An ongoing source of amusement in our household is the fact that I hate crunchy peanut butter. If I get the chance I buy the biggest jar of smooth peanut butter I can find. The longer it lasts, the better.

Now, in my book, anything that is designated as butter should be smooth. I don’t see lumps or crunchy things in dairy butter, honey butter or the numerous “butters” you can spread on your body. ITS BUTTER! It is supposed to be devoid of lumps.

None of the other members of my household eat peanuts. Honest. They don’t fancy them. Yet they think that there should be chunks of them in peanut butter. I don’t get it. My father likes crunchy peanut butter, but he will eat peanuts by the mitt full.

Which brings me to mayonaise. A gift from the Gods. I can, and do, put mayonaise on everything. Well, not everything. It clogs up the holes in my Shreddies ( and probably my arteries ). Mayonaise- Miracle Whip – Salad Dressing; I don’t care what it is called it is all great! And the best part is – NO CHUNKS OF PEANUTS! Here is a product that knows what it is to be smooth. Imagine the marketing challenges mayonaise would face if it had pieces of egg floating around in it.

I rest my case. I am going to toast some bread, put smoot peanut butter, mayonaise and old cheddar on it. MMMMMM… tastes like Vegimite.

Until then, I remain,

A Sour Kraut

Ringo Starr once sang: “We would sign and dance around, because we know we can’t be found…” “…under the sea, in an Octopus’s garden in the shade”.

Darrell “Ringo” Dexter seem to have the same view. He likes to make policy and proclamations without the slightest thought that anyone or anything should stand in his way. Last week it was the revamp of the Nova Scotia Tresure Trove Act. Simply put, this Act was a formal business arrangement between the Government and private individuals/businesses. If you wanted to search out treasure and valuable artifacts you were granted a permit. If you found anything, the “spoils” were shared by the Government and the treasure hunters on a 10:90 percent split. Before you get your knickers in a knot, that really seems like a fair split. The treasure hunters are the ones taking all the risk and therefore should get the majority of the rewards.

Our Ringo and his band have decided differently. Treasure hunters are no longer welcome and the Government is going to undertake any further archealogical explorations. The stated fear by the Ringoettes was the loss of valuable artifacts from unscrupulous treasure hunters. Huh? If you are signed on to a legitimate agreement whereby you get 90% of the value, why would you take the chance of stealing stuff for a measely 10%?

And how is cash strapped N.S. Government going to finance any explorations on their own? Maybe they will use the $3M they granted the SNS Soccer facility ( Just kidding! ). I have no idea. So much for anyone in Nova Scotia ever seeing any of the riches that lie buried under its soil or beneath the waves.

This is just one more instance of a leader and government that really seem to be out of touch. Sort of the way the original Ringo was when he wrote the song about being chummy with an Octopus. Yeah. It was the ’60s.

Until then, I remain,

A Sour Kraut

Never being one to shy away from telling people that I am right – Lord knows I rarely get the opportunity at home – here I go.

Back in on February 27 of this year I posted a comment on the troubles facing Toyota and their fleet of vehicles that had minds of their own. I stated that it was not Toyota’s fault. Instead I said it was probably driver error.

TA DA! Drum roll please. Leaked information from the United States NHSTA studies on the problem are pointing to guess what? – Driver Error!

As I warned, Toyota has had to defend it self from nothing it did wrong. Not exactly justice, but hey, if a big bad multi-national suffers as a result of our stupidity who cares.

Who knew one person could be soooo smart? Not me.

Until then, I remain,

A Sour Kraut

Well, the Mayor of Halifax – Peter Kelly- has done it again. Recently he was in the news for absent-mindedly picking up a 9mm bullet on a daily walk and trying to get through airport security with it in his briefcase. Now, he has written a memo (and has been accused of leaking it to the media) to his councilors, regarding unsubstantiated claims of certain councilors abuse of alcohol and driving under the influence.

Has this man been swimming in Halifax Harbour once to often? Is sewer sludge starting to eat away at his brain? Mr. Kelly, there is such a thing as having “in camera” discussions with council, or having a private meeting with each one. You don’t start firing memos around, blasting everyone without some thought before hand. If this is an ongoing problem, then you single out the offender and either threaten them with sanction or criminal action. You don’t tar and feather everyone in public; Especially when you say that you have “heard complaints”, but there is nothing specific.

I think Mayor Kelly might have been hit in the head with a “floatable” on one of his swims. If it does exist, this is a serious issue and has to be handled in a serious manner. Come on.

Until then, I remain,

A Sour Kraut

Cardinal Marc Oullet knows which side his bread is buttered. He of the “abortion is a moral sin, even in case of rape” belief has been rewarded for this insanity and his unfailing support of the old guard of the catholic church. He has recently been appointed to the position of chief of the congregation of bishops. This is a powerful position in Rome. And obviously those at the Vatican want to surround themselves with like minds.

Cardinal Oullett, with this appointment, has no been moved up into the top twenty people who could be the next Pope. Great. I don’t want to sound like I am bashing the Catholic Church or the Cardinal. But I don’t see Oullett as a breath of fresh air or see any indication that the church is trying to make any of the changes needed to bring it into the twentieth century, much less the twenty first.

Until then, I remain,

A Sour Kraut.

Had a chance to be in Cape Breton recently and finally took my children to Fortress de Louisburg. This is truly an amazing spot.

Let me be the first to say that I think Parks Canada does as good a job as any in the world. Louisburg is no exception. The reconstruction is impeccable, the site breathtaking and the interpreters and staff were infinitely knowledgable. Whenever three young boys can be entertained by history, you know that something is being done right. I am still eating my “days ration” of bread that was similar to the rations provided to the soldiers in the 1730′s. It looks and feels like a cannon ball, but it actually tastes fine. The homemade mustard that is produced on site at one of the restaurants is TO DIE FOR. I kept hinting that they should bottle and sell it. I don’t think they were paying attention.

If you have not gone, go. It was a shame that the day we were there you could have shot a cannon down the street and not hit anyone. While it is out of the way, the Town of Louisburg has done well in presenting a clean and interesting street scape, well designed and maintained inns and restaurants and a look of prosperity. All of the things a tourist expects.

On the down side, I have to let the tourism operators in Cape Breton in on a little secret. If you have a roadside sign – maintain it! How do you expect a tourist to get a good impression of your facility if your signs are dilapidated, peeling and heeling over at a ridiculous angle? Their first thought is going to be that your rooms or restaurant is suffering the same fate. Its the little things people. Ask Parks Canada and the Town of Louisburg. They know how to do things right.

I remain,

A Sour Kraut