Free Pancakes for a Cause
All right. I'm in a rut, talking about chains that are alllllmost but not quite quick-serves. But it's Mardi Gras, and this one's about pancakes and a good cause.
Today, take your Quicksie to your local IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day*—also known as Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday. From 7 A.M. until 10 P.M., IHOP will give you one free short stack (three) of buttermilk pancakes. In exchange, the company asks that you consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network, or other local charities.
Last year's National Pancake Day promotion helped IHOP raise more than $340,000 for charity. In
2007, the company is aiming to raise $500,000 for 
Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities. Pictured at left are IHOP chief executive Julia Stewart with Madison Charles, Children’s Miracle Network’s 2006 Champion Across America Child.
Not sure where your local IHOP location is? Use this tool to find it.
* For centuries, the English made pancakes in celebration of Shrove Tuesday, which marks the beginning of fasting during Lent. Early Lenten rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so people made pancakes to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other fats...hence the name Pancake Tuesday.
All I can add is that I feel sorry for those milking cows. Maybe this was the earliest instance of the pump-and-dump phenomenon?
[photo thanks to IHOP]
