Happy Canada Day

[caroljane]

To my fellow tenants in the fields of the Lord, Marc, William ,jts and Jules, anyone else I have forgotten, and to all here, even those who can't see any reason for there being a Canada at all, true hopes for a blessed day.

And to those who wish us harm and destruction, I will just quote from a translation of the French version of our national anthem (which of course has totally different words from the English version - talk about alternative history):

"If you want to challenge Canada to a sword fight, you had better say your prayers!"*

*I didn't say the translator was actually qualified, but he said he was bilingual...

[9thdoctor]

 

[william.scherk]

My Canada Day tradition is Ethnic Food. It's the only day of the year when you can get Filipino food made by a League of Grandmas. Of course Chilliwack is not performing to my usual standards, so I may have to wait for the Food Truck Fest.  At least I got to the Powwow whoopup, where we found "Indian Tacos" and a Salmon BBQ. Can't get much more BC or Canadian than that, without becoming a Grey Owl.

In other words, Canada Day is the day of Eating The Neighbour's Once-Weird Food.

I should mention that my brand of culinary cosmopolitanism could overlook the malice, boredom, and evil philosophy imbued in Folk things.  Surely Ayn Rand didn't mean to include Cantonese cookery. I understand that  Folk Dancing bores even Ukrainians up here, but still.

From a no doubt purse-lipped commentator at ObjectivismOnline, who excerpted from where I cannot remember offhand (Global Balkanization?):

Quote

Ayn Rand said:

Atavistic remnants and echoes of those ages have always existed in the backwaters of civilized countries, particularly in Europe, among the old, the tired, the timid, and those who gave up before they started.  Such people are the carriers of "ethnicity."  The "ways of living" they transmit from generation to generation consist in: folk songs, folk dances, special ways of cooking food, traditional costumes, and folk festivals. Although the professional "ethnics" would (and did) fight wars over the differences between their songs and those of their neighbors, there are no significant differences between them; all folk art is essentially similar and excruciatingly boring: if you've seen one set of people clapping their hands while jumping up and down, you've seen them all.

 

Now observe the nature of those traditional ethnic "achievements": all of them belong to the perceptual level of man's consciousness.  All of them are ways of dealing with or manipulating the concrete, the immediately given, the directly perceivable.  All of them are manifestations of the preconceptual stage of development.

 

I quote from one of my articles: "The concrete-bound, anti-perceptual mentality can cope only with men who are bound by the same concretes - by the same kind of finite world.  To this mentality, it means a world in which men do not have to deal with abstract principles: principles are replaced by memorized rules of behavior, which are accepted uncritically as the given.  What is 'finite' in such a world is not its extension, but the degree of mental effort required of its inhabitants.  When they say 'finite,' they mean 'perceptual.'" (This is from "The Missing Link" in [Philosophy: Who Needs It].  That article deals with the psycho-epistemological roots of modern tribalism.)

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2018 by william.scherk
The Objectivist on-ramp to "special ways of cooking"

[caroljane]

1 hour ago, william.scherk said:

My Canada Day tradition is Ethnic Food. It's the only day of the year when you can get Filipino food made by a League of Grandmas. Of course Chilliwack is not performing to my usual standards, so I may have to wait for the Food Truck Fest.  At least I got to the Powwow whoopup, where we found "Indian Tacos" and a Salmon BBQ. Can't get much more BC or Canadian than that, without becoming a Grey Owl.

In other words, Canada Day is the day of Eating The Neighbour's Once-Weird Food.

I should mention that my brand of culinary cosmopolitanism could overlook the malice, boredom, and evil philosophy imbued in Folk things.  Surely Ayn Rand didn't mean to include Cantonese cookery. I understand that  Folk Dancing bores even Ukrainians up here, but still.

From a no doubt purse-lipped commentator at ObjectivismOnline, who excerpted from where I cannot remember offhand (Global Balkanization?):

 

 

 

Sounds to me she understood comfort all right!

I think she fancied herself as a cook for a few Russian specialties n'est-ce pas?

[caroljane]

1 hour ago, 9thdoctor said:

 

Nice one! 

I'm glad you responded here-- you can't be reached on your messenger by the way - did you know? I just a few days ago tried it because knowing you are a fan of Audibles, I heard some of the Shakespeare Recording Society  of the Tempestwith 2 Redgraves (Michael and Vanessa) , Anna Massey, Hugh Griffith (who I researched for Wm's Diary - yes I do occasionally do research!) and I forget what other actors, but wondered if you had come across it, or maybe the Bard is too heavy for your commute - anyway I didn't think it would be of much general interest so I tried your PM.

FYI and Whoah! Canna-da!

[caroljane]

In my youth after moving to Toronto, we went to Nathan Phillips Square for our exotic treats, then later with kids to the East York community park and pool, back when East York was independent, "Canada['s only borough" as advertised...time marching on, and kids marching in various Canada parades as Scouts and soccer players etc., we always ended up at the park, our neighbourhood place whatever they called our corner of Toronto, where the food and the bingo games stayed comfortingly the same.

If only we could have too!

[william.scherk]

Lots of black people in Edmonton, going back a ways. Newer Canadians do what the League of Filipino Grandmas do, set up a kitchen the park for specialties of the home. I just can't get enough of this stuff.  Bald bearded hipster in the pics is a provincial politico with a seat in the legislature, a violently rights-eating raging ideologue of the Daunce Lynam type. Despite the smiles.

 

I've picked up over time in making sure our fridge and pantry has a mix of Asian-Mexican-Ukrainian goods. Dumplings, fish sauce, fresh tomato-cilantro-onion-lemon-juice salsa, home-made lard-ass tortillas, home-simmered pinto beans in butter and garlic and yeah, Cantonese hot-relish of crushed chillies and garlic, cabbage rolls, thick soy sauce, tang, Miso, cardamon, house curry, Singapore style vermicelli, spring rolls, salad rolls, sushi rolls, Vietnamese home-made daikon-carrot relish. All for scalloped potatoes and Salisbury Steak. 

This goes part of the way to explain the popularity to me of the Raging Grandma types (and their future-communist helpers) on Canada Day, Day of Ethnic Food (But Thankfully Less Ethnic Dancing).  

It's heatwave in the east, so even the danged Governor-General, our President, went sleeveless, which sort of takes away her appeal as Astronaut Mum. Click for boring story of heatwave, ethnic food, and a communistic celebration of destroying American freedom.

It's the kind of thing you'd say to a suite of hopefully spawning couples sent one-way to Mars. "Lean on each other when you have to. Look out for each other. Stand up for each other's rights and freedoms. Celebrate 'getting through challenges together' ..." 

Even on these secular national chow-downs and whoop-ups, the Dead Hand of Altruism infects public discourse. Trudeau often adds such communist touches to his speeches. Stand strong for each other. What does that even mean?

And I wish Adam Selene had a slightly peevish comeback to this ...

[caroljane]

6 minutes ago, william.scherk said:

Lots of black people in Edmonton, going back a ways. Newer Canadians do what the League of Filipino Grandmas do, set up a kitchen the park for specialties of the home. I just can't get enough of this stuff.  Bald bearded hipster in the pics is a provincial politico with a seat in the legislature, a violently rights-eating raging ideologue of the Daunce Lynam type. Despite the smiles.

 

I've picked up over time in making sure our fridge and pantry has a mix of Asian-Mexican-Ukrainian goods. Dumplings, fish sauce, fresh tomato-cilantro-onion-lemon-juice salsa, home-made lard-ass tortillas, home-simmered pinto beans in butter and garlic and yeah, Cantonese hot-relish of crushed chillies and garlic, cabbage rolls, thick soy sauce, tang, Miso, cardamon, house curry, Singapore style vermicelli, spring rolls, salad rolls, sushi rolls, Vietnamese home-made daikon-carrot relish. All for scalloped potatoes and Salisbury Steak. 

This goes part of the way to explain the popularity to me of the Raging Grandma types (and their future-communist helpers) on Canada Day, Day of Ethnic Food (But Thankfully Less Ethnic Dancing).  

It's heatwave in the east, so even the danged Governor-General, our President, went sleeveless, which sort of takes away her appeal as Astronaut Mum. Click for boring story of heatwave, ethnic food, and a communistic celebration of destroying American freedom.

It's the kind of thing you'd say to a suite of hopefully spawning couples sent one-way to Mars. "Lean on each other when you have to. Look out for each other. Stand up for each other's rights and freedoms. Celebrate 'getting through challenges together' ..." 

Even on these secular national chow-downs and whoop-ups, the Dead Hand of Altruism infects public discourse. Trudeau often adds such communist touches to his speeches. Stand strong for each other. What does that even mean?

And I wish Adam Selene had a slightly peevish comeback to this ...

So do I too! he maybe was one of our most complex members, but how smart politically! (he basically predicted how Trump could win, via the electoral college, long before Trump even ran!} There was something cynical/honest about him I loved, and we had such a good comic rapport., hey Adam if you are still around, come around here.

[caroljane]

38 minutes ago, william.scherk said:

Lots of black people in Edmonton, going back a ways. Newer Canadians do what the League of Filipino Grandmas do, set up a kitchen the park for specialties of the home. I just can't get enough of this stuff.  Bald bearded hipster in the pics is a provincial politico with a seat in the legislature, a violently rights-eating raging ideologue of the Daunce Lynam type. Despite the smiles.

 

I've picked up over time in making sure our fridge and pantry has a mix of Asian-Mexican-Ukrainian goods. Dumplings, fish sauce, fresh tomato-cilantro-onion-lemon-juice salsa, home-made lard-ass tortillas, home-simmered pinto beans in butter and garlic and yeah, Cantonese hot-relish of crushed chillies and garlic, cabbage rolls, thick soy sauce, tang, Miso, cardamon, house curry, Singapore style vermicelli, spring rolls, salad rolls, sushi rolls, Vietnamese home-made daikon-carrot relish. All for scalloped potatoes and Salisbury Steak. 

This goes part of the way to explain the popularity to me of the Raging Grandma types (and their future-communist helpers) on Canada Day, Day of Ethnic Food (But Thankfully Less Ethnic Dancing).  

It's heatwave in the east, so even the danged Governor-General, our President, went sleeveless, which sort of takes away her appeal as Astronaut Mum. Click for boring story of heatwave, ethnic food, and a communistic celebration of destroying American freedom.

It's the kind of thing you'd say to a suite of hopefully spawning couples sent one-way to Mars. "Lean on each other when you have to. Look out for each other. Stand up for each other's rights and freedoms. Celebrate 'getting through challenges together' ..." 

Even on these secular national chow-downs and whoop-ups, the Dead Hand of Altruism infects public discourse. Trudeau often adds such communist touches to his speeches. Stand strong for each other. What does that even mean?

And I wish Adam Selene had a slightly peevish comeback to this ...

Oh, it is just too hot to eat here, but my cerebral kitchen is twitching.  My new daughter is of Ukrainian- Acadien heritage, and god can all of those people cook. Their seasonal parties  are divine and the cabbage is  unsullied by being put into pierogies with potatoes (ugh)  but beautifully rendered in family recipes  some of which taste nearly Chinese, which suits me fine.

No Putin in our poutine,,

then no problem!

#Stop the Avian Order#justice for Thomas#sauce for the Gander

 

 

[caroljane]

What is it about capitals? Augusta, Maine, was a hot cheerless  place in the summer and a cold same in the winter, to my childhood recollection.

Good for the G-G! I had the misfortune to be in the summer in Ottawa (whose native named means Cursed by all Weathers) when I was 19 and the heat nearly killed me then. But in fairness the winter nearly froze me to death ,and I came from a more northerly part of Canada! and was pretty tough, so I thought.

Apparently the climate is hardly bearable in Washington either - but they all seem to thrive on it. In their ways.

[william.scherk]

1 hour ago, caroljane said:

My new daughter is of Ukrainian- Acadien heritage, and god can all of those people cook.

In Montreal when young I worked with two lovely ladies, one a born-French franco-albertaine, the other pure sweet down-home Maritime Acadienne.  Each had a different accent and way of talking, but had gradually settled into the local vocabulary. Acadian French is antique and bizarre and it is strangely Canadian that it survives. She would speak their vernacular to me and I would think, "What century are you in, sixteenth or seventeenth?"

Even here in polder and reserve country, there is local totally-French instruction starting at five years old, and a hidden conspiracy of French immersion grade schools and high schools.

Anyway, in Montreal my roommate Shirley Bilingual Jones from a Welsh-English spot of Gaspésie, and her sister, put on the full Eve of Christmas, complete with soaring choirs at Mass and an enormous spread of French-Canadian cookery waiting at home afterwards. Yum plus ultra. Sugar pie. Meat pie. Rillettes. Little weird pickles. What can I say.

Stepma's Ma was Ukrainian married to Hungarian and had learned or been instructed that Woman did not sit at table until seconds and dessert and second coffee had been served. As she was her own disher, server, busman and cook she had no time anyway with a table of nine.  "Eat" was the imperative. Even if she did perch one half-haunch on a chair edge, she was always ready to launch. Five acres with hothouse peppers, vast beds of onions, cabbage, potatoes and other things to be canned and pickled. After some fifteen years on their property they finally gave up the raising of potatoes to strangers and gradually assimilated to full grocery stores in all directions.  Mrs Warsaba did rarely eat in restaurants, it making her feel uncomfortable to not be doing the conducting and full orchestra plus soprano herself.

I had learned enough about the dirty thirties and how it particularly had left memories in Ukrainians, that the Hungarians can do nine things with peppers in peppery pepper sauce, that cabbage is a top predator food when Ukrainian. Double-smoked 'farmer' sausage and hot  bread and a step-Grandma who could go toe to toe with a whole tent of Filipino Grandmas. As if she could even feed the dead departed of famine.

Xmas is the only time I long for Norwegian treats of the season. If you don't like pickled veal-pork preserves, you just don't like them.

Edited July 2, 2018 by william.scherk
Spellink errors

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Where are my manners?

Happy Canada Day.  

Michael

[9thdoctor]

15 hours ago, caroljane said:

Nice one! 

I'm glad you responded here-- you can't be reached on your messenger by the way - did you know?

 

I don't show a message from you.  I'll try PMing you, let's see if that works.

[caroljane]

13 hours ago, william.scherk said:

In Montreal when young I worked with two lovely ladies, one a born-French franco-albertaine, the other pure sweet down-home Maritime Acadienne.  Each had a different accent and way of talking, but had gradually settled into the local vocabulary. Acadian French is antique and bizarre and it is strangely Canadian that it survives. She would speak their vernacular to me and I would think, "What century are you in, sixteenth or seventeenth?"

Even here in polder and reserve country, there is local totally-French instruction starting at five years old, and a hidden conspiracy of French immersion grade schools and high schools.

Anyway, in Montreal my roommate Shirley Bilingual Jones from a Welsh-English spot of Gaspésie, and her sister, put on the full Eve of Christmas, complete with soaring choirs at Mass and an enormous spread of French-Canadian cookery waiting at home afterwards. Yum plus ultra. Sugar pie. Meat pie. Rillettes. Little weird pickles. What can I say.

Stepma's Ma was Ukrainian married to Hungarian and had learned or been instructed that Woman did not sit at table until seconds and dessert and second coffee had been served. As she was her own disher, server, busman and cook she had no time anyway with a table of nine.  "Eat" was the imperative. Even if she did perch one half-haunch on a chair edge, she was always ready to launch. Five acres with hothouse peppers, vast beds of onions, cabbage, potatoes and other things to be canned and pickled. After some fifteen years on their property they finally gave up the raising of potatoes to strangers and gradually assimilated to full grocery stores in all directions.  Mrs Warsaba did rarely eat in restaurants, it making her feel uncomfortable to not be doing the conducting and full orchestra plus soprano herself.

I had learned enough about the dirty thirties and how it particularly had left memories in Ukrainians, that the Hungarians can do nine things with peppers in peppery pepper sauce, that cabbage is a top predator food when Ukrainian. Double-smoked 'farmer' sausage and hot  bread and a step-Grandma who could go toe to toe with a whole tent of Filipino Grandmas. As if she could even feed the dead departed of famine.

Xmas is the only time I long for Norwegian treats of the season. If you don't like pickled veal-pork preserves, you just don't like them.

The Ukrainian famine, the more horrible because deliberately imposed, -- just no words. Holl's father's family, the Romaniuks had emigrated earlier , escaping what the Soviets did to destroy everything they had been.

Perhaps that was the genesis of that old chestnut joke about the Hungarian recipe for chicken: "First, steal a chicken...."  no doubt it was everyone's recipe, the reason they stayed alive to enjoy gallows humour. 

[Jonathan]

40 minutes ago, caroljane said:

The Ukrainian famine, the more horrible because deliberately imposed, -- just no words. Holl's father's family, the Romaniuks had emigrated earlier , escaping what the Soviets did to destroy everything they had been.

Perhaps that was the genesis of that old chestnut joke about the Hungarian recipe for chicken: "First, steal a chicken...."  no doubt it was everyone's recipe, the reason they stayed alive to enjoy gallows humour. 

Huh? You don't support the socialist heroes' seizure of grain? It rightfully belonged to the people's state, no? Most of those who died were counterrevolutionaries accused of hiding grain. Their hiding it wasn't fair or "humane" by your ideology, so they deserved to be punished, no?

If not, who do you think should have starved instead? The city folk?

[Jon Letendre]

And all the while, Jonathan, her ideological brethren, at New York Times, etc., knew and understood well what Stalin was doing in the USSR. They chose to lie and cover for Stalin, because...wait for it - because protecting the “Noble Experiment” of the socialist USSR was more important, more important than truth and more important than the problematic millions of human resisters of the “Noble Experiment.”

Imagine keeping the starvation murder of several million people under your hat because you estimate that your humane and fair vision for the future requires you to. It takes a special breed to get so much perfectly upside-down like they do.

To this day lefties try to blame Hitler, the wild chaos caused by the need to defend against Hitler, for most of Stalin’s Noble Socialist Murder Spree. But in actual fact, Stalin had scored murder counts sufficient for his current position in history’s most murderous before any 2nd World War hostilities broke out.

[Jonathan]

21 minutes ago, Jon Letendre said:

And all the while, Jonathan, her ideological brethren, at New York Times, etc., knew and understood well what Stalin was doing in the USSR. They chose to lie and cover for Stalin, because...wait for it - because protecting the “Noble Experiment” of the socialist USSR was more important, more important than truth and more important than the problematic millions of human resisters of the “Noble Experiment.”

Imagine keeping the starvation murder of several million people under your hat because you estimate that your humane and fair vision for the future requires you to. It takes a special breed to get so much perfectly upside-down like they do.

To this day lefties try to blame Hitler, the wild chaos caused by the need to defend against Hitler, for most of Stalin’s Noble Socialist Murder Spree. But in actual fact, Stalin had scored murder counts sufficient for his current position in history’s most murderous before any 2nd World War hostilities broke out.

What was the Duranty line? "You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs?"

J

[Jon Letendre]

They always retreat to humor when their exposure is at the highest - it’s another glimpse into their sickness.

[Peter]

Does reading about food make you hungry too? Here are some strange but true aroma triggers. As I drove past a house in Berlin (MD) there were about ten cars around the house and I smelled hamburgers cooking. Around ten minutes later I drove past the house going home, and I smelled chicken baking in their smoker. Luckily I am not a vegan or an ova-lacto. I decided to pick up Chinese that night for dinner. I got wonton soup, pork fried rice, sweet and sour pork, and egg roll. It has lasted us two days. Cost? Twenty bucks.