Winter all food, fun and drink marathon begins - muffins updated · 8 February 2010 by colin newell
I make my own muffins. Partially because I like to know what I am eating – and I have a hard time paying $2 for a muffin that contains stuff that I am not interested in… or may be allergic to. Lately I have been using Goat’s milk or Almond milk or a blend of the two.
Here is my recipe for Colin`s Kitchen Sink Muffins – they are healthy, rich in nutrients, low in fat, not quite vegan and if you are looking for daily regularity, they are as predictable as sunrise and reliable as gravity. Enjoy.
2 Cups Whole Wheat flour – 2 Cups All-purpose Flour
1 cup Each; rolled oats, corn meal and (oat or wheat) bran
1.5 Cups dark brown sugar (can be reduced to taste)
1 Tbsp Baking Soda and 1 Tbsp Magic Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Kosher or Sea Salt
2 Tsp Organic Saigon Cinnamon
(Optional extra spices); 1.5 Tsp Allspice, 1.5 Tsp fresh ground nutmeg
3/4 Cup unsweetened Apple Sauce
1/4 Cup Canola Oil
3 Eggs
1 Tbsp Vanilla
2 Cups Buttermilk OR 2 Cups Lactose-reduced 2% Milk OR 2 Cups Soy milk OR 2 Cups Almond milk OR 2 Cups Goat’s milk
Add Wet to Dry Mix – Do not over-mix.
Add from 2 to 4 cups of the fruit of your choice – I use finely chopped mango, or apple, or fresh figs, or anything in the way of frozen fruit medleys – the sky is the limit.
Put equal amounts in pre-greased or pre-Pammed pans – I use a pro-Ice Cream scoop for quantity management.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in a 375 degree oven – check for degree of done with a toothpick. Poke the muffins. If the picks come out clean, you are good to go. Let cool in pans for about 10 minutes and then air dry on cooling grid. Makes about 20 freezer ready muffins.
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Two strikes into a red flag moment - troubles with twitter · 7 February 2010 by colin newell
The problem with words is… like baseballs and rocks, they almost always travel further than you expect.
One of the saddest moments of my life was when I was 4 or 5 and while playing in the front yard… I picked up a suitably sized pebble and hurled it…
…bouncing it off my mother’s forehead.
And protest in pain she did. I felt like a bag of crap.
That was in the sixties.
Now in her 80’s she seems fine. Fingers crossed.
She’s okay. But what about me?
I seem to be still throwing rocks. Which means I have a bit of a bullying streak.
Don’t like it much.
While mucking with Twitter the last few days, I made 2 discoveries.
1.) When you want to bug someone about something (particularly on Twitter – or any other media for that matter) – you can do it quite effectively when you know you have their attention… and
2.) No matter who is out there, great and small… everyone can be tuned into your comments… even if you are directing them to William Shatner or someone else.
And no, I did not bully Bill.
What I did do was make some comments, in a very weak form of jest, against one of my favorite radio personalities. And he called me on it. Sent me a message.
And that rock on my mom’s head came back in crystal clear memory.
My dear wife, whom I love more than life itself, advised…
“For the love of Pete, leave celebrity name deleted alone… what’s wrong with you?” “And you are on twitter probation…”
Two strikes.
She has me scrubbing Jeffries tubes and checking plasma conduit.
The next infraction: Her finger is on the warp core jettison switch.
I am a bully. Working on a cure.
Keeping my hands away from rocks.
2010 Olympic Rant #45 · 3 February 2010 by colin newell
Everything from strollers to flying sports disks, umbrellas, laser pointers and flags from non-participating countries are banned from Olympic venues, Vancouver 2010 officials announced this week.
Flags from non-participating countries? Huh? Why?
Spectators should arrive two hours before city events, three hours before mountain events, and four hours before the open and closing ceremonies, Olympic officials said.
I am not arriving at all… so I am plenty good.
RCMP Sgt. Mike Cote, a spokesman for the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, said security measures will escalate if there are threats made against the Games
Check out my threat: Indifference.
He added peaceful and law-abiding protesters have nothing to fear from the security cameras.
VANOC and the IOC have nothing to fear but my loathing.
“Peaceful protest is not against the law,” he said. “If we do have an issue, it’s when the line is crossed, when the laws of this country … are broken. Other than that, we’re not concerned about protests if they’re kept legal.”
They actually mean… the laws of the IOC.
Other stuff banned…
• Food and drinks
of course… so you can be forced to eat McDonalds and drink Coca Cola
• Water balloon launchers
glad they have this on the list – now I can sleep at night…
• Leaflets, pamphlets, non-approved publications and promotional material
you mean, like t-shirts that say Screw the 2010 freak show already!
• Animals
assist dogs?
• Banners containing religious, political, provocative or obscene content and or visible branding and trademarks of sponsor and non-sponsor companies
So I cannot wear my Rancilio ball cap?
• Flags of non-participating countries
yea whatever.
75% of Vancouver residents agree with me.
2010 Olympic Rant #44 5-Ring Circus Countdown Widget added · 1 February 2010 by colin newell
Billion dollar security budget. Check
10,000 cops, soldiers and twitchy fingered rent-a-cops. Check
900 Video cameras watching everything. Check
Road closures and traffic interruptions that would confuse a homing pigeon. Check
Thousands of peaceful protesters prepared to make a point. Check
Thousands more frustrated and angry British Columbians. Check
Count down the charade with me.
If anyone is listening, in particular 2010 protesters: I urge everyone to be as peaceful as possible.
The last thing we want is any nonsense or violence from protesters that could possibly justify the billion-dollar security boondoggle.
Be advised: The RCMP will be seeding crowds with their own Agent_provocateurs – to incite trouble and ultimately attempt to justify the obscene expenditure on the 2010 circus security blanket. Watch for them. RCMP Agent provocateurs stand out in the crowd like thin-ties and padded shoulders at a bikers convention.
Keep it peaceful folks – that is an order.
Experienced a wave of revulsion and disgust today… So I switched off the 2010 Olympic Game countdown widget gadget
Sometimes holding your nose is simply not good enough.
Fun recipe series chapter one - my Pecan Caramel baked corn candy · 31 January 2010 by colin newell
I made this on a random whim last night – and I guess all whim’s are unplanned… some not so much.
24 Cups of popped corn (1 cup of your favorite kernels)
1 Cup Butter (margarine for the faint of heart)
2 Cups Brown Sugar – the darker the better – I use Demerara)
1/2 Cup Corn Syrup
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 Cup Whole Pecans
Preheat Oven to 250 degrees (F) – In your largest pot melt butter, stir in brown sugar, corn syrup and salt.
Bring to boil stirring constantly. Boil for 5 minutes more without stirring.
Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Then pecans.
Pour in all the popcorn. Stir and stir (with a wooden spoon) til all the popcorn is coated with the sugar-nut mixture.
Put all of this mix onto your largest cookie sheet or roasting pan.
Put it in the oven for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Store in airtight plastic or tin container.
Great with tea, or coffee or single malt scotch.
Insulin not included.
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2010 Olympic Rant #43 5-Ring Circus Security Blanket Bingo · 30 January 2010 by colin newell
With over 15,000 highly-trained security personnel, backed by a lethal arsenal of military hardware, Vancouver is about to be wrapped in a billion-dollar security blanket for the Winter Olympics.
The threat? Frustrated and fed up Vancouver residents and British Columbians in general who are fed to the teeth with the 5-ring go for gold farce… soon to begin.
To counter potential threats from terrorism, crime and violent protests at the February 12-28 Games, 15,500 highly paid police, military and private security guards have descended like rabid bats on our fair West Coast city.
A spokesperson for the Integrated Security Unit (ISU) offered… “We are continually monitoring and examining all potential threats and risks. We don’t elaborate on what information we receive.”
“We are planning to a medium threat level, and we can ramp that up or down. The games right now are at a low level.”
No kidding. Because apart from city dwellers and the odd flag waving protester there is no threat. None.
Vancouver, situated between a delta, the US border, rivers, ocean and mountains, security plans call for navy divers, air force helicopters to transport SWAT teams quickly, surveillance cameras, police dogs, snowmobiles and even fighter jets — which the North American Aerospace Defense Command has said will use “lethal force” if necessary.
Cool. Lethal force. Comforting.
The ISU’s official task is to protect Olympic athletes and officials, VIPs, nine competition venues and 18 other locations including the athletes’ village and media centers.
Nothing about protecting the rest of us from imaginary threats.
That is the job of local cops – at least the ones that have not been sucked into ISU duty leaving 98% of the Province largely unprotected.
Fuck.
Olympic Rant #42 Could not have said it better · 27 January 2010 by colin newell
Nailed it.
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1st ever Latte Art throw down for Haiti - in Victoria at DISCO · 25 January 2010 by colin newell
I had the pleasure of watching all of Victoria’s coffee passion packed into one room at Discovery Coffee on Discovery Street…
and I got to judge a round. How about that.
Tonight in Victoria.
Everyone was there and the love was in the air.
There was enough zippy coffee groove to knock small planets out of their orbits. But that is not why we were there.
A good dozen or so of the Island’s best baristi duked it out for the Earthquake ravaged country of Haiti – and we raised almost $1000.
The winner was one of the lovely and charming gals from DISCO on Oak Bay Avenue – runner-ups included Geir Oglend of the Drumroaster in Mill Bay.
More photos here
Google Rant #1 - don't steal my books Mister Google · 24 January 2010 by colin newell
My first thought is…
If I created a series of Google rants…
Would google index them?
Well. Let’s see.
Anyway.
Imagine a World where you could lose everything at the whim of a giant corporation… in a future World where there were no borders… only corporations that took what they wanted, when they wanted.
Your money. Your ideas. Your family and friends.
Sounds crazy.
Would it make it ok is the corporation tossed you a bone for your most cherished possessions? Like 64 dollars? For your life’s work…
Oddly, this is the present World. Google appears to want to steal all the books on the Planet and pay the authors 64 bucks for their trouble.
Sound odd? Sound outrageous? Sound like a scary future World.
Sure as f*ck does.
Read more about it here
Shit like this staggers me. And we all need to be on guard.
Coffee in Victoria B.C. and the lower Island EAT Magazine · 22 January 2010 by colin newell
I will let the article do the talking… or the reading I guess.
Many thanks to Rebecca Baugniet of EAT Magazine for kick starting this.
Salmon Kings Hockey - amazing goal - I was there. · 19 January 2010 by colin newell
Play it a few times. I was at the game. This is some of the wildest hockey I have ever seen. And 22$ for a ticket.
The Canucks? An utter waste of space. I have been to Canucks games. They always lose. They always let me down. And the crowd at GM Place? Don’t get me started on these self important folks that go to Canucks games. They are generally there to be seen and not to watch the game…
Which is a good thing.
Because the Canucks suck.
Let’s go Salmon Kings!
Crisis in Haiti - More thoughts on the subject · 17 January 2010 by colin newell
Letter to the editor of the Times-Colonist…
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said this week he was launching an appeal to raise $550 million for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.
U.S. investment bank J.P. Morgan Chase paid its investment bankers $9.3 billion in 2009.
That’s our world.
Ian Laval in Brentwood Bay
That is our World in 2010.
Let’s change it.
Crisis in Haiti - help however you can now. · 13 January 2010 by colin newell
You can visit here (Your Red Cross), World Vision or whatever your preferred charitable organization is.
Give what you can.
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2010 Olympic Rant #41 What's up with the Vancouver Public Library · 12 January 2010 by colin newell
‘If you are planning a kids’ event… approach McDonald’s and not another well-known fast-food outlet,’ instructs memo.
Huh?
Librarians are being asked to help police kids’ events and other gatherings on their premises to make sure the brands of corporations like Coke and McDonald’s get exclusive play during the 2010 Olympics.
Say what?
Apparently some pinhead at the VPL sent out a memo to all Librarians, assistants and other minions.
“Do not have Pepsi or Dairy Queen sponsor your event,” read guidelines sent to VPL branch heads staff last fall. “Coke and McDonald’s are the Olympic sponsors. If you are planning a kids’ event and approaching sponsors, approach McDonald’s and not another well-known fast-food outlet.”
VPL manager of marketing and communications Jean Kavanagh came up with an extensive list of “Do’s and Don’ts “ coming out sometime last October or November.
What is she smoking?
The guidelines apply to gatherings with 30 or more people. Branches are advised to “ensure all equipment/goods meets VANOC’s sponsorship brand requirements for things like food, clothing, merchandise.”
The same care must be taken for audio-visual equipment. The branch should try to get devices made by official sponsor Panasonic. Should staff only be able to find Sony equipment, the solution is simple.
“I would get some tape and put it over the ‘Sony,’” Kavanagh said. “Just a little piece of tape.”
Say it with me folks.
F*ck me…
Damn. Story source
2010 Olympic Rant #40 Three cheers for Chris Shaw · 10 January 2010 by colin newell
Why let me tell it – read the Canadian Press for yourself.
Story passed on to me from my dear friend Mark at Bubby Roses Bakery.
A highlight:
He soon came to see the Olympics as little more than a scheme to make developers rich, help sponsors market their brands and funnel money back to the International Olympic Committee – itself effectively a multinational corporation that uses its brand to exert enormous influence over host governments, Shaw believes.
In return, he argues, the communities that host the Games are left with higher-than-projected costs and empty promises about environmental sustainability and social development.
“What I saw with the Olympics was a microcosm of that larger globalization issue,” says Shaw.
“The IOC is basically another multinational corporation, it’s just got this great gimmick.”
I hate to say this now (me speaking)… but anyone that buys into this pseudo Olympic spirit is a naive chump who has his (her) head up their ass.
My wife and I spent over a half and hour with the wonderful businessperson behind Victoria’s own Cairo Coffee – a staple in Victoria since 1913.
Stupid me, I said that we were all going to be fine in 2010 – that the coffee world was going to rock and everyone was going to be fine…
Geepers did Bill (owner of Cairo Coffee) give me a much needed wake-up call. My dear wife, standing near-by, agreed with every word Bill laid out for me.
Which makes me a naive chump… with my head up my ass.
Pretty much.
Combine the downturn in the economy, the 2010 sinkhole, Gordon Campbell’s irrepressible desire to sell the Province to the highest foreign bidder and the inclusion of the much maligned HST tax… and, according to Bill of Cairo Coffee, “We have the fixins for the perfect storm in the Province of British Columbia…”
“Next year is going to be grim…”
In the 1/2 hour we chatted late on Saturday afternoon, not a soul popped into a normally very busy store.
Who’s right? Who’s wrong?
We have a year to find out… if only in part.
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