btvancouver

Many of us have had this happen, where you are at a restaurant, enjoying your meal when you find something that is NOT supposed to be there. You know, hair in your pasta, a slug in your salad or a stray noodle in your mashed potatoes.  As disturbing as it can be, often it can be explained away…even the high end restaurants can have a foodie faux pas.

There are a few things that are TOO strange though – you know – a fingernail  or even the finger that was apparently found in a bowl of Chili purchased at a fast food restaurant . But what about a staple?!?!!? How does THAT happen? Well it did to our producer Genevieve today as she was enjoying her noodle salad -

Genevieve with the Staple found in her Thai Noodle Salad

Thankfully she didn’t actually BITE it – or worse yet, swallow it. What is the right thing to do?  I say, call the manager and inform them. In my opinion, stuff happens but it’s how the manager deals with it that is important. In this case the manager indicated that the salad would be thrown away, apologized and offered a refund – what more can they do? This response is acceptable to me (mind you, it didn’t happen to me) but some may never be able to get over the incident. Luckily, there are a lot of places to go and eat!

Until we eat again,

Dawn

By now I’m sure you’ve heard of the “Barefoot Bandit”; he’s being called America’s most endearing criminal.  This story has shades of Frank Abagnale Jr., whose exploits were depicted in the Steven Spielberg classic “Catch Me If You Can”.

There are reports a Hollywood producer wants to turn Colton Harris-Moore’s  epic caper into a movie (OBVIOUSLY!) but one question remains…

Who should play the “Barefoot Bandit”?

-Thor

This is so disturbing and sad – a poor little captive dolphin in Japan jumped out of its’ tank, seemingly to commit suicide because it leads such a dismal life.  Check out the video here but I must warn about the graphic nature.  Dolphin “suicide” is not as far-fetched as it seems.  Legendary trainer Ric O’Barry (who worked with Flipper) touches on this subject in the Oscar-winning documentary (essential viewing) The Cove.  Just think twice next time you see a playful dolphin in a tank or consider one of those “swimming with the dolphins” encounters.

-Thor

The head of Sony Pictures is calling for healthier alternatives to the current “popcorn & candy” snack choices at your local cinema.  Here’s a link to the story.

I say it’s your own fault if you decide to purchase the overpriced, calorie-laden “food” at the local cinema anyway!

Have your say – Keep the junk food at the movies or make way for the granola bars?

-Thor

…..well I did this morning, as what I THOUGHT was a good example of why to WATCH BT in the mornings went horribly wrong! Check it out….

Did you see Jay Leno tell his side of the story on Thursday’s Oprah Winfrey Show?  I thought it was FASCINATING! I was really interested to hear what Jay had to say about the entire late night  fiasco between him and Conan O’Brien.

Most surveys show Leno as the “bad guy” in this situation with the public thinking Conan deserved a better shot.  Leno addressed his unpopularity in the interview.  And defended his decision to go back to hosting “The Tonight Show.”  He says one of the main reasons he isn’t walking away from NBC, is because his decision to work affects his entire staff of 170 people.  If he isn’t working — they aren’t working. 

I also thought it was weird Jay and Conan haven’t even talked to each other! They’re grown men. You’d think Jay would have the courtesy to give Conan a phone call.  But he says “It’s not the right time.  Because I’m not sure what I would say right now.” Pah-lease! What’s with these guys?!  Grow up!

Did you see Jay on Oprah’s show? What did you think?

K

PS – You can find the transcript from Leno’s interview HERE.

I appeared on Breakfast Television in Edmonton this morning to do a chat on the current homeless situation in Vancouver. And the image our city is going to portray to millions of people around the world.

What many “foreigners” don’t know much about is the situation in the downtown eastside.  All of us “locals” know it’s the worst part of the region. Homelessness.  Drug usage.  Prostitution.  Garbage.  It’s a disaster area.  I’ve taken visitors through this neighbourhood in the past, and they’re always blown away with what they see.  It’s such a shame.  It’s unreal.   Something NEEDS to be done.  But the question is — what.

What many “foreigners” also don’t know, is just how close this problem is to the main Olympic venues.  The downtown eastside is 3-4 blocks away from GM Place (aka Canada Hockey Place as it will be called during the games).  And less than a 10-minute walk from most hotels in the downtown core where thousands of spectators will be staying.  As well as the Athlete’s Village, where thousands of competitors will be living during the Olympics. 

While millions of people will be watching these celebrations and competitions around the world, they won’t see the situation that’s happening, just a few hundred metres away from these major venues, in Canada’s poorest neighbourhood. 

But when the Olympics are over — will visitors remember us for being a beautiful city in a beautiful region?  Or will they remember us as a beautiful city, with a disturbing neighbourhood’s out-of-control social problem, that no one seems to know how to fix.

Yes, it’s the same person. 23-year old Heidi Montag, star of “The Hills”, has gone public with the fact she underwent 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day.  I want to hear your thoughts on this one…

-Thor

Singer Mariah Carey is defending her dress at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards.

What do you think?  Was she right to flaunt her golden globes or is some decorum needed from Mimi?

-Thor

So Simon Cowell has announced he will be leaving America Idol after this season (the 9th) to host the Amercian version of his hit UK show The X Factor.  Read the details here.  He reportedly makes $36 million a year on Idol but could make more on X Factor (if the show does well across the pond) because he owns a stake in it.

Today we’re asking the BT viewers- Who could replace Simon Cowell on Amercian Idol?

-Thor