CBC On the Island - Food bank day 2007 - On the CBC #2 · Friday December 7, 2007 by colin newell
Talking food banks with Ian McFarland
A long time hero of mine, Ian McFarland, was on the radio this morning. Ian worked at CBC’s Radio Canada International in the seventies and eighties – and I was a big fan of his programs.
At 13 years of age and glued to an old tube-type shortwave set, it was a joy to bring in radio stations from around the World – but not as much fun as hearing the voice of Canada coming in over the crackling airwaves.
Enough about me.
Ian and his wife Mary retired to Duncan around ten years ago and that is where we connected – and we have been friends ever since.
Ian’s work with the Duncan food bank has been an inspiration to me. Although retired, Ian works tirelessly to help those who need it the most – at the Duncan food bank; coordinating activities, shopping for groceries, cooking, and stocking the shelves.
Let’s let Ian tell his story to Gregor Craigie of CBC On The Island.Talking food banks with Ian McFarland
It is tough being Santa · Wednesday December 5, 2007 by colin newell
Consider the life of the Red Elf in the year 2007.
Saint Nick’s white gloved hands are always visible and he buys liability insurance, for good measure. He never asks where children live and he has no political stripe.
The man in the red suit endures criminal background checks like everyone else… and if you are Santa, don’t even try to get on an Airplane in North American air space – his instincts for being pilot are simply too strong.
Today’s Santa is poked, prodded and shaped to fit the 21st century. It’s no longer enough to show up at the mall, laugh merrily and balance children on his lap.
In shopping malls across Canada, Santa Claus is watching his back. Todays Santa is politically ignorant… neutral. Santa does not curse and is always Holly Jolly.
One would hope if there’s anyone in this world you can trust, it’s Santa. In 2007, however, Santa is verified by Verisign, MasterCard, EBay and Visa first.
Liability insurance, underwritten from the North Pole, spares Santa from unwarranted litigious grief. And with the question… “Is there Lead in this train-set Santa?” Santa had better answer correctly!
Imagine: A child is walking by and trips – not even near you – and gets hurt – Santa is sued as an attractive nuisance.
Santa shares the same choreographer as Madonna: each word and hand movement is tightly regulated. Tricks of the trade are passed down from Santa to Santa at places like The International University of Santa Claus.
Curriculum includes how to hold children correctly, managing tough conversations and proper care of hair, beard and hygiene.
Santa must never, ever make promises he can’t keep.
But what of the average pre-teen or tween? I picture a 9 year old whose Blackberry incessantly rings during recess… In the guise of Santa I approach with the caution of a seasoned alligator wrestler.
Hello. Excuse me young person… I ask. “Uhm – I am currently skyping, podcasting and social networking here Mister!” as I ask a supervised question – teachers and parents look on… The blackberry chirps again… “Excuse me”, the youngster says… “I have to take this…”
But what of the children?
In my day, lead was an active and prominent ingredient in virtually every toy. And Santa was more like Hulk Hogan than Mister Rogers. Any 300 pound man in a frilly red suit was meant to be scary – it built character and caution into the young ones.
But what of the children?
We remember James Barber · Tuesday December 4, 2007 by colin newell
Simple, Easy, Satisfying. These are some of the words you can use to describe the cooking styles of James Barber. As I just finished cooking my Sunday dinner, I read on CBC that James Barber, the host of CBC’s The Urban Peasant cooking show passed away at 84. As I read some of the thoughts passed on by fellow readers, I see how many of us James touched during the
years of The Urban Peasant airing on CBC.
For anyone who watched James, his style was that of breaking down the barriers that many of us see in proper cooking. He was able to show that cooking can be fun; using simple ingredients and simple methods do in fact work in the kitchen! His goal was to create everyday food that was delicious. And for anyone that watched his show knew of the good stories that he could pass along while cooking. A great quote that really does sum up his styles: “it doesn’t matter, just use whatever you’ve got!”
Although the show has been off the air for years, the skills that James taught many of us will stick around. Reading through some of the comments online at CBC, it clearly shows that he taught many people about this lifelong skill of cooking. James was a great fan of shopping “the market” on Granville Island in Vancouver, a place that creates inspiration when it comes to cooking – and was a very special spot for him in the city.
James will certainly be missed around Vancouver and beyond.
Food critic, Dave Reimer lives, works and cooks in Vancouver, BC. He will be a periodic contributor to the CoffeeCrew blog until his blog is online
Walmart rant #2 · Thursday November 29, 2007 by colin newell
Something wicked this way comes… and it’s arriving on our shores daily. And I blame you!
I have yet to blog much about China’s toxic waste exportation
program…
But.
I blame North Americans generally for their unceasing bleat
for “lower prices”.
Enter Walmart and their ilk – more than willing to help out
The main reason we see all this crap over here (from over there…)
is that we insist on 99 cent everything for our households.
So why are we surprised that Chinese-made, Walmart’s in-house Colgate Toothpaste contains anti-freeze?
Or that Chinese cat-food, Feline-Nibbles, contains, well, Puss…
and Boots!
And all those action-figures, plush-toys, duct-tape and roof repair gauze that contain a toxic buffet of industrial waste?
Hey. Our lowest price is your guarantee!
So. Todays headline is about Asbestos found in, of all things, the CSI Fingerprint kit… made in China and containing 5% asbestos.
And if you Google CSI Fingerprint kit right now, you will be amazed where you can still buy it… heat-resistant and all!
