Castlehom Chronicles

Diary Dear: you are what you ate!

IAM pigeons. Back when I was growing up on the East Farm (east of Red Deer, AB)  I’d harvest grain-fed fat pigeons once or twice a year. There were always a few open bins of barley, thousands of bushels, upon which a bird could feast (if only he or she knew) versus finding seeds one seed at a time in field & forest  like wild birds do. All a lone pigeon had to do was fly in an open upper window and there would be enough grain to feed armies of birds.

Farm Pigeons aren’t identical to City Pigeons. But "don’t feed the pigeons" applies and "if you feed them they will come". Pigeons. A farm with open bins and no sling shot sharp shooter like me (when I was little) might have flocks of several hundred birds. My Uncle Stan’s Master Farm in Lacome had a few dozen pigeons in two flocks. I noticed that there were two flocks when we’d go there for a Sunday Meal. My cousin Jimmy wasn’t interested in shooting pigeons.  The resident flocks on their farm were small because all the grain bins were sealed. It was after all a "Master Farm". It had "electricity" in the 20s before the town of Lacome did. My Dad was not a farmer. If he was anything he was a dare devil pilot and the East Farm would have had tons of pigeons but for me.

Before I had a gun I killed and ate one pigeon at a time. Not a lot of pigeons because pigeons are flocking birds and given my 24/7 predation there were no flocks at the farm.  Only the occasional reckless pigeon dared land there.

And within a few weeks this was it’s fate. In hindsight this is how I learnt to cook and why I am not  a "meat & potatoes" guy like the rest of my siblings. If you want to know what you are missing 1./ order squab online (expensive) or 2./ see if you can find a farmer who hates the flock of pigeons eating his profits.

http://thefrugalcook.blogspot.com/2009/02/what-to-do-with-pigeon.html

@shotgunner December 10th, 2009 12:11 PM

I do “pigeon patrol” for a dairy farm. Pigeons are blamed for losses of $250K annually on this one farm. Why? They eat the cow food. That by itself oughta make them tasty!

Annually I and a few select buddies kill over 1000. The workers take all that I and my friends don’t want. They make chili and other Mexican delicacies. My favorite home recipes are stroganoff and shredded pigeon tacos. FYI there are days in late summer when it’s “hot barrel” shooting ’til we run out of shells. Who needs Argentina?!?!

To Jean, whoever, wherever, you are this 2012!

“I am one of the searchers. There are, I believe, millions of us. We are not unhappy, but neither are we really content. We continue to explore life, hoping to uncover its ultimate secret. We continue to explore ourselves, hoping to understand.

We like to walk along the beach, we are drawn by the ocean, taken by its power, its unceasing motion, its mystery and unspeakable beauty. We like forests and mountains, deserts and hidden rivers, and the lonely cities as well. Our sadness is as much a part of our lives as is our laughter. To share our sadness with one we love is perhaps as great a joy as we can know - unless it be to share our laughter.

We searchers are ambitious only for life itself, for everything beautiful it can provide. Most of all we love and want to be loved. We want to live in a relationship that will not impede our wandering, nor prevent our search, nor lock us in prison walls; that will take us for what little we have to give. We do not want to prove ourselves to another or compete for love.

For wanderers, dreamers, and lovers, for lonely men and women who dare to ask of life everything good and beautiful. It is for those who are too gentle to live among wolves.”

copyright 1970 James Kavanaugh

NORTH AMERICAN P-51D MUSTANG

The Mustang was among the best and most well-known fighters used by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Possessing excellent range and maneuverability, the P-51 operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and also as a ground attack fighter-bomber. The Mustang served in nearly every combat zone during WWII, and later fought in the Korean War.

Origins
In 1940 the British approached North American Aviation to license-build Curtiss P-40 fighters for the Royal Air Force. North American offered to design a better fighter, which flew as the NA-73X in October 1940. Production of the aircraft — named Mustang I by the British — began the following year.

Mustangs for the USAAF
In the summer of 1941, the USAAF received two Mustang Is under the designation XP-51. Although flight tests of the new fighter showed promise, the USAAF did not immediately order the Mustang. After the personal intervention of Gen. Hap Arnold, however, the USAAF retained 55 Mustangs from a British order. Most of these became F-6A photo-reconnaissance aircraft, which equipped the first USAAF Mustang units, the 154th and 111th Observation Squadrons in North Africa in the spring of 1943.

In March 1942 the USAAF accepted the first production P-51A fighters. Although excellent at lower levels, the P-51A’s Allison engines severely limited performance at high altitude. The USAAF employed P-51As in the China-Burma-India theater, where most combat took place at low altitude.
In April 1942 the USAAF ordered an attack version equipped with dive brakes and bomb racks, the A-36 Apache. A-36s entered combat in June 1943 and served in North Africa, Italy and India.

A Winning Combination
In the fall of 1942, Mustangs in the United States and Great Britain were experimentally fitted with British Merlin engines. One in the United States flew a remarkable 441 mph at 29,800 feet — about 100 mph faster than the P-51A at that altitude. Mass production of the Merlin-powered P-51B and P-51C soon followed (nearly identical, North American produced the "B" in Inglewood, Calif., and the "C" in Dallas, Texas).

In December 1943 the first P-51B/C Mustangs entered combat in Europe with the 354th Fighter Group "Pioneers." By the time of the first U.S. heavy bomber strike against Berlin in March 1944, the USAAF fielded about 175 P-51B/C Mustangs. Along with P-38 Lightnings, these P-51s provided sorely needed long-range, high-altitude escort for the U.S. bombing campaign against Germany.

"Bubble-top" Mustang
The P-51D incorporated several improvements, and it became the most numerous variant with nearly 8,000 being built. The most obvious change was a new "bubble-top" canopy that greatly improved the pilot’s vision. The P-51D also received the new K-14 gunsight, an increase from four to six .50-cal machine guns, and a simplified ammunition feed system that considerably reduced gun jams.

The P-51D arrived in quantity in Europe in the spring of 1944, becoming the USAAF’s primary long range escort fighter. The versatile Mustang also served as a fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Few Luftwaffe aircraft could match the P-51D — by the end of the war, Mustangs had destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in the air, more than any other USAAF fighter in Europe.

P-51Ds arrived in the Pacific and CBI theaters by the end of 1944. In the spring of 1945, Iwo Jima-based P-51Ds started flying long-range B-29 escort and low-level fighter-bomber missions against ground targets in Japan.

Continuing Development
North American eventually developed a considerably lightened Mustang, which became the P-51H. With a remarkable top speed of 487 mph, it was 50 mph faster than the P-51D. Although it was in production before the war ended, the P-51H did not reach frontline units in time to see combat.
With the last of 555 P-51Hs completed in 1946, the production run of the Mustang ended with over 15,000 of all types built.

Breakfast of a Sailing Survivor

Right now you can buy these “board” books “A  MAN A CAN ____” used for a Cent plus Postage from Amazon. The day before yesterday I bought an  18 oz ruby red filet of Atlantic Salmon from Chile. The label said "COLOUR ADDED" so we might add “farm fed fish” not “wild fish” and isn’t Chile on the Pacific side of S.A.. Whatever! My breakfast yesterday morning (8:00 AM) was a Salmon Casserole: besides the Salmon, three Organic Large Brown Eggs, gluten free oatmeal, a red Spanish Onion, two white onions, Elephant Garlic, a pinch of SEA SALT and a small jar of tartar sauce are blended into the mix.   In the last step the hot steaming mix of Salmon, Eggs, Onions, Oatmeal and Garlic is smothered with a Glass Jar of chilled up market Tomato Pasta Sauce which I’d earlier bought at 75% off. 

The microwave “trick” is to cook the mix in layers.  That way the items in the bottom layer will  be cooked the most, the last item or items in the last layer, the least or not at all.  If you are a cook I need not tell you I’d cook this dish  differently ashore in a real oven but here "at Sea" I do it in layers with the energy efficient microwave - each layer getting a two – three minute flash of microwave  energy before the next layer is added. I’ve done this often enough that I do not  microwave burn a layer - just a minute too long with any layer can ruin the final result.   The first layer is the onions.  I’d have nuked yellow cooking onions more than the 3 minutes I nuked the diced spanish (purple/red) and white onions.  The second layer was sliced elephant garlic (2 minutes).  Did I mention that I cook with an open can of beer.  Today it was a Heineken. Each time I nuke a layer I am careful to add enough beer to the layer to be nuked to avoid microwave burn.

The 3rd step is to lie the salmon filets red flesh down on the steaming mix of onions and garlic.  On my boat’s 1000 watt microwave I nuked the fish 5 minutes.  My microwave has a rotating base. If you have a more powerful feature rich microwave be careful because the only thing you can do wrong is to over cook or microwave burn an ingredient.  If you see that the fish needs more cooking – give it a few more minutes.  Did I say the fish should cover the mix.  For space reasons on the boat I use Pyrex Cookware that works in the Microwave, the Electric Oven, the Gas Grill and on the Table.

The fish cooked - the next step is to remove the skin.  Whereas that task would have been near impossible raw it peals off cooked without any waste or effort.  I’ll have to read if I should eat the skin.  It tastes better gone. 

Of course there is more to it. Salmon esp farm salmon is fat. Omega-3. The hot mix now has oil and juice from the salmon.  This is the time to spice the nuked mix to your fancy but keep in mind that the tartar sauce is spiced.  In my   case I added sea salt, black pepper and mustard sauce not powder.  I was careful to break the salmon into the mix with a fork; I was careful to not mush the mix into a paste.  To that end the three eggs were scrambled then folded into the mix.  I hand blended a half cup of gluten free oatmeal into the eggs.  No reason for the oatmeal being gluten free – it was another one of my 75% off buys.  Last item I added was the jar of Tartar Sauce and a  bit more of the beer as some  beer was needed to wash all the sauce out of the bottle. 

A 6 minute NUKE and it’s done.  I could still taste the garlic distinct from the onions but it was burning hot.  Thanks to the eggs and oatmeal it was solid. It was ready to eat  but too hot to eat. I took the Pasta Jar out of the frig – poured it over the hot mix - and there I was eating hot Salmon Casserole.

In general few cooks  relate fine cooking with microwave – but it can be a wonderous tool with fish and vegetables.

The magic this time around and a surprise to me was the taste effect of the Jar of Tartar Sauce. 

WARNING: I can tell you in advance that you won’t get the results I get unless you use the same or similar up market ingredients.  But no matter.  What I’ve done here isn’t really cooking but you’ll be surprised how good it is if you make it yourself.  That’s why I recommend the board books.

 http://www.amazon.com/Man-Can-Microwave-Tasty-Can/dp/157954892X

In this case the third book has given me one wonderful breakfast then two more.  Did you think I ate it all in one sitting?  If you add the eggs it was at least three days of all the protein you or I need in a week.  Over the three breakfasts it was for me I used two jars of Pasta.  Newman’s isn’t the best Pasta I buy but it’s good enough.  If you have the time go to a farmer’s market and get some fresh ripe tomatoes.    

I am really pleased with this recipe.  Next time I’m going to add Cashews and try spicing differently - test different fish – Grouper or Cod are next.

Doing Good by doing good!

http://talkic.com/

Megatons to Megawatts 1993.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megatons_to_Megawatts_Program

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swords_to_ploughshares

Russian Nuclear Crisis
to Hit the U.S. in 2013
31 Million U.S. Citizens
Will Be Affected

Few people realize it, but at the end of 2013 an event will take place in Russia that could devastate U.S. energy supplies.
On that day, a 20-year nuclear warhead agreement between the United States and Russia will expire.
Unless preventive steps are taken, 10% of America’s electric energy supply will dry up.
Here’s what’s going on…
In 1993, the United States and Russia launched a program known as "Megatons to Megawatts."
The purpose of this program was to convert 500 tons of Soviet-era warheads into uranium for U.S. nuclear power plants.
The program has worked well. Maybe too well.
Believe it or not, this Russian program accounts for 10% of our total electricity — more than solar, wind and hydro combined.
This fuel powers one out of every 10 homes, businesses, schools and hospitals in America. 31 million people rely on electricity generated by defunct Russian missiles.

The Cave and Basin has been Hijacked

Designated enemy aliens under Canada’s War Measures Act (1914), some 8,579 enemy aliens were interned during World War I as prisoners of war. Ostensibly nationals of countries at war with Canada, the vast majority however were settler immigrants, primarily of Ukrainian ethnic origin. The Castle Mountain Internment Camp was the largest internment facility in the Canadian Rockies, housing several hundred prisoners at any one time. Established on July 13, 1915, a total of 660 enemy aliens were interned at the facility during its entire operation.^[1]

“That’s right.  Canada rounded up farmers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, and they built the Cave and Basin during WWI.  A few were deported but most were released back to their farms without apology or recompense.”

“I have swum in the pool above.  A lot. It’s at the Banff Springs Hotel (I worked the summer of 1957 as a Golf Caddy).  I could swim there because the Pool was not attended –the water was far too cold (60 degrees) to attract many guests – I swam laps – typically 50. That summer, 4 months,  at least 50 miles.  I made the swim team via super fitness and the short story is that that in turn got me the job at the Cave and Basin. I’m not a competitive swimmer. I was  a good life guard. I have too much fast twitch for competitive swimming.  Swimming those laps, making the swim team. That’s  5% of the story…and without it I’d never have had two years at the Cave and Basin. 100s wanted to be guards at the Cave and Basin. My Dad had the first 95% covered.  I just had to show up with a Badge that said “Red Cross Instructor”.  The badge was a necessary but not sufficient condition!  My Sport was wrestling.”

http://www.usms.org/articles/articledisplay.php?a=104 Years ago I held a vision of diving off the blocks when I was 100. Now my goal is to dive off the edge of the pool. Growing old is something that will take me some time to catch onto. I think I’m ready. (“that’s another aging swimmer talking about slowing down…this 2012 I am PADI Open Water Certified and besides salt water being easier than fresh, swimming is way easier today than it was in Banff when I was fit and sunk like a bag of rocks…back then threading water was the hardest part of getting my badges…today I float like a cork in distilled water and need 30# of lead to dive”)

“This is the way the Cave and Basin was when I was there as a lifeguard.  I am not sure what they’ve done or rather I can’t believe it so if you know and have some 2011 or 2012 pictures please please upload them!”

Need to Reside Requirement

Residential leases in Banff restrict occupancy to eligible residents as defined in National Park regulations. The eligible residency provisions ensure that community residential lands are available exclusively for community use, rather than recreational or second home purposes.
By federal regulation, a person is generally considered an eligible resident if he or she:
• is employed or operates a business in the park, or
• is a full-time student in the park, or
• has retired after not less than five years of employment in the park, or
• is the spouse or dependent of someone who meets the above criteria.
Please visit the Parks Canada Administration building to pick up an eligible resident form. Parks Canada staff will verify the completed form and contact you once the form is ready to be picked up.
For more information about the concept of eligible resident, please click the following link, or contact Parks Canada directly at:

Banff National Park Administration Building
101 Mountain Avenue, Banff, Alberta
T: 403.762.1500

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banff_National_Park#Prison_and_work_camps

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance. The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 states parties^[1] which are elected by their General Assembly.^[2]

“The past few years  ~ $14 million has been spent on the Cave and Basin where I was a lifeguard for two summers (1958, 1959). The pool is still closed.  The story is too complicated and confusing for me to dare summarize.  Apparently there are no plans to bring back the swimming pool that has been closed since the 1990s.  The acting heritage programs manager Steve Malins said “We thought our money would be better invested in other sites.”   Enjoy the pictures and the links.  There is an incredible story here.  I am not making this up!”

“It is not about the Pool.”

iStarBadger

Bedtime Stories for Wolfies

http://www.stalkingtheflock.com/

“Not everyone will like you. Accept this. Do not sacrifice your integrity to gain approval of anyone! When you try to please everyone, you slowly destroy yourself. Dancing monkeys, those who exhaust themselves for the amusement of the  masses, have plenty of fair-weathered "friends", but real men are not afraid to acquire enemies; they are not afraid to put their convictions before their popularity. Live life through your own eyes, and live by your own standards (not society’s). Doing so will fend off the two-faced sheep, and net you a few real friends who love you for who you are, and not your shallow facade. Just as shallowness is drawn to shallowness, strength is drawn to strength. To attract people of equal integrity, simply be yourself. Those who bend to the will of the masses and follow the trends may, on the surface, seem like they have plenty of friends, but when the chips are down, they soon find out that they really have not a lot in the whole bunch (herd). Above all, be yourself. Live life in a genuine manner. Do not subscribe to flawed ideologies: “Love your enemies” This is flawed! This statement destroys the value of love itself. “Do what thou wilt” This is flawed! That statement invites your enemies to do as they please to you. LOVE YOUR FRIENDS, DESTROY YOUR ENEMIES; this is the unflawed code of the wolf.” (©Thorin)

http://www.amazon.com/Howls-Wolfpack/dp/0615439063/ref=pd_sim_b_3

This KINDLE book is the collected works of writers who will challenge the way you look at the world.

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm517386752/tt1601913

men meet wolves; wolves eat men; eof

Raccoons, Coyotes, Feral Cats, Pale Male, Eagles

http://www.wildlifesolutions.com/raccoons-and-raccoon-removal/?gclid=CNf0_4bioK4CFcIDtgodBhhJ5A

Raccoons are primarily nocturnal, although in some rare circumstances they can be seen during the day. Adult raccoons range in size from approximately two to three feet long and weigh approximately 10 to 20 pounds. They are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal foods, insects, and pretty much anything else they can find.

http://www.stpete.org/wildlife/florida_coyote.asp

The coyote (Canis latrans) is becoming a common occurrence on Florida’s landscape. Traditionally associated with the American West, the coyote has become an established species in the eastern U.S., including Florida (Hill et al. 1987). Range expansion can be attributed to the coyote’s nonspecific needs in habitat and food; large litter size and short generation time; decreased competition across its range from other predators–the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and red wolf, (Canis rufus) , grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) and puma (Felis concolor) ; and the coyote’s ability to adapt to and benefit from human activities (Moore & Parker 1992, USFWS 1978, Gier 1975) .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_Pigeon#Cities_famous_for_pigeons

The report cited Extinct Birds, published in 1905 by zoologist Walter Rothschild, who stated, "man and his satellites, cats, rats, dogs, and pigs are the worst and in fact the only important agents of destruction of the native avifaunas wherever they go."^[11] Rothschild gave several examples of cats causing the extermination of some bird species on islands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Male

Pale Male (hatched 1990) is a well known New York City Red-tailed Hawk who has made his home since the early 1990s near Central Park. Birdwatcher and author Marie Winn gave him his name because of the unusually light coloring of his head. He is one of the first Red-tailed Hawks known to have nested on a building rather than in a tree and is famous for establishing a dynasty of urban-dwelling Red-tailed Hawks. Each spring birders set up telescopes at the Model Boat Pond to observe his nest and chicks at 927 Fifth Avenue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_cat

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All the above relates to the previous Post about Wolves.  A number of animals and birds have co-evolved with human beings.  If you live in a City – I will cite Miami and Toronto – you’ve likely had or know friends and family who have had direct encounters with raccoons, coyotes and pigeons but none with wolves or eagles.  In general wolves and eagles are not a co-evolution but a competitor.  As such – until the recent green revolution - we humans have exterminated wolves and eagles – Ben Franklin thought the turkey not the eagle should be the national bird. On balance, raccoons, coyotes, pigs and cats do better in our presence than our absence.

iStarBadger    

Liam Neeson 6’4” Alpha Male

The Grey is a 2012 American adventure film directed by Joe Carnahan and starring Liam Neeson. It follows a number of men stranded in Alaska after a plane crash, who are forced to survive using little more than their wits as a pack of wolves stalks them. The film is based on the short story "Ghost Walker" by Ian MacKenzie Jeffers, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Carnahan.

===============================================

In your busy busy life I can’t expect you to see every movie out there but THE GReY is so outstanding beginning with "gray is a color and grey is a colour".  A group of oil-rig roughnecks are left stranded on the sub-arctic tundra after their plane experiences a complete mechanical failure and crashes into the remote Alaskan wilderness. The survivors, battling mortal injuries, biting cold and ravenous hunger, are relentlessly hunted and pursued by a vicious pack of rogue wolves.

In 124 minutes it made perfectly clear to me what might become us if we lack our means of defense now so assumed that it requires film and the “suspension of disbelief”  to appreciate that even a pack of oil-rig roughnecks is no match for a pack of wolves.  Said another way it is that we ain’t so special or all-powerful without the systems we have over time amassed – here in this movie the lost rifle – without it – the wolves are more than equal these rough men who in turn are more than most of we soft readers.

iStarBadger

http://screenrant.com/the-grey-reviews-benk-148405/

http://www.amazon.com/Howls-From-The-Wolfpack-ebook/dp/B006JT9A9I/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

alive, Infernal fire, Demon inside, Rising higher. Hell’s pit, Home ground, Ever lost, Never found. We’ve survived, Heaven and hell. We’re denying, The world you sell. Lock us up, Throw away the key, Fight till death, That will be your fee. Rusty chains, Hold us down, Blood spills, Onto the crown, Our hands, Now are free, The wolf’s howl, Echoes every scream.

The Wolfpack (2011-12-08). Howls From The Wolfpack (p. 6). Abyss Press. Kindle Edition.

The spoiler no one has posted is the four word poem that Liam speaks/reads near the film’s end.