PETA Asks Phish to Change Name to 'Sea Kittens'

Quickly, for relevance purposes: people who listen to a lot of Phish travel frequently, and Phish's new green travel blog is known as "Traveling Light" (lawsuit forthcoming, natch.) With that out of the way, let's get down to the nitty gritty (and get this show on the road): PETA spokespeople have asked Phish to change their name ... to the "Sea Kittens."

Is this the stupidest thing ever and a blatant publicity stunt by an increasingly irritating organization hell-bent on punching everyone in America squarely in the eye? Most likely. Hence, a letter issued to media outlets!

The letter, addressed to Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon and Page McConnell, says the request is an attempt to gain empathy for fish, "because few people are aware that fish are actually smart animals with personalities."

"For example, they communicate and develop relationships with one another, feel pain when injured (their lips are particularly sensitive, and they use them like we use our fingers), show affection by gently rubbing against other fish, and even grieve when other fish they like die," the letter continues.

OhmysweetGod. COME ON. I mean, really. REALLY? This is what it's come to now that Michael Vick has served his prison sentence and Phil Spector is no longer allowed to wear dead squirrels on his head? Harrassing a hippie-trust-funded jam band that doesn't seek in any shape or form to take empathy away from actual fish?

It's not even annoying anymore, it's just freaking sad.

Sears Tower No More: Willis Tower Is the New Name of Chicago's Biggest Building

The Sears Tower will, in all likelihood, become the Willis Tower. That's based on a press release that Willis Group Holdings, a London-based international insurance broker and the newest owner of the building, released today.

"We are proud to add the Willis name to the tower," said John Huston, executive vice president of American Landmark Properties, Ltd., part of the real estate investment group that owns the building.

"Having our name associated with Chicago's most iconic structure underscores our commitment to this great city, and recognizes Chicago's importance as a major financial hub and international business center," said Joseph J. Plumeri, chairman and chief executive officer of Willis Group. 

No one from Willis would actually confirm that the name of Sears Tower will change immediately, however; the most likely action seems to be that Willis will test the possibility of changing the name and gauge the reaction of Chicago residents. If it's overwhelmingly negative, it's possible that "Sears Tower" will remain. 

But if Chicagoans, like the rest of America, are completely fed up with the "customer service," the "great values," and everything else suprmely awesome that relates to the Sears company, than there's a decent chance that they'll embrace the new name.