Old Ironmaker

Of course I approve. Anything we cook with "abundanze" which basically translates to passion is good. I always thought the Pommadore (direct translation is golden apple) sauce had to be cooked and tended to for hours, not. I asked my Nona one day if it was necessary to cook a sauce for 6 hours. Yes sometimes, not always. She said if she wasn't cooking all day she would have to do housework!! We can make a killer sauce in 30 minutes. A Ragu, yes time on the stove blupping away makes it. I just made what Ticha and my guests said was the best sauce I have made in years. I agree. Man it is good. I used chicken legs and thighs with pork and beef. Don't ask me for a recipe because there isn't one. I make a sauce called Putanesca that takes 30inutes, maybe. Yes the Putana you might be thinking of. The story goes that the Hookers in Rome wanted something spicy, quick and tasty when they got home from a tough night street walking, just like them, cheap and quick. A can of whole tomatoes slightly chopped, hot chile flakes, garlic, anchovy, capers, EVO, a bit of salt, pepper, cook in a pan for 30 minutes or less,and donezo. A tip, to brown garlic properly put in a cold pan with cold EV oil. Opposite of what is taught but it works best. Add long Pasta and cheese, short pasta just isn't right. Ferged aboud id. I'm sure I've mentioned it before here. It's stupid simple. We would cook up a pound of pasta when we got back from the Disco dancing and feed 6 or more of us. Harveys was an option too then. Mrs. Perri would hear us downstairs and sometimes she would get up and insist she feed us. Then it was a 2AM feast. Man they were good times. We make our own new good times now. I am now going to give you a family secret for tomato sauce. A can of Campbells cream of asparagus soup and milk an hour before served. It will lightened it, take any acid taste out and thicken it. Smash asparagus however you want. I may be killed for ratting out like this.

If anyone has never cut out the cheeks do it. Cut to the bone about 3/4 of the way around and simply peel them of the skin with the blade of the knife. Has anyone tried Walleye wings? That is the meat behind the head to just past the pec fins, more meat than a cheek too. Use a electric knife or as we have giant Walleye here on Erie I actually use a Sawsall to cut through the spine and you get a salmon type steak. There's lots of meat there. The pec fins are left on so you hold onto them like chicken wings to gnaw on the cheek type meat.

Maybe to get this thread back on track I went back and re read the CTV report and watched the video and did a bit of Googling this story. When I think of a homeless shelter of which I have never been in one. I picture and old dank warehouse that has 50 single beds in the middle of a cold draughty room with that many alcoholics and addicts in those beds. The shelter Ms. Flan was sent to is not that. It is almost new, clean, has marble pillars in the foyer. Would I want to live there, of course not, should Fran Flam have to recover there after surgery, of course not. But it isn't the place I pictured in my mind. I have no idea why there are not rehab places such as the one Mom stayed in for 3 months after breaking her arm, St. Peters in Hamilton. There is a charge to the patient if unless their income will not cover the $1800.00 a month fee. Ms. Flan would not pay in her case. This is on the B.C. health system and the landlord. Her apartment was being sprayed for bed bugs, how long does that take? A day, a week, months? If I am a renter and work has to be done on my rental I can't see how the landlord can say "you are out on the street". I was a landlord but not for long, not for me unless I had a partner to share the workload.For any renters here maybe you can tell us how this works. I have rented before and the place had to be sprayed for earwigs, I didn't have to move out. It is sad that some of the most vulnerable in our society are our most precious, children and the elderly. But I have never heard of one person ever saying "please raise my taxes so we can better take care of those most in need". This isn't on Justin Big Cliff. He may increase funding to the provinces in the future, but where will this increase in funding come from? Maybe grounding 6 fighter Jets? Sending a few hundred troupes over seas shouldn't increase the military budget, soldiers are paid whether here or there anyway.

I don't think your Grumpy Old Men comment was interpreted the way you meant it to be. I see nothing wrong with it. More of "much ado about nothing" if I read it right. The original post is about a tragic mistreatment of an elderly person. It's terrible but I'm sure we don't know the whole story do we? A short article in a newspaper can't tell it all.

Back in grade school about the time the dinosaurs roamed the earth if you didn't sing God Save The Queen every morning before class started you got the strap. I know first hand. When I came home crying I thought my Mother was going to give the Principle the strap, she actually threatened him to do it, I remember that like yesterday. We were very close to moving to the states then. I told Principle Davis our President was Eisenhower and we fought hard to get rid of Kings and Queens. My mother is American and she always was saying "our" President Eisenhower then latter Kennedy. Talk about confusing a 5 year old, I spent the first 4 years of my childhood growing up in NY. It's funny now, not then.

Big Cliff, if after paying into CPP and you aren't getting maximum benefits I would check the numbers that CPP has for your taxable earnings. They screwed mine up as for the first 4 years of my employment with the company I retired from they submitted my contributions under the wrong S.I.N. I lost 2 years because employment records only went back 40 years. It took me 7 months to get at least the 3 years I paid straitened out. Maximum contributions is based on 60,000 of taxable earnings, 30 years at 2000 a year basically. I would check those numbers closely Cliff. Our Governments has been known to make a mistake or 2. And I'll say it again, please give our new PM (who I didn't vote for by the way) a chance before we start burning his image in effigy.

I had a package of original Swammers without the paddle tail and they worked very well for me. I'm going to stock up for sure. Great news. Anyone recommend a specific X for Smallies? I'm thinking leech's for sure.

What a great day on the ice, way to go guys, fantastic report, thank you for some good news finally out of Nip. It's about time that a good report of fish came from Nippising. The changes in the commercial fishery is one reason why I hope. It is only about one single day of fishing though. Let's all hope it's not a fluke and we can look forward to the day that they raise the keep numbers for the sake of the businesses up there. The outfitters up there need this badly. Man Nip is where I caught my first non panfish. The in laws had a wonderful place at Bear Creek. I was so green I used my brothers spinning outfit and it was left hand reel so I turned it upside down to reel with my right. That was until a kind fisherman showed me how to switch over the handle. I hope my in laws had a good chuckle watching me fish upside down.

I would think keeping the river open is a political compromise for those that pay property taxes in the area and are no longer allowed to fish the lake. How long are these new regs. in effect?

I know closing the lake and keeping the river open for fishing sounds counter productive, it is I believe. I am surprised as a taxpayer up there Sinker you wouldn't want at least some area open to you to fish. But yes you are right it may be a small price to pay now to ensure a sustainable fishery in the future. Being so close to the GTA it gets heavy fishing pressure. Even 30 years back when we would drive there and back in a day from Hamilton it was busy on weekends. That decision would be a political compromise I believe. How long are these new regs. in effect for?

We are hopefully getting up there too this spring and can't wait. Overwhelming is an understatement with 69,000 miles of shoreline. Manitoubass2 is our OFC Secretary of the Interior up in LOTW's. Good luck and have a great trip.

Exactly. Same as where we are. I don't know where all this "changing our way of life" is happening. I can tell you stories of my travels in the US that will make you cringe. All by Christians like my Uncle in southern Illinois in the "Heartland". A picture in his Dr's office of the twin towers burning and below it said." Muslim is Evil. Muslim is Death" That wasn't all, I was flabbergasted. Another was the Virgin Mary with children praying to her, the caption read " Idolaters". They certainly don't have a problem with saying how they feel about anyone not like them. I'm happy to be here, good and bad. Some here have no idea how great we have it.

Art, I believe this has been actually a civil debate at times considering the subject. Racism here has been just below the radar. If anyone has ever read some of the comments on what are supposed to be reputable sites like CBC online this is a church social. If you put an end this conversation I don't blame you. It's a tennis match in the 60th match point. It's done in my opinion.

Cliff if you think Trudeau just came up with earmarking millions of Canadians tax dollars to those in foreign countries you are wrong. I don't know if the PC's are your guy but all of our Federal Governments, no matter who have been doing it for decades. I respect you Cliff, but I have no idea where you think these foreigners are trying to change Canada. Where as the United States is a melting pot of cultures Canada has always been a mosaic. Have you ever been to Quebec? These people are not foreigners, they are fellow Canucks, talk about cultural differences. This is an argument that can not be won. Close this border to immigration and try and be self sufficient and this will be a place I don't want to live in. It won't be long before I'm sick of back Bacon, Maple syrup and Celine Dion, oops she's American now.

While we are at it, does anyone have a good Shimano baitcaster for sale?

Grounding a half dozen fighter planes and ending the dropping of 500 lb. bombs on them I agree with. The co lateral damage caused by dropping ordinance on them is counter productive. Winning the hearts and minds isn't accomplish with that, it just creates more terrorists. You killed my Mother, Father and baby brothers and sisters and you don't think I'm coming after you? Come on man, I'm first in line. We aren't pulling out. We are actually upping the ante by sending in more than 150 Special Forces, I can't remember the exact number of boots that will on the ground. They will be training the Kurds and Iraqis which is military speak for picking out some Isis goofs and blowing the head off them with a 50 cal. Then turn to the trainee and say, that's how it's done, now you try. A 500 pound bomb isn't as accurate. I agree fight them there or at places like Nathan Philips Square or the Rogers's Centre. I pick there. Rick if Isis killed your family you would be on the next plane to Syria, that I know for certain. And you aren't a draft dodger, there isn't mandatory conscription in the USA since the 70's. So it's safe to visit your old home. If they throw you in the Brig I'll break you out.

I don't know where my post went but it gone regardless. What does the Provincial Heath system in BC have to do with Junior? He hasn't been PM long enough to find all the bathrooms in Sussex Place. Let's maybe give him a bit of a chance, he's all we have for 5 years unless he's given a non confidence boot. Many of our homeless here have nothing to do with the lack of helping them. For many reasons some refuse help, many because of mental illness. Some Canadians out on the street are there because of addiction. Some because they have had a bad break and are desperately trying to back on track. Some Canadians because they are lazy and won't work. They would rather rob from you and I to get their next fix or beg on the corner to buy their next bottle of Aqua Velva or spray paint to get high. Helping others in dire need, like these refugees fleeing a war of genocide, is what Canada is and has always been all about, and I'm proud of it personally. If Canada didn't let my Grand Father immigrate here before WW1 I wouldn't be here. He went on to fight for the King in WW1 and came back with a plate in his head. In 1939 he was arrested for being an enemy of the Crown and spent WW2 in the Prisoner of War camp at Camp Pettawawa. Canada isn't perfect, wasn't then and isn't now but no matter what it is the only country to be a citizen of. For reasons like saving refugees. I'm behind our PM on this one, 110%. Don't forget 49% didn't vote for him so 1/2 the voters will never agree with him.

It only went from headquarters to Tim Hortons and back once a shift.

My 2011 Chev Silverado has a tag on the tail gate that says E85. That means I can use 85% Ethanol I was told before I drove it off the lot brand new. They said these engines use as high as 85% Ethanol many places in the world. Then another dealer tells me it means 85% gasoline and 15% Ethanol! I solved that dilemma by only using what is at the pumps, which if I'm not mistaken those pumpsay that the fuel may contain up to 10% Ethanol. I have to read that tag closely the next time at the pumps. I pay the extra at the pump for premium for all my gas for the boat and always use a phase separation inhibitor to be safe. Am I safe in saying all gasoline at the pumps now contain some % of ethanol? If not which fuel doesn't have any? Thanks for the heads up Dave.

Ok Wormdrowner, have done some homework for you while you are enjoying yourself out on the ice on this beautiful winters day. Bluebird skies here on Erie lakeshore and zero wind, she's a beauty for sure. I'm stuck in here making tomatoe sauce and calling around for prices. Rather than PM you I figure I'll share what I found. It took me at least 10 minutes on the phone. I talked to Tim at Bills Bait in Hamilton, 905-388-5875. He has Artic Armour Pro suits there in stock, 1 is a XL in Black and Red, the other a Large in Camel color. The tops and bottoms come to $ 429.00 CDN. Not Transport Can. approved. He can order any size and colour. I talked to the young lady (Jill?) at Fishing Worlds on Barton and Centennial(hwy 20) in Hamilton as well, 905-573-2288 . They DO NOT carry Artic Armour suits. They do carry and highly recommend the STRIKER CLIMATE SUIT. Not TC approved either. a 2 piece suit with a zip out removable liner. They have a Large and XXL in stock at $600.00. That ain't cheap. For 1/2 that much money I'll be your body guard and I'll throw you a line if need be. I think Bill's Bait is the way to go. It's close to the $358.00 USD. I think by the time you get done with shipping, exchange and brokers fee you are ahead to buy local at Bills. Call Tim. He is actually a neighbour to me in the summer, small Province eh? I will send you my invoice for research fee WD. Or when you come I'll show you where the best Veal Panini in Canada is sold and you can buy me one. Panino Teca, up the road on Upper James south of Bill's Bait. Breaded Veal on a toasted Italian Panini with home made Tomato sauce with choice of toppings, like roasted red pepper, mushrooms and Proviloni cheese, and a bit of Rapini, all my faves. MMMMMMM good. Voted the Best by Spectator readers for many years in a row. Is this about floater suits or sangwitches? Johnny D

Thanks KraTTor, it looks like I would be looking at the 200 series for Bass, Pike and Walleye. I Have tossed those monster Musky baits with good Shimano baitcastersand rods on a charter with Dany Columby (he will put you on the fish) on the West Arm. Man it's like throwing bricks after a half an hour and that's with great reels. It was the first time in many years using a level wind and zero back lash, I was proud. I know the good reels were a big factor, for sure. I can't imagine throwing bricks with crap reels so I see now see how it's worth the $$ if you are going to do that day after day. I never could understand the reason for the big bucks for them, I do now. I'm going to fish more for Smallies here on Erie this year again. I pretty well long lined for Walleye for the past 4 years and it's time to get back to Bass so I goota get me a 200. Thanks for the help Sir. Johnny D

Wowa wee wa. I use a Coke bottle to show off my big Walleye, a Perch? Wow. I don't know what to say for the first time this year. Now the nay sayers chime in until all DNA evidence is gathered. If you want to start a conspiracy post a pic of a record fish. So I ask what the W5 is? In parts of Europe that is a average Perch.

So what if it's not Trans. Canada approved. Does it replace a PFD on a boat if it is approved?

Is the Calcutta a heavier set up then would be used for Bass? What is he minimum weight one could use successfully.

We will meet some day I'm sure of it. I'm always open for a good story so I can plagiarize it.