Foodies Unite + Music Fans Unite + Don’t Sign the Cheque
Good Morning from Warren Grove, Prince Edward Island
It has been a very busy week for our team at Santa’s food shop. We are so fortunate to have such wonderful supportive customers. Thank you.
You can obsess about serving your customers/audience/clients, or you can obsess about beating the competition. Both work, but of the two, obsessing about your customers will take you further. ~ Kevin Kelly.
The world of food is an amazing one.
"The culture of chefs is a melting pot, and I always say this - if we could put all the heads of state around a table, each representing their food culture, and then each take one bite of the other's and pass it to the right, and then explain the ideals and culture around those bites, our world problems would be easier to solve." ~ Robert Irvine
If you enjoy food and history, and history as I do, you will have fun playing on The Food Timeline.
Food is our common ground, a universal experience. - James Beard.
From their site...Ever wonder how the ancient Romans fed their armies? What the pioneers cooked along the Oregon Trail? Who invented the potato chip...and why? So do we!!!
Food history presents a fascinating buffet of popular lore and contradictory facts. Some experts say it's impossible to express this topic in an exact timeline format. They are correct. Most foods are not invented; they evolve. We make food history fun.
The Food Timeline was created and maintained by Lynne Olver 1958-2015, a reference librarian with a passion for food history.
Launched in March 1999. The Food Timeline's scope has grown from a single page with a sprinkling of links to 70 web pages. It offers a wealth of historic information, primary documents, and original research. As of March 2014, it served 35 million readers and answered 25 thousand questions. The Food Timeline is recognised by the American Library Association as a Great Website for Children. Check it out here.
Speaking of children, this young man represents selflessness in such a beautiful way.
He had an opportunity to “Make-A-Wish” his wish not to travel but to feed the homeless. Story here.
From food to music…
The power of the Internet can connect us to other cultures. But it is the sharing of our food and our music that builds bridges between us.
Hence, I found Radiooo’s website to be an interesting bridge.
The concept behind the website radiooooo.com is simple. A world map on the start page with a time selector. The users choose a decade anytime from 1900 until today. They can then start their own discovery tour through the history of music.
They chose a particular decade, listen to all kinds of music from all over the world. Bossa Nova from Brazil in the 60s, Russian pop music from the 20s or contemporary music from Canada.
Radiooooo.com is a real treasure for all music fans who love travelling into other eras. They have a free version and a paid one.
Conceptualised by Benjamin Moreau while sitting in his Dad's new French sports-car. While playing around with the car radio his nostalgic remembrance of techno beats gave rise to an idea. He wanted to create some way to enjoy musical voyages through time.
Benjamin brought this project to life with friends - all DJs and music lovers. A few years earlier, they had tried to define a musical identity for the trendy Paris club "Le Baron." They had collected a sizeable musical library of all kinds of different genres from many different countries.
Radio is the opposite of interactive media. There is no choice and no search. The listeners are at the mercy of radio producers. The only choice they have is to switch to another station. That's what radio fans love about it. They can relax while taken through the world of music in several decades.
By contrast, the users of radiooooo.com can become a bit more interactive if that's what they want to. They can choose between slow and fast music.
Benjamin puts it like this: "It's easier to present music from older days to a 65-year old man from Kazakhstan, than for a Frenchman in his 30s." The users can share, like, post and/or buy the songs. Check out this amazing fun interactive website.
One of the greatest needs of humanity today is to transcend the cultural limitations of the great religions and to find a wisdom, a philosophy, which can reconcile their differences and reveal the unity which
underlies all their diversities. —Bede Griffiths
In last week's blog, I shared my favourite U2 songs covered energetically and dance-worthy. It brings a smile to me every time I watch it.
This version by U2 affects me in a happy-sad kind of way.
"I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." ~ Billy Joel
This story warms my heart…
A young Ethiopian adoptee was hiking with her new family and lost her teddy bear in a national park and they hoped for a miracle. And one happened. Read the story here.
A few months back I asked readers to share stories of friends and family enjoying each other's company around food.
Here is one such story from, Michele. (honouring her request to use her first name only)
Weather Permitting
You had to be easy-going to be invited to our annual lobster supper. We were campers, and any event we hosted was governed by the weather. “We think we’d like to have you over for lobster on Saturday, weather permitting. The CBC says it should be a nice day. We’ll let you know at around 2 p.m. whether we’re on or not.” As the saying goes in PEI, if you don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes. We waited and regularly had to cancel at the last minute.
This was our opportunity to host a group of friends and neighbours. There were usually a dozen of us; not everyone was necessarily comfortable with an outdoor feast. Remember the year Mike arrived with Bounce dryer sheets stuffed into his shirt cuffs, collar and pant legs, to ward off mosquitoes? But everyone usually showed up and contributed to the meal. You could count on Christel to make her German potato salad; Anne, her Caesar salad; and Gin always brought a surprise side dish. Ken would pick up a few pies from the bakery and Holly would bring a pork chop, as she is allergic to shellfish. Toss in a dozen cobs of fresh corn and everyone seemed happy. We tried to raise the level of sophistication. The two picnic tables would be set with fabric tablecloths, our fanciest camping china and whatever we could pull from our kit or borrow from our friends. After much food, and lively discussion liberally steeped in wine, the women would wash up while the men shared more wine or a bottle of port. As the evening wore on, we might enjoy a campfire. Mother Nature, who graciously permitted us a dry, warm day, often ended the evening with a light sprinkling of rain – just enough to send everyone home at a reasonable hour.
A lot has changed since then. We’ve built a house, and the casual dinners outside have moved indoors. George, Ginette and Charlie are no longer with us, and their absence is felt around the table. Although we still get together for food, drink and conversation – we enjoy each other’s company – it isn’t the same. We’ve gotten older and have lost the innocence that allows you to invite friends over for a feast “if the weather is good. We’ll let you know around 2.”
From Michelle with love...
Thank you for sharing Michelle.
Thank you for taking the time to spend with me today and I hope you have a great weekend.
As always, I hope this email finds you safe, sane, and healthy. If you found this newsletter useful and/or interesting, I'd be grateful if you forwarded it to a friend.
I hope to see you next week.
Warmly,
Bruce + Mille
ps. Your Morning Smile
Norma and Sonia were talking about their grandchildren after the holidays.
Norma said, "My daughter-in-law stopped making my grandchildren send their thank you notes.
Each year I sent the grandchildren a card with a generous check inside. I always received a lovely thank you note.
Since my daughter-in-law stopped making the grandkids send thank you notes, I never hear from them."
Sonia said, "My daughter-in-law never made the grandchildren send thank you notes. I to send them a very generous check.
Yet, for the past several years, I hear from them within a week after they receive it. In fact, they each pay me a personal visit."
"Wow," remarked Norma. "I wish mine would do that."
"You can, Norma, you can." "How?" Norma asked
"Simple. Do what I do. Don't sign the check."
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