The other day, Rosemary was doing the dishes and I was helpfully sitting at the dining room table keeping her company (hey, don't judge, I could have been playing Kingdom Rush (when, WHEN are you going to release the new version, Ironhide Games?!?!!)). She was drying a frying pan and I started singing "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair." [mp3 of my singing unavailable]
Rosemary looked at me quite quizzically. I realised that my possibly martini-addled brain had crosswired the visuals from Enjoli's "Bring Home the Bacon" and the soundtrack from the Clariol "Wash that man right outta my hair" commercial from my youth. Terrifying. And then I remembered my third ghost of TV-viewing past, Jordache's "You've got the look, I want to know better" commercial. My nostalgic shame trifecta was complete. You can see all three of the spots below. Now, I was raised in the US, so I'm not sure which of these aired up here. But all three of them (and their insidious sound tracks!) drift in and out of my consciousness more often than I'd like to admit.
You know what else has a stranglehold on my auditory cortex? After-school and Saturday morning interstitials. Surprisingly, not the well-known Schoolhouse Rock ones (though I love all of them and can sing most). No, the ones that rise unbidden to my lips are the Time for Timer series. My favourite was "Hanker for a Hunk of Cheese" though I think I probably hear "Don't Drown Your Food" more often. It is this one that I blame for my inability to truly enjoy any type of creamy dressing on my salad. The Time for Timer series (like Schoolhouse Rock) was created by ABC. Are there educational series like this now? The Saturday Morning Brain Food site does an amazing job of cataloging all these educational tidbits.
Finally .. there is one last set of auditory memories that still get dropped into my playlist of life - theme songs from TV Shows (of course!). But not your Brady Bunches or Gilligan's Islands. No .. the New Zoo Revue is what pops up occasionally. I watched a clip of an episode - it is actually pretty hilarious. And the theme song: INTENSE. And I'm pretty sure that this is where I acquired all my fancy dance moves. Other theme songs I hear rattling around: Electric Company and Zoom! (oh how I longed to be a Zoomer). And, of course, Land of the Lost. Poor Marshall, Will and Holly. Sid and Marty Kroftt did some pretty cool shows. I loved Sigmund and the Sea Monster - but I don't remember the theme song.
These are my recurring childhood earworms. Any favourites you'd like to share?
I don't think it's news to anyone (particularly my mother) that I like a good cocktail. I'm delighted by the ongoing resurgence in vintage cocktail culture. I regularly read cocktail recipe and booze history books (see my "Boozy" shelf over at Goodreads). One of my recent Boozeventures™ involved arranging for some artisan bitters to be delivered over Solstice by a bitters crafter on Vancouver Island.
I've been obsessed with bitters for the last 8 months or so. It all started w/ a book I received for my birthday last year, Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All (fyi .. affiliate link). Really interesting! Previously, if you said "bitters" I pictured that one crusty-rimmed bottle of Angostura bitters that has been in the fridge since 1976 that you get out once a year during the holiday season when someone says "Oooo .. we should make champagne cocktails" and you douse some very sad sugar cubes with said bitters and plop them in your glass of Baby Duck.
Which brings me to the Ben Franklin. You see, once you have all these bitters, you need to MAKE something with them. While Drew was here during the holidays, we scoured several cocktail books and experimented with a few recipes. But nothing really struck our fancy. So, we created our own. We had a lot of bourbon in the house wanted to use .. so we developed this, a variant of the traditional Manhattan.
4 parts Wild Turkey
1 part Lillet Blanc
1 part Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 1 tsp maple syrup
4 dashes cherry bitters
Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker
Strain and serve over ice with a mandarin orange twist
I'm 87% sure these are the right ratios. Drew and I did a LOT of testing. After conferring with him and checking my notes that I scribbled on the back of an envelope (Observation: my regular handwriting and my "slightly tipsy" handwriting are not all that different. Sigh.), it seems that these will work.
Drunken Scribbles
We then had the "what are we going to christen this delightful drink" convo. I wanted something French - to reference the Lillet Blanc - and also something Canadian - to reference the maple syrup as well as where the drink originated. Drew came up with "The Benjamin Franklin" (referencing the Wild Turkey - Franklin proposed that the official bird of the USA should be the turkey not the eagle - as well as a French connection (Franklin loved the French ladies)) - which I immediately dismissed (sibling rivalry?!). But by then Rosemary had grown tired of our drunken conversation and the sushi had arrived, so this lovely drink went temporarily nameless into the good night.
NOT the Ben Franklin, but another Manhattan. Photo Credit: Reese Lloyd
Flash forward 5 months. Blogging about bitters and cocktails is on my list, so I emailed Drew to confirm the ratios of this drink and said "So, are you OK with calling it the Ben Franklin? I really like that name, but I know you weren't thrilled with it."
It is a credit to Drew that he neither a) immediately phoned me and screamed "Are you KIDDING ME?" or b) unfriended me on Facebook. He just gently reminded me that the name was his idea and that he was OK with the shortened version. Though I'm pretty sure I heard him beating his head against the wall.
So .. there you have it. The Ben Franklin. Note to self: remember to take my own picture next time.
My next stop on my ongoing vintage cocktail odyssey is a trip to Vancouver's Modern Bartender. Have you been there? I haven't had a chance to go over yet, but they appear to be a paradise for boozehounds cocktail aficionados like myself. Can't wait!
What happened in Boston is terrible. No question. As is every other act of terror that happens every day around the globe - when an individual or small group is so filled with hatred for those different than themselves that they feel the only way to react is violence.
On a much smaller (and less violent) scale, we all deal with this every day ourselves. I struggle with this. I dismiss opinions from people I disagree with - from people who don't see MY view. I've unfollowed people on Twitter because of a Tweet that espoused a different take on a situation than mine. I've reacted to the Other with suspicion and disrespect and disregard.
I don't particularly like this about myself so I have been actively trying to become a more compassionate person. I was inspired by the winner of the 2008 TED Prize, Karen Armstrong. Armstrong's wish for her TED Prize was to launch the Charter for Compassion.
The Charter for Compassion is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and national differences. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter activates the Golden Rule around the world. The Charter for Compassion is a cooperative effort to restore not only compassionate thinking but, more importantly, compassionate action to the center of religious, moral and political life. Compassion is the principled determination to put ourselves in the shoes of the other, and lies at the heart of all religious and ethical systems.
To cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings, even those regarded as enemies. To make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world.
So, how do we become more compassionate?
I was given the advice once, in regards to management and innovation, that each month I should read a magazine that had nothing to do with my field of practice or interest. To pick up something like "Field Technicians Monthly" or "Sewage Treatment Quarterly". Because first and foremost they were about passion - and by reading about someone else's passion for their career might inspire some in my own. And also because great ideas about management and innovation can come from anywhere. To keep a sharp mind and open creative spirit, it is imperative to have a regular stream of new ideas and experiences available.
In my attempts to cultivate compassion, I've tried a similar tact. I need to have a regular inputs from people who are not like me. Now, I don't go out and read vitriolic blog posts or watch hate videos against my default position - because I don't think that is particularly constructive. I'm not trying to find new arguments .. I'm trying to find compassion. And frankly compassion is hard to find in the YouTube comment section. So, instead, I regularly read a blog about hijab fashion, beauty and entertainment for Muslim women: hijabtrendz
Ria Miranda’s collection from Indonesia Fashion Week 2013
Started by Miriam Sobh, a broadcast journalist in Chicago, hijabtrendz covers hijab fashion trends (particularly international fashion) as well as reviews of makeup and beauty products. There are occasional eating and exercise tips. Plus, hijabtrendz has interviews with Muslim fashion designers and Muslim women in the entertainment industry. And occasionally she writes a thought-provoking piece like about the struggles of being a blogger and how to handle product reviews or calling attention to the bullying of Muslim women by other Muslim women.
I realise that this is a very small and simple thing that I do. But it reminds me on a regular basis that there are some many wonderful, amazing, delightful people in the world, Miriam Sobh, among them who have a different perspective and cultural experience on this world than I do. My experience is not the dominant one in the world. But it also serves to expand my attention span. There was an article in Wired recently about designer Adam Harvey who is working on a line of counter-surveillance fashion, called Stealth Wear, including, among other items, a hijab scarf that is designed to block thermal-imaging used by drones.
I'm in my mid-40's - a long way from an idealistic college student. But on good days I think we can still change the world. But I know that change will come from the bottom up. From one person seeing another as a person and having empathy for them. Not seeing them as a faceless race or culture or religion or lifestyle, but to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
That is hard to do. It's counter to what media tells us, what politicians tell us, what some of our most entrenched institutions tell us. But to me, it's an essential project. Because just as compassion can expand our world, fear and anger can constrict it. And I want to live in a wonderfully diverse, expanding world.
~
As I was writing this, I came across a couple of other really interesting links that I wanted to share:
Maggie Koerth-Baker (lady scientist extraordinaire and BoingBoing science editor and author of Before the Lights Go Out, a book about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy) live blogged a talk at SUNY-Oswega by M. Neelika Jayawardane, an associate professor of English there. Jayawardane's lecture was on "If you see something, say something" and other campaigns aimed at getting average people involved in public security. Some really interesting ideas about what images and representations that we become used to seeing as The Other.
Rolf Dobelli, author of The Art of Thinking Clearly: Better Thinking, Better Decisions, published an article in The Guardian today about why news is bad for you. "News is bad for your health. It leads to fear and aggression, and hinders your creativity and ability to think deeply. The solution? Stop consuming it altogether." Dobelli speaks (more eloquently and more thoroughly) to a couple of things I mention in my last paragraph above.
Back when I used to work for a software company and was more geek than marketer, 3:00PM was known as "Salty Snack Time" and every day there was a "Salty Snack Run". We were lucky because our office was located in a well-serviced area of Toronto and we had our choice of a few small cafés as well as a well-stocked large grocery store.
When I first heard of Food.ee's new service GetSnackBox.com, it brought back memories of those Salty Snack Runs (also, an immediate craving for salty snacks). I was super-excited when they asked me if I wanted to test drive a SnackBox. a) I LOVE getting things in the mail (remind me to tell you about my Quarterly.co subscription sometime) and b) I love snacks. Win/Win!
So Charlie over at Food.ee sent over a "Personal Size" box. One of the things that interested me about GetSnackBox.com is their commitment to healthy snacking (as much as not just having an apple can be healthy). They choose snacks that are gluten-free and natural (no artificial colours, preservatives or sweetners). I also like that they are trying to create a premium, curated product - choosing unique products from both small and large companies.
The "Personal" size snack box I received from GetSnackBox.com
Snack boxes come in 3 size/serving/price configurations:
Note: Serving count is different than item count. A couple of my snack items were substantial enough to have more than one serving. My Personal box had a total of 11 items.
Now, I wanted to test all the snacks (SNACKS!), but I also wanted to get a little diversity of opinion in here (as well as show some snacking restraint). LintBucket Media is certainly a target audience, but I know several people who own/work for companies that are good target audience for the SnackBox. So, I convened an Expert Snacking Panel™ to try the snacks, comment on them and weigh in on the idea of the GetSnackBox service, etc.
My Expert Snacking Panel™ consisted of:
me
Rosemary Rowe - Vice-President, Content at LintBucket Media
A snacking sampler plate - contains a sample of everything I received in my Personal box except for the tea or the lollipops
Comments about the snacks in the snack box:
Overall people felt it was a good variety
Good quality snacks, very "nutrient dense"
Good for when you forget lunch
Would like to be able to choose a "no sweets" box
Would like to have other choices (vegetarian, halal, etc)
Now, the snacks change (at least partially) month to month. I got a heads-up from Charlie that future boxes will contain items like Mellifera Honey and Beta 5 Chocolates (yum!!).
Comments about the concept:
Can picture having a basket of snacks like this on a board room table (impresses the clients)
Good concept - depending on your snacking habits, especially for smaller offices
Particularly good for people/offices who are not in an urban centre and don't have access to, say a Whole Foods
Good for "younger" companies (ones who may expect to have their snacking needs accommodated as part of their employment benefits)
Would be a great gift for a company launch or other milestone - a good office warming present
Also a good gift for new moms or similar
There is a great opportunity to incorporate coupons (i.e. like the Pirate's Booty? Get a 20% discount coupon to use in the next 7 days).
So .. are you intrigued? Craving snacks? Well, GetSnackBox has given me a code that you can use to get 50% off your first box. Ready?
mynameiskate
It expires on April 30, 2013. If you use it for the Personal size box, it applies only to the cost of the box NOT the cost of the shipping (that will still be $6.95); shipping is included in the Family and Bounty size boxes.
SnackBox is designed as a subscription service. When you sign up, your first box is sent immediately. And then they send out the monthly shipments across Canada between the 12th and 15th of each month thereafter. You don't have to commit for an extended period of time, though - just let them know before the end of any month if you want to cancel or change your subscription.
Oh, speaking of cost - I did a quick "reality check" re pricing. Most of the snacks this month were also available from SPUD (a local grocery delivery service). There were two exceptions so I tried to find the equivalent. If I purchased the items separately from SPUD, the cost would have been about $39. So, GetSnackBox is certainly not more expensive than buying them from a service like SPUD. Plus - something new each month!
An interesting note for Vancouver locals .. GetSnackBox.com is a product of Food.ee. Food.ee was created by Invoke Media - the smart folks who created HootSuite.
Many thanks to Charlie and the folks at GetSnackBox.com for sending me a box for review. And many thanks to my Expert Snacking Panel™ for their time and ideas!
March is always a tricky month, especially here in the Rainiest Place on Earth ™. It's sorta spring and we all had to endure the switch to daylight savings time which promises more sunlight, but doesn't necessarily deliver. I find myself gravitating towards anything that makes me think of summer and sun: gardening seed catalogs, new marinades for grilling and sharp fresh scents, particularly citrus or herbaceous scents.
I thought this would be a good theme for my shoebox item this month - something to ward off those lingering winter blues and get ready for real spring. I found this candle at my local book and book-related items shop. I had seen a few candles included in shoeboxes last year, but they were all in cute glass votives with open tops. I wasn't sure if having a glass votive was the best idea - and sometimes you may like a scent, but your neighbours may not. This is why I'm so delighted with this candle.
It's in a tin (very hard to break)
The tin is lovely (decorative Japanese floral pattern)
It has a lid (for keeping up good relations with neighbours as well as keeping it dust-free)
It has a bright, sharp scent (French Cade is a type of juniper plus lavender for a hint of relaxation)
It did not break the bank (sale bin at said bookstore - $5.99)
What is not to love?
I find fresh scents to be such a pick-me-up. I have a roller ball of ginger-scent as well as a small vial of a mix of eucalyptus and lime. And then there is a natural scent pick me up: take a small section of orange (or other citrus) peel, hold it under your nose (take off your glasses) and bend it in half - peel side in - so that it spritzes the oil from the peel right under (not up!) your nose. That yummy citrus goes right to your brain and refreshes your mood. It also apparently helps with sea sickness as this gentleman is trying to do.
Anyhoo .. I've been thinking about these shoeboxes and what to contribute. I touched base w/ the organizers in Toronto and Montreal asking if they had feedback from the shelters and (more importantly) from the women who received the boxes. What was really enjoyed? What could they do without?
They didn't have a lot of information (one shelter had restrictions on perfume and nuts) but are in the process of surveying the shelters for this year's drive. But one of them did tell me that they are thinking of removing items like toothpaste because it is an essential item, not a non-essential one. And the point of this is about little luxuries.
That was a good reminder for me. This is about little luxuries. About thriving, not just surviving.
So, I need to tweak my list and plan for the year a little. Maybe only put an item in every other month?
Any ideas out there? What are the little luxuries that you allow yourself? An amazing piece of chocolate is one of mine. And really great lip balm (there is an amazing lip polish from Fresh - love it so much). What else?
If any of you are following along and doing your own boxes, I'd love to see pics or hear your ideas (I won't disclose your name on the blog if you don't want me to).
Hi, my name is Kate Trgovac. I write about social media, interactive marketing, technology, design and some other miscellany. If you're looking for Kate Leroux, you'll find her at the .com :)
These are some of the images, videos & quotes that resonate with me, but I don't feel like writing a full post about. So I publish them on my tumblr. And there is a feed for these if you're keen ...
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