The Dangers of Being Too Negative

Join me in chuckling over this one!

A sidebar in a story in today's edition of my local daily newspaper read this way: "Just because no one in your family or on your block doesn't do it, that doesn't mean you cannot or should not do it."

Now I think I know what this statement means, but I am not so sure that I understand what it says. As we have all experienced at one time or another, things written in haste sometimes just cry out for a little quick editing too!

Thank You ! ! !

This is the time to sit down and write some Christmas thank-you notes.

One of the presents I received this year has already provided me with a generous measure of blessing. My friends John and Vicky Joseph gave me a wonderful gift! "How Can I Keep from Singing" is a recently released CD produced right here in Hamilton. This CD is all the more special to them and to me because their daughter Felicia is one of the featured voices.

Locally produced CDs featuring church youth choirs don't usually rate too high on my musical expectation list. One often treasures them more for their personal and sentimental value. However, "How Can I Keep From Singing" is for me a real winner. I listened to it once the day I received it and then I immediately listened to it again. It has been played at least half a dozen times in our household over the holiday season and I know that it will be played many times more in the future.

This CD features the Youth Choir of Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church here in Hamilton under the direction of Brenda Bianchi. This group of about forty young singers not only demonstrates musical talent but these young people bring to the varied selection of music they present a certain sincere and jubilant enthusiasm that is quite contagious. Thanks to the magic of electronics the ever so suitable instrumental accompaniment, which sounds like a small orchestra, is really all the work of the Choir's musician Gregory Ulrich.

The music is sparkling, uplifting and varied in mood and tone. It deserves to be noted that Director Bianchi is also the composer of two of the selections presented and responsible for the vocal arrangements for several of the other traditional selections in the collection. I think that this CD is a wonderful treat for anyone who is seeking a fresh sound in Christian music by and for youth.

The CD was produced by Bianchi and Ulrich and is distributed by Adoremus Records (50 Brucedale Ave. E., Hamilton, ON, L9A 1M8). I don't know whether or not it is being released commercially but if you are in the Hamilton area and you get a chance to purchase a copy - don't pass it up.

May I express my thanks to all who were involved in this production. Your work has brought me joy. It does indeed make me feel like singing!

My thanks to John and Vicky for their most thoughtful gift - and a special thanks to their daughter Felicia for her lovely presentation of "To You O Lord."

Will China Escape from Walmart?

The North American steel industry is suddenly starting to notice China. During the past year steel prices have been high. However, projections are that this will change and the marketplace may soon become much more competitive. Part of the explanation rests with China.

Industrialization has been proceeding at such a pace in China that its needs for steel had significantly outstripped it's domestic production capacity. It was a welcome customer on the world market. However, two factors will soon change that situation in dramatic ways.

On the one hand the explosive rate of industrial expansion in China is starting to level off. Added to that is the fact that the Chinese government has recently approved expenditures of 4.5 billion dollars (US) for the expansion of two of its major steel production operations. Guess what? China is about to go from being an net importer of steel to a major exporter of steel.

National Whipped Cream Day

Those who know me well are aware that I have a secret passion for whipped cream. I don't lust after the real thing whipped up with the beater - and certainly not that edible oil product that comes in plastic tubs. I crave that good old fashioned whipped cream that you spray out of a can! With considerable effort through the years I have worked to suppress frequent urges that would surely have turned my secret passion into a case of public infamy!

And, today is the day to celebrate. On this day (January 5th.) in the year 1914 Aaron Lapin was born in St. Louis, Missouri. As my bilingual Canadian friends will understand, he came to be known as "Bunny" Lapin. In 1948 this resourceful man, who had developed a valve for aerosal cans, unveiled his latest creation - Reddi Wip! Initially sold to housewives by milkmen in St. Louis it went national in 1954 and the rest, as they say, is history.

Since its introduction in 1948 about one billion cans of the stuff have been sold. Henry Petroski, an Engineering and History Professor at Duke University who is fascinated by inventions and new products, says of this one that it is "a little luxury that no one but the inventor deemed as needed but that all of us find indispensable once it is marketed." Lapin experimented with other aerosal products (cinnamon margarine & pancake batter to name two) but none of them caught on. But Reddi Wip not only survived it continued to thrive. As recently as 1998 it made Time Magazine's list of 100 greatest consumer products.

Incidently, there is also a Canadian hook to this story. Lapin, who died in 1999 at the age of 85, was married to a Toronto born woman. Sondra Metzger, whose father was Canadian Counsel General to Panama for over 20 years, continues to be a productive artist whose work is vibrant and colour filled. If you are unfamiliar with her you may want to visit her web site.