Summer food fun and drink - black hole swallow internet · Tuesday September 9, 2008 by colin newell
Scientists at the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) plan to smash particle beams together at close to the speed of light to create mini-versions of the explosion believed to have triggered the birth of the cosmos.
Not quite like cloning Dolly the sheep… but curious none the less.
So. Tomorrow. The World might end with a giant Moob
Moob. That is the opposite of… well, you know.
A black hole, in theory, has such intense gravity that matter can move into it approaching the speed of light.
Such things actually exist in the Universe. At a great distance from us, thank heavens.
Mini-Moobs, like White Dwarves exist within 10 light years. 8.6 Light years actually.
While not as crazy as Black Holes, the White Dwarf is pretty intense from a physics point of view – a couple of square inches of material from a W.D. weighs in at over a ton. A couple of square inches of a black hole weighs in at… well, actually… pretty close to infinite weight. Help me Jenny Craig, help me!
So. Cosmologists think an explosion of an object the size of a Canadian nickel occurred about 13.7 billion years ago and led to the formation of all matter. Stockwell Day would argue 3000 years ago – but that is another matter. Get it? Matter?
Never mind.
Some critics say the experiment will create “black holes” of intense gravity that could implode the Earth, or that it will open the way for beings from another universe to invade through a “worm hole” in space-time. Cool. When they come through the gate, I will be waiting with my phaser…
And that bad boy won’t be set to stun I promise you.
Anyway. Have a nice day.
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Summer food fun and drink - time to butt out this theme · Monday September 8, 2008 by colin newell
It is a beautiful summer night in our concrete and steel tower overlooking the miserable neighborhood of Rockland… Million dollar houses. Rich folks with their noses in the air.
And now I know why.
They are trying to breathe.
On this perfect night, Andrea and I open the windows to let in a softening breeze. The mid-September evening is rich with a delicate sea breeze and the aroma of summer drawing to a close.
But wait, there is more. The slow moving zephyr brings in the noxious assault of a neighbor puffing away on her balcony.
She has a new baby and she is crashing with her folks. Naturally, we would not want her exposing her bambino to the effects of second hand Butt smoke.
So let’s expose the neighbors instead. What we could find out!
Oops. Digression.
The way I see it: If someone does not give a rodents ass what they press and suck into their mouthes, they sure as heck are not going to spend much time worrying about my lungs.
Oh well. I need to be more patient. She has a new baby. No father. And no one is going to be kissing her anytime soon.
It sucks.
So please don’t exhale.
Summer food fun and drink - great food at Santiago`s Victoria · Sunday September 7, 2008 by colin newell
Everyone needs or should have an alternative kitchen. That special place for celebrating special things… like Tuesdays… or the third Sunday of the week… or a crescent moon… or that you and yours have survived another day in the paradise that is Victoria B.C. Canada.
Days where you do not want to cook. Days where paradise doesn’t seem so great. Days that you just want to be frivolous and let someone bring you food in exchange for a few bucks.
Santiago’s in scenic and historic James Bay, Victoria is not only that place (for us) but I think it is the place for a few other locals (and tourists) as well. Santiago’s restaurant is a stones throw from the inner harbor and the economic tourist heart of greater Victoria. Another good thing. For us, it is a 7 minute drive from our miserable neighborhood of million dollar homes in Rockland. How depressing is that?
Anyway – we have been going to Santiago’s several times a month for a couple of years now – and I guess it’s time we let a few people in on the secret.
Their menu is somewhat Chilean. Somewhat Thai. Somewhat Spanish.
And while some might find this a bit of a mish-mash… We find it delightful.
Where else are you going to go when you are not sure if you are in the mood for the cities best Nacho’s, or one of the cities best burgers, or one of Victoria’s best bowl of Chipotle Mussels, or an awesome quesadilla?
The menu at Santiago’s is extensive, yes – but they do it all well, really well.
And consistent? I have had some of the dishes over a dozen times and I have never been let down. There is never an evening where the kitchen is off. It has yet to happen for us.
I do have a few favorites: The chipotle prawns is a balance of heat and delicate flavors – its heat is not for the faint of heart. I get it with a side of rice (arguably the best rice in town – blazing hot with the consistency of snow flakes…) and I always have their food with a sleeve of draft beer. Their small order of Nachos is large enough for 3 people and comes with an in-house Salsa, Guacamole and corn chips. Yes, they make their own corn chips! Finally, my wife loves the Chipotle Mussels. It is hot and creamy with a seductive smokiness – and served with a brick of fresh bread for dipping. You will be dipping. Trust me.
We have been there dozens of times now and I love these folks. After a hearty meal, they always offer up the dessert menu – and we have succumbed once – for an ice cream treat that is suitable for 2 or 3 people and big spoons.
At under $40 for two, including drinks, Santiago’s in James Bay-Inner Harbor Victoria represents fabulous value and incredible eats!
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Summer food fun and drink - Say no to an unnecessary election · Monday September 1, 2008 by colin newell
Prime Minister Stephen Harper… leader of the ruling party in Canada… a minority government. Until now a reasonably effective minority government.
But apparently that is not good enough for Steve-o-reno. No no no.
He wants it all.
So he is breaking a law he created.
He wants to call an election. He wants to bring down his own government by throwing in various monkey-wrenches of his own creation and by urging various government committees to futz up their own functionality – triggering a lack of faith in government…
triggering a collapse of this minority conservative government.
Photo above: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper really needs to pick another arm gesture/salute.
Stephen Harper: I am a borderline conservative but you are a conservative fraud. You are running election ads before there is an election. Shame on you.
You struck a law setting fixed elections. You are breaking that law. Shame on you.
I am not a big fan of Liberal leader, Dion… but I am now much less of a fan of you and your self-serving conservative wonks and cronies.
And you know what I think we are going to end up with in the Fall… after this next staged phony election?
Another minority government and millions of wasted taxpayer dollars.
Shame on your Mister Prime Minister, you no good Conservative Wonk!
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