Re: Advice

[Jonathan Stoppi <stops -at- qualum -dot- com>]

tsullivan -at- netexpress -dot- net wrote:

>>One suggestion I have is the story of the tomato.  This is reputed to be a
true story.

Just before the turn of the century (late 1800's) the masses here in the
United States believed tomatoes were poisonous.  No one grew them or ate
them. <<


As I understand it, Peter the Great did one better: after introducing it to
the people of Russia in the (correct) belief that it would provide better
sustenance than the food they'd been growing till then, they somehow made
the mistake of thinking that the edible part is the stalk.  After thousands
had fallen ill eating this, nobody wanted anything more to do with potatoes.

So he did something very simple.  He declared the potatoes imperial property
and posted guards around the potato fields, who were instructed to keep
everyone out and - most importantly - NOT tell them the secret that it is
the root of potatoes that should be eaten, not the stalk.

Within weeks, potatoes were disappearing from the fields faster than you can
say pommes frites, and being eaten properly, this time.

And the rest is history.

- Jonathan Stoppi
  Dances with Elves
  stops -at- qualum -dot- com


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