Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.
Top Kiwi toastie revealed
Now, I’m not sure which nation lays claim to inventing the toastie but for the sake of this discussion, with no proof, I’m going with New Zealand. Sure there are grilled sandwiches elsewhere in the world and they’re great but there is something very Kiwi about toasted sandwiches. One of my family’s crowning moments when I was a child was the purchase of a General Electric toastie maker, bought in Australia on a trip in the later ’70s. It weighed a tonne but knocked out first rate toasties, time after time. In fact, it still does.
So, this week, as I was darting through the doom and gloom on online news I came across a story about the winner of this year’s Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover.
“‘Figgy in the Middle’, a sweet and savoury creation from Rotorua chef Rich Johns, has just been crowned the ultimate champion at this year’s [winner]. The winning toastie can be found on the menu at Okere Falls Store, Cafe & Craft Beer Garden, just outside Rotorua.
“It features dill pickle cheesecake whip, Swiss cheese, sliced figs, Vandy’s streaky bacon, toasted walnuts, rocket, McClure’s pickles, blue cheese, and a generous drizzle of chilli honey, all sandwiched between golden and toasted sourdough. It’s then topped with copious amounts of grated parmesan for that finishing touch.” (Source: “The best toastie in NZ has been crowned – what’s the secret?,” by Jogai Bhatt, 21st August, www.rnz.co.nz).
5 stars – this winning creaton is world’s away from creamed corn and cheese but I’d certainly give it a go.
Gaming developer turns music videos on their head
When I read the following story I was struck by the ingenuity of the idea. Finn Johansson has created interactive music videos – taking the standard form of a music video and turning it into an interactive gaming experience.
“He credits the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ music video for ‘Californication’ as inspiring him, saying, ‘It looked like the best video game graphics ever. A band running around doing video game-y things. And then it ends, and you think ‘I would play that game’.
“‘With [Finnsoft], you watch a music video, you have those same feelings, but right at the end a text comes up, saying you can actually download and play this game that you just saw the music video of. The incentive for a band is, if people get addicted to the game, they’re hearing your song way more than a video. You play a game and three hours later you’ve been immersed in this song, or EP.’” (Source: “Is it a music video or is it a game?,” by Tony Stamp, 18th August, www.rnz.co.nz).
5 stars – Finn is working with bands to create these music video games and it’s fantastic to see young Kiwis using their skill sets to think outside the box and create wonderfully creative and original products.
New Zealand secures significant artefact of Antarctic exploration
We have a unique relationship with Antarctica and a storied part in the exploration of that continent. I’ve been fascinated with tales of Amundsen and Shackleton, as well as Scott, and I hope that one day I may visit Antarctica. So this week I read with fascination that Canterbury Museum had bought Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Polar Medal that was awarded to him in 1905 for his participation in Scott’s Discovery Expedition.
Anyone who has had the good fortune to visit Canterbury Museum will attest that one of its most interesting exhibits is the one dedicated to Antarctic exploration.
“Museum Director-Tumuaki Anthony Wright said: ‘This cements Canterbury Museum’s international standing as the repository of one of the most significant collections of heroic age Antarctic objects in the world, and it underscores Ōtautahi Christchurch’s pivotal role as a gateway to the great southern continent for well over a century,” he said. ‘The value of the medal to the museum is immense. It is an iconic object of enormous interest worldwide. As far as we know it has only been exhibited twice – both times in London – since Shackleton died over 100 years ago.'” (Source: “Rare Ernest Shackleton medal heading to NZ after battle with British government,” 21st August, www.rnz.co.nz).
