Canadian food is amongst the safest in the world, Canada edition

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Douglas Powell

My high school friend and I outlined a book 40 years ago called, North of the 49^th Parallel, about suburban Canada.

But Mike Myers seems to have cornered the market.

And when did he become my father?

He’s the same age as me.

And from Toronto (Scarberia).

Canadians have a “very thick” accent and only anger easily at hockey, if you ask comedian Mike Myers.

“We’re very politically correct at times and I always think, well, isn’t politically correct just being considerate and nice for the most part?” he told CBC’s Wendy Mesley in an interview on The National.

The Canadian actor and comedian shared a lot of opinions about his home country found in his new book called Canada. Naturally, Canadian versus American pronunciations came up in conversation.

“It’s Owt, Owt” Myers jokes in his typical comic style, pointing to how Americans say “out.”

While he argues that, compared to Britain and the U.S., Canada doesn’t have as many cultural exports besides Anne of the Green Gables, Canada’s contributions have a higher purpose.

“I think civility will be our greatest legacy.”

Or false egomania.

The University of Guelph is going to get $76 million to bring big data to farming.

Except.

The money is earmarked for the university’s masterfly earmarked, Food from Thought program. The program’s scientific director, Evan Fraser, says that farmers are only on the cusp of what can be done with big data.

“Where the tools of data-driven agriculture allow for much more precise, real-time applications of inputs, we can reduce input costs while we increase production.”

“We know Canadian food is among the safest and most sustainable in the world and with these technologies we can demonstrate it.”

If you already know it, why do you have to demonstrate it?

If Guelph wants serious money for this stuf, they need to do much more serious communications.

Unfortunately, like most universities, PR fluffery has overtaken actual accomplishment.

Goalies be goalies, and hockey rinks can be sources of CO

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Douglas Powell

Maybe all that Zamboni CO got to me when I was a kid spending hours at the hockey arena.

I used to think I was fast enough to not worry too much about upper body padding.

I’m not fast enough anymore.

I played my first game in 10 years on Sunday, except for one in Guelph and one last year in which I let in 12 goals on what felt like 70 shots, and ripped my ACL.

We lost 3-1, but were outshot 22-10. I did OK. The team did great (I also coach this bunch of adults, and like any good coach, just want to see continuous improvement and having fun – and sweat).

In fortuitous timing, my fab partner Amy ordered me an early Xmas present which arrived today.

This is my 20-or 30-year-old chest protector, this is my new one.

And this is my happy face.

But public health takes place at the arena too.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported last week that on December 13, 2014, the emergency management system in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, was notified when a male hockey player aged 20 years lost consciousness after participation in an indoor hockey tournament that included approximately 50 hockey players and 100 other attendees.

Elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO) (range = 45 ppm–165 ppm) were detected by the fire department inside the arena. The emergency management system encouraged all players and attendees to seek medical evaluation for possible CO poisoning.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) conducted an epidemiologic investigation to determine what caused the exposure and to recommend preventive strategies. Investigators abstracted medical records from area emergency departments (EDs) for patients who sought care for CO exposure during December 13–14, 2014, conducted a follow-up survey of ED patients approximately 2 months after the event, and conducted informant interviews. Ninety-two persons sought ED evaluation for possible CO exposure, all of whom were tested for CO poisoning. Seventy-four (80%) patients had blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels consistent with CO poisoning (1); 32 (43%) CO poisoning cases were among hockey players. On December 15, the CO emissions from the propane-fueled ice resurfacer were demonstrated to be 4.8% of total emissions when actively resurfacing and 2.3% when idling, both above the optimal range of 0.5%–1.0% (2,3). Incomplete fuel combustion by the ice resurfacer was the most likely source of elevated CO. CO poisonings in ice arenas can be prevented through regular maintenance of ice resurfacers, installation of CO detectors, and provision of adequate ventilation.

If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap; Burns Supper and haggis

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Douglas Powell

In time for tonight’s annual Burns Supper honoring the birth of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, government types have once again invited U.S. regulators to revise a decades-old ban on haggis.

The iconic Scottish dish is been barred in the U.S. because its food safety department prohibits the use of sheep lungs in food products.

DC don’t know food safety

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Douglas Powell

Washington, D.C. is always on the cutting edge of food safety.

Not.

Which is why 13 years after Los Angeles started posting restaurant inspection grades, nine years after Toronto started posting red-yellow-green restaurant inspection grades, and a year after New York City started posting letter grades, someone in D.C. decided, hey, we should do that too.

D.C. Councilwoman Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) has introduced a bill that would require D.C. restaurants to publicly display letter-grade report cards on their premises, based on Department of Health inspections.

Cheh believes the grades would decrease the number of hospitalizations caused by foodborne diseases.

Not.

McDonald’s to recall 12 million ‘Shrek’ glasses, citing cadmium health risks

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Douglas Powell

Mike Myers, Canadian and voice of Shrek, what do you have to do with this?

McDonald’s will recall about 12 million "Shrek" drinking glasses because federal regulators found they contain the toxic metal cadmium, which poses health risks.

The glasses have been sold for $2 apiece at McDonald’s restaurants across the country as a promotional tie-in with the movie "Shrek Forever After." Purchasers will be advised to keep them away from children and to return them to McDonald’s for a refund.

The recall, which will be officially announced Friday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, was set in motion by an anonymous tip to Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) last week. She alerted the commission, which tested the glasses and confirmed the presence of cadmium in the paint used for the decorative characters. Cadmium is a carcinogen and can cause kidney, lung, intestinal and bone damage.

Speier’s office said McDonald’s voluntarily agreed to recall the glasses at the urging of the commission.

Toronto restaurant fined maximum $20K for heavy cockroach problem

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Douglas Powell

Oh Scarberia, suburb of Toronto, home to Mike Myers and some of the Barenaked Ladies. Why do your restaurants suck?

A takeout restaurant in Scarborough was fined $20,000 – the maximum penalty – after pleading guilty to four food-safety violations, including a "heavy" cockroach infestation.

The guilty plea last Friday by Chandra’s Takeout Restaurant and Catering, at 201 Markham Rd., related to problems that closed it Aug. 24 to Aug. 28. It has since reopened and passed full inspections on Aug. 28 and Nov. 6.

The restaurant was fined $5,000 for each of four infractions: not controlling a pest/insect infestation; failing to protect food from contamination; not having a certified food handler; and for obstructing Toronto Public Health’s red closure sign while the restaurant was shut down in August.

11 sick with E. coli O157 linked to meats from UK bakery

Posted on November 12, 2009 by Douglas Powell

Health officials on Tyneside are investigating seven confirmed and four possible cases of E.coli O157 infection in adults from the Gateshead area.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said six of those infected bought cooked meats or sandwiches from Myers bakery in Felling.

The owners have agreed to close the bakery pending further investigations.

Love guru Mike Myers dreading diarrhea on Aussie red carpet

Posted on June 28, 2008 by Douglas Powell

Starpulse.com reports that Mike Myers realized he was ill on his way to his Love Guru premiere in Australia earlier this month and had to stop at a number of restaurants to use restrooms before he actually got to the premiere.

"In Australia, when you go into a drug store you actually have to talk to the pharmacist…I was looking around and I was, like, ‘Hi!’ ‘Hello, you’re Mike Myers, how are you? What can I do for you?’ (I said) ‘I’d like Pepto-Bismol please.’ ‘We don’t know what that is…What is it exactly, Mike?’ I was like, ‘It’s for tummy trouble.’"

But the confused Aussie staffmember at the pharmacy needed him to be more specific, prompting a desperate Myers to reveal he was suffering from diarrhea.

He adds, "(They said) ‘How very interesting, you’re a superstar with diarrhea.’ I’m like, ‘Hmmm, don’t feel like a superstar right now.’"

No indication if the cause was food or water related, but hey, Mike, we’ve all been there. Not messing around on a bed with Madonna or cavorting with Beyonce, but we’ve all had the runs.

Best Mike Myers role? So many good lines and characters from the Toronto-area funny man, but the best is the Don Cherry-inspired hockey announcer on the vastly underrated Russell Crowe vehicle, Mystery, Alaska.

And that’s Dr. Evil to you. I didn’t spend all those years at Evil University to be Mr. Evil.

Tennis star Federer’s weakness might have been an illness

Posted on March 9, 2008 by Douglas Powell

"I thought I had mono when I was a teenager but it turns out I was just really bored."

One of my favorite lines from Wayne’s World, if only because it was so apt: I had mononucleosis when I was 17, and would sleep for hours on end, but maybe I was just really bored.

That probably doesn’t apply to Roger Federer, 26.

Last month, after falling ill for the third time in six weeks, he had extensive tests in his native Switzerland and in Dubai, where he lives part time. According to Federer, the conclusion was that he had contracted mononucleosis.

Federer had already said he experienced food poisoning before the Australian Open, which he said disrupted his preparation for that tournament.

But Federer, who complained of feeling sluggish during the Open, said it appeared that the mononucleosis was the more serious issue.

Mike Myers can empathize.

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