Category Archives: Real Life Events

THE STOP – How the Fight For Good Food Transformed A Community and Inspired a Movement – Nick Saul and Andrea Curtis – BLOG TOUR

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The StopIt began as a food bank. It turned into a movement.

In 1998, when Nick Saul became executive director of The Stop, the little urban food bank was like thousands of other cramped, dreary, makeshift spaces, a last-hope refuge where desperate people could stave off hunger for one more day with a hamper full of canned salt, sugar and fat. The produce was wilted, and the packaged foods were food-industry castoffs—mislabelled products and misguided experiments that no one wanted to buy. For users of the food bank, knowing that this was their best bet for a meal was a humiliating experience.

Since that time, The Stop has undergone a radical reinvention. Participation has overcome embarrassment, and the isolation of poverty has been replaced with a vibrant community that uses food to build hope and skills, and to reach out to those who need a meal, a hand and a voice. It is now a thriving, internationally respected Community Food Centre with gardens, kitchens, a greenhouse, farmers’ markets and a mission to revolutionize our food system. Celebrities and benefactors have embraced the vision because they have never seen anything like The Stop. Best of all, fourteen years after his journey started, Nick Saul is introducing this neighbourhood success story to the world.

 In telling the remarkable story of The Stop’s transformation, Saul and Curtis argue that we need a new politics of food, one in which everyone has a dignified, healthy place at the table. By turns funny, sad and raw, The Stop is a timely story about overcoming obstacles, challenging sacred cows and creating lasting change. - Publishers Website When I was asked to be a part of this blog tour, I had a few reasons for doing so – 1.  To see if a community can get together whether it be a low income or even your average middle class neighbourhood and actually make something of it.  2.  To see what I could do in my own community to help or encourage it to become one that it is proud of.  3.  To see if anyone in any community could work at it and become the best it could be.  I was not only inspired, I am in awe.

It is a personal story first, it drew me in as a lowly food bank in one of the low income neighbourhoods in Toronto was struggling.  The work was and is hard, that is one thing that won’t go away.  They needed committed community volunteers, a desire, the need was apparent, and the drive to achieve their dreams.  Did it work?  Of course it did, it is still working since Nick Saul become Executive Director of  The Stop in 1998 – 15 years he poured into a place where even the residents had given up, to make the immigrant community vibrant and flourishing once again.  They took back their neighbourhood, sure it had taken time, effort and probably much more then they dreamed possible.  I am sure that some wanted to give up, but in the end and as of today, it is a thriving part of the community – bringing people together, one person, one ethnicity at a time.  To share in learning something new, making new friends, coming together – even the children, the babies, the elderly, and the not yet born to enjoy a good meal.  Not something that came from a can – REAL FOOD when so many of the people who come to a food bank if you want to call it that to get something that they need in their time of hunger, loneliness, and gave the people to look forward to something, anything to be a part of something huge.

The real issue here is that sure, people nowadays are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.  It just isn’t people who have low incomes, it is everyone.  I had a conversation the other week in the grocery store with a woman, about how the produce was so much smaller, but it is either the same price or even more then it was a year ago.   The sizes of just about everything in the grocery store are becoming smaller, yet the prices stay the same.  We all deserve to have good food, we live in one of the most bountiful countries in the world.  Even here in the Niagara Region where I live, there are still roadside stands where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables by just pulling over and dropping money into a jar and taking what you like.  I think that had to be the most favorite parts of living in the area.  Of course, you could also talk to your neighbours while doing so.  Catch up on what was or is going on with them, their families, the community.  I live in the best part of Canada – We produce just about everything from fruits and vegetables to VQA award winning wines.  What isn’t to love about this region?!?

The thing is that in the city where I live, the population is about 55,000, and there is 4-6 food banks where on a given day depending on which one you were at the week before, you can access all of them as far as I understand.  One week you could go to the Salvation Army, the next The Hope Centre which is just down the same street.  Get your fill of canned salt, fat, and carbohydrates and not much else.  We have a good food box program of course, for a family of 2 for $15 or a larger family $20 you receive from what I have heard a really nice array of fruits and vegetables either grown in the region during the growing season, or around the other areas of Southern Ontario.  Most are on social services here or disability, where I’m guessing some people don’t spend it as they should, and need to access these food banks either once in a while or frequently as the mood suits.  I was actually in one a few weeks ago, accessing other services, and I have to say it’s pretty depressing.  The clients were treated with respect, but what I got out of it was that they almost expected it to feed them for the entire month. – It doesn’t.  It doesn’t even come close.

We need to change, we need to gather everyone together, to make a better plan for everyone.  Not just Nick and Andrea who did this in Toronto – EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES rich or poor, healthy or sick need to come together and work at making it better for everyone.  Making it a community that everyone is proud to be a part of, to have healthy, non-processed, food that everyone can enjoy.  There are community gardens here, but on the other side of town.  What good does that do for the other side?  Nothing if you wanted to travel to garden.  We need to come together and make a plan, a solid plan to make sure our communities most vulnerable aren’t lacking.

I urge everyone to go and get this book.  Not just because you have to, but because you want to make change in your own communities.  The stats in the book are just scary for a country like ours that has our resources.  The “Food Bank” phenomenon was actually started in the USA, now they are starting them in Europe to see if it can work there.  We need to stop these, and have our communities together on a solution and not a stop-gap effort.  We should have started it decades ago, but I guess this is as good a time as any.  Read every morsel that this book has to give and start making dialogue in your own community – and if the nay sayers put up a fuss then work harder.  Get stubborn, get active and make your city or town better not worse.

People whether they are rich or poor have just as much worth.  We all have gifts that we can give to our community.  Lets get involved and make something of our gifts. If this neighbourhood in Toronto can do it, so can anyone else!  What will it take ?!?

Community Food Centers Canada - Twitter - The Learning Network – Facebook

 

The Stop Blog Tour

KOBO, KOBO, KOBO ….You are really discouraging a lot of people….including me!!!

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Dobby banging head against the wall

 

It is a few days shy of a year that I had problems with Kobo.  I have to say, since posting my angst and finally getting results from raging on twitter, the same problems are still happening.  I have in my most angry and frustrated state have gone off on the one person that I have contact with and a few other people.  The reason is because the same things keep happening over and over!

I am still receiving replies to the original post I posted a year ago.  I have had 1,628 hits and counting on that article alone.  I think and I am assuming that most are just so frustrated and angry that they don’t even want to attempt to post.  They like me see the same issues over and over and  figure that it isn’t worth replying to a post.  Because they have gone through everything on the kobo site to get their issue resolved, and they are still waiting…..

When I had my issue, I had called them at least half a dozen times and they escalated it to their infamous Tier II customer service, which in my opinion doesn’t exist.  You are kept waiting for an indefinite period until you either give up or just forget them all together.  I believe in my heart that the only reason why I received such quick service is because I posted about my experiences, and tweeted on twitter about it to anyone who would listen.  It was only then that I was contacted by a person who works in their VIP Customer Service Team.  He is a smooth talker I tell you, he gave me a $50 credit on their website, and refunded the double payment and some NSF fees that I had incurred because of their screw up.  I ended up getting so frustrated, I gave the credit away to someone, I didn’t want to have anything more to do with them.  I have since de-activated my account and removed their app from my smartphone.

By the end of it all, it was settled, and I was happy.  But then other blogging people I know had voiced their frustration at the  issues they were having, so I decided to help them.  I also heard of others having the same and different issues with either their devices, downloading problems, paying for and not receiving the book they ordered, or paid and only receiving the book preview not the whole book.  I have even done so much for you dear reader that I have forwarded your email information to kobo, so that your issue could be dealt with in a timely manner. At least I hope it was.

I do so because I am a caring person.  I do it out of the goodness of my heart.  What I don’t appreciate is when the same issues keep happening and was promised by phone and email that the issues are going to be taken care of  but, yet, they keep happening – over, and over and OVER again.  Now you can see why I posted Dobby (sorry Dobby), I am so frustrated that things keep happening, not new ones but the same ones I hear about.  It’s not only here, but on twitter as well.

I have to confess, I actually went back to buy an eBook a few months ago, and they changed their site around so that instead of clicking one button to bring you to the payment screen, now you have to click two.  I contacted my person and explained the issue, he had someone else help me, and that person didn’t even help.  They gave me completely useless information!  They did however, forget to mention that they had changed their payment procedure.  Did they tell anyone….NOPE!!

Another instance that they had not informed anyone of a change on their website a few months after that when was a friend of mine noticed that if you have a credit card on file, they will automatically charge it, instead of giving you the choice of payment options, unless you change that or delete your credit card entirely from their site.  After she had spent countless times on the phone and frustrating her to no end.

I will keep forwarding your email information and comment details to them, because it has been like I mentioned before a year minus a few days that this keeps happening.

Will I buy from them ever again….NOPE!!  Will you?!?  I won’t assume, but probably not.

This whole issue comes down to customer service.  There are plenty more eReaders out in the market now, From Sony, Kindle,  Nook and some other not so well-known companies vying for your business.  And there are plenty of places you can buy eBooks from, so your options haven’t waned in that department.  Maybe just better customer service.

When I was younger, my father always used to tell me that Customer Service is #1.  I truly believe that.  I have found more and more in the last few years that most companies don’t care because there are probably 10 more people behind you wanting something.  They would rather lose you and gain 5 more customers.  I guess that is the name of the game, in my opinion, I would rather take care of you the way I would like to be treated and keep you and the other 5 behind me waiting as customers.  Seems to me that sounds like a far better way to go instead of only gaining 5 instead of 6.

Kobo, knows all about my issues, I have yelled and screamed, been nice and cordial with them, even then it doesn’t work.  What ever happened to quality,  a job well done, or doing things the right way once instead of having to do it again over and over until you get it right.  I digress, yes, everyone is human, and we do make mistakes.

But, enough is enough ! 

Kobo Help  / Customer Service – Email - Phone / Kobo Twitter Feed

Now, if you don’t get anywhere with those links, please leave a comment on this post, or the previous one I have posted and I will help  in any way that I can.  After I send them the email, it is entirely out of my hands, so please, don’t shoot the messenger !

My Kobo statistics for the last year - actual as of today’s date*

DK Canada’s Start Something NEW !! – Classic Knits – More than 100 Beautiful Projects

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Classic KnitsAn all-in-one guide to knitting for just about anything and everything knitters want to make, Classic Knits covers equipment, techniques, stitch patterns, and includes more than twenty designs for cute things to craft and warm things to wear.

Whether it’s a new earflap hat or bright, cozy socks, Classic Knits will be the knitting “recipe book” crafters keep on their shelves for years to come. – Publishers Website

Whether you are a new to knitting person, or one that has been around a few balls of wool, you will absolutely love this book! From the more than 100 projects from something small as a pillow, or a toy for your little wee ones, this book really does have it all.

It also includes techniques for those of you that aren’t up to date on those stitches that give you those absolutely fabulous garments that you see people wearing or showcasing in their homes that you swear were designer.

Whether you like to knit your own unique clothing or home accessories, learning a new design, stitch, or upping your game to get those ooh’s and ahhh’s Classic Knitting is for you.

I know for a fact that I will probably have this book until the day I die, and then it will be handed down to my daughters.  I can see the fighting now !! Have a sneak peek below.

 

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Right now the Start Something New Boutique is all on sale, so go and check out so many more books that will have you mastering something in no time! Just click on the image below and start dreaming !

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What did YOU read Today ?!?

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FOR RELEASE November 15, 2012

SERENDIPITOUS READINGS  SUPPORTS THE ‘WHAT DID YOU READ TODAY?’ CAMPAIGN

 

Serendipitious Readings urges you to join us in supporting the National Reading Campaign and its ‘What did you read today?’ campaign. Be a part of this important initiative that has the potential to affect every aspect of Canadian society!

The National Reading Campaign, an unprecedented coalition of librarians, educators, booksellers, publishers, readers and writers, is launching its campaign to bring the joy of reading to Canadians.

“What did you read today?” is a public awareness campaign created to help make reading a national priority. Over the months to come, we’ll be asking that question to Canadians in advertising, through promotions and events, and especially via a dynamic website, where readers can drop in to talk, share and build our reading society.

On Wednesday, November 14th we’re launching “What did you read today?” with a pair of fun contests: one for the general public and one for kids. Both contests run until December 31, 2012 and are open to Canadian residents only.

Why is reading so important?
To be literate is necessary, but it is not enough. Reading is a source of pleasure at every stage of life, an imagination-building, personally fulfilling activity that enriches our lives and allows us to communicate, to understand each other, and to engage with our society. Reading is at the very heart of responsible citizenship as informed, reading helps active citizens think critically, participate actively in their communities and in their nation, and thrive throughout their lives.

Reading allows us to do better in all aspects of life: academically, professionally, and emotionally. It’s the foundation of future learning, encouraging the critical thinking skills of every individual.

However, new technologies and media choices, lifestyle changes, unprecedented competition for our leisure time and much more have changed Canadians’ reading habits, and not necessarily for the better.  Most disturbing of all, less children are reporting that they enjoy reading.  Curiosity, imagination, and all the other vital things that reading sparks—and our future needs—are at risk.

Reading grows Canada. But we have to grow reading.

  What is the National Reading Campaign?

Since 2008, the National Reading Campaign has brought together people from every region of Canada who are concerned about Canada’s changing reading habits. We represent school and public librarians, parents, readers, educators, writers, students, book and magazine publishers, booksellers, reading promoters, and everyone involved in reading in Canada. Through summits, the development of a National Reading Plan, a public awareness campaign and many other efforts, we aim to make reading a national priority, because when Canada reads, Canada grows.

Our ultimate goal is to promote reading amongst all Canadians, reflecting the value of reading as a tool for democracy and civic engagement, as a means to equalize the playing field for all Canadians, as a way for Canadians to learn about themselves, and as a vehicle for joy. In 2012, The National Reading Campaign was incorporated as a not-for profit organization.

Visit www.nationalreadingcampaign.ca to learn more.

About the contest for the general public

To enter the contest, we’re asking Canadians to tweet what they’re reading to @readingcampaign with #whatdidyoureadtoday? for a chance to win one of ten Kobo™ eReaders pre-loaded with a selection of great eBooks!

Entrants can share a title, author or even the type of reading material that they’re reading, like a magazine or graphic novel, because all reading matters.

As an added bonus, Kobo will donate $1 to the National Reading Campaign for every contest entry tweet that we receive up to $10,000 to help grow reading in Canada.

 About the contest for kids

Public libraries and schools can win $1000 in new books for their library! We’ve designed a simple “What did you read today?” contest kit that allows public librarians and teachers to create a vibrant wall or space where readers can post what they’re reading, promoting discussion about reading in its many forms.

ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION:  Serendipitous Readings has been online supporting reading and all things literary since 2008.  As a Canadian and a voracious reader, I have been in the reading scene even before it was hip and cool.

 

For more information, please contact – The National Reading Campgain – website – Twitter – with hashtag #WhatDidYouReadToday – Facebook – Pinterest

 ~* Contest ends on DECEMBER 31, 2012, so get your entries in !!  *~

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Warfare – DK Publishing

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We Make War That We May Live In Peace – Aristotle

The most wide-ranging and visually arresting history of wars and warfare ever published, War: Definitive Visual Guide documents every major war or significant period of conflict in over 5,000 years of human history.

A must-have reference gift for military enthusiasts and general readers alike, no other book about warfare contains such a diverse selection of imagery including contemporary paintings and photographs, objects and artifacts, and specially commissioned artworks, maps, and diagrams.

War: Definitive Visual Guide includes a comprehensive directory of every major war, thematic spreads examining broader topics within the history of warfare, from the role of mercenaries, communications, and the treatment of wounded soldiers, and personal accounts and objects from soldiers and civilians that bring to life the human experience of battle.

From the earliest known Wars in Sumeria and Ancient Egypt War to the occupation of Iraq, War: Definitive Visual Guide combines a coherent and compelling spread-by-spread historical narrative with a wealth of supporting features to recount the epic 5,000-year story of warfare and combat through the ages.

This is the ultimate war book.  From the Bronze Age to  present day, which includes every major war, the aspects of war, witnesses to war, as well as the hardware used through the centuries.  There are full colour photographs and artwork that portrayed major battles that changed the world.

Talks about how wars were fought in the ancient world before to Christ to present-day.  Weapons from each period – ancient, medieval, modern – how they have changed as well as the tactics have, as well as categories of weapons had me turning the pages oohing and aweing.

it also talks about the mercenaries, what they fight for, and how long they have been around…Did you know they have been around for thousands of years?  It talks about the french religious wars, the chinese civil war where the communists and the nationalists lost to the communists, and the remaining nationalists retreated to Taiwan to take China’s seat on the United Nations.

As the parent of a boy, I have to say this is one of Nick’s favorite.  He had taken it to school and had it there for a week to read during reading time.  All of his friends were intrigued to see what he was reading.

** This was previously published as War: The Definitive Visual Guide**

DK Canada

World War II – The Events And Their Impact On Real People – R.G. Grant

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“Visually stunning…readers young and old will gain understanding of their world today by perusing this engrossing history”. –VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

Beginning with the complex political and social circumstances that led to World War II, this volume comprehensively discusses the decisions made, battles fought, lives affected, and subsequent results of the war that defined the twentieth century. It includes first-hand testimony of young soldiers who remember the front lines, as well as the wives, parents, and children left stateside.

Fifty million people lost their lives during the bloodiest and most extraordinary conflict of the twentieth century.  What was it like to experience – and survive – Such a remarkable time in history?

This incredible book combines spectacular images with dramatic eyewitness accounts by the people who were actually there: the courageous soldiers fighting on land, at sea, and in the air, and the civilians at home telling stories of fear, courage, and hope.- Publishers Website - Back Cover

I cannot fathom being in the middle of any sort of armed conflict – war, famine, the sound of guns and bombs overhead as people on the ground are running for their lives as the buildings around them are exploding.  From a quiet neighborhood to a downtown city street.  You don’t know when or where it will hit – hearing the air raid sirens going off and you are praying that it wont hit your neighborhood or anyone else’s for that matter.

War is a dirty, messy business.  For those who have lived through World War II, we have those stories now in this book with revealing footage in the attached DVD to bring you these stories.  There are also maps, charts, and timelines that provide instant information on the course of events.

Although this book is intended for children between the ages of 10 to 17, in my opinion, it is a valuable resource for all ages depending on their depth of interpretation, and of course whether parents think it is an appropriate subject to be talking about.

So on this remembrance day, please take a moment out of your day and thank the men and women that fought for our country to keep it safe, the many, many lives that were taken from our families and friends and give them thanks.

 
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The LEGO Book – Expanded and Fully Revised – Daniel Lipkowitz

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Reveal, explore, and celebrate the fascinating LEGO® story in The LEGO® Book. From its beginnings in a carpenter’s workshop and the development of the first plastic brick, to the group’s current position as an international brand, a timeline highlights key moments in LEGO® history.

Fascinating facts on every significant LEGO® product line, theme park, video game, artwork, competition, club, collectible and more combine with images from the LEGO Group’s photo archives-many seen here for the first time-and inspiring ideas on how to make a variety of things from just a few bricks. Packaged in a beautiful slip case with cutting-edge design, this two-volume set also features Standing Small-a 96-page book celebrating the minifigure.

LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick configuration and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2009 The LEGO Group. – Publishers Website

I love this book!  From 2 to 92 and beyond, this fully revised and updated version has to be the most complete book and the history, the themes, the sets, and how everything first began over 50 years ago!

it includes the latest toy themes with a photo tour of every moment with special features, achievements which explore every aspect of the Lego World which includes Theme Parks, Star Wars, minilands, videogames, visual arts, animations and so much more.

With imaginative play as the main focus other skills such as social, and motor skills as well as the creative aspects will have you interested from the moment you receive your first set to building everything in between with our own children and grandchildren in the years and decades to come.  It has been #1 since it’s start in 1932 when the company started building wooden toys like yo-yo’s, wooden blocks and pull toys of all kinds.

Did you know:

  • An average of 18 bricks out of every million fails the most stringent tests
  • 36 BILLION Lego bricks are produced each year (68,000 each minute)
  • 6 red 8 stud bricks can be combined into 915,103,765 different ways
  • 4200 different brick shapes
  • There are 80 bricks for every person in the World

So, one other thing I have to mention…When my kids were younger it always had to be the smallest of the bricks that you would find yourself stepping on thinking that you had picked them all up…Am I right, or am I right?!?   My darling son has amassed a collection that is now been handed off to someone else.  His imagination has even gotten him into Lego League where a team of his classmates entered a school board wide competition where they had certain themes every year they had to complete and compete against other schools in the board territory.  I have to say the kids not only did wonderful with building their robots and working as a team.  Quite a few of them had the zaniest costumes/teams/ideas that I have ever seen in a Saturday competition !! It just so happened, that my son’s team won the Spirit Award for the year they competed !!

DK Canada is having a photo contest, click here to see how you can win! -  Check out the DK Canada Lego Boutique -  Download a Lego Poster – Lego Website – Lego Education Site – Lego Club Magazine (free)

Here is an inside look at The Lego Book -

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