11/25/2019 0 Comments Sourtoe CocktailKoktajl z kawałekiem ludzkiego ciała? Kanadyjski koktajl, mający swój początek w 1973 roku to połączenie alkoholu i zmumifikowanego palca ludzkiego. Sourtoe Coctail serwowany jest tylko i wyłącznie w hotelu Downtown w Dawson. W tym miejscu właśnie w ok. 1920 roku został odcięty palec Otto Likena ( aby zapobiec gangrenie) i schowany do słoika z bourbonem. 50 lat później znalazł go kapitan Dick Stevenson, który wypił zawartość słoja i w ten sposób zapoczątkował istnienie najdziwniejszego koktajlu świata… Główną zasadą picia tego napoju jest picie alkoholu dotkając ustami palca w nim zanużonego. Skąd brane są palce do drinków? Otóż istnieje wiele patronów i fanów tego przedsięwzięcia, którzy oddają palce amputowane z różnych przyczyn. Jednym z nich był zmarły 14 listopada 2019r kapitan Dick Stevenson- twórca napoju. Canada is regarded as one of the most beautiful country in the world. Most people focus on the geographical beauty of the Rocky Mountains found between Alberta and British Columbia, or the dramatic cliff coastlines of the maritime provinces. Or maybe even the rainforests of British Columbia. But Canada has one gem reserved for the truly wild at heart. In the Canadian North you will find the Yukon territory. With a total land and water area of approximately 480 000 km2 (100 000km2 bigger than Poland!), the territory is home to only 35 000 people (approximately the same as Lebork). With such a large size and low population, the Yukon is very sparsely populated. The territory is well known nationally for its expansive and untouched wilderness. Deep in this wilderness is the small town of Dawson City. With a population of 1 400 people, it is the second largest municipality in the territory, second only to Whitehorse. While this small town already has its place in history for being a major hub during the Klondike Goldrush era, the SourToe Cocktail has brought international infamy and notoriety to its doorstep in recent decades. However, the Legend begins much earlier. During prohibition, two brothers Louie and Otto Liken were rum runners. And one day things went sideways. During a blizzard Louie put his foot through the ice and into the freezing waters. By the time he got back to his cabin his foot was frozen and was suffering from severe frostbite. To prevent serious complications like gangrene (tissue death) Otto cut his brothers big toe off. The toe was put into a jar with bourbon and left in the cabin where it was found by Captain Dick Stevenson fifty years later in 1973. And somehow the Sourtoe Cocktail was created. This cocktail is served exclusively at the Downtown Hotel in Dawson. The quirky drink consists of two ingredients: a shot of choice hard alcohol and a mummified human toe. For $5 the Toe Master, called The Captain will pour you a drink and explain the rules, “you can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips must touch the toe.” The Captain will stay will you until the drink is finished and serve as a witness. When a patron successfully kisses the toe they gain admittance into exclusive Sourtoe Cocktail Club and are given a certificate as proof. Over the decades toes have been swallowed, stolen and of course have deteriorated. But patrons and fans have donated toes due to accidental amputation, frostbite, diabetes, inoperable toe corns and some even anonymously. As of 2013 swallowing the toe will result in a $2 500 fine due to theft, destruction of private property, loss of revenue and cannibalism. The Sourtoe Cocktail has been in Canadian news recently as Captain Dick Stevenson, the drink’s creator passed away on November 14, 2019 at the age of 89. He has willed his toes to the Downtown Hotel, ensuring the legendary story and drink will live on.
McLean’s Canada: What it feels like to join the sourtoe cocktail club in Dawson City (1:02) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Y8eVdxXXk CBC: Sourtoe: The Story of the Sorry Cannibal Documentary (17:37) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2rKP123DJQ Sources: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/sourtoe-cocktail-lives-on-at-yukon-bar-after-creator-wills-his-own-toes-1.4693551 https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sourtoe-cocktail
0 Comments
11/18/2019 0 Comments Polowanie na foki.Przez wieki społeczności Kanadyjskie, szczególnie tzw. Eskimosi słynęli z uboju fok. Oczywiście stanowiąca większość populacji, jest przeciwna zabijaniu tych morskich istot, uważając to za “nieludzkie”. Polowanie na foki jest ważną częścią kultury północnej społeczności Kanady- jest to ich główny środek dochodowy, a przede wszystkim sposób utrzymania. Czy zatem mamy prawo twierdzić, że jest to nieludzkie, skoro na świecie istnieje mnóstwo rzeźni, ubojni, które zajmują się podobnymi sprawami? ( mowa o ubojni krów, świń itp) Czy nie jest to egoistyczne spojrzenie na rzeczywistość ze strony reszty? Canada has come under fire many times in the last few decades for seal hunting. This practise has been deemed inhumane and as a result seal products have been banned in many countries around the world, including the European Union. Because this topic is so controversial, much of the information has been sensationalized and tends to be very biased. One of the most common incorrect criticisms about the industry is that it is unsustainable. This means that the seals are being hunted in such extreme numbers that populations cannot recover. However this is not true. Seal populations remain very healthy across the country, despite hitting cull and/or hunting quotas from lows of 80 000 to highs of 400 000 per year. The method of killing has also been heavily criticized. The most common way is to crush the skull of the seal after it has been stunned. For reference, livestock is stunned and then suspended before major vessels are cut and the animal bleeds to death. Seal hunting remains an important part of Inuit culture in the Canadian north. Seals are hunted by the Inuit for their livelihood, both for sustenance and for income. It is a traditional practise than has been embedded into many communities of Inuit across the North and has taken place for hundreds if not thousands of years. If seal hunting was outright banned in Canada, this would severely impair and even devastate these small communities as the selling of pelts and meat is their main and often the only source of income. The criticism of this industry in respect to the Inuit is a cruel double standard. The killing of animals is a grisly reality of life and in some cases survival. Calling the killing of seals inhumane is ignorant to the highly commercialised slaughter houses found across the world. It is ignorant to sport hunting. And most of all it is ignorant to delicacies such as veal or foie gras. The pictures shown of seal slaughters is of course horrifying, (but no more horrifying than inside a commercial slaughterhouse - there is a reason photos and videos inside slaughterhouses are typically illegal). The red blood of the seals is a beacon of extreme contrast on the white ice and snow. But don’t be fooled in thinking that the pork, poultry or beef you consume didn’t bleed before it made it onto your plate. The only credible debates against seal hunting is the necessity of controlling populations and increasing problems due to global warming. Other than pelts, seals have been hunted to such extreme numbers due being labelled a pest and damaging the cod populations. However, there have been many good arguments over the years stating seals are simply being used as a scapegoat for overfishing and are not to blame. But even with the resulting extreme cull, populations are still healthy and have increased dramatically in the last 50 years. The other argument against seal hunting is global warming. Seal pups need ice to survive, as the world warms up there is less and less ice for them. This argument states that we need to not put stress on the populations due to the increasing stress that global warming is putting them in.
Sources: https://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/food-specific-requirements-and-guidance/meat-products-and-food-animals/humane-stunning-and-slaughter/eng/1519849311784/1519849312189 https://medium.com/getting-heated-argumentation-in-the-anthropocene/what-do-you-know-about-the-seal-hunt-946ad91225a3 https://nationalpost.com/news/canada-is-never-ever-going-to-stop-killing-seals-your-tell-all-guide-to-the-seal-hunt 11/13/2019 0 Comments Obchody 11 listopada w Kanadzie11 listopad jest dniem ważnym zarówno dla Polaków jak i Kanadyjczyków. W Polsce obchodzimy rocznicę Odzyskania Niepodległości (w tym roku jest to 101 rocznica), natomiast w Kanadzie 11 listopad to Dzień Pamięci poległych w czasie wojny żołnierzy kanadyjskich. Ważnym wymogiem dla Kanadyjczyków przed tym dniem jest niewystawianie świątecznych ozdób, gdyż jest to traktowane jako niegodne i pozbawione szacunku. Świąteczne dekoracje w sklepach można więc zobaczyć dopiero po 12 listopada. Symbolem obchodów Dnia Pamięci jest mak, który noszony jest w trakcie ceremonii po lewej stronie nad sercem. O godzinie 11:11 , w każdym miejscu w Kanadzie ludzie zatrzymują się w ciszy na 2 minuty, usłyszeć można tylko dźwięki trąbki grającej pieśń upamiętniającą. Monday, November 11, 2019 marks the 101st anniversary of the armistice of World War I. And in Canada, it will be the 101th celebration of Remembrance Day (previously called Armistice Day). Today, Remembrance Day is to honour and remember all those who have fallen in service for Canada. On November 11th many people follow the National Remembrance Day Ceremony at the National War Memorial near Parliament Hill in Ottawa from television, livestream or radio, some will attend local ceremonies, and for many it is a normal day. Unlike every other public event in the country, Remembrance Day is the only one that is treated solemnly and seriously. After Halloween is cleaned up, the country gets ready for Remembrance Day. Nothing special needs to be done. The one requirement is not putting up Christmas decorations. Christmas season starts on November 12th. Doing anything before this date is considered highly disrespectful to the sacrifice and memory of fallen Canadian soldiers. In the weeks leading up to November 11th, people grab free poppies (donations to The Legion are encouraged) and wear them on their coats or collars. Usually on the left side, over your heart. The red is for the blood spilled and the black is for those who mourn the fallen. The poppy became the most important symbol of Remembrance Day after Canadian John McCrae wrote the iconic poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem memorializes his experience fighting in the Second Battle of Ypres in the Flanders region of Belgium. The battle was won, but the losses were great. His poem reflects both on the nightmare of the battle, but also how quickly the poppies grew in between the graves when all was over. This area is now known as the John McCrae Memorial Site. In the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a trumpet will ring and the country will fall silent. The trumpet song, the Last Post will lead Canada into silence. The Last Post is a song used in military tradition to signify the end of the day, or the end of a soldiers life. It is played at both funerals and commemorations. For two minutes we will honour, reflect and remember the sacrifices that were made for us by our fellow Canadians and our international allies, for both those who fell and those who survived. The radio stations and news broadcasts will fall silent. In public spaces, such as shopping malls and supermarkets, announcements will be made and silence will follow. Public and private institutions, such as schools and businesses may host ceremonies leading up to the silence of 11:11:11, otherwise activities will be paused. For two minutes people will stop whatever it they are doing, and join in a moment of silence. After the two minutes of silence, ceremonies are near the end. And the day goes on as usual. In Flanders Fields By John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. |
AuthorMy name is Madison. I am from Alberta, Canada. I like to read books, go hiking and explore new cities. Even though I am Canadian, I don't watch hockey and I don't like snow. I graduated from The University of Lethbridge in 2018 after studying English Literature and Art History for six years. I have travelled to the Mexican state, Nayarit and to Tokyo, Japan. I hope to travel all over the world. Archives
June 2020
Categories |