Eggo Waffle Shortage Shakes the Nation

Whither my waffles? Flooding from heavy rains in Georgia have temporarily closed a large Eggo Waffle plant, causing a regional drop in supply. Equipment problems at another large plant in Tennessee means the shortage is spreading. Given the outpouring of hysteria, you'd be forgiven for wondering: Is this the most important news of Barack Obama's presidency, or perhaps of all time?

• Global Warming?  The Awl's Alex Balk gets mad. "Maybe now we can start talking about the serious effects of global warming. This is an OUTRAGE."

• No, Seriously, Global Warming  The Economist's Ryan Avent worries about "the far more serious food issues which may develop as the earth heats up." He says the flooding that closed the Eggo plant "has been linked to a warming climate." Avent adds, "These questions become particularly troubling when one considers the historical relationship between episodes of drought and famine and warfare, especially in sub-Saharan Africa."

• 'Pain and Anguish'  The Atlantic's Megan McArdle raises an eyebrow. "Personally, I hate frozen waffles, at least for use as foodstuffs--they are very good for soothing teething babies. But apparently, this is causing pain and anguish across America."

• Threat To America  Gawker's Hamilton Nolan takes a stand. "You'll be fighting like the guy in the god damn The Road for another eight months just to get your hands on some good old blueberry toaster waffles. What will America run on? America don't run on Dunkin. Not around here. The real America runs on Eggo waffles, a strong cup of Sanka, and then the four-eggs-n-scrapple platter at the diner downtown. To remove Eggos from our morning routine doesn't just threaten our taste buds that crave that delicious crisp warm sweet Eggo taste—it threatens the American Morning."

• End Of Times?  AOL News' Mike Nizza reported the news early on Twitter, with a dark prediction. "As foretold in Revelations: RT @Gourmet: Kellogg warns of devastating frozen waffle shortages in the days ahead"

• 'How To Survive a World Without Waffles'  Sphere's Paul Bachter urges calm. "For centuries humans did quite well without the Eggo. Waffles were introduced by the ancient Greeks, who called them obleios. Waffle presses appeared in Holland and Germany in the 1300s and came to America with the Pilgrims in 1620. Later, Thomas Jefferson brought one back from France," he writes. "[T]he 'crisis' could even prompt Americans to do the unthinkable -- make fresh, tasty and healthy waffles themselves." Bachter passes along a waffle recipe and advice from a Belgian chef.

• Easier To Cover Than Health Care  Mediaite's Colby Hall mocks the coverage. "We find ourselves living in a most interesting time. Tough issues abound, like Health Care reform, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the ongoing trial of those accused of attacking the World Trade Center on 9/11. But there are other important issues and stories that have not received the proper attention – that is until now."

• All Started In Silicon Valley  Silicon Valley local radio KLIV reports. "A popular frozen breakfast invented in Silicon Valley half a century ago is quickly disappearing from store shelves across America and is going to be hard to come by this winter. [...] Full distribution of Eggo products is not expected until the middle of next year. In the 1950s, Eggo waffles were invented by three brothers in San Jose."