Summer fun food and drink - Snowbirds - why do we need them · Sunday September 21, 2008 by colin newell
For the record. I have never been a big fan of parades.
For 2 reasons.
Militarism and clowns.
Yes. I meant that to represent two things.
And although there is a proud career of military service in my family… when service actually meant something… and when the causes were real and just.
Unlike these days. When there are more questions than answers about our mission in Afghanistan.
So I have to ask.
What is the point of the Snow Birds aerobatic flying team?
I have been watching them out of the corner of my eye for over 2 decades. And it is always the same. They fly up. They fly down. Two jets approach each other at high speed and turn away at the last second… as if there was ever any danger of collision – because there isn’t.
The Snow Birds aerobatic team, in the 21st century, is nothing more than a wasteful pile of noise and smoke. Think carbon footprint. I am sure the Snow Birds aerobatic meant something to someone years ago. Now it is simply a pile of CO2 and unburnt jet fuel, ear jangling noise – a pet frightening cacophony that has no place in any civilized community.
And yet today in Victoria, the streets were filled with sweaty and eager punters lining the Dallas Road and Beacon Hill park to gawk at the archaic spectacle.
Whatever. Take your children and pets with you.
And when little Johhny or Julie asks you what it all means… I dare you to come up with an answer that makes any sense.
And if you can, explain it to me. Because I would love to know.
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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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Summer fun food and drink - 2010 Vancouver Oly rant · Friday August 29, 2008 by colin newell
My definition of irony:
Gordon Campbell and his band of merry scoundrels (The Liberal Party) are dropping in the polls.
Now wouldn’t it be ironic (Don’t you think…) if Gordo was ousted in the next election? An election date that he cast into law.
And he would miss Jock Fest 2010…
At least as premier of the Province that is…
By then he could be a member of VANOC… which is largely land developers anyway.
Something to think about. In the photo above, Mister Premier deflects bad words, thoughts and odors with his fingertips – let’s see if he can pull the next election out of his hat. What!? No hat? Whoops!
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Summer food fun and drink - Slow food - Prawn and Goat Cheese Linguini · Tuesday August 26, 2008 by colin newell
Nothing says Summer love better than a nice batch of pasta topped with fresh local ingredients… like Goat cheese from the Saltspring Island Cheese Company – And when we visited the Farm store off of Beaverpoint Road on Reynolds, we were delighted by… well… everything.
Photo above – Canon EOS-30D 50MM Macro F11 Camry 300 Watt/s Softbox
Frankly, Andrea and I did not know what to expect. Sheep? Goats? Goat herders? Julie Andrews? Apparently, the sheep and goats were on a coffee break because the only sign of life were the staff hard at work on their products. And the tasting room! Holy fromage heavens! Every product in their dairy roster was available for noshing along with a wide variety of crispy crunchy things. And to be fair – we found ourselves here because we had just visited Salt Spring Vineyards and the neighborly Garry Oak Winery – in all seriousness readers, this has to be the safest wine tour on the planet Earth. Salt Spring Island has two wineries… so even if you swallow, you are not going to get hooped or looped if you are behind the wheel – Some of the wine sampling was paired with canapé made from the local chèvre and locally made crackers. Conspiracy! Anyway… here is what we did with the cheese… at least… some of it!
Prawn and Goat Cheese Linguini
12 Prawns – Cleaned
1/2 cup sliced white Onions
6 asparagus spears
1 Roma tomato – chopped
1/2 Cup marinated artichoke hearts
1/8 cup artichoke heart liquor
3/4 cup Salt Spring Island goat cheese
Pasta of choice
Sauté the prawns in a frying pan with one tablespoon Canola oil 2 minutes each side – drain on paper towel.
Sauté onions and asparagus spears (sliced in 1” pieces) 6 minutes
Add artichoke hearts and liquor – stir to blend
Added chopped tomato
Add 3/4 of the goat cheese – stir to blend over heat until melted
Add 1/2 ladle of pasta water to the vegetable mix and stir to blend.
Just prior to pasta being cooked, put remaining goat cheese in vegetable mixture.
Cover with drained pasta. Basil and pepper to taste.
Stir to mix.
Return prawns to dish for a final blend.
Serves 2 – Wine pairing: Red Rooster Meritage
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