanwhile, those fortunate to still be able to afford turkeys of their own are finding new ways to cook (and stuff) their birds.

* * *

And here's a Thanksgiving where, as the report says, the turkeys are the guests not the entree.

* * *

Don't eat The Pope's Nose! But please read our fantasy football correspondent Dan O'Shea's annual Pope's Nose Awards.

* * *

Also in Beachwood Sports this week:
* The Blue & Orange Kool-Aid Report: Thumb and Thumber
* Caleb Hanie's 2001 Highlights So Far!
* SportsMonday: Rivers Down, Cutler Out

* * *

A Beachwood Thanksgiving:

* Music: Gary's Flying Turkey Trot.

* TV: Beavis & Butt-head Do Thanksgiving.

* Politics: The Dark Side Of The Turkey Industry.

* Books: Why The Cubs Are Such Turkeys.

* People, Places & Things: Chicagoetry: Holiday.

* Social Media: Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

-

The Beachwood Tip Line: Better than Butterball.

© 2006 - 2012, The Beachwood Media Company