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!
Biometric scanning at UNBC · Thursday November 29, 2007 by colin newell
University of the North, in Prince George, British Columbia has caught the eye of the media today – as they have just started rolling out some new technology in the Athletics department…
Biometric scanning… of fingerprints.
To allow access to sports facilities, UNBC students are now required to give up their valuable, unique and very personal identity to the University… so they can get into the gym.
The American made technology was quickly implemented with little discussion. It has, not surprisingly, raised the ire of the student body.
I was curious about this so I did a little scanning myself.
And I found a 2002 article about a hotel in Saskatchewan that instituted biometric scanning to replace punch clocks for staff…
Ostensibly because staff kept losing their ID cards.
That and finger prints do not rub off.
I have a problem with all of this – just a little too much big-brother for my taste.
Back to Saskatchewan for a moment – the Human Rights commission and the Labor relations board said it was OK and that there is nothing Illegal about demanding peoples finger-prints as a condition of employment.
Right. And there is nothing ethical about it either.
Additional reading: A website in the UK called Leave Them Kids Alone dedicated to fighting the trend towards fingerprinting all children…
CBC picks up the story here
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Dance to the Music · Friday November 23, 2007 by colin newell
It is always fun having someone walk up to you and compliment you on your life’s work.
Like if you are a butcher or something.
“Hey Colin… nice work on that brisket! It was a thing of beauty…”
Or if you are a writer and erstwhile singer.
Somehow we managed to get on the CBC Radio Playlist yesterday – note the “Two Old Goats” – Island Standard Time in fuzzy jpeg pixel-text. Click on picture for gallery view.
Yesterday, no less than a dozen people sailed by uttering the words: “Heard you on the CBC today…”
I think I said “Thank-you, very kind, thank-you very much…” about 25 times yesterday.
This spot-light thing could be very addictive.
Even though this is a single Christmas light sized spotlight at the moment…
probably a good thing that it will probably not get any bigger…
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