Fluff

Union Square in Somerville hosted its annual What the Fluff festival today in honor of Archibald Query's invention of peanut butter's BFF. Read more

Aaron Cohen wrote every single state rep and senator to ask them how they'd vote on Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein's perpetual motion to annoint the Fluffernutter the Official Sandwich of the Commonwealth. He posts the replies he got, including one from a grumpy Sen. Richard Moore, D-Harrumph:

[W]hat do you think it is about the Fluffernutter that deserves the mantle of Official State Sandwich? If not, why?
I think we've got more pressing issues to consider.

How often do you enjoy Fluff, either on a sandwich or in a dessert?
Very rare.

An Act designating the Fluffernutter as the official sandwich of the Commonwealth.

Sponsored by Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein of Revere, who has been trying to get this vital legislation enacted since 2006, when she got all up in then Sen. Jarrett Barrios's grill after he tried to ban Fluff from school menus.

Sushiesque posts photos from yesterday's Fluff festival in Somerville.

Image used under Creative Commons.

The annual What the Fluff is now scheduled for tomorrow, 4-7 p.m. in Somerville's Union Square.

Sassy Sundry takes a jar of Fluff on a transcontinental flight the better to take photos of the jar enjoying the sights of San Diego.

Jeff Egnaczyk took some photos (like the one above) at today's Fluff Festival in Somerville.

Stephanie Rogers has a write-up and photos. Ezra Ball was there, too. Sassy Sundry has more. Can't get enough? Tony Yang has even more

Flufferettes.

Aaron Schutzengel posts photos from the What the Fluff festival, including vital shots of kids getting dunked in a kiddie pool of Fluff during a tug of war.

Karrie posts Fluff photos as well, including one of Fluff Boy.

Jeremy Selwyn, chief snacks officer at Taquitos.net, posts still more Fluff photos, including a candid shot of the dancing Flufferettes. He also makes and devours a tuna, Fluff and hot sauce mix on a cracker.

Wait, this just in! More Fluff and Flufferette photos. And here's a photo of Coney Island Men's Rooms - drinks made with Fluff.

What? You just can't get enough of this stuff? Here are even more Fluff photos, by the immortal Hargo (he of the Somerville Gates).

Java programming geeks, meanwhile, were busy at the No Fluff Just Stuff conference in Framingham.

Hmm, did anybody see Jarrett Barrios?

Just in case you've somehow forgotten, tomorrow is the first What the Fluff? day in Somerville's Union Square. From 3 to 7 p.m., celebrate the gooey glop that made Union Square famous - and state Sen. Jarrett Barrios infamous.

... The Independent has the Fluffernutter Martini, a chocolate martini with Fluff and Reese's Pieces on the rim. Most exotic of all Fluff concoctions is surely the Independent's "Coney Island Men's Room." It's a hot-selling blue martini with a dollop of strawberry Fluff floating on top. ...

Jesse Kanson-Benanav reports that on Sept. 30, Union Square Main Streets will put on a production of "What the Fluff," a

celebration of the genius of Archibald Query who toiled here in Union Square to create Marshmallow Fluff in 1917. In an ironic tribute on September 30 join artists, musical and theatrical performers, inventors, and humorists to pay yummy homage to this great American foodstuff in a madcap festival of science meets nostalgia meets urban landscape. ...

And, yes, of course, Jarrett Barrios has been invited.

Political Intelligence has the scoop: Jarrett Barrios has thrown in the (incredibly sticky and gooey) towel and abandoned his anti-Fluff initiative.

Hub Politics has shipped a tub of Fluff to Jarrett Barrios (and posted a link to the UPS tracking page so you can see when he accepts delivery).

Meanwhile, down here in the boonies of Roslindale, I admit it was nice to see a statement from a Boston school official that Boston schools haven't served Fluff for years. However, I wish they would do something about the fact that, at least at my daughter's elementary school, teachers now routinely use candy as rewards. Do a good job in class? Get some candy. Do good work on a project? Get some candy. Whatever happened to gold stars and inky stamps?

No, not because it's turning our kids into rolling balls of butter or anything. But because there is absolutely nothing grosser than eating a wad of Fluff and then taking a swig of soda. The sensation in your mouth, well, ew!

Reinstein, a Revere state representative, will file legislation to make the Fluffernutter the official state sandwich.

If Fluff-hating state Senator Jarrett Barrios were a molehill, would that make Reinstein a mountain?

Just in time for the 2006 election, we've found the true third rail of Massachusetts politics: Marshmallow Fluff.

Local bloggers are rising up as one to defend the gooey, sugary goodness of Fluff - and especially Fluffernutters - even as they acknowledge that yes, indeed, the crap is bad for you, but they don't care: Back away from the Fluff, Mr. Barrios - and keep those hands where we can see 'em!

Eileen: Eat Fluff or Die!

I realize that childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S., but isn't this taking things too far? ... A ban on fluff is a ban on freedom!

Hub Politics: Fluffernutter Threat Level: Red:

With all the real problems we are dealing with in Massachusetts, such as high crime in Boston, the loss of population, high taxes, terrorism, etc. etc., isn't it safe to say that fighting Fluff should not be on anyone's priority list? ...

Jason Kanson-Benanav wonders: Does Barrios hate childhood? Probably not, he concludes, but still.

Lewis Forman: Nothing beats cramming your own views down the throat of the children of the state:

... Let's single out the food by name and put a stigma on it. Deny your children the wonderfully sugary taste of Fluff. The same taste you had as a child but now feel like it's something you can use to get your name out there. Brilliant. Shouldn't we be worried about funding these schools for after school sports activities which would teach kids more about nutrition than telling them what they cannot eat?

The honorable senator from Cambridge, Somerville, etc., wishes to ban Marshmallow Fluff from Massachusetts schools. Can Necco wafers be far behind? But you can have my Sky Bar - when you pry it from my cold dead fingers!

On Mass. Revolution Now, Andy says there's no way to sugar coat a dumb idea like this:

... Now I am all for getting such ridiculously bad food out of the schools, and I agree with Barrios that it is questionable as to whether we can even classify something that is 50% sugar as food, but to create a special amendment to a bill to specifically single out Fluff is a little crazy in my opinion. ...

On mAss Backwards, Bruce reports he nearly swerved off the road when he heard Barrios on the radio calling himself a "libertarian."

Marshmallow Fluff page - be sure to click on the Fluff jingle player things in the lower left. Marshmallow Fluff, by the way, is local Fluff and local Fluff is fresh.