“alternately jarring, disjointed, contrapuntal, maddeningly long, and enviably brilliant.” It’s a review of the writing of David Foster Wallace, but it’s referring to a piece he wrote for Gourmet magazine, 6,000 words on his visit to the Maine Lobster Festival. Well, actually most of the article isn’t exactly about the festival, but about the ethics of boiling lobsters alive. Apparently several revisions were called for as editor Ruth Reichl asked for changes, one of which was to remove mention of the PETA video “Meet Your Meat.” From the disturbing snippets printed in the Boston Globe, I’m not sure how much I want to pick up the August Gourmet, but for certain the lobster essay offers something a little different in food for thought. Not to mention good PR (maybe for the lobsters too). (via Romenesko and kottke)