Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe Obama Fried Chicken raises controversy NEW YORK, April 8 (UPI) -- A New York restaurant has stirred controversy by refusing to change its controversial name: Obama Fried Chicken. Advertisement City Councilman Charles Barron, D-Brooklyn, was joined in protesting outside of the restaurant Monday with Rev. Al Sharpton and members of advocacy group Brooklyn East New York Crisis Team, Newsday reported Wednesday. The protesters, who contend the name is racially charged, said manager Mohammad Jabbar reneged on a promise he made last week to change the name of the restaurant to Popular Fried Chicken. "He is playing games," said Kevin McCall, head of Brooklyn East New York Crisis Team. "Just take down the sign." Jabbar said the sign cost the restaurant thousands of dollars and he has no plans to change it. "We are not changing the sign," he said. "Everyone is coming and saying they love the sign." Advertisement A White House spokesman said officials do not approve of using the president's name as an advertising gimmick. St. Louis pizzeria catering to president ST. LOUIS, April 8 (UPI) -- One of the partners behind a St. Louis restaurant says he is thrilled with U.S. President Barack Obama's request for a pizza feast from the eatery. Ryan Mangialardo, who founded St. Louis' Pi eatery, said he is excited to fly to Washington to prepare first-hand pizzas for Obama and his family, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Wednesday. "What can you say?" Mangialardo, 27, said. "It's incredible." U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., recalled that Obama tried Pi's pizza in October during his presidential campaign and instantly became a fan. Now the president has scheduled a long-distance delivery of Pi pizzas for Friday and Mangialardo is salivating at the chance to use the White House's full-service commercial kitchen. "From what it sounds like, it's the top of the line," Mangialardo told the Post-Dispatch. "They should have everything I need there to make the pizza happen." Woman commits to Eiffel Tower relationship PARIS, April 8 (UPI) -- A San Francisco woman says her affection for the Eiffel Tower goes beyond admiration to sexual attraction and romantic commitment. Advertisement The woman had a commitment ceremony performed with the Parisian tower two years ago and changed her name to Erika Eiffel to reflect her romantic love of the landmark, ABC News reported Wednesday. "Her structure is just amazing. You know, she's got subtle, subtle curves, you know," Eiffel, 36, said of her inanimate "partner." "I just, it's almost like I heard her crying out, saying, 'Somebody, notice me.'" She says she is part of a small group of people who call themselves "objectum sexuals," or those who are sexually attracted to objects and not people. The objects of their desire can be home computers, musical instruments or monuments such as the Eiffel Tower. Certified sexologist Amy Marsh, of Albany, Calif., told ABC News that not many studies exist of "OS," but in her own observations, "I'm finding they're very happy, and they don't want to change. I am also finding out that quite a few of them have a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome or autism, but not everybody." Colo. rejects 'ILVTOFU' license plate DENVER, April 8 (UPI) -- The Colorado Department of Revenue rejected a woman's request for a license plate professing her love of tofu over concerns that it could be seen as obscene. Advertisement Officials said Kelley Coffman-Lee's request for a personalized plate with the phrase "ILVTOFU" was rejected due to concerns that it could be misread as "I-LV-TO-F-U," KMGH-TV, Denver, reported Wednesday. Coffman-Lee said she has been a vegetarian for 13 years and a vegan for the past four. "I love tofu; it doesn't mean anything bad," Coffman-Lee said of her license plate request. "I'm very expressive, I'm anti-fur, anti-rodeo, anti-circus when they come to Denver and I thought here's a chance to be positive and say I love something." "Tofu is a word, I haven't said anything bad. I think it's crazy they denied it," she said. "It's not a dirty, evil food. It's very wholesome." Mark Couch, spokesman for Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles, defended the decision to reject the plate. "We have nothing bad to say about (Coffman-Lee's) love of tofu," he said. "We're concerned about others who may misread the plate."
