Pumpernickel Recipe 2

The following recipe is for either one 1.5 lb loaf or 2 smaller loaves of pumpernickel:

1 ½ pk yeast
2 cups rye flour
½ cup unprocessed whole bran cereal
1 ¾ cup Bread Flour
2 tsp Carraway seeds
1 ½ tsp salt
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
3 tbsp molasses
1 tbsp Vegetable oil
1 ¼ cup Warm water

Mix ingredients in bread machine and either bake as large white in bread machine or transfer to appropriate greased loaf pan or pans and bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 22-24 minutes for 2 loaves or 25-26 minutes for single large loaf, or until done.

Cotton Eye Joe's Lesson for the Liberal Party

The NYTimes wrote the following editorial which can be found here about the conduct of Senator Joe and the fact that his flirting with the Republicans may cost him the Democratic nomination. One of the criticisms of the Liberal Opposition here in Canada has been that they have given Stephen Harper a free ride since his election earlier this year. The role of the Opposition is to oppose responsibly and not cowtow to the administration or the PMO.

The editorial states on the issue of Iraq:

"On the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Lieberman has left it to Republicans like Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to investigate the administration’s actions. In 2004, Mr. Lieberman praised Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for expressing regret about Abu Ghraib, then added: “I cannot help but say, however, that those who were responsible for killing 3,000 Americans on September 11th, 2001, never apologized.” To suggest even rhetorically that the American military could be held to the same standard of behavior as terrorists is outrageous, and a good example of how avidly the senator has adopted the Bush spin and helped the administration avoid accounting for Abu Ghraib."

The Liberal Party cannot follow Joe Lieberman's lead on Iraq. And who the heck is Ned Lamont?

Who is that with Boss Hogg?

Sorrel Booke was an actor of some repute in the 1980s. What on earth was he doing having his picture take with the likes of Billy Mavreas?

Liberal Leadership Campaign goes South Park

Hat tip to Frog Lady at

http://thefroglady.blogspot.com/2006/07/south-park-liberal-leaders_115263299893894833.html

for her hilarious depictions of Liberal Leadership candidates as South Parkers.

Mascots Galore

My friend Big Al at Mascots Galore http://mascotsgalore.blogspot.com,

has just created a blog dealing with the trials and tribulations of mascots in the sporting world and I decided that he was decidely short of Ukrainian content. I will attempt to get him an actual photograph of the Dynamo Kyiv mascot.

Pumpernickel Recipe number 1

One of the reasons that I have chosen this name for my blog is because of the sheer diversity of the unrivalled king of breads. Be it for canapes, hollowed out for spinach dip, as a natural remedy or for smoked salmon and red onion sandwiches this is truly the bread of champions.

Today, I am highlighting my first pumpernickle recipe. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 Round 1 lb loaf pumpernickel

1 cup 14% mf yogourt
6 ounces fresh spinach cut into 1/2 inch strips
1 can sliced water chestnuts
2 tbsp fresh chopped dill
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
Hollow out Pumpernickel, cutting bread into 1 inch cubes.
Mix all remaining ingredients in a bowl. Fill pumpernickel with mix.
Enjoy bread with dip.

The OECD Reports that we need to make some fundamental changes

The OECD prescription for preparing Canada for the 21st Century seems to support what the previous Liberal government had been saying and doing all along. I noticed that nowhere did they prescribe gimmicky tax cuts or $16 per week for child care. I wonder how long it will take Canadians to realize that they might want to elect a government with a vision and a plan for the future.

Canada’s economic performance has been excellent in almost all respects and Canadians continue to enjoy among the highest living standards in the OECD. The economy is undergoing significant structural change in response to soaring commodity prices, expanding oil and gas production and exchange rate appreciation and has so far shown a remarkable capacity to adjust.
Looking ahead, the key challenges for all levels of government will be to lift productivity growth and to maintain sustainable fiscal and social policies to deal with the pressures arising from population aging. Some broad re-orientations of policy should underpin the strategy.
Improve the overall business environment. Businesses currently face high marginal effective tax rates on investment. At the same time governments offer a wide range of subsidies, special programmes and policies which are intended to help businesses but which inhibit competition in a number of sectors. A better approach would be to create a level playing field across Canada by lowering taxes on corporate investment, reducing subsidies and tax expenditures, and fostering vigorous competition in all markets.
Foster innovation. More economically efficient framework conditions for enterprises would also stimulate innovation and should be the top priority in the innovation strategy. Beyond that, special measures such as tax breaks to encourage business R&D should be re-examined and more emphasis placed on developing those literacy and other general skills that some Canadians appear to be lacking.
Ensure fiscal arrangements are efficient.
Federal-provincial arrangements should reinforce accountability for outcomes. Ensuring the durability of the 2004 Health Agreement without renegotiation will play a key role. An immediate priority is to revamp the equalisation system.
This is particularly relevant as Canada will likely face significant regional and industrial adjustments in response to continued high oil prices.
Tackle disadvantage and strengthen social development. Policies need to promote greater economic independence for low-income families by tackling the negative effects of income and benefit claw-backs, so as to make the shift from welfare to work, or earning additional market income, more attractive. Social policies need to
deal more effectively with the underlying causes of poverty, especially by raising literacy skills and continuing to promote educational attainment. Moving towards free early education for all three and four year-olds may also pay social and economic dividends in the longer run. This could be complemented by more affordable access to childcare, especially for lower-wage working parents.

http://www.oecd.org/document/4/0,2340,en_2649_201185_36952580_1_1_1_1,00.html

It wasn't meant to be

As it Turns out the Ukrainian side disappointed and was altogether over-matched by the Italian squad. Not a bad placing for a first time out. It will be interesteing to see how they stack up next time and how many of their players will have amassed international elite level experience to supplement Sheva.