Point Taken September 19, 2006
Posted by Dale in Life.1 comment so far
Every day is an opportunity to learn something. Today I learned that wasps don’t like it so much if you step on their nest. I also learned that shorts and sandals aren’t the best choice of clothing for outdoor work. Some lessons are only learned with a little class participation, willingly or not, but I did manage to get off fairly easy – only two stings were required to prove the point.
Chocolate Obsession September 17, 2006
Posted by Dale in Food.11 comments
Up until a couple of years ago I didn’t eat chocolate. For me, it was about as appealing as coffee and lobster – I just didn’t see what all the fuss was about (and I know that sounds crazy for an Islander to say). Then I tried some dark chocolate, and now I am hooked! I must say, I still don’t get very excited about “normal” chocolate; it’s the dark stuff I like, and the darker the better. Shoppers Drug Mart has become my purveyor of choice, offering several different brands. My favourite is Côte d’Or’s Brut (86% cocoa), followed by Lindt’s 85% and Poulain’s Ultime noir (86%). I do also like those brands’ 70% offerings, but any less than 70% and it starts getting way too sweet for my taste. The folks at Just Us! have a 70% Dark Chocolate bar which is good, and I love that their chocolate is organically grown and fairly traded. I just wish they offered an 85% bar as well.
The way I enjoy chocolate is to savour it slowly, letting each piece melt in my mouth. I can make half a bar last the whole 30 minute drive home after work. I don’t understand why anyone would want to chew good chocolate – why not enjoy it for as long as you can?
Interestingly, while writing this post I have discovered something a little unnerving. Côte d’Or is now owned by Kraft Foods, and Poulain by Cadbury. Although both chocolatiers have been around for a very long time (since the 19th century), they have succumbed to the notion that “growth is more”, and have allowed themselves to be swallowed up by huge multinational corporations who can arguably better promote their product internationally. I say “arguably” because Lindt, with similarly auspicious beginnings, has managed on their own to grow into a company that boasts huge international distribution with nearly a billion Swiss Francs in worldwide sales. I find it worrisome to see a small company align themselves with something larger (as in Seaman’s by Pepsi). Will the products retain their same quality, or will they evolve into something more “marketable” in response to the new owners’ wishes? I guess if I’m really serious about this, I will boycott the big boys (like I already do with WalMart) and support the little guy who I know promotes the tenets of environmental responsibility and social JustUs! You can have your chocolate and your principles too!
Sam the Storytelling Man September 4, 2006
Posted by Dale in Life.add a comment
This summer I had the pleasure of sitting next to Sam Sniderman, aka Sam the Record Man, at a Board of Directors breakfast at the Confederation Centre. Sam loves to talk about his involvement in the music industry, and he’s got some great stories. Name any Canadian musician, and I’ll bet he’s met (or had breakfast) with them, and has a story to go with it. Sam told us about a young singer coming into his office and stating that if her next album didn’t go anywhere she was going to go back to being a school gym teacher. That singer was Anne Murray, and her album “This Way is My Way” contained Gene MacLellan’s song ”Snowbird” which would turn Anne into a star.
Sam was there through it all, selling records and promoting Canadian talent, and being the first to introduce all the latest advances in technology, from vinyl records to CDs to online sales. At his flagship store on Yonge St. in Toronto, Sam had a policy of attempting to stock every record on every label. Having shopped there myself many times, I can attest to the remarkable variety of recordings for sale. You really could find things there that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Considering the ease with which anyone and their dog can put out a CD these days, I doubt that such a goal would be possible anymore.
With their stories, people like Sam Sniderman open a window to our history and give us perspective on our lives. We should all share our stories – with our kids, our grandchildren, with anyone who will listen. Everyone has a story to tell, a story that will have meaning for someone. So curl up by the fire, or make a little extra time for breakfast, and get those stories out.
