Hi everybody,

I'm going to talk about a very famous french group who is a precursor of the Electronic Music ... Of course my topic is about Daft Punk ! 

The group compound of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo has been founded in 1992, they named it Daft Punk because a british music critic called their music, literally like a "daft punk". He was quite true when he said that, because the particularity of Daft Punk is to mix different music styles including rock with electronic sounding which makes their music unique. 

They became famous with their first album, entitled Homework where you can find their most famous singles as Around the World or Alive. Their music start off the infatuation about electronic music all around the world. As their first album, Discovery, their second one, generate a great enthusiasm, only fans know the name of the album, but everyone knows about the tubes which were One more time and Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. This album has also been used for the soundtracks of Instrella 5555. 

Nowadays, Daft Punk are well known for their spectacular music but also for their concert, which are always impressive, in France and everywhere in the world. 
As in our blog we love to bring you gifts for you to be aware of all the news about music, Daft Punk will certainly come out a new album in the early 2013, and perhaps a tour with it. 

I hope you enjoyed, and see you for the next topic !

André.

The Christmas tradition... In the West Indies !

By Cédric

Hello everybody !
 As you know, Christmas is coming soon with all its trees - decorated with their bright lights and garlands - , its chocolates, delicious meals, its snowflakes, and of course, the famous gifts you have been waiting for ! (only if you have been nice during all the year ;)).
 Today, we are going to tell you about a different Xmas tradition... in the West Indies and more precisely in Martinique !

The "Chanté Nwel"

In Martinique (and also in Guadeloupe), from November 1st - which is All Saint's Day-, people organize festivities, where one sings various hymns, and shares traditional meals.

1-  Origins

The origin of "Chanté Nwel" dates from the slavery between the 17th Century and and the 19th Century in the West Indies.
The slaves, who had a Catholic education and had to play music for religious services, began to play various instruments as drum, and sing hymns, which were a mix of African culture, and European Catholic Texts. This mix of cultures is the result of the Triangular Trade.

2- Tradition

During the festivities, people get together to sing famous hymns well-known in the island such as "Dans Le Calme De La Nuit", "Il est né le Divin Enfant", and "Michaud Veillait", and some music groups play instruments to accompany the hymns.
 What makes "Chanté Nwel" a famous and well-appreciated event in Martinique is that no matter who you are, whether you belong to a music group or not, you can take part in the events, and have fun.

But "Chanté Nwel" is not only about singing, is the chance to discover the culinary tradition : You can taste the famous "punch", the traditional hot chocolate with toloman. At Christmas Eve, you will be able to taste various recipes made with pork such as Creole puddings, pâtés and the "Xmas ham".
But be careful : Once you will tast it, you will be addicted to it !

[Here some videos if you want to know what a Chanté Nwel looks like : ] 

Carribean Noël : Live in Paris

Chanté Nwel in London

Fortune cookie

Hi everybody!

Today, we are going to talk about fortunate cookies.

Fortune Cookies are a well-known feast in the US and around the world. They are known to the general public because of their famous prediction that you can found inside the cake. The fortune is a piece of paper on which we can found a wisdom sentence that can apply to everybody. The funny thing about it is that this cookie is known overseas as a Chinese invention - since its sell in Chinese restaurants - though it doesn't really exist nowadays in China. The roots of this famous "cake" are unclear though Canada, Japan and China are cited as the main creator of it.

There are also a lot of urban legends concerning fortune cookies even though no of them have been proven. For example, in China there is a rumor that fortune cookies were the favorite 'weapon' of spies. It was a good means of communication because nobody suspected that the secrets of the country were written on pieces of paper inserted into cakes.

The date of creation of this treat is also unclear because many sources claim that the fortunate cookies have taken their roots during Antiquity - to give hope to poor people or as an amusement for rich people - or even during the Middle age.

The mystery about fortunate cookies are still opaque, who has created them? When?  Even though these questions don’t have yet a good answer, the mystery doesn't bother the Americans who continue to buy these pastries in hope to win some fortune.

So, here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 large egg whites
• 1 cup superfine sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
• Pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• Nonstick cooking spray

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet liberally with cooking spray. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat; set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine egg whites and sugar, and beat on medium speed, about 30 seconds. Add flour and salt, and beat until combined. Add butter, heavy cream, and almond extract, and beat until combined, about 30 seconds.

3. Pour 1 tablespoon of batter onto half of the baking sheet, and spread with the back of a spoon into a thin 5-inch circle; repeat on the other half of the sheet. Bake until the edges of the cookies turn golden brown, about 8 minutes.

4. Transfer baking sheet to a heat-resistant surface. Working as quickly as possible, slide a spatula (an offset spatula, available at specialty kitchen shops, works best) under one of the cookies. Lift it up, and place it on a clean kitchen towel. Using your fingers, fold the cookie in half, pinching the top together to form a loose semicircle. Hold the cookie with your index fingers inserted at each open end, and slide your thumbs together along the bottom line. Press into the center of the cookie while bending the two open ends together and down to form the shape of a fortune cookie. This whole process should take about 10 seconds. Once the cookie hardens, which begins to happen almost immediately, you cannot fold it. Place the fortune cookie on the kitchen towel to cool, and shape the second cookie. Repeat until all the batter is used up. To speed up the process, bake four cookies at a time, staggering two cookie sheets by 4 minutes to give you time to shape. To avoid wasting batter, practice folding with a circle of paper first.

5. Write your message on a long strip of sturdy art paper, such as Japanese moriki. Thread the fortune through the cookie when it has cooled.

http://www.marthastewart.com/262421/fortune-cookies

Sandy Hook elementary school massacre

~ Day's subject ~

SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MASSACRE

                                                          Adam Lanza , 2005

Dears followers,

Today we will talk about a recent tragedy which touchs all the world. It was on December 14, 2012 at Sandy Hook village of Newton in the Connecticut. During this massacre, 28 people die including the perpetrator.The majority of pupils was 6 years old. The author of these crimes was Adam Lanza a 20-year-old man. He was an old student of the elementary school and he was mentally unstable. 

Lanza premeditated his act.One day ago,he went to a gun's store to buy arms for this gunfight but the sellor didn't sell him arms. Despite that,he found arms in the personal stock of his mother.
At 9:30 am , Lanza fatally shot his mother Nancy Lanza, aged of 52 years old at their home. At 9:35 am, he entered into the elementary school and shot 28 people before to kill his self.

But there's a question without answers why does he do that ? 
Perhaps because of his mental ilness ? Or the divorce of his parents which affects him ? Or maybe because his mother initiated  him into a shooting when he was still only a child ?
The President of the United States,Barack Obama,declared that we need to reinforce the access to arms. 

Let's Discuss ! 

CLICK HERE !

      By Prisca,William and Anissa.