Q. Creative partnerships are notoriously combustible. Yet, somehow, composer Richard Rodgers (1902-79) and dramatist/lyricist Oscar Hammerstein (1895-1960) managed to collaborate for nearly two decades, producing beloved musicals from The Sound of Music (💐) to Oklahoma, Carousal, South Pacific, The King and I. The pair also created the Cinderella musical for

Q. What are some examples of inventions that were a flop to start, but then found new life put to an altogether different purpose? . A. As it turns out, there have been lots. Our first look in… Bubble Wrap How do you feel about the pop, pop, pop of

Q. Be it for pleasure or for work, plenty of people find themselves travelling alone. What are people looking for in the solo travel experience? . A. It’s a question American Express explored in their 2024 Global Travel Trends Report. Their respondents were more than 7,000 adults from Australia, Canada,

Q. It is too easy to plunge into the pool of corporate jargon, especially if these spray-cheese words find their way into official corporate documents. ‘Our mission critical for 2024? Effective Accelerationism.’ If we’re lucky, the jargon becomes easy company short-hand. “Ah, yes. This accelerationism does seem effective.” More likely

Q. The might macaron has found its way from the secret cookbook stashes of France to baking sheets across the world. Was this colourful, easy-hide treat created to satisfy queenly cravings? . A. It was not. Though it inevitably found its way onto royal tea sets, the macaron grew up

Q. The glorious rose has inspired all manner of artists. Take this excerpt from ‘To All Gentleness’, a poem from William Carlos William (1883-1963): ‘Like a cylindrical tank fresh silvered upended on the sidewalk to advertise some plumber’s shop, a profusion of pink roses bending ragged in the rain –

Q. We know the art of music-making is (🧐 can be) a beautiful thing. How have renowned painters captured musicians on canvas? . A. So many gorgeous painting options. Here’s a first set… Rosso Fiorentino. Musical Angel.  1522 . Caravaggio. The Lute Player. 1595 . Caravaggio. The Musicians. 1597 .

Q. Happy Canada Day Weekend! For those who live in Canada: what will you be eating to celebrate? What are some foods that were ‘invented’ in Canada? . A. Since we’re writing from BC, we’ll start in the deep woods… If you are hiking in the forest and want to

Q. Two questions: i. What possessed me to buy this one-of-a-kind outfit? ii. Why did I think it was worth stuffing it into my suitcase, just in case the ‘perfect’ occasion should magically present itself while we’re on vacation? Probability? 🍩 Which items do travellers most often pack and then

Q. Do leaders’ communication skills get better and better as they ascend the power rungs? No. But, according to studies, plenty of these ascendant leaders mistakenly believe that they are knocking their speechifying and one-on-ones out of the park. Why the disconnect? What aren’t these bosses saying, hearing, and doing?