The Bing Dynasty

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 11

2011-11-06T16:35:00.001-08:00

'Animal' - Pearl Jam (Vs): A perfect slice of funky metallic rage, this is one of the first riffs I ever learned to play on the guitar and is definitely one of my very favourite Pearl Jam rockers. I always loved the "one two three four five against one" intro and Mike McCready delivers one of his most searing solos (live, his solo on 'Animal' is often totally unhinged and often one of my personal highlights from any Pearl Jam set that features this song). And of course, Eddie Vedder sounds more than a little annoyed as he delivers his opening line "Torture from you to me/abducted from the street.." There is a reason why I used to come home and listen to this song almost every day after working a job I totally loathed. I found it very cathartic.

'Older' - Band of Horses (Infinite Arms): This track is a lovely, loping, somewhat ramshackle country song that reminds me feel-wise of Neil Young's 'Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere', except with far tighter harmonies. I don't even know the lyrics but it's the sound of this song that I immediately fell in love with, as it reminds me of the best that roots-rock has to offer. I started listening to Band of Horses in 2006 or 2007 with Everything All The Time, but it's only relatively recently that I truly fell in love with them; I've been playing Infinite Arms on repeat for the last couple of weeks!

'Black Eyes' - Gary Louris and Mark Olson (Ready For The Flood): Louris and Olson's vocal harmonies are amongst my favourite in music--I'm a huge Jayhawks fan. So, when the two of them got together and cut an album for the first time since Olson left The Jayhawks in 1995, I was drooling. The resulting collection, Ready For The Flood, was great and set the stage for the return of the original lineup of The Jayhawks this year with Mockingbird Time (going to see them here in Victoria in February!!). This song is just a lovely fingerpicked acoustic ballad with gorgeous harmonies. That's really all there is to say. So good.

'One Sunday Morning' - Wilco (The Whole Love): It's very rarely that I'm absolutely gobsmacked by a song on first lesson, but this 12-minute slow burner absolutely astounded me. It seemed to embody all my sorrows and my yearnings--if great music should make you feel something, this track accomplished that in spades. It meanders and builds, with a lovely, catchy, repetitive riff accompanied by hushed piano and brushed drums. Jeff Tweedy's voice is right up front in the mix, filled with quiet melancholy. I can't really do justice to this track with words. You just need to listen.

Listen to this playlist here.

Taxpayers vs. citizens

2011-09-21T19:33:00.001-07:00

I'm generally not one given to political commentary, other than believing most politicians to be snakes, liars, and cheats. However, the following article struck a chord with me and essentially echoed something I've been thinking for a long time and something that is somewhat near to my heart. This originally appeared in the Toronto Star on September 15, 2011.

Taxpayers vs. citizens

The suffering hero of our times is, we are told, the tormented taxpayer. Politicians mount campaigns to protect the taxpayer, editorial writers evaluate politicians and their policies on whether they will increase or decrease the “burden” to taxpayers, and some self-described taxpayers have formed organizations to plead their cause and lament their plight. Thus, you have the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition, to name only two. The latter recently offered an essay contest confined to the simplistic anti-visionary insipidity, “Lower taxes are good for Toronto because . . .”

Over the past few decades, Canadian citizens have been reduced to “taxpayers,” as all sectors of society have increasingly adopted “taxpayers” as the preferred term for the designation of its citizens. Why is this the case and does it matter?

While everyone who pays taxes is obviously a tax payer (two words), the term “taxpayer” (one word) denotes something much more. “Taxpayer” is an individualistic and self-centred definition that imagines taxes as a transaction in which a levy or a tariff is borne and paid by an individual in exchange for specific personally-realized services. Hence, all evaluations and calculations of government actions and community development programs are based simply upon their monetary “cost” to an individual “taxpayer,” without any reference whatsoever to social benefit or community value. As Daniel Kemmis, a thoughtful mayor in Montana, pointed out, taxpayers do not see themselves as citizens of the community engaged in democratic and communal self-governance, but rather as individuals paying tribute in exchange for services. Or, as summed up by American journalist Robert Herold: “Taxpayers seek always to reduce public life to a balance sheet.”

From this perspective, proposed programs and projects of the community are not evaluated on the basis of whether they provide value to the community, but solely and simply on the basis of individual cost in exchange for services to a particular individual, known as the “taxpayer.” The relevant question thus becomes: How has this benefited me personally? Similarly, the highest social good, the preeminent political goal, is simply reduced to one element: lower taxes. Benefit to a neighbour without equal benefit to me is seen as poor value for my tax dollar.

In marked contrast to taxpayers, citizens understand that they are important participants in and responsible for the democratic governance of their society. Citizens are rooted in their community and evaluate all of their contributions from the perspective of contributing to the building and well-being of the total community — of which they are an important part. A citizen seeks to work at building a community founded upon pro-social (as opposed to anti-social) communal values. The operative question for a citizen thus becomes: What contribution am I making to build and strengthen the community for my family and for my neighbours — for my fellow citizens? Citizens will see taxes as a positive contribution to broader society, whether city, province or country.

Taxpayer language has long been the preferred term of the neo-conservative movement and has gained currency in our society due to extensive utilization of this term by some political parties (although increasingly employed by all political parties) and lobby groups. The destruction of social linkages that create a community and the dissociation of citizens from social programs that benefit the whole of society are the direct by-products — and perhaps the intended goals. If everyone is an individual paying their own way, whether in health care or other social services, taxes will always be viewed as a burden, not as a contribution to the communal good. The socially destructive agenda of taxpayer language is clear.

Citizens see their role in society as consisting of both rights and responsibilities. It is not only my right but my responsibility as a citizen to speak out on issues that affect my neighbours and fellow citizens and to ensure the well-being of all in society. Taxpayer thinking is surely what caused Toronto Councillor Doug Ford to erroneously assert that Margaret Atwood should be elected to public office before daring to speak out on civic issues. A citizenship orientation maintains that it is not only Atwood’s inherent right but her express responsibility as a citizen, like it is for every citizen, to speak out and agitate for the well-being of their society.

Our future as a society rests not only on calculations of financial cost to individual tax payers, but on the assessment of communal value. Of course, a civic community’s “balance sheet,” like that of a province or a country, is vitally important, but that balance sheet must also embrace social, community and environmental values. We need health care, education, the arts, care for those who need assistance, and much more. We need a strong community that provides the full infrastructure for a healthy communal life. In short: we need to view ourselves and each other as citizens.

So, next time a politician addresses you as taxpayer, correct him or her and assert your status as a citizen. Then speak out for your community.

Edmund Pries teaches in the Department of Global Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University

Pondering Pearl Jam

2011-09-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

This article originally appeared here in the Buffalo News. One of the best articles on one of my favourite bands that I've ever seen.

Pondering Pearl Jam

A few weeks back, Pearl Jam marked its 20th anniversary as a band with a two-day festival in East Troy, Wisc.

What did this occasion signify, beyond a two-day pass to party for the thousands who filled the Alpine Valley Music Theatre that weekend? Nothing short of a victory for the conception of rock ’n’ roll as a communal entity, one that can simultaneously encapsulate and enrich the lives of both musicians and their fans.

That’s a tall order, one that most bands of Pearl Jam’s generation — or any other generation, for that matter — didn’t even bother attempting to fill. The fact that this five-piece ensemble — birthed in Seattle, cast ashore on the tidal wave of grunge and left all but alone as much of its peer group died, fell asleep, rusted or simply faded away — not only attempted to do so, but succeeded with integrity intact, is a decisive win for popular music.

It’s also a victory for my own generation, the one the demographic study groups called “Generation X” in hopes that they could market overpriced flannel shirts and imitation Doc Martens to us at the same time they kept the doors of economic prosperity shut tight and double-locked. We weren’t really supposed to make it in any enduring, meaningful way. The choice was sell out and get cynical, or accept working in a coffee shop for the rest of our lives.

Pearl Jam made it. But it didn’t succeed in the way we are conventionally taught to interpret success. The band endured because it turned its back on the very materialist, and overtly American, notion that more is always better, bigger always best. By insisting that the ability to control the framework through which its art was presented was more important than money, Pearl Jam wrested rock ’n’ roll back from the corporate forces that were attempting to ruin it through cynical commodification.

No, Eddie Vedder, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron didn’t save rock ’n’ roll. Rampant corporatization did its work, and what it couldn’t handle itself, a scourge of drug abuse took care of. Many of the brightest stars of the era—Andrew Wood, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley — fell to heroin. And then came a plague of groups like Creed, cookie-cutter imitations of the Seattle sound that offered a dumbed-down and soulless version of “grunge” for mass consumption. Before you knew it, that vibrant blend of punk, hard rock and folk that defined that Pacific Northwest musical movement had given way to rap-metal, Limp Bizkit and a thirst for fame-over-substance among musicians that turned the clock back to the pre-Beatles years.

While all of this was going on, Pearl Jam turned from “grunge poster boys” into the finest and most consequential American rock band extant. Which is why, at Alpine Valley in August, the assembled hadn’t come to celebrate some misguided notion of ’90s nostalgia, but rather, to commune with a band at the peak of its collective power, to embrace a tribe of musicians who had transcended their immediate milieu through willful determination.

How did they do it? Well, whether they meant to or not, the guys in PJ followed the blueprint established by the Grateful Dead a few generations earlier. Just like Seattle, the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco was overrun by suits looking to cash in on “hippie bands” on one hand and people who confused “expanding their consciousness” with drug addiction on the other. The Dead decided to drop out, focus on the music, build a community based on live performances, stay true to themselves, become better musicians and writers, and go their own way. Sound familiar?

Pearl Jam did pretty much the same, shunning interviews, refusing to do videos and taking on a host of causes its members deemed worthy. In frontman Vedder, PJ could have had a major sex symbol, a rock ’n’ roll Johnny Depp. Vedder found the idea horrifying and refused to play the game, insisting that Pearl Jam was a band and himself simply a fifth of that band. This was a bad business decision. It was also the right one. For once, someone had refused to take the bait, for once someone had the audacity to suggest that more money and fame and all that they entailed were not the goal. It was the music, and the protection of what that music represented, that mattered.

Next week, “Pearl Jam Twenty,” a documentary film by writer, director and longtime band friend Cameron Crowe, will be released in conjunction with a book of the same name (Simon & Schuster). Just as this is happening, Pearl Jam performs a pair of dates at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto (Sunday and Monday) and a single show in Hamilton (Thursday), the band’s only area appearances this year. No need to worry if you can’t make it, though. Pearl Jam will be back. And the band never blows off Buffalo.

In “Pearl Jam Twenty,” the book — it’s a must-have for fans, be assured — Vedder sums up the unshakeable ethos that defines Pearl Jam as a singular entity on the modern music landscape.

“We set out to make music to satisfy ourselves. . . . Something we would never have imagined is that people have made friendships, shared ideas, and shared their humanity with each other through the music. . . . That’s all outside of us. All we did was play music, you know? The fact that it’s happened is semi-overwhelming and humbling, but it’s great to know it’s there. It’s a big thing.”

Yeah. It definitely is.•

Choice Anxiety

2011-08-17T15:17:00.004-07:00

My buddy Jimmy the K made me aware of this great post on 'choice anxiety' by James Shelley and I enjoyed it so much and it got me thinking to such a degree that I thought I should share it.

Hope y'all are enjoying your summer so far!

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 10

2011-08-15T17:35:00.002-07:00

It took a bit longer than I had wanted, but finally here is volume 10 of my playlist EPs. Who knew that babies were so time consuming? I thought they just ate, pooped, and slept...

'No Sleep' - Sam Roberts (We Were Born In A Flame): How good is this song? I love the keyboard intro, the vocal harmonies, and the part where SR decides to sing en Francais, being a born and bred Montrealer! I've been fortunate enough to see him 4 or 5 times in concert and every time he's been such a dynamic performer. It's not cerebral music, by any means, but it's happy and fun and has great hooks! 'No Sleep' is one of my favourite of his many great songs, though not one of the big singles from this classic album.

'Thugs' - The Tragically Hip (Day For Night): Another deep album cut from a band that needs no real talking up from me, as they are national legends. The Hip are a phenomenal album band and have many great cuts that never get played on the radio. Thugs is one such song, with a deep funk and crytpic, off-kilter lyrics (ask me what the song is about and I'll tell you I have no idea whatsoever). I heard the band play 'Thugs' the last time I saw them and it was the highlight of the show for me, hands down and was even more cool and funky in a live setting. This is a cut to sink your teeth into!

'Falling' - The Civil Wars (Barton Hollow): The Civil Wars are everywhere. All of a sudden, they're just huge and everyone is falling all over themselves to proclaim their brilliance, including Adele and (the utterly atrocious, in my opinion) Taylor Swift. When you listen to 'Falling', you can see why the dynamic due of John Paul White and Joy Williams is getting so much attention: the harmonies and the chemistry between the two are undeniably breathtaking. Some may prefer 'Poison and Wine', but for me, 'Falling' is perhaps the standout track on their album, Barton Hollow. There aren't really enough adjectives to describe how well these two sing together. Let the evidence be in the hearing...

'Keep No Score' - Sleeping At Last (Keep No Score): Oh Sleeping At Last, you baroque chamber pop geniuses, you! This is the quiet closing track from their 2006 album of the same name. Quite simply, it's a beautiful acoustic ditty that's the perfect way in which to close an album. These guys really speak to my heart and I've loved everything they've put out, their albums proper and the highly ambitious Yearbook project. I love great indie music and this is a band that myself and my peeps champion and talk about with others at every opportunity.

Listen to this playlist here.

The Genius of Malcolm Johnson

2011-08-04T15:44:00.005-07:00

My buddy Malcolm is an incredible writer. Myself and James Kingsley were so blown away by the following (which originally appeared here), that I decided to post it here on the Dynasty for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

We leave in mid-afternoon, tracing a wide circle over the Strait before turning south for California. We are well into Washington State before we break through the smoke layer, the spreading bank of brown ash from the summer fires in the Interior. Climbing still higher, with crystals of frost forming on the windows, we are into the bright blue air that surrounds the Cascade snowpeaks: Rainier, St. Helens, Shasta. At the highest altitudes, with the engines throttled back at 33,000 feet, we are citizens taken far from our country, temporary residents of a world we cannot survive: “They are in a different world,” as Gary Snyder writes, “a pure transparency of blue.” These trips into the sky, I’ve often found, become a form of meditation, but with a present element of fear—I never really trust that these sleek white machines, having whisked us from the Earth, will set us down unaltered and whole. I need a bell, an anchor, a connection to the world I’ve left behind. I fold away the in-flight magazine and take out my phone, thumbing through the menus before finding Bill Evans playing “Peace Piece.” I leave it on repeat for the next two hours, those quiet and crystalline chords serving as my comfort and tether until we’re reeled back in by surer coasts below.

prayer

2011-07-27T19:14:00.002-07:00

I'm in the midst of reading Philip Yancey's book Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? and I'm finding it endlessly fascinating and challenging. Like many people of faith, I'm someone who struggles with prayer, though for me the biggest challenge isn't that I don't think it's effective/valuable or that I don't think God is listening, it's that I have a hard time unplugging. I struggle with being still. I always feel like there aren't enough hours in the day and I should be doing something, not taking time to be still, to pray, to listen. I've been told that I'm quite a contemplative person, but the contemplative life, if I live it at all (and I'd argue I don't), does not come easy to me.

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 9

2011-07-17T15:49:00.004-07:00

'Bitten By The Tailfly' - Elbow (Asleep In The Back): This song is flat-out badass wicked. Sweet tribal drums and drone-ish singing/chanting is interrupted by jagged, stabbing shards of buzzsaw distorted guitar. I totally fell in love with Elbow after listening to their brilliant 2008 album The Seldom Seen Kid and I then went back and listened to their highly accomplished debut, Asleep In The Back. Definitely a track, and a band, to check out. They make Coldplay sound banal by comparison.

'Bell Bottom Blues' - Derek & The Dominos (Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs): This track, along with 'Layla', is the most well-known song from their classic album. It features wonderful harmony vocals and dueling guitars, often in harmony themselves. Sweet bluesy goodness about unrequited love (essentially the entire album deals with that subject). Contrary to popular belief, Duane Allman doesn't feature on this track at all, with Clapton doing all the overdubbing of the rhythm and lead guitars. I believe it's the finest track of his storied career, in terms of guitar architecture in a song. Phenomenal.

'All the Diamonds in the World' - Bruce Cockburn (Salt, Sun and Time): This little acoustic gem is an early period Cockburn classic. Gentle, lilting, and delicate, it's a heartfelt meditation on the beauty of creation and a song that still makes it into his setlists (I saw him in March and this was one of the songs in the encore--stunning). My stepfather first put this on a mix CD for me years ago and it has stuck with me ever since.

'Silver Rider' - Robert Plant (Band Of Joy): I love this entire album--Plant was brilliant to get Buddy Miller as well as Patty Griffin (!!) to be part of his band. However, this song absolutely levelled me when I first heard it. Ethereal, atmospheric, Lanois-esque production and devastatingly gorgeous vocal interplay between Plant and Griffin make this one of my favourite songs of last year. For me, this song is very much an example of "what's not played is even more important than what's played". Miller's guitar work is understated and virtually perfect. Incredible. Check it out.

Listen to this playlist here.

rage personified

2011-07-05T11:13:00.001-07:00

Not a happy camper:

The Pearl

2011-06-28T10:58:00.002-07:00

I listened to Emmylou Harris' "The Pearl", one of my favourite songs, this morning as I waited or the bus and the lyrics reminded me of the true nature of life:

Sorrow is constant and the joys are brief
The seasons come and bring no sweet relief
Time is a brutal but a careless thief
Who takes our lot but leaves behind the grief

I guess it sounds really negative, but I have had to continually remind myself that life is not fair and not a story about me. It's filled with melancholy, injustice and pain, shot through with moments of true beauty and magic. This morning, however, I've been thankful for grace, friendship, and community. Trying to cast my gaze upward...

balance

2011-06-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is an unedited (likely incoherent) stream of consciousness, so I apologize in advance if it sucks or is nonsensical.

Fatherhood has been a really exciting and really exhausting time for me. Sam has turned life on its head and I'm still trying to figure out how to live well. The hugest task facing me, by far, is that of trying to strike a balance in my life. I've not been very good at that so far and I often feel pretty stretched between my duties at work and my life at home. It has become apparent that I can't really do everything I used to do and some things, such as running and guitar-playing, have had to be temporarily put to bed; I'm not going to lie, this scaling back has not been easy for me. Acknowledging that I can't be everywhere and do everything is a continual process and I'm still not very good at it. I live in the constant fear that I'm letting Sam down, that I'm not a very good father, and that I'm letting my community down. I'm such a relationship-based person and my friendships mean everything to me; there are people I've neglected since Sam arrived and that's a really crappy feeling for me, someone who takes great pride in being a good friend.

Having Sam has also made me realize that, really, my work/career is not that important. Mine is a profession that many people really live 24 hours a day. If they're not working, they're reading about librarianship/information management, talking about it, tweeting about it, blogging about it, etc. I've never been that into my career, never someone who spends a lot of their non-work life doing much in the way of work, but I'm even less so now. The moment I leave work, I don't think about it anymore because compared to my loved ones and their welfare, it's pretty trivial.

I guess when it comes down to it, what I'm trying to get at is that I want to live my life generously, be that with my finances, my time, or any other resources I have at my disposal. My prayer is that I will do my best to live my life dictated by my faith and poured out for others. I do a relatively poor job of it as it stands, but there's always room for improvement. I'm so blessed that my family and friends show me such incredible grace.

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 8

2011-03-21T21:16:00.001-07:00

'No Speak No Slave' - The Black Crowes (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion): I've mentioned this song in a few previous posts because I love it so much. To me, it defines funky rock 'n' roll and the riff is one of my favourites of all time. I don't have much to say other than it has a cracking vocal, phenomenal guitar playing, and is probably my favourite track from "America's Most Rock and Roll Rock and Roll Band." No matter how down I might be feeling, this song is sure to pick me up. The first time I saw the band live, I was second row and they unexpectedly opened the show with it, which sent me off into the stratosphere. Also, killer guitar solo by Marc Ford, one of my little-known axe-wielding heroes. There is also a scintillating live version of it on their concert double-disc Freak and Roll...Into the Fog.

'O Valencia!' - The Decemberists (The Crane Wife): This band is one I'd heard of and always made a note of wanting to follow up about because enough people I respect had brought up their name as one to look out for. And thanks to the joy of Grooveshark, I was finally able to check them out. I immediately compiled their album The Crane Wife and have spent the last few weeks listening to it. This song has a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe, with the star-crossed lovers theme and all. I love good story-songs (ala Mark Knopfler or Gord Downie, just to name a couple favourites) and I know this song is similar to a movie plot that is on the tip of my tongue...

'Oh Lonesome Me' - M. Ward ft. Lucinda Williams (Hold Time): This song was originally recorded (and written) by Bob Gibson with the inestimable Chet Atkins on guitar. Before hearing M. Ward's cover, I was most familiar with Neil Young's version on his classic album After The Gold Rush. This is a a countrified take on the song and you can almost hear the space between slide licks and what's not played is almost as important as what is being played. Lucinda Williams' smoky vocals are the perfect counterpoint to M. Ward's bassy crooning to higher register emoting. It also has a lovely string arrangement, which perfectly compliments the spare instrumentation.

'Swan Swan H' - R.E.M. (Lifes Rich Pageant): A song written about the Civil War era, with its mention of 'Johnny Reb'. However, the lyrics are very non-linear, obtuse Stipe-ean musings like much of his writing in the 80s. However, this song is all about feel, rather than making sense in a conventional way and is very simple with it's acoustic guitar minor-key strumming and tasteful percussion. I remember that when I first bought this album (with its intentional omission of an apostrophe in the title!) and heard this song, I found it incredibly mournful, though that didn't stop me from listening to it repeatedly. I'm a huge fan of R.E.M.'s pre-Warner Brothers output--it's kind of mystical and weird, yet has a lot of heart. It certainly set the template for a lot of alternative rock that was to follow.

Listen to this playlist here.

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 7

2011-03-08T06:30:00.003-08:00

'Flaming Red' - Patty Griffin (Flaming Red): This is the title, and opening, track on the album and it rocks like a mother. Known for her folkie-acoustic singer-songwriter fare as well as her incredibly powerful voice, with Flaming Red Griffin served notice that she was read to rock and duly unleashed this two minute cannonball. Loud guitars, killer blues harp, and the little songstress' voice throws down with attitude as the rhythm section drives it forward. Smokin'.

'The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine' - Spoon (Gimme Fiction): The artist formerly known as James Kingsley (he now prefers to be known by the symbol ∅) got me hooked on this album, by Metacritic's top artist of the last decade. And I love this song and it's incredibly catchy; it gets stuck in my head for days on end because it's so funky, off-kilter, and cool. And it contains one of my favourite lyrics ever, where the expected lines are reversed: "He makes love to the duke/He swordfights the queen/He steals the whole show with his last dying scene." I dare you not to think this song is totally awesome. Even writing this, I've listened to it four times in a row.

'Elsewhere' - Sarah McLachlan (Fumbling Towards Ecstasy): This album is a pretty big part of my growing up, as my stepfather was on to Sarah McLachlan with the release of her first album, Touch, in 1988. To me, Fumbling was where it all came together and it is still her best album by a landslide. I have always found this song and its harmonies to be incredibly haunting; it is still my favourite Sarah McLachlan song, though not one of her more well-known tracks. Unfortunately her music has grown increasingly less adventurous and more generic, though I never dislike it.

'Slowly, Now' - Sleeping At Last (Ghosts): Warning: if you don't like shimmery, epic sounding, Britrock-esque songs with plaintive vocals (including stunning harmonies) and melodies that unselfconsciously reach for the heavens, you will not like this song. If you do like songs like that, you're in luck. Sleeping At Last have changed far more into a lush, chamber-pop outfit recently (witness their Yearbook project), but on their major label debut, Ghosts, they cranked up the big guitars, huge hooks and anthemic vocals, all encased in fantastic production that didn't detract from the music (as Allmusic noted, they sounded like big fans of Unforgettable Fire-era U2). I fell in the love with the big chorus and its killer harmonies. Ryan O'Neal knows how to belt it, that's for sure, and I think it's a fitting ending to my 7th playlist EP!

Listen to this playlist here.

watching it crumble

2011-03-07T13:13:00.003-08:00

Broken relationships have been a recurring theme for me recently and I've spent a lot of time listening to two legendary albums that address it: Dylan's Blood On The Tracks and U2's Achtung Baby!. From afar I've had to watch the breakdown in the marriage of two dear friends, the first such of any of my peers with whom I am close, and though I'm geographically distant from them, I'm amazed at the impact it has had on me. Empathy and frustration have been constant and these feelings have grown even more acute with the dissolution of two of the most important friendships in my life, ones that (I thought) had history and deep roots.

In both cases I have no choice but to sit and watch it all unravel before me, despite my striving to right the ship and salvage things; so far, all my efforts have been for naught. I'm not used to a friendship going sour, let alone two friendships, let alone two of my closest friendships. I have always thought that one of the things I engage in really well is friendship: I invest a lot of time and energy, I keep in contact with people, and I try to affirm for my friends just how much the relationship means to me. Perhaps the most difficult thing about these recent experiences is that I've literally spent hours painstakingly poring over what went wrong, what I could have said or done differently, and thus why two of my closest friends have inexplicably broken contact with me, yet, I'm no closer to figuring it out than I was months ago--I'm pretty gutted. If I have in any way done something to offend, I'd happily admit my mistake a 100 times over and apologize, but when you can't even ask the other person, it makes it impossible. My only real positive from this experience is that it has helped me to focus on the relationships in my life that are going well and to ensure that I don't take those for granted.

You grow so used this happening everywhere that you become desensitized to it because it's viewed as just a part of life. Then, like anything, when it touches you or someone you love it changes everything. Because there has been a general absence of this in my life, I sure feel more for people who have struggled with losing people for whom they care deeply.

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 6

2011-02-23T22:44:00.001-08:00

'Over the Hills and Far Away' (live) - Led Zeppelin (How The West Was Won, disc 1): I literally thought I was going to blow the speakers on my stereo the first time I played this incredibly live album and especially this track. If you listen to this at a high volume or through headphones, when the drums come in, it literally sounds like cannons going off. John Bonham is massive on this track; I still shake my head at the awe-inspiring power of his playing whenever I listen to Zeppelin. Absolutely incredible. You can hear the hum of Jimmy Page's amp as he starts the gently picked intro before Robert Plant comes in with delicate opening lyrics. And then...well, I'll let you hear it for yourself. Buckle up.

'What It Is' - Mark Knopfler (Sailing to Philadelphia): Mark Knopfler is one of my guitar playing heroes, executing everything with no plectrum--the stuff that this guy can do with his fingerpicking is really stellar. I've always loved Dire Straits, but this might be my favourite song of his, guitar-wise; the riff is so catchy and he plays it so cleanly (I've tried time and time again and I can't even come close to approximating it). I love the warmth of his guitar tone, how every guitar line he plays is literally perfect and let's face it, the guy's a great storyteller. Also, have I mentioned the guitar playing is killer?

'Villains' - The Verve Pipe (Villains): The Verve Pipe were, to me, a second-rate (or arguably third-rate) band who were famous for two things: 1. their crappy song 'The Freshman' and 2. being confused for The Verve, an amazing band (don't get me started about Urban Hymns!). However, this song is a vicious, no holds barred rocker that starts with a very quiet catchy little guitar riff with hushed vocals that then blows up into an almost strident stomper. The guitars are loud, there's some feedback, and the lead singer yells some. I like it. Nothing particularly innovative about it, it just is balls-to-the-wall rock and roll. Too bad the rest of their output is so bland and boring.

'Curse of the Currents' - Said The Whale (Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia): A friend of mine gave me some tracks by Said The Whale, a Vancouver band, and they were quite good. However, this song was by far the standout, a melancholy song about a nautical disaster (thank you for that language, Mr. Downie), complete with beautiful harmony vocals and simple guitar strumming; all of this is complimented by tinkling piano, soft metronomic rim shots, and sparse tympani swells. Lovely.

'Tampa to Tulsa' - The Jayhawks (Rainy Day Music): This sorrowful sounding track from Rainy Day Music gets a lot of repeats when I spin the disc because of the harmonies between Gary Louris and Tim O'Reagan (the song's author and the drummer). It's just a flat-out stunner of a song, with its Nashville-lonesome harmonies, harmonica, and gently strummed guitars. O'Reagan's somewhat ragged vocal is the perfect fit and the song always reminds me of being on the road; it's a traveling song (as evident by the title and the lyrics). The Jayhawks are a staple of the Bingham household and thus this is a fitting closer for this EP.

Listen to this playlist here.

playlist links added

2011-02-17T21:52:00.003-08:00

I have gone back to the all the playlist EPs I've created on my blog, minus the very first one, and I have added links to where you can stream the playlist on Grooveshark. I am hoping this will encourage more people to listen and comment. I want to get people stoked on music they've never heard before and reacquaint them with some lost loves. Enjoy!

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 5

2011-02-17T21:35:00.002-08:00

I realize it's been awhile since I last posted a playlist, but I hope it's been worth the wait. I will now, whenever possible, be posting a link to where you can stream the playlist online at Grooveshark. I must thank Rob Campbell of Ameris for this suggestion. He told me he enjoys these posts and said that a link would be great. And who says I never listen to people?

'Everlasting Light' - The Black Keys (Brothers): The Black Keys are one of my newer discoveries and after my friend Anton introduced them to me with this album, I was pretty much hooked. I love this song because it's a bluesy stomp with gorgeous falsetto soul vocals. I also love the female background vocals, which fit the song perfectly. I feel like the best way to describe this song is 'swamp soul blues'. That probably makes no sense, but I'm going with it.

'Spellbound' - Doves (Kingdom of Rust): This song is just flat-out catchy, with big Brit-Rock shimmery guitars playing a very simple, but catchy riff set to 6/8 time. A must listen.

'Black Eye' - Jeff Tweedy (Sunken Treasure - Live in the Pacific Northwest): Originally, this song appears on the album March 16-20, 1992 by Jeff Tweedy's orignal band, Uncle Tupelo (he of the now far more successful and innovative Wilco). I like this live version better than the original, just Tweedy and his acoustic guitar. His lovely fingerpicking and the fragility of his voice have definitely brought me to tears more than once. It's a very sad song and I've never really thought about the lyrics, but the phrasing of them is so incredibly mournful and tender. Gorgeous.

'Let's Stay Engaged' - The Tragically Hip (Trouble At The Henhouse): Most people are well aware of what a big Hip fan I am and I must say that this (virtually unknown) song of theirs is one of my absolute favourites. The Hip are seldom funky, but this song has got a funky beat and a catchy riff. My favourite part of this song is the drumming: really simple, but I enjoy all the fills in between the verses and the chorus. I have always loved the lines "See the dead art and you see your reflection/Fear no art and you fear no reflection/But don't look at me, I'm not the artist in question." I love Gord's delivery of those lines and then the funky fill that follows after the next line. Great stuff off of a great album. Even if Allmusic panned it.

'Flags' - Brooke Fraser (Flags): I don't really know where to begin about this one. The very first time I really paid attention to the lyrics, it made me a think of a loved one who has suffered some extremely heartwrenching circumstances and so I feel very strongly about the song as I've walked with them through some of the fallout from that. Ultimately it's a song about justice and perseverance and how our lives sometimes seem to "blow about like flags on the land." The song just builds to a huge climax and then breaks like a wave (though they don't sound alike whatsoever, it reminds me of Pearl Jam's 'Given To Fly' in the way that it crescendos and crashes like a breaker). Brilliant, beautiful, epic, and truly heartfelt.

Listen to this playlist here.

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 4

2011-01-06T21:35:00.007-08:00

My fourth playlist EP is a 4-song mixed bag that truly represents the different artists I've been listening to over the past couple weeks. Enjoy.

'Gimme Shelter' - The Rolling Stones (Let It Bleed): What is there to say about this legendary song? I don't even know where to to begin. Along with 'Honky Tonk Women', this monster of an opening track from Let It Bleed is my favourite of the Stones' "classic" songs. Revered critic Greil Marcus wrote in Rolling Stone magazine (back when it was actually good!) that it was the "greatest ever rock and roll recording" and I find it hard to disagree. From the spooky opening, to the immortal descending riff, to Keef's roughshod soloing, to Merry Clayton's earthshattering counterpoint vocals (she reportedly refused to sing the second verse until she got paid because the Stones were notorious for not paying their session musicians!), this song has everything and more. The lyrics are devastating and always remind me of the nasty ending to the 60s with the Stones' 1969 concert at Altamont where a young man was shot by Hell's Angels right in front of the stage, which can be seen in the movie Gimme Shelter. I have heard numerous live recordings of this song, still a staple of their live set, but nothing touches the majestic power and perfection of the studio recording. A masterpiece. Give it a spin.

'Size Too Small' - Sufjan Stevens (Seven Swans): I love this song with it's gentle acoustic guitar and cryptic lyrics that seem to deal with friendship. I've been listening to Seven Swans a lot lately and along with Illinoise, it is my favourite of Stevens' albums. Yet as I listen, I always play this song at least a few times. I find it haunting and for some reason it even causes me to squirm a bit, but I don't really understand why.

'Through & Through & Through' - Joel Plaskett (Three: Disc 1): Funky, white man soul to the core, this little ditty gets my toes tapping and flat-out makes me happy. Great female gang backing vocals, too.

'Twisted Logic' - Coldplay (X & Y): The closing track of X & Y, 'Twisted Logic' is not a well-known song in the Coldplay canon, but it is one of my absolute favourite of their songs. It has a very similar drum-heavy feel 'Politik', the opening on track on their 2002 album A Rush Of Blood To The Head as Will Champion attempts to usurp John Bonham's title of King of Big Drum Mountain. Everything about this song is BIG: guitars, bass, vocals; simple, but rad. It finally builds to a crescendo/finale and then just ends before the lovely sounds of the not-so-secret, not-so-hidden hidden track, 'Kingdom Come', are ushered in. A great ending to a monumentally underrated album.

Listen to this playlist here. I always enjoy your comments and will even appreciate it if you think my choices suck--go ahead and tell me!

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 3

2010-12-23T17:35:00.005-08:00

I've got some goodies for the third installment of my playlist EPs:

'Grounds For Divorce' - Elbow (The Seldom Seen Kid): I love this song. Love it, love it. For me, it comes down to the riff and the attitude. Elbow are my newest discovery, thanks to Michelle and a friend of mine who works for Hamilton Public Library, and their album The Seldom Seen Kid is the best album I've heard in the last six months or so. The unison guitar/bass is pretty heavy, but the riff itself is very funky and just gets stuck in your head.

'As Cold As It Gets' - Patty Griffin (Impossible Dream): This is, as Caitlin and I say, a total 'wrist slitter'--just about as depressing as it gets, song-wise. However, it's also stunningly beautiful and I never get tired of Patty Griffin's voice. She is accompanied by two acoustic guitars and her voice sits far out in the mix as she tells a story of war and sadness. I have to admit, I can only listen to this song so much before it just becomes a bit overwhelming for me.

'Pigeon' - Stone Gossard (Bayleaf): This song is is all about the riff and the guitar tone (very crunchy)--the moment I heard this riff I wanted to pick up my guitar and grind it out. Gossard, for those who don't know, is the other half of Pearl Jam's dynamic guitar duo and he's a very talented guy in his own right. I've always loved his off-kilter riffs that bump up against one another (and let's be honest, anyone who pens the riff to 'Even Flow' is pretty awesome in my book!). His Bayleaf album is a kind of a weird-rock nerd show, but I loved it the moment I heard it. It's not nearly as hard hitting or powerful as his work with his main gig, but it's a really cool little album in it's own right. Though this is one of the most accessible songs on the album, the lyrics are actually quite dark and appear to be a first-person account of a cheating husband. Good times.

'Whipping' - Pearl Jam (Vitalogy): Pearl Jam's third album is definitely a 90s alt-rock classic, but this is one of the far less well-known cuts on the album (compared to, say, 'Corduroy', 'Not For You', or 'Immortality', to name but a few). It's a punky, thrashy, defiant little ditty where I'm pretty sure Eddie Vedder is doing his best, at various points, to completely shred his vocal cords. My verdict: awesome. I think I've always loved this song because EV sounds so incredibly angry and, as I've always said, he's gives voice to my rage in such an articulate manner.

'I Could Be Nothing' - Great Lake Swimmers (Bodies and Minds): This is a moody, atmospheric masterpiece by one of my favourite Canadian outfits. It's essentially a minor key waltz, that starts out with picked banjo before being joined by an acoustic guitar and the fragile vocals of head Swimmer Tony Dekker (as Allmusic pointed out, a cross between Thom Yorke and Neil Young). This is just a stunningly beautiful, lyrically evocative tune from a band that just continues to get better and better.

Listen to this playlist here.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 2

2010-11-29T21:32:00.001-08:00

My second installment of 'Matty's Playlist EPs' includes something Canadian and something Seattle, among a couple other treasures.

'Superunknown' - Soundgarden (Superunknown): All you really need to know about this song is that Chris Cornell wails and the band makes a huge and raucous noise behind him. Sure, lyrically it's a bit of a downer (Soundgarden don't really do "happy and shiny"), but the band sound like the four horseman of the Apocalypse, which is what I find awesome. KimThayil's solo is also a barely-hanging-on-for-dear life psychedelic masterstroke. Superunknown is also one of my favourite alt-rock/hard rock albums ever; it's one where I never skip a track!

'Hold On, Hold On' - Neko Case (Fox Confessor Brings The Flood): I love the twangy guitar lines and the opening lyric: "The most tender place in my heart is for strangers/I know it's unkind by my own blood's much too dangerous..."--so. awesome. The Sadies do such a cookin' sweet job of backing up Neko on the Fox Confessor album and they're the perfect foil for her powerful, sultry, reverb-laden vocals. This song has gorgeous harmonies and is practically perfect in every way (big ups, Mary Poppins!)

'Pacing The Cage' - Bruce Cockburn (The Charity of Night): This is one of my favourite ever Bruce Cockburn songs (I'm going to see the man himself on March 26!) and perhaps one of the songs I've heard in my life that I most identify with. The lyric "I've proven who I am so many times/the magnetic strip's worn thing/and each time I was someone else/and everyone was taken in" has spoken to me numerous times of my hypocrisy and my ability to be a chameleon when I want to be. A beautiful melody and great fingerpicking from BC make this a simply adorned, yet powerful song with a very naked vocal that is right up front in the mix. Great bass solo too.

'Green Gloves' - The National (Boxer): I'm not going to pretend to be deep and say I 'get' this song, lyrically; I actually have no idea what the heck they're talking about. All I know is that I love it because it's weirdly beautiful with it's soothing guitar arpeggios and spacey 'wall' in the background. The vocal is lovely, the female background vocalist a nice counterpoint to Matt Berninger's guttural baritone. Exquisite.

'Love Is Blindness' - U2 (Achtung Baby!): This is a raw wound of a song, excruciatingly pained, totally heart wrenching, and yet hauntingly beautiful. I actually can't really even do justice to the song by trying to describe it other than to say it contains some of The Edge's most stunning soloing on record (he not being a man to use any more notes than necessary). His guitar screams out painfully halfway through the song and then the closing solo is just dripping with hurt and rage--you can feel it. Simply put, this is one of U2's finest moments on record and a fitting close to what many people believe to be their greatest album.

Listen to this playlist here.

Matty's Playlist EPs vol. 1

2010-11-22T20:24:00.003-08:00

This is the first in a new series of posts that I'm hoping will both get me writing again and help me to continue being an arbiter of discerning taste in music. I will be presenting a three to five song 'EP' composed of different tracks that have recently been on repeat for me, oldies and newbies alike. If you are interested in any of these songs or of creating the EP, go to Grooveshark and do so! So without further ado, the inaugural EP:

'The Pearl' - Emmylou Harris (Red Dirt Girl): This is the opening song from Harris' 2000 Red Dirt Girl album and, for my money, one of the best gospel songs written in the last 20 years. It speaks of the longing for eternity, the struggles of being human in a broken world, and, ultimately, the redemptive goodness of God. I actually have a hard time keeping it together whenever I hear this song because of the ache and yearning of it. Jacob Moon also does a phenomenal cover of it on his Eventide album.

'Copied Keys' - Kathleen Edwards (Back To Me): I mentioned this song in a post back in June and it's been being played on my iPod/stereo very consistently ever since. This song is all about Edwards' melancholy lyric married to (her husband) Colin Cripp's highly melodic slide guitar lines (which I am absolutely obsessed with). It also has such a fantastic country rock groove to it. I'm hardly objective when it comes to Kathleen Edwards as she is one of my favourite female artists and has never put a foot wrong, as far as I'm concerned.

'Bright & Early' - Sleeping At Last (November EP): I just recently discovered Sleeping At Last and their ambitious project to release a 3-song EP every month for a year through my friends Cory and Ryan. The six songs I have heard from these guys (October and November) have been stunning and this is my favourite of them thus far--I've played it about a dozen times since I downloaded it. A beautiful piano driven ballad with a lovely progression and Ryan O'Neal's soaring vocals, the song builds from it's quiet opening piano figure into a full blown chorus with orchestral swells, beautiful harmonies and haunting backing vocals. Simply phenomenal. I am in awe of Sleeping At Last.

'For The Beauty Of Wynona' - Daniel Lanois (For The Beauty Of Wynona): This is the title track off of Lanois' 1993 album and it has to be one of the most exquisite songs I've ever heard. Jagged, atmospheric, stabbing guitar playing is underpinned by a hypnotic rhythm track anchored by an insistent drum loop. The song has a bit of an 'Eastern' feel to it as it builds in intensity and then breaks into Lanois grinding, feedback/effects-laden, yet gorgeous guitar soloing. Absolutely brilliant.

'Ambulance Blues' - Neil Young (On The Beach): This is the closing track on Papa Neil's harrowing On The Beach album (1974), which remained unreleased on CD until 2003 when he finally gave in to an online petition that was started in 2000 and signed by 5000 fans. Supposedly, he was unhappy with the fidelity of the recording and purposely withheld it from being issued on CD. 'Ambulance Blues' is an 8 minute slow-burning cut with simple acoustic guitar progression and a fiddle. In the song he addresses, his critics, and Richard Nixon and the state of CSNY. I love the line "You're all just pissing in the wind", which was a direct quote from Young's manager regarding the inactivity of Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young at the time; it makes me smile every time he sings it. A great song to end an underrated classic in the Young canon and my personal favourite of his albums.

I hope you've enjoyed the first installment of this series and that you'll check out some or all of these cuts. I'd love to hear your feedback if you do. If there is one subject about which I love to dialogue, it's music! Stay tuned for volume 2 soon...

hiatus

2010-07-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

My blog is going on hiatus for a bit. I have nothing to say.

the Binghams' blog updated and redesigned

2010-07-05T09:16:00.001-07:00

I finally got the chance to update the Binghams' blog with a post about our trip back east. I also did a very quick re-design because I've heard comments from discriminating people that the old design was ugly. Check it out here.

odds 'n' ends for June 26, 2010

2010-06-26T19:50:00.008-07:00

It's about time I got a post out into the blogosphere! Here we go...

I have enjoyed reading my friend Michelle's experiences watching the World Cup (which can be found here and here). It was awesome to see her when I was in Montreal!

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Courtesy of my friend Michael, from Cincinnati.com:

The police report on Darrell Bess was succinct.

Clothing description: Naked.

Offenses: Public indecency, theft, carrying a concealed weapon.

According to police and court records, Bess, 52, was found unclothed standing at the men’s room sink in the Cincinnati Public Library by police at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. When they searched Bess’ bag, police said they found a 4-pound chunk of cheese allegedly stolen from Silverglade's Cheese & Sausage In Findlay Market.

He also had two knives and some DVDs that belonged to the Vine Street library branch.

Police arrested him Wednesday on charges of public indecency; carrying a concealed weapon; knowingly trespassing; theft and receiving stolen property. A judge ordered Best to stay away from the library.

Bess, who is homeless, has been arrested numerous times.

In court on Thursday, Bess was fully clothed.

This is a bit of a slice of what being a librarian in a downtown public library can be like. I have yet to come upon naked patrons, but we've tossed patrons out for other indecent acts that I won't recount here--I'm sure you can use your imaginations...

Currently reading: Churched by Matthew Paul Turner (which would have been my full name had I not kept my dad's name after my parents split up--my mom's maiden name is Turner): A hysterical look at how a man found faith despite being raised in a strict fundamentalist Baptist home. I started laughing out loud from the very first paragraph. Hilarious, sad, brilliant!

Currently listening to (album): Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons. My stepfather introduced me to this album and I absolutely love it. By turns intimate and epic, it's a rootsy rock album that, for me, evokes Fleet Foxes and other folksy Americana music.

Currently listening to (song): 'Copied Keys' off of Kathleen Edwards' Back To Me album. I am obsessed with Colin Cripps' slide guitar playing (he is a favourite axeman of mine, for sure!) on this song as well as the highly melancholy lyrics. I'm pretty sure I've listened to the song at least 30 times over the past week or so. I can't get enough of it.

I ate some of a Terry's Chocolate Orange this evening as I pecked away at this blog post and remembered how much I love them--so good. I really do love dark chocolate...

I purchased the U2 360 At The Rose Bowl DVD when I was away and have had a chance to watch the show in its entirety. I still don't understand why they didn't include 'Breathe', the concert's opening song, as part of the show proper instead of including it as a bonus cut on the second disc. Other than some moments where the music does not sync with what the musicians are actually playing (did you guys think I wouldn't notice? C'mon!), this is a stunning visual and musical document of a groundbreaking tour for the boys. I highly recommend it, especially if you weren't able to make it to any of the tour dates. I was fortunate enough to see the Vancouver date upon my arrival back from Maui in late October and it was quite something, though the sound wasn't so great as it was in BC Place. Still, good times!

Speaking of U2, here is Muse with special guest The Edge playing a killer version of 'Where The Streets Have No Name' at the 2010 Glastonbury Festival.

This little funny is courtesy of Sarah. I've felt this way before, that's for sure!

profuse apologies!

2010-06-21T16:31:00.004-07:00

Hi all. I am sorry that it's been so long since I posted on ye olde Dynasty. I have been away on holiday over the past couple weeks and I didn't really have the time nor the opportunity for blogging while I was back east. It was a thoroughly enjoyable time and, generally, very restful. I have some posts in draft form and one of my summer commitments is to get back to writing (be it on my blog(s) or elsewhere) as much as I was a few months ago. There will be some posts coming down the pipe both here and on the Binghams' blog, where I hope to recap our trip, complete with photographs! As usual, I've lots swirling around in my head and hopefully some of that will come out soon...

recently overheard/read

2010-05-27T22:28:00.002-07:00

"I'm pretty sure I'm the only white person who works at Tim Hortons."

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Pistachios: the contemporary writer's cigarettes. (from @theshinysea via Twitter)

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"UNCLE MATT, I'M DRIVING THE TRACTOR!!!" *shrieked gleefully* (and with pictorial evidence!)

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"Can you help me get on the e-mail?" (by which said person meant 'the internet')

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"Johnny didn't want us to name our kids Cole and Owen because he thought that people would think 'colon'."

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"She don't have much hair, does she?" -My dad upon seeing Janet Jackson (via @JesusNeedsNewPR on Twitter)

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"Oh great, your poodle can jump over stuff. Fantastic." (a highly sarcastic commentary on Circus Gatti rockin' the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan)

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I just read the word 'Logo' 3 times, as 'Lego', these are 2 very different contexts; I was puzzled. My inner child is trying to communicate. (from Michelle via Twitter)

promises

2010-05-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

Generally, I don't make promises. It's not that I don't believe in promises or have not made any promises in my life (in fact I've made some huge promises), but I tend to not make them unless I'm 100% sure I can follow through. I don't know whether this stems from people breaking their promises to me or because I hate letting others down, but I take promises very seriously. I remember when I was working with kids and would tell them something like "maybe we'll play some frisbee later" and they would retort, "d'you promise?" "Sure" I'd say. I very quickly learned not to make promises that I would grant even those small requests because if there's one thing to know about school-aged children, they have memories like elephants! Inevitably, something would come and I would not be able to play frisbee with the kid and, man, would I hear about it! "Matt, you promised you'd play frisbee with me and didn't!" More often than not, this would be followed by tears/sobbing. That taught me.

As I said before, I don't take this promises thing lightly and feel a real sense of guilt and shame if I promise something and then forget or am unable to deliver on it. There are still certain people who will ask me "promise?" after I say I'll try to do something for them or be somewhere (you know who you are!), but they inevitably get a negative from me. I've been accused numerous times of being noncommittal and flaky because of this, though I think anyone who knows me well would say that those aren't two adjectives that fit me (short-tempered and annoying work far better!). I just think that if I'm going to actually promise something I want to do it, not just say it, rather than getting in the habit of saying "yeah, I promise" to get someone off my back--I just don't want to be that kind of person, as a friend and later on if I become a father.

Monsieur Jarry on 'Fuel Your Photography'

2010-05-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

In my grand tradition of promoting talented, creative people that I love, I bring you yet another of my stellar peeps...

My friend Mathieu, Habs fan and photographer extraordinaire, just had his first article published on the Fuel Your Photography website. Go on over and have a look, especially if, like Mathieu, you "usually have a camera glued to your face!"

Dollop of Cream

2010-05-20T10:41:00.000-07:00

I ran into my friend Stephanie on the bus the other day and when I asked her "what's new?", she replied that she was running a new 'foodie' website called Dollop of Cream. What I love about the site is that that many of the (fantastic) recipes are presented in both regular and gluten-free forms, which is great news for celiacs!

Being such a wise woman, Stephanie enlisted the aid of the good folks over at Young Lions of Pop for the design, so not only is the site content first-rate, the site looks great as well! Please go have a look at the site and support a local gastronomic talent! You can reach Stephanie for feedback at creamdollop@gmail.com.

this 'n' that

2010-05-19T22:06:00.002-07:00

Fox is developing a Napoleon Dynamite cartoon. This has the potential to be either very funny or incredibly lame. The good news is that Jon Heder is on board to do the voice, so that's at least one check mark in the 'not lame' column (courtesy of Michelle).

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I get tired of people calling Led Zeppelin a heavy metal band. There were so many more dimensions to the band then simply bone-crunching riffs and wailed vocals. However, they did those two things better than pretty much anybody else as well! Valhalla, I am coming...

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A good friend of mine just bought her first house (and a lovely house it is!) and as we were all gathered around eating some pizza after moving all of her stuff in, another friend of ours recited a Celtic prayer to bless the house. It was a very moving moment and she was very emotional. I am part of a wonderful community of people...

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Another close friend recently asked me "what motivates you, like, what makes you want to live well?" I could have given some pretty cliched answers about God and my faith (all of which would be true), but instead I sat and pondered hard for a minute or so. The best response I could give flows out of my faith and gratitude toward God for His gifts, which was essentially this: my relationships. The people for whom I'm a huge part of their world. Those whom I love most and want to support. Why I desire to live well has virtually nothing to do with accomplishment or ambition--if it came down to it, I believe I'd sacrifice any of my own dreams or desires to ensure that the dreams of my loved ones are realized. I'm next to nothing without them and I know it.

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Jimmy the K posted this quote from a guy named James Shelley on his blog and it really made me think:

"Part of the cure for over-consumption is to become more materialistic. That is, if you want to stop consuming more and more, you need to appreciate the goods that you already have. Cherish things. Reuse things. Love your stuff."

I really liked that and found it interesting. I would even add 'share things', thought that's not always easy to do...at least for me. Thoughts?

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There are obviously some people who are not huge fans of Bono's humanitarian work on behalf of Africa.

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Andy and Jennie-Lynne (my best friend and his wife, for those of you who don't know) downloaded the free Fart Sounds application for his new iPhone and I've got to say, the three of us love it. Yes, I know, I'm so juvenile, I'll never grow up, blah blah blah....

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Just because you have to accept something doesn't mean you have to like it or agree with it.

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When she moved, my friend gave Caitlin and I silicone muffin pans and they make the best muffins ever! Seriously, we'll never go back to using tins again!

Well, if that blog post wasn't a study in complete randomness, I don't know what is!

yearnings

2010-05-15T09:09:00.001-07:00

This quote from C.S. Lewis has been echoing through my head constantly for the past few weeks:

“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”

I've been feeling those yearnings for 'other' so strongly lately, realizing that things here on Earth really aren't as they should be. This feeling isn't completely foreign to me, but it's been far more insistent than I can recall it being in the past. I think as I get older and become more aware of the world's brokenness, this aching and these longings will only grow stronger.

birthday wishes!

2010-05-08T07:00:00.004-07:00

Two of my favourite people in the world are celebrating their birthdays today: Jimmy the K and Jennie-Lynnester the Spinster (who's not a spinster, but married to my best friend Andy!). Happy birthday and much love to you both. Thanks for your friendship and how you've each been there for me over the years. Diggit.

an open letter to a very special patron

2010-04-23T07:25:00.001-07:00

Dear Very Special Patron,

I have some issues with your conduct in the library. I can deal with the fact that you smell quite 'earthy' and that I initially had a difficult time figuring out if you were a man or a woman--I'm okay with that. However, the fact that you fully body-checked another patron to get to an open computer and then proceeded to fart loudly and repeatedly for the next hour or so...well, that's not on. Your blatant disregard for everyone else coupled with your loud and obnoxious voice are like sandpaper on my arse and, trust me, as a result I'm feeling a little chapped! So, if you learn to play nice, control your abundant flatulence, and employ very liberal use of the Golden Rule, it will certainly go a long way to mending the patron-librarian relationship that you have established with myself and my staff/colleagues as well as ameliorating the conflict(s) you've had with your fellow library users.

Sincerely,

The Renegade Librarian

Michelle on growing a year older

2010-04-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

My friend Michelle is easily one of the wittiest people I've ever met--almost every blog post of hers leaves me at worst smiling broadly and at best laughing until my voice goes all high-pitched and my stomach hurts. As she prepares to turn a year older next week, she sets out to compare herself to other things and people from 1981. The results are, predictably, uproariously funny.

April 15 funnies

2010-04-15T12:35:00.001-07:00

I'm on my lunch break at work right now and because I'd come across a few funny things over the past couple days, I thought I'd quickly share them with you!

Here are 10 Very Good Reasons Why You Should Grow A Giant Beard.

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Today, April 15th, is National High Five Day. Share the love, people!

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My sister used to write notes to my parents very similar to this one. (Thanks to Sarah for this!)

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Is this not the sweetest camouflage outfit ever?

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Smartarse people like myself really enjoy other smartarses (unless they're making smartarse jokes at this smartarse's expense--then, not so much), especially ones who come up with great parodies like this one.

Hope y'all had a few laughs!

thank you Warren Kinsella for making my day!

2010-04-13T13:21:00.001-07:00

I must thank my friend Gillian for passing this little beauty to me via Twitter yesterday evening:

This picture originally appeared on Warren Kinsella's blog and when I saw it, I burst out laughing. I'm still not sure what is funnier: Chad Kroeger's hair or Stephen Harper's shirt! There were a variety of funny comments under the picture, but these two made me laugh hardest:

"Stephen Harper always looks uncomfortable. Does anyone else remember when he went to Mexico to see Bush and Foxx? Remember the weird vest he was wearing? Stephen Harper is like the kid on the playground that was always a little off."

Who’s reputation is more damaged by this photo? Is there anything left to damage of Chad Kroeger’s reputation? After forming Nickelback? No. The question is: “What’s next, Harper? A photo-op with Satan?”.

I would like some of my loyal readers to come up with funny captions for the above photo. Kinsella already used 'dumb and dumber', so that one is out! Good luck!

Leafs blog

2010-04-12T12:18:00.002-07:00

I'll still be commenting on any noteworthy off-season Leafs news on my Leafs blog, but I decided that I will also post about the playoff as well as any other hockey-related news and likely the majority of that will focus on the Vancouver Canucks and the two other Canadian teams in the playoff hunt--during the playoffs, my nationalist colours come out! Check out my post with my thoughts about this year's Hart Trophy.

visual art (or I can't draw to save my life!)

2010-04-11T17:37:00.001-07:00

Over dinner the other night, Caitlin and I were talking about people who can really draw, paint, or have a knack for graphic design and what an incredible skill that is to have. I am literally the worst visual artist ever--I struggle to even draw a cube properly! When we had to draw a cube in elementary school for an art project, mine was easily the worst in a class of 25-30 students. It looked like someone had run over the wannabe-cube with a Mac truck--it was totally out of proportion and no matter how many times I erased the lines, I just couldn't seem to get the perspective right! I have just enough artistic skill to undertake a game of Hangman, but that's the extent of it!

I am very much awed by those around me who are skilled artists. One of my best buddies Jimmy is an incredible graphic designer (he is responsible for all of my blog designs!) and my friend Andrew is a fantastic cartoonist who used to entertain the kids with portraits when I did out-of-school care. Sarah is a genius with a just a pencil and a piece of paper and she paints beautifully--the rare times that I've had the opportunity to watch her work, I've just watched in wonderment (Caitlin and I have been the beneficiary of her artistic skills with a couple of paintings of hers in our house and another on the way. We've also both received numerous sketches and other awesome things Sarah has designed!). I don't have the first clue how to do any of that and admittedly I'm slightly envious of those who do--they make it look so easy! It is something I could work on, I guess, but without a modicum of natural ability it seems a bit futile!

some quick Easter thoughts

2010-04-10T21:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to give some extended homily on Easter because anything I could say on the subject has been said a hundred times better by far brighter, more qualified, and more insightful people than myself. However, Easter made more of an impression on me this year than in past years simply because this year it really hit home that God's grace isn't cheap. And as a result, I want both accept it freely and live in such a way that it is extended to others--the world thirsts for grace and I want to continue to learn what it means to be a conduit of that grace. Is any of this particularly earth-shattering? No, not really. But I pray these thoughts continue to become a reality in my life.

odds 'n' ends

2010-04-07T20:30:00.005-07:00

Awesome:

massage chairs: I go to Home Outfitters at Tillicum Mall and sit in their demo chair for up to a half an hour at a time--gold!
pistachios: so salty and tasty. They remind my of my grandparents' place as a kid. They're not alive anymore.
barbeque sauce: is there anything tastier than barbeque sauce??
my beard: uniform growth, nice colour. My beard is one of the few 'manly' areas where I tend to have any kind of advantage over other guys. When it comes to things that 'manly men' are supposed to excel at (carpentry, cars, etc.), I'm essentially useless. However, I'm not lame at beard growth/cultivation! Ka-chow!

Fail:

Justin Bieber: squeaky-voiced hairdo. On Twitter. End of story.
The Victoria Salmon Kings: besides their 3rd period meltdown on Saturday night (where they gave up three goals in quick succession after going into the period tied 2-2) and the fact that they do have the worst name in professional sports (which is another reason they're on the 'fail' list), why is that their mascot is a marmot? Figure that one out...
barbeque sauce: seriously, why is that every single time I eat barbeque sauce, I spill it on my jeans?

My friends Cory and Corinne are on a fast/cleanse right now where they only have a mixture of freshly squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper--supposedly they have to drink the stuff really quickly because if they don't, the enzymes don't do their enzyme-y job (whatever that is). I'm incredibly impressed with their discipline as Tuesday was their seventh day of ten and they were both in fine spirits and looked as right as rain--they sit and watch their three young boys eat dinner while they down their little concoction eight times per day with no complaints. I'm not even that much of a foodie and I find this pretty amazing. I have had times in my life where I've been incredibly disciplined, especially when I was running 50-60 kilometres per week, but generally I believe that I could live a far more disciplined life than I do, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

My own fasting story goes something like this: About five years ago I tried to fast for one day, having only water and fruit juice. I was a bit irritable by noon, grouchy by about 4:00, and around 7:00 in the evening I had a total meltdown and started screaming to Caitlin that I was going to "eat some #@*!*% cheese RIGHT NOW!" So...yeah, I guess you could say that it wasn't all that successful. However, since then I think that I've matured considerably and could probably do a lot better job of it than I could back then. Either that or I'll turn into FrankenBing once again and go bonkers...

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I waste a lot of water, and not even through showers either. Every time I brush my teeth, wash my hands, or rinse a dish, I turn the tap on full blast when a far slower stream would suffice. With so many people not having access to clean water, I feel convicted that there are a lot of little things that I can do to conserve water.

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Back in January I had started reading The Rebel Sell, but I had to put it down when some library holds came in that needed to be read right away and then my friend Matthew's novel came out. However, I've picked up Heath and Potter's tome once again and started to read. It's definitely a fascinating read and I've enjoyed their arguments that countercultural thinking is essentially bogus and that those who try to 'stick it to The Man' don't tend to accomplish anything that actually makes life better for others. Some of the thoughts in this book combined with some of the theological discussions I've been having lately are making for a very interesting mental stew. Stay tuned...

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Physics ala Bing:

The funny thing is, I used to write essays just like this one on my Math and Physics exams in high school (may have even done it a couple times in post secondary!!) because I didn't have a freakin' clue what I was doing. Retrospectively, I think if I'd listened in class and studied rather than thinking up ways of being funny and entertaining my classmates, I may have done decently in both subjects...

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A letter to a very special library patron:

Dear Extremely Drunk Patron,

Please don't stand behind the reference desk and stare at my computer screen. Also, when I'm talking with my colleague about a work-related issue, I don't really need to hear that you think she raises a good point (I already knew that)--neither one of us is interested in your opinion on a subject you know nothing about. Furthermore, I don't want nor need your advice on women. You can barely tie your own shoes, yet you're going to presume to talk to me, a complete stranger, about something like that? Better re-think your approach on that one. I also would advise against talking to little children you don't know and trying to grab their hand for a high-five. If I were a father and you tried that stunt with my child, I'd knock you into next week.

I hope that next time you're in Central Library, you'll be a bit more...not drunk and that you'll find some of the above to be ideas for further consideration.

Sincerely,

The Renegade Librarian

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You say tomato, I say tomato. Doesn't make much sense when you read it.

recent reads

2010-04-01T07:55:00.001-07:00

I've banged out a couple good books in the last while that I thought I would recommend--though I'm a librarian, I don't tend to recommend books all that often, especially on my blog. I don't know why that is...perhaps not wanting to live up to some kind of librarian cliche? Anyway, I digress...

Because I took my time, I only just finished my friend Matthew's debut novel, Deloume Road. I realize that I'm not the most unbiased reviewer, but it was really beautiful and incredibly well-written. Matthew captures southern Vancouver Island perfectly, the language summoning up familiar images of my own growing up and the landscape that makes this part of the world so breathtaking and remarkable. The story builds to a crescendo and it's littered with fascinating characters whose lives interweave in unique ways. The book left me feeling a bit melancholy (if you want an easy and uplifting read, this likely isn't the book for you), but I was also sad when it was over because it was such an engaging read and I know I'll be waiting for awhile before I see another novel from Mr. Hooton. I'm very proud of my friend for what he's accomplished and he can be justifiably proud of himself for a stunning literary debut!

In a completely different genre, that of sports biography, I burned through Andre Agassi's autobiography Open and it is one of the finest sports autobiographies I've ever read. I grew up watching and loving tennis and I recall being 13 years old and watching Agassi win his first Wimbledon title against Goran Ivanisevic in the summer of 1992 when I was visiting my father in Port Alberni. This book has been both lauded and slammed, but personally I loved it! I admired Agassi's candour as well as his choice of ghostwriter (J.R. Moehringer = an inspired choice). He comes across as very human, his frailties exposed, his (fragile) psyche laid bare. I think what I loved most, however, were the descriptions of tennis: the big matches, the inner scoop on the ATP tour, and the psychological machinations of the game--Agassi has a great memory and Moehinger helps craft those memories into exhilarating prose. A truly great read!

I feel this way sometimes too, Jim...

2010-03-30T22:34:00.001-07:00

Jim Playfair, coach of the AHL's Abbotsford Heat, lost it (and I mean lost it) last night in a game against the Hamilton Bulldogs and this video shows just to what extent. To be honest, I've easily felt this angry before so I can sympathize. Playfair's blowup was Bobby Knight-esque...

Physics ala Bingham

2010-03-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

What you see below strongly resembles something I literally would have done to answer a high school Physics question. To say that Physics wasn't my strong suit would be a bit of an understatement!

March 24 odds 'n' ends

2010-03-24T09:57:00.002-07:00

It's actually hard to believe April is almost here. I've been a poor blogger lately--I've just had very little to say that is fully-formed enough to throw out there on the blog. However, life is never dull and so I give you a traditional helping of my odds 'n' ends:

I went to see my friend Matthew read from his debut novel, Deloume Road, this past Wednesday at one of GVPL's branches and it was really fantastic. He was very funny and engaging--the audience really seemed to enjoy it and totally peppered him when he opened up the floor for questions. The Branch Manager said that she'd never seen a better turn out for a reading and the demand was so high that she had to book a bigger room in the rec centre! Well done, Mr. Hooton!

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Caitlin and I have become increasingly close friends with another couple in our church who are from New Zealand--they are hysterically funny, kind, loving, and a pleasure to be around. And we totally love their accents. We realized that one of the other reasons we likely have such strong kinship with them is because Canada and New Zealand appear to have a lot on common with one another due to our relationships with the U.S. and Australia, respectively. This has come out a fair amount in conversation between us and the Flanagans and I've found it very interesting. There's very much a superiority/inferiority-type complex as both countries are in the shadow of their larger neighbours, yet both Canadians and Kiwis are very good at making fun of said neighbours; we are all also very quick to point out the many sociocultural distinctions between us and our more popular counterparts! I look forward to many more good times with Hamish and Liana because they're totally money!

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I was talking to Caitlin the other day about my high school graduation photo--you know, the individual picture where one is in a robe (and perhaps a cap) holding a very fake-looking diploma in front of an imitation bookshelf? I remember when I first got the pictures back, I thought to myself "Matty, looking good, very stylish!" Well folks, time has not been kind and 13 years has given me time to reassess said picture. The verdict? I look like a total minger. The hairstyle is terrible and my head looks tiny on what appear to be very broad shoulders (and you know how I'm built, it hasn't changed all that much in the last decade). My ears also appear to be gigantic--and I don't have particularly large ears! I made my parents take the 8 x 10 picture off the wall at their house and replace it with a wedding photo of Caitlin and I. This has been an exercise in humility for me and I've learned something very important from it: no matter what I thought at the time, the mushroom cut was never good. I look like I have curtains coming off of my scalp. Just...bad.

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I've been thinking that my reaction to injustice, especially injustice committed against people close to me, is probably not that healthy. I find that I am consumed with an anger that often borders on rage and I want to react with violence, be it in word or deed, which is the antithesis of how I'm called to be. This is something that needs to change with me, though I think that a righteous anger about injustice is a good thing. My concern is more for the whole "I'm going to find the (insert some unkind word about a person) who did/said this and (insert violent act/words)" reaction that is all too common with me.

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It was recently suggested to me that I should begin writing my memoirs before I forget everything. If I did so, it'd be a great cure for insomniacs.

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I was sent this film by a colleague at work. I think everyone will love the main character.

March 11 odds 'n' ends

2010-03-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

I've come across a few things lately that are interesting and/or have made me laugh out loud and thus I thought they merited a blog post.

This one is a couple years old, but my friends and I revisited it a couple nights ago and laughed anew at just how idiotic this poor girl sounded. Her use of the term "The Iraq" and her complete inability to be...coherent in any way is totally amazing. Listen at the very end for her little plug for "the children"--perfect.

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This is the greatest Star Wars tribute I've ever seen. I know you'll love it too. Thanks to Cindy for this!

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How important was the men's Olympic hockey gold medal game to Canadians? Click here to find out. Thanks to Jay Naz for the link!

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Thanks to Sarah for passing this along via Google Reader. Awesome.

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If you're in the mood for intellectually challenging, yet endless, hilarity combined with neurotic ramblings, my friend Michelle's blog is always a good bet.

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Caitlin and I were both given a Banana Guard for our respective birthdays from my friend and colleague, Catherine. These things are money, let me tell ya! Caitlin's is red and mine is the traditional yellow. I don't like bananas all that much to begin with and bruised ones even less, but I still eat them so this little gadget is perfect, even if it looks a bit...ahem, inappropriate. Catherine is one of those people who thinks of everything...

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For those of you who are offended easily or are extremely politically correct, please don't click on this link regarding a very un-PC library book. If you do click it, the blurb is hilarious.

That's all from everyone's favourite blogger for today! I hope some or all of the above elicited a few chuckles...

Binghams' blog March update

2010-03-07T14:08:00.002-08:00

I updated the Binghams' blog with the latest news and some good photos, which you can see here.

10 more random facts

2010-03-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

This is a follow-up, long in draft mode, to this post from about a year and a half ago. Here are some more seemingly random facts about me:

1. I am right-handed, but left-footed. According to research this is reasonably common, but I am the only person I know who displays this little quirk.

2. I am obsessed with trivia and random facts/subjects of all kinds. Combined with my crazy long-term memory, it helps both in my librarianing and in Trivial Pursuit. I wish library patrons would ask me more questions about stuff I am interested in/know a lot about. Hasn't really happened yet...

3. People think my middle name is Danger, but it's actually Paul. Common mistake.

4. I don't particularly enjoy eating most fruits--I have a real struggle with textures and that includes almost all fruits. Many of them taste good, but the mode of delivery makes consumption difficult. The fruit chunks in yogurt used to make me retch into the garbage cans when I was a little boy in elementary school.

5. I've never dyed my hair. If I did, I'd be like Sampson and lose all my strength. Or in my case my awesomeness.

6. I carry my slippers almost everywhere with me, like, to people's houses. I like to be comfortable and to preserve my socks. Yes, it's weird, but that's me.

7. I totally loathe Celine Dion and think she's the Antichrist. Oh wait, you already knew that...

8. I have no known allergies. I always say I'm allergic to raisins because I hate them so much.

9. I grew up with a mother who is a dog obedience trainer yet I own a cat and have no desire to own a dog, even though I like dogs. What went wrong there?

10. I am fascinated by by words and wordplay. I regularly look things up in the dictionary and have a thesaurus at the ready when I'm writing. Nerdy? Yeah, kinda.

the man who snuck INTO Auschwitz

2010-03-04T12:38:00.003-08:00

I was alerted to this story on Mental Floss' Twitter feed and it completely amazed me. It almost seems too implausible to be true, but I definitely believe Mr. Avey's story. What courage!

the wisdom of Twain

2010-03-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

I came across this quote from Mark Twain that made a lot of sense to me:

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear"

Well put, Mr. Clemons, well put.

February 26th odds 'n' ends

2010-02-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

Thumbs up:

Old Dutch baked dill pickle and salt & vinegar chips
Wilco
my L.L. Bean slippers
my nephew saying 'uncle' and 'Matt', often in conjunction
selling the van
Everton beating Manchester United ("the enemy of my enemy is my friend")

Fail:

patrons doing drugs in the library washroom
my lower back when I wake up in the morning
that I open my mouth and talk when I should close it and listen which = my overall lack of wisdom
me accidentally running over my cat's tail with our dishwasher (not the bone, just the hair at the very tip, which got torn out in a big clump!)
Courtney Love and John Mayer: would you both just shut up for once??? Oh, Elton John, you too.

Meh:

the Olympics (have had essentially zero impact on my life)

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I have set my 'back to running' start date for March 1. I made a deal with my friend Crystal-Anne that I would run the Royal Victoria 8K with her in October--I did this so that I would actually have someone depending on me and thus I feel compelled to follow through on what I said. It's going to be painful getting back into the running shape I was in four years ago when I ran 50-60 kilometres per week, but I think I'm mentally prepared to endure the pain and the physical rehabilitation. Well, at least I hope I am.

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Caitlin celebrated her birthday this past Monday. I love Caitlin. She is such a rad wife.

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I've been on a bit of a writing tear lately, though I have yet to finish any of the pieces that I've started. With any luck, that whole 'finishing' thing will happen soon. I am finding this very therapeutic and it's a nice way to get my head out of library/work-related stuff, which demands a great deal of my time.

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I've been thinking about mourning and lament lately. I plan on reading the book of Lamentations because I find myself more and more curious about it and I've never read it before. It seems like our society doesn't allow much leeway for the full expression of human emotion, especially the negative. Am I wrong in thinking that? I know it's definitely the case within the church community...

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Because January and February have been so warm, I've been enjoying my time outside going for walks and hikes. A recent hike at East Sooke Park was really awesome and I hope that Spring is truly on the way so I can spend more time in the outdoors. I can't believe all the cherry blossoms in February! I love Victoria!

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My friend Matthew just had his first novel, Deloume Road, published by Knopf/Random House and I am very excited to crack into it--I just purchased my own copy with my Bolen Books birthday gift certificate! I've known Matthew for seven or eight years--he's a fantastic writer and an incredibly kind, funny, and humble guy. He will be doing a reading from his book at the Bruce Hutchison Branch of Greater Victoria Public Library on March 17 (St. Patrick's Day!), which promises to be a really cool experience.

That's all from my end of things. Diggit.

hope, continued...

2010-02-19T22:39:00.000-08:00

I have been pretty stuck on thinking about the nature of hope lately (see this earlier post) and I came across this quote in a piece by Russ Masterson on the Burnside Writers Collective website:

Hope implies waiting. You hope for things to come. That means you have to wait for those things to arrive. I don’t remember hearing in Sunday School that hope has a nasty side—waiting. I hate waiting, whether on waitresses, cashiers, drivers, my wife, God. So in my impatience, even as hope attempts to rescue me, I fight hope like a drowning man does his rescuer.

My biggest struggle with being a person who lives in hope is that, much like the author, I am an incredibly impatient person and I want results NOW, not later. I want things to happen in my time and according to how I think they should occur. I'm still learning that life doesn't work that way and that the God I profess to believe in is not going to work on my terms or timeline.

That can be a tough one to work through. And I'm still working through it...

on being a writer...

2010-02-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

My friend Thea was chatting with me online recently and she was telling me all about what life would be like were she to be a writer:

"Seriously. I would sit in different coffee shops all day and write and drink cappuccinos and then stay up late writing music, which would be the soundtracks to my books when they got made into bovies (book movies)."

Awesome.

Ash Wednesday odds 'n' ends

2010-02-17T17:11:00.002-08:00

It's Ash Wednesday today and what a stunning day it is here in Victoria--the sky is a piercing blue, the sun is shining, and there is not a cloud in the sky. Sadly, I'm observing this all from my office on my dinner break as I plow through my customary Wednesday 1:00-9:00 shift. I haven't posted much of consequence lately, so I thought I'd do one of my customary 'many different things' posts since my readers love them oh so much...

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I have decided that I am giving up taco chips and salsa for Lent. I realize this might sound ridiculous at first glance, but anyone who knows me well will tell you that I love my chips and salsa and the rare time I do snack between meals, it's my go-to. I also eat it as a quasi-appetizer when I'm cooking or helping Caitlin make dinner ('helping', in this case, often means standing around talking incessantly and filling her in on the mundane happenings in my day while she does the work). When I told Caitlin that this was going to be my sacrifice for Lent, she was mightily impressed; generally, I don't have particularly strong food attachments, but chips and salsa is one of my strongest, probably second after my morning tea.

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I recently acquired a copy of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves as part of my birthday present from my wife and we watched it a couple nights ago. Wow, did it bring back memories: Kevin Costner's mullet (and poor acting), Morgan Freeman's atrocious Moorish accent, Alan Rickman's genius as the Sheriff of Nottingham (he definitely stole the show), the epic soundtrack, and the lovely cinematography. I have a real soft spot for this movie and even if my film critic friends think it is lame, I'm cool with that. I sure enjoyed it as it had been years since the last time I saw it! Thanks, Caitlin!

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I was recently accused of being anti-Olympics due to supposed bitterness at my lack of athletic prowess growing up. I recall being a pretty decent athlete growing up, though I was never going to the Olympics, granted. So, we can count that theory as bunk. Does anyone else have a theory?

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Albums I've been enjoying lately:

Bodies and Minds--Great Lake Swimmers
A Ghost Is Born and Wilco (the album)--Wilco
Impossible Dream--Patty Griffin
Essence--Lucinda Williams

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Right now I'm reading C.S. Lewis' The Four Loves and I'm finding it extremely interesting. I thought I had read it previously, but now I'm pretty sure that I purchased it (in 2004) and then forgot all about it. As is always the case with Lewis, it is a fascinating read. I'm sure I'll have more thoughts to post on this book in the coming weeks...

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I'm working at spending more time reading/in study because I feel this has been a real gap in my life over the last year or so. I've got a great reading list and many things on my mind that I'm processing. I hope it yields some good upcoming posts and conversations with people.

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I like Google Buzz, I think it's pretty cool. There has been a real outcry over privacy issues and it's rumoured that Canada's Privacy Commissioner is going to be investigating it. That's too bad.

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Things at which I have discovered I excel:

spilling things on myself (tea being a prime example)
paranoia about completely random things
dispensing unsolicited advice
not displaying wisdom through the closing of my mouth at key times
juvenility (fart/poo jokes, stupid dances, etc.)
becoming extremely emotional at the drop of a hat

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I love Cadbury Mini-Eggs. Passionately. I'm going to eat some tonight in my office with my de-caf tea as I do my work. It's what I'm most looking forward to about my evening.

Well, that's all from me for now--time to head back to the salt mines here! I hope this post finds all of my loyal readers well!

Wilco loves us, baby!

2010-02-15T21:44:00.001-08:00

I went to see one of my very favourite artists (for the second time) at the Royal Theatre on Friday night: Wilco. And yes, to paraphrase 'Wilco (the song)', Wilco did love me, baby: well over two hours, two encores, a total of 26 songs. As my buddy Malcolm said, they played hard and they played their hearts out. It was absolutely epic, a masterpiece of a show. Caitlin said it was the best show she's ever seen and that if they weren't already, they are now definitely her favourite band ever (it was her first Wilco show)--an excellent choice. We met five of the six band members after the show, all of whom were really cool guys and each of whom took some time to chat with us. We even scored some autographs on our CDs and Wilco (the tote). We only missed out on meeting Jeff Tweedy, who we're pretty sure disappeared right after the show.

Caitlin and I with guitar wunderkind Nels Cline:

If Wilco comes anywhere near your hometown take some time to check them out. You won't find a tighter band around! Can't wait until next time!

some thoughts on hope

2010-01-29T08:12:00.001-08:00

It's easy to lose hope in a world where there is so much fear and ugliness--it's everywhere. Yet, I have lived my life essentially untouched by any real personal tragedy. Still, I have seen a couple friends my age lose parents, something you don't expect so early in your life; daily I read about war, starvation, climate change, environmental destruction; and more recently I've had to deal with the difficulties and pain that come with supporting you love who has suffered terrible personal trauma. I've not been untouched by struggle and sorrow.

Because I am an adult, I feel that I should be used to the realities of the world and thus I should be able to deal with it. And I guess I am used to it, but I am so easily discouraged when I look around me. Occasionally I struggle to see beauty and goodness even though I know they exist if I only would have the eyes to see and the ears to hear; with this struggle, hope can seem fleeting at best. When faced with tragedy and suffering I think our first instinct is to give in to feelings of hopelessness because it demands nothing of us; from my experience, being pessimistic and abandoning hope is easy whereas fostering hope can take real determination and perseverance.

For me, hope is an intentional posture, a choice, and it often demands effort, focus, and a lot of prayer to maintain. My faith involves a strong call to hope, that hope is to inform my worldview, my day-to-day outlook, and my interactions with others. In saying this, by no means am I setting myself up as the example to follow. I haven't got it completely figured out and I likely never will...

The other day, a loved one asked me "Matt, can I borrow a bit of your hope because my supplies are running low?" That got me thinking that sometimes we go through those 'dark nights of the soul' where we need the hope of others to help sustain us. I have definitely been in that place and I'm so thankful for a number of key people who didn't lose hope (in this case for me and my future) because their hope helped get me through to the other side of that spiritual and emotional desert. I want the hope that I have to be contagious or, at the very least, to give strength to another who feels hopeless; one of the reasons why I believe that it's important to cultivate the virtue of hope is that it might help minister to others who feel they have none.

An anonymous quote I saw recently read "hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible." I pray that I am constantly guided by that and that God gives me the strength to continue grasping on to hope.

calculating value

2010-01-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine from grad school sent me this library value calculator, which I found pretty fascinating. The total value of the services I, personally, used was a shade under $200.00 (what I actually paid for services was under $4.00) and my return on investment was over 4500%. Yeah, I think libraries are a highly valuable service in our communities...

My life boring?? You must be kidding me...

2010-01-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

I was talking to a friend the other night and when she asked me how I was doing I replied that I was well, enjoying my job and my home. She looked at me somewhat distastefully and said something along the lines of "that's the last thing I want, the nine-to-five life and all the boredom that comes with it!" I smiled, we continued our conversation for awhile longer, and then parted ways. I thought about her reaction this week and realized that though my life appears quite conventional (and I guess one could argue it is) I've never considered it as even remotely staid or banal. I have the most incredible community of people around me, I am constantly surrounded by music and art that stimulates me, I have a job that challenges and motivates me, and I feel like I'm (to borrow from Donald Miller) 'living a good story.' Yes, I have a mortgage, I work a nine-to-five, and I live in the suburbs, however, each day contains unforgettable conversations, laughter, songs, writing, and interactions which make my life anything but monotonous. Appearances can be deceiving--my life is the farthest thing from being tedious or uninspiring!

contentment in your craft

2010-01-19T10:20:00.001-08:00

I am the kind of person who often compares himself to others, especially my writing and guitar playing. However, I recently stumbled across this quote on a good friend's site and it really struck me that this is the ideal to which I need to hold myself:

“To apprentice is to accept the unfolding beauty of progression. To become at ease with where you are in the spectrum of expertise. I have a good friend who has killed the simple, visceral joy of cycling and climbing because he never believes he’s good enough. He sets his sights so high that his performance is always a disappointment to him. Being covetous of what you are not is corrosive. Enjoy the slow blossoming of your own expertise. This is the craft of developing a craft.”

—from The Path of Apprenticeship by Mark Jenkins

I need that being covetous of what I am not is a damaging way to live and that viewing all I do negatively in comparison to others is not going to help me to improve at the things I love most. Definitely some food for thought...

a classic reference question

2010-01-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

So, how's this for a freakin' hilarious reference question:

"What's more real: reality or virtual reality?"

Seriously, I love being a librarian!

forget about the counterculture...

2010-01-16T07:30:00.002-08:00

I'm reading a very interesting book called The Rebel Sell: Why The Culture Can't Be Jammed. I'm only about 20 pages into it, but the following snippet is a true indictment of our 'me first' culture and what it has spawned:

"In the countercultural analysis, simply having fun comes to be seen as the ultimate subversive act. Hedonism is transformed into a revolutionary doctrine...It's time for a reality check. Having fun is not subversive, and it doesn't undermine any system. In fact, widespread hedonism makes it more difficult to organize social movements, and much more difficult to persuade anyone to make a sacrifice in the name of social justice."

Heath and Potter argue that the counterculture doesn't actually exist and in fact the whole idea of a counterculture and counter-cultural rebellion has completely reinvigorated consumer capitalism. Just the cover art alone had me laughing: an image of Che Guevara on a Starbucks cup. Hilarious. I'm looking forward to getting deeper into this book...

an open letter to the Vatican

2010-01-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

Dear Vatican,

Thanks for clarifying that Bono always sings songs about God. We would never have figured this out without your guidance.

Sincerely,

The Renegade Librarian

*Thanks to Jimmy the K for passing this article on to me.

a very cogent anti-Olympic argument

2010-01-15T12:23:00.000-08:00

Chris Shaw, an anti-Olympic protester and professor of opthalmology at the University of British Columbia, has written a wonderful commentary in The Georgia Straight entitled "Why Resist the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver?" Shaw perfectly sums up my feelings on the Olympics and has helped strenghen my convictions on the inherent issues and injustice(s) surrounding the Games.

Hearing Gordon Campbell call this one two-week period "BC's legacy to the world" further frustrates me. Sure, it's our 'legacy' if by legacy you mean a legacy of lies and injustice, not to mention the citizens of this province having to be saddled with mammoth debt for the next God-knows-how-long; I hope everyone else is as excited as I am to have our tax money going towards paying this off for x number of years! Honestly, it infuriates me...

I realize there are those of you who will disagree with me and I'm okay with that. I just can't support something that's causing so much needless destruction, both socially and environmentally.

begging your pardon

2010-01-14T13:05:00.000-08:00

I realize I'm a bit behind on my posting and for that I'd like to say I'm sorry to you, my loyal readers. I have some drafts on the go, but have yet to get them to a point where they're ready to post; I keep getting sidetracked by either my work or looking for a vehicle to replace 'The Dustbuster' (I have been successful in this!). In the meantime, my friend Michelle is hilariously funny and you should read this post. My posts are never as quirky, witty, or downright hysterical as Michelle's are--perhaps I'm getting more serious as I get older. I think the real reason is that she's about the funniest person and thus tough for anyone to top! Look for more from the Dynasty soon, though it's likely to be in a more serious/thoughtful vein.

Friday randoms

2010-01-08T12:00:00.001-08:00

It is totally the post-Christmas January doldrums these days, but I've managed to stay pretty positive and not get too depressed. There have been a few things to help me out with this:

I just saw the movie Up the other night with Caitlin and we really quite enjoyed it. However, with a storyline like that I am pretty convinced that the writers/creators were on some pretty strong (hallucinogenic) drugs and listening to a lot of Jimi Hendrix. Flying houses? Multicoloured flightless birds? Dogs with talking collars (especially that one Doberman who sounded like Theodore from Alvin & The Chipmunks!), and an insane explorer with a museum in his airship?? Hmm...

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I have had Spoon's Gimme Fiction album for quite awhile (thanks to Jimmy the K), but this past week it was like I heard it for the first time and I totally fell in love! It's very quirky, catchy, and at times epic. The string arrangements are also beautifully done. Worth a listen if you've never heard it...

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Here are 85 reasons to be thankful for librarians. Awesome.

That's your Friday helping of the Bing Man! Hope you enjoyed it!

FrequenCity now online!

2010-01-08T08:42:00.002-08:00

My friend and fellow axe-slinger, Bradley, from the fair hamlet of London, Ontario, has started his own music blog. I definitely encourage y'all to check out FrequenCity and discover what Bradley has been listening to. He's also a cookin' good guitarist, so perhaps he'll post some of his own stuff on there...

I hated math...

2010-01-01T09:00:00.001-08:00

This was pretty much how I felt when faced with math questions after about...grade 10:

My Top 10 songs of 2009 (in no particular order)

2009-12-30T21:35:00.002-08:00

I am following in the footsteps of my friend Eric, who posted his top 10 songs of the last 10 years, though I had the idea of doing my top 10 songs of 2009 before he posted his list so I'm not actually a total copycatter (as they used to call you in elementary school!). I thought about doing my top 10 albums, but I tend to post on albums far more often than I do individual songs so I felt a change was in order. This list contains the songs that I have probably listened to most or to which I have continually come back time and time again throughout the last 12 months. Not all of them were released in 2009 and I did not want to include that as a criterion for this list. The barometer for inclusion on this list consisted of how often I played a song as well as the sounds and melodies, more so than lyrics--I am primarily attracted to songs for their melodies and instrumentation and secondarily to lyrical content. Without further ado, here are my top 10 songs of 2009:

1. 'Breathe'--U2 (No Line On The Horizon): This is one of the catchiest rockers that U2 has ever written and certainly put the proverbial boots to 'Get On Your Boots', the first single from this year's No Line On The Horizon. I primarily dug The Edge's guitar sound and Bono's stream-of-consciousness lyrics at the beginning, though I also love the lyric "Every day I die again, and again I'm reborn"--brilliant. Larry Mullen's thumping drum intro doesn't hurt either...

2. 'The Man Who Told Everything'--Doves (Lost Souls): Doves are one of my best discoveries of the last couple years and this song is a lovely, shimmering tune with gorgeous vocals, soaring harmonies, and quietly disturbing lyrics. This whole Lost Souls album is killer...heck, anything by Doves is amazing!

3. 'Nothin''--Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (Raising Sand): This is one of the most haunting songs I've ever heard: heavily distorted guitar (low in the mix), what sounds like a banjo being slowly picked, and Krauss' soaring, mournful fiddle lines over top of it all. The song has very spare production with lots of space--it almost seems to 'breathe'. A stunning achievement off of an equally stunning album.

4. 'The Ghost of Genova Heights'--Stars (In Our Bedroom After The War): This is what happens when dreamscape shoegazer-type sounds meet funk. This chorus, for me, came out of nowhere and it was so catchy that I would find myself literally singing/humming it for hours on end--the falsetto vocals by lead vocalist Torquil Campbell are smokin'! My wife absolutely dug this song as well!

5. 'Till The Sun Turns Black'--Ray LaMontagne (Till The Sun Turns Black): If there was a song that that was bound to get me very teary this year (almost every time I listened to it!) it was this one. Taken from the 2006 album of the same name, it has one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful vocals ever committed to tape, especially as it peaks in the middle and the strings swell...marvelous stuff! This song is perfect, from the string arrangement to the gently strummed acoustic guitar, to the tympani rolls at the song's climax. Intimate and epic at the same time...

6. 'Holding Up The Sky'--Buddy & Julie Miller (Buddy & Julie Miller): This song makes me think of my wife, pure and simple. It's an unabashed love song and perhaps the one that resonates with me the most when I think about my marriage. A simple country-tinged number with lovely harmonies and simple lyrics, I loved it the first time I heard it.

7. 'The Last Recluse'--The Tragically Hip (We Are The Same): One of Canada's most legendary bands came out with a wonderful album this year and this was my favourite track off of said album. There is a really cool organ intro/outro that is essentially unrelated to the main body of the song. El Gordo weaves a lovely story, complete with Canadiana references, and backed by a simple chord progession. I love the vocal melody in this and the deep "ooohhs" in the middle of the song (it was a great audience participation moment when we saw them live!). Some people seem to think The Hip have lost a step, but I could not disagree more!

8. 'Weathervanes (In The Way)'--Jets Overhead (No Nations): Victoria's very own Jets Overhead put out an album that I absolutely and heartily endorse with a 10/10 and I only discovered it about three weeks ago! This ballad is achingly beautiful--Adam Kittredge's falsetto vocals in the chorus are incredible and it is a lovely lyric. Way to make us Victorians proud!

9. 'The Pharaohs'--Neko Case (Middle Cyclone): Neko Case might well be my artist of 2009 in terms of how often I listened to her, especially the albums Fox Confessor Brings The Flood and 2009's Middle Cyclone (complete with what Paste Magazine called the best album cover of the decade!). Heck, I even named my cat Neko! 'The Pharoahs' has my favourite chord progression of the year as well as some of my favourite harmonies--it's an all-around masterpiece of a song! Her voice is sultry and beautiful, the lyric, poignant. Oh Neko (not the cat), how I love thee...

10. Holy, Holy, Holy--Sufjan Stevens (Peace: Songs for Christmas, Vol. V): Though this lilting arrangement of the traditional hymn is found on one of Sufjan Stevens' Christmas EPs, I have been listening to this cut all year long because the hymn is not traditionally associated with the Christmas season. This is a sublime presentation of 'Holy, Holy, Holy', with Stevens' trademark delicate vocals and angelic harmonies (that are bloody hard to sing, let me tell you!) resplendent at every turn. Ever since I first heard him, I have been saying that Sufjan Stevens is a musical genius and this just adds credence to my belief!

Well, that's my 'best of' list for this year. Happy New Year to you all, my faithful readers, and all the best for 2010!

random hilarity

2009-12-30T16:43:00.002-08:00

There have been a few things lately on the interwebs that have really tickled my funny bone, thus I thought I'd share them with you here:

My new favourite album cover:

Seriously, I could not stop laughing after I saw that today in the Paste Magazine list of the best 25 album covers of the decade. Awesome! How had I never seen it before?

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I have also been reading The Oatmeal a lot and I laughed my head off at this list of Ten Words You Need To Stop Misspelling.

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I pretty much always feel this way about Muhammed Ali. There are always tributes to him that seem to come out of nowhere and for no real reason that I can really put my finger on...

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It seems like African leaders are concerned about U2 and believe they need reform.

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And one more from The Oatmeal aimed specifically at those of you who who wonder what would happen to you if your dinosaur was on drugs.

Hope y'all get some laughs from those!

T.S. Spivet

2009-12-26T10:31:00.003-08:00

I am one third of the way through The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet, by Reif Larsen, and it is already up there among the most beautiful and best-written novels I have ever encountered. Seldom does a work of fiction get me so excited that I begin tossing out recommendations before I have even finished reading it, but such is the case here! Beautifully illustrated with a captivating story to boot, each page turned is a new discovery for me: humour, sadness, and many instances of truly poignant prose are scattered throughout this novel's pages. If you have not already, I highly recommend you check it out!

I wish I had thought of this answer when in school...

2009-12-23T08:28:00.004-08:00

I would have at least given the person bonus marks for imagination:

fear and courage

2009-12-20T17:28:00.002-08:00

I spend much of my life fighting fear. Actually, I think the majority of people do. Fears about money, security, self-image, health, and a host of other things dominate many people's thoughts and I am no exception to that. I worry about those things a great deal, but I agonize exponentially more over my loved ones than I do about myself. Though worry is not a good thing, at least unselfish worry can be viewed as more admirable than self-absorbed worry! However, I have been learning a lot about the nature of courage and I happened upon a couple quotes within the last year that have really spoken to me:

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." ~ Ambrose Redmoon

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." ~ C.S. Lewis

It often seems a bit ridiculous to me that I am afraid so often considering how privileged I am and the fact that I lack for nothing! Nevertheless, that is my reality and I have had to learn how to take leaps of faith despite my fears. I would like to think that I've developed courage as a result of some of the trials I have faced; I am learning more about having trust and hope despite my fears and I am convinced that God is continually molding that area of my life and faith. My prayer is that I will persevere in allowing myself to be shaped because God knows it is not always easy or comfortable for me!

*Many thanks to both Caitlin and Sarah for the numerous conversations we've had about this topic, both individually and collectively and whose thoughts, prayers and advice have been invaluable to me.

when I grow up...

2009-12-18T16:29:00.004-08:00

Thanks to my friend Michael for this!

have yourself a contentious little Christmas!

2009-12-16T21:45:00.003-08:00

I am known to some as a contentious person. If there is something that I perceive as being worth railing against, than rail against it I do...and a lot! And given the season, lately my pet peeve has been Christmas. Now don't get me wrong, I have been whining and moaning about Christmas every year for the past five years or so (especially the crappy music I'm forced to endure from November 1st onward!), but this year the crass commercialism of it has really hit home and therefore I often want to completely tune out the holidays. Granted, I am really only buying one gift this year as part of a family exchange and, inspired partly by Advent Conspiracy, I am investing my time in gifts for my loved ones rather than buying them some token presents that they neither need and that I feel obligated to purchase for them. This is a good thing and I am convinced that those who receive gifts from me will appreciate them more than they might store-bought gifts, but I realized today that something was missing...

In all my haste to condemn Christmas commercialism, I had lost sight of why this holiday season is important to me and thus I had simply reduced it to a consumer boycott. I know that resisting the consumer hype is totally valid and important, but where was the corollary? Christmas is all about the birth of Christ, which is why the season is so meaningful to me as a follower of Jesus; that had eluded me completely so far this year. May God forgive me and help me to never lose sight of this in the future...

finally updated the Binghams' blog

2009-12-13T16:28:00.002-08:00

After four months, I finally got around to updating the Binghams' blog here. It's about time!

my favourite Christmas movie

2009-12-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

I am not going to be purchasing much this year, but I could not resist shelling out $12 to finally buy my favourite Christmas movie, A Christmas Story, on DVD. It is one that I've always wanted to have in my meagre DVD collection, but I could never justify spending $25-$30 for it. Caitlin had never seen it before, nor had our friends who were over for dinner last night, so we watched it together. I am definitely the one that laughed the hardest--I think I may have overhyped it for the others becaue they were not laughing nearly as much. Randy Parker's quest to acquire the Red Ryder beebee gun ("you'll shoot your eye out!"), the Bumpus hounds, the furnace, little brother Randy, the leg lamp, Scott Farkas, the bunny suit, the visit to Santa, and the legendary tongue-to-the-flagpole incident were just as funny for the 20th time as they were the very first time I watched it. Ah, memories...

I was thought I'd find a mindless way to pass some time so...

2009-12-11T07:30:00.001-08:00

...I decided to do one of those ridiculous survey thingies (also known as 'memes', which is a really stupid-sounding word):

How many keys are on your keychain? Who cares?? Geez, this survey started off really lamely...

What curse word do you use the most? Sadly, I can be quite fluent in profanity when the circumstances are right--I try not play favourites so they all tend to get used fairly equally and much more than I'd like!

Do you own an iPod? Heck yes I do! One of the few 'toys' that I wouldn't want to live without!

What time is your alarm clock set for? 6:45 in the a.m.

How many suitcases do you own? Like, four or five between my wife and I.

Do you wear flip-flops even when it’s cold outside? No. Why don't I just tattoo 'moron' across my forehead while I'm at it?

Would you rather take the picture or be in the picture? Take a picture--I'm a total ugmo in pictures.

What was the last movie you watched? Waitress with Keri Russell. It was pretty good.

What CD is currently in your CD player? Sam Roberts' Love At The End Of The World.

Has anyone told you a secret this week? Yes. Then I told all my friends. Not really, but when I just read that back to myself, it made me laugh.

What did you have for dinner last night? Spaghetti. I made it. It was good.

Do you wear hoodies often? Um...is the pope Catholic? Heck yes, I do! They're my favourite articles of clothing.

Can you whistle? Yes. Next question.

Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? My friend Kathleen, last night. She and her husband are coming for dinner tonight if you must know.

What is your favorite ride at an amusement park? The one that doesn't cost me anything (including my vomit), which means none of them. Rides are stupid and a waste of money.

Do you think people talk about you behind your back? Yes. A lot. And I'd say much of it is deserved.

What area code are you in? 250.

What is your biggest regret? That someone didn't put a guitar in my hands when I was three. I'd be melting faces all around the world by now. Diggit.

What movie(s) do you know every line to? None, though I know a lot of lines from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre.

When was your last plane ride? In October, to and from Maui.

How many chairs are at your dining room table? Six.

Can you speak any languages other than English? See question number two.

What color are your bedroom walls? Beige-ish

When was the last time you cried? I'm not answering this question.

Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? Both.

Which do you make: wishes or plans? Neither, but if you vote for me, all of your wildest dreams will come true. ~ Pedro Sanchez

Can you skip rocks? Yes, and very well I might add.

Who was your favorite teacher? Mr. Wilson, my band teacher. He was awesome. And he had the sweetest goatee ever.

What two personality traits attract you most? Loyalty and a good sense of humour are both good, but it's impossible to just answer two.

What two personality traits do you most dislike? Arrogance (which I display pretty constantly, I think) and lack of prudence are two that immediately spring to mind, though I'm sure there are few more!

What is your mother’s hometown? If you're asking where she was born, then the answer is Windsor, Nova Scotia. But, she would consider her hometown to be good ole Vic City, British Columbia

How many hours of sleep do you need to function? I can get by on six.

Do you eat breakfast daily? I try to.

Describe your typical weekday with three adjectives. Hectic, hilarious, tiring.

Did you ever get in trouble for talking in class? Constantly.

What is your favorite fruit? The one I don't have to eat. I'm not a huge fruit fan because of the textures, though I eat fruit anyway because I know it's good for me. And my wife makes me.

Do you believe in life on other planets? Some people say that I am from another planet.

Who was the last person to piss you off? A library patron who shall remain nameless (though rest assured, I know exactly who this person is by name).

What do you tell yourself when times get hard? "God has some reason for why this is happening to me; I wish he'd let me in on the secret."

Would you ever sky dive? Nope. See the question about rides at the amusement park.

Do you sleep on your side, tummy, or back? Mostly on my side and back. I used to be almost solely a tummy sleeper, but sometime in my 20s, that essentially stopped. I still don't know why...

What character from a movie most reminds you of yourself? Ferris Bueller: smartass, mischievous without being really bad, able to think on his feet.

Have you ever bid for something on ebay? Yes! Have you ever seen my sweet Rolling Stones belt buckle? Or my authentic 08-09 Steven Gerrard Liverpool FC jersey? I rock the ebay train!

Do you enjoy giving hugs? According to some people (ahem, Andy Renton), yes. I hug people I really love and who are important to me.

Would you consider yourself to be fashionable? Hellz no, I wouldn't! Have you seen me lately?

Does it annoy you when someone says they’ll call but never do? No, generally I don't really care.

What books, if any, have made you cry? I don't really remember. Oh, A Prayer For Owen Meany probably did and I've read it many times.

Do you think you’re attractive? No. But thank the Good Lord above I found at least one person who did.

What are you allergic to? Raisins. Oh, wait...no, it's just that I hate them.

If you were born the opposite sex, what would your name have been? Ask my mom.

I must thank my good friend L.J. for this as I stole it off of her blog.

What I've Learned as a Public Librarian: The First Eighteen Months

2009-12-07T19:39:00.001-08:00

Well, I've been a public librarian for roughly a year and a half now, five months of which I have spent as a supervisor. Much of what I have learned can be summed up in the following:

1. Sometimes you just can't find an answer for someone because one does not exist.

2. There are times where no answer is good enough to please whomever you are serving.

3. Don't be afraid to ask your colleagues for help or advice.

4. When you eventually do locate a piece of information that was extremely difficult to find, do not be too proud of yourself because the next question will humble you and make you feel like a dumbass. And it is more often than not far easier than the tough one you just answered!

5. Working at an inner city library means that you are just as much a social worker as you are a librarian.

6. If you can't see the humour in some of the situations/dealings with people, then you're going to hate your job pretty quickly. Most days I love my job--I get there early and I stay after I'm supposed to be done because I enjoy it that much (plus, there is always so much to do!). There are few people who can say that...

7. People saying "I'm on the e-mail" (rough translation: "I kind of know how to use the internet") or some variation thereof never ceases to be completely hilarious.

8. Photocopiers and printers of all kinds are the anti-Christ.

9. You need to develop a thick skin and learn to be assertive--people are going to try to bully you, will call you names, vent at you, and will push boundaries of all kinds. You quickly learn that it is all about their issues and not a problem with you.

10. Libraries mean so much to so many people and their value cannot be measured in dollars and cents. That's why I do what I do and will continue to for the foreseeable future.

My job is by turns fun, interesting, sad, and difficult, often within the course of the same day. But there is one thing I can always say about it: it is never boring.

The Story of Stuff

2009-12-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

My good friend Cindy has alerted me to a video/website dealing with something very important to her that is also important to me. The Story of Stuff outlines the way that the system of production of goods as well as our consumption habits affect the planet, illustrating how it is unsustainable and destructive. This little 20 minute film is a bit of a downer, but is really informative and shows that there are ways to change how we live our lives in terms of our environmental footprint. Click here to view the website and stream the video online.

Oh, the humanity (or why I like to ride the bus)

2009-12-03T17:45:00.000-08:00

Now that we are a one-vehicle family (in order to classify us us as a family I am including our cat Neko as a quasi-child, though she does not possess a valid British Columbia driver's license and thus is unable to operate a motor vehicle), I take the bus to and from work each day so that Caitlin can use the van if necessary. This has afforded me the opportunity to eavesdrop on/watch other passengers and my amazement at the cross-section of people I have run encountered has not ceased. If you want to observe brokenness, pathos, kindness, grace, love, and humour in the course of 15 minutes, ride the bus for a little while--it's a little snapshot of humanity at its best and worst. From watching reunions of long-lost friends to the ever-present screaming toddler to people swearing profusely at the bus driver for (rightly) ejecting them from the bus, there is something for everyone who likes to people-watch. I have also had to deal with some pretty funky smells whilst on the bus, but that is another story altogether...

Exhibit A: The screaming toddler

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I actually rather enjoy taking the bus, regardless of the economic and environmental benefits; given the choice, I would not go back to fighting traffic in my car every day. The daily bus ride has actually increased my compassion and empathy for people rather than hardening me, as my job so often does. Granted, hearing Tammy loudly recall over the phone to Jenna about who was at the party last night and why she hates her mother so much is not my idea of a great time, however, the bus has been a humbling experience for me. And as much as I may loathe being humbled sometimes, it's a necessary aspect of helping to transform me into the person God wants me to be. I'm all for that.

Leafs blog

2009-11-30T09:45:00.002-08:00

I finally decided to post an update on the Leafs blog to commemorate Brian Burke being the GM for a year. Those of you who like hockey or enjoy that blog might like to comment on what I had to say.

5 songs I'm digging

2009-11-29T12:42:00.003-08:00

I've started listening to my iPod at my desk as well as using Grooveshark.com (thanks to a recommendation by a friend) and thus I've been able to listening to some music lately. Taking a cue from my friend Eric, here are five songs I've been digging lately, in no particular order (original album in parentheses):

"The Calculation"--Regina Spektor (Far): this little ditty is incredibly catchy and I can't help but smile when I'm listening to it. If songs can be described as adorable, that's this song in a nutshell.

"Avalanche"--Matthew Good (Avalanche): I have never been a huge Matt Good fan, but I really like this album and I love this song--it's long, minor-key epic.

"The Ghost of Genova Heights"--Stars (In Our Bedroom After The War): this is what happens when dreamy alt-rock meets up with funky soul. The chorus is totally unexpected, but amazingly catchy and has Caitlin and I humming it for ages after hearing it!

"Outshined"--Soundgarden (Badmotorfinger): admittedly, you've got to love to rock hard and listen to Chris Cornell shriek if you're going to dig this song. However, the ultra-heavy (though catchy) riff in the verses is offset by a cool, jangly major-key pre-chorus that lightens the mood before the song trudges back into the sludge for the chorus. Essential early 90s alt-rock from a band that only got better on their Superunknown album.

"Safe Haven"--Royal Wood (A Good Enough Day): this is a beautiful piano ballad from the brilliantly talented Canadian multi-instrumentalist. If you have never heard of Royal Wood, do yourself a favour and check out his stuff--it's gorgeous.

Unlike Eric, however, I will not recommend you preview these tracks on iTunes. Rather, listen to the songs in their entirety for free on Grooveshark--Caitlin and I are both loving this site and highly recommend it if you want to preview music before buying or set up an account and make playlists, like I have started doing at work. Gold!

site redesign

2009-11-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

I must throw out huge props and my undying gratitude to the great design team over at Young Lions of Pop for redesigning the Dynasty and doing such a great job! I love the result and hopefully you, my loyal readers, do as well!

a beacon of light

2009-11-25T16:46:00.002-08:00

She is a beacon of light for anyone who enters her orbit. Day in and day out she serves others, never seeking attention for herself and delighting in the people she loves most. Unlike so many of us, she never treats anyone like a second-class citizen, displaying love and patience with all. She has a heart for those with disabilties and bestows upon them dignity and love through all of her interactions. Gentleness and humility are her hallmarks and she radiates a calm that soothes the most fractious, frustrated soul. With tireless devotion she cares for her husband and her three little boys, as well as other people's children, with nary a word of complaint to be heard. My wife and I, among so many others, have never lacked for a listening ear, a smile, a hug, or a kind word whenever we have spent time around her. She operates behind the scenes in our community, often to little or no recognition, feeding people, nurturing them, and meeting numerous other needs; she is a steadfast presence who comes alongside others and walks with them.

She is a true and loyal friend, a loving mother, a modern saint. We are better people for having her in our lives.

hits and misses

2009-11-24T18:04:00.000-08:00

Thumbs up:

dill pickle chips
homemade red pepper jelly
my Honolua Surf Co. hoodie
Typhoo decaf tea
having my Strat fixed (plays like butter and sounds amazing)
Neko, our cat (makes funny noises, makes Caitlin happy, is cute)

Fail:

Kanye West: is this guy not the biggest douchebag ever? The answer, in case you were wondering, is yes.
bean salad: does anyone actually like bean salad?
my insomnia of the last few weeks
Neko, our cat (craps on the floor beside her litter box(?), wakes us up early, jumps up on things she shouldn't)

reminders

2009-11-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

It had been one of those rare days where work had been agonizing, testing me every minute with problem after problem that demanded an immediate solution. When I finally left thirty minutes after my day was supposed to end I was struggling to hold myself together emotionally. Along with the myriad tasks and impromptu meetings I had been rushing between, the day had been spent contemplating the hurts in my life and I was sinking deeper into a gulf of self-pity and frustration. That's when I stepped outside and was hit by the force of the icy gale as it cascaded through the courtyard. There is no better reminder that you are alive than the cold winter wind ripping through you--it brings the present acutely into focus as it seems to slice you in half. I fastened my wool coat more tightly around me and trudged toward the bus stop.

As I exited the courtyard the sun had dropped down below the horizon leaving a thin sheet of light that faded upward into increasingly darkening shades of blue, then inky black. I stopped dead in my tracks as I was struck by the sheer magnificence of the scene. The buildings towered above me, sharply silhouetted against this backdrop as as I gazed at them through a cloud of my own breath. My feelings of pain and defeat were momentarily replaced by unmitigated awe and the most life-affirming sense of my own insignificance in the light of my Creator. Though the city was abuzz around me, it was as if for that brief moment the world ground to a standstill. I felt so small yet sensed God's presence so strongly. I realized that I needed to be humbled and have my attention drawn away from my own anger and self-pity, which is exactly what happened when I took the time to look around and really 'see.'

This snapshot in time did not eradicate my struggles, but it was a timely reminder of life's beauty and the abundance of blessings that have been lavished on me. Hopefully its memory will continue to prompt me to look beyond the end of my nose at the world around me more often. Lord knows I need it...

writing

2009-11-22T17:32:00.001-08:00

I've been spending far more time concentrating on my writing lately. I love to write, but have always saddled myself with the belief that I wasn't 'good enough' to write. I've decided to try to discard this and spend time working on becoming a better writer. I find it highly therapeutic, a release for the stresses of my job and a way to process my 'complex inner life' (read: mental instability!). Therefore, I am going to attempt to release little vignettes every once in a while, some highly edited/thought out and some completely off-the-cuff. Enjoy!

if you need a laugh...

2009-11-16T12:34:00.000-08:00

...then this opening sequence from a Season 6 episode of The Office should do the trick perfectly. Parkour!

Mr. November

2009-11-14T13:33:00.001-08:00

Well, we're starting to hit the dreariest months of the year here in rainy Victoria and I must admit that I'm feeling it a bit--it must be because we spent a chunk of time in Maui! November has been a process of readjusting to real life, catching up at work, encouraging Caitlin as she looks for part-time work/starts up her ESL tutoring business, trying to write more (and generally succeeding), and working to sort out some of the stuff in my head.

One of my better qualities is that I am a pretty optimistic guy, but when I am disappointed or hurt by something, it really stings me and I struggle to 'shrug it off.' I am not really someone who does the important things in life halfway; I either invest my energy completely or I don't really at all, whether it is in ideas, projects, or people. When something goes pear-shaped on me it is not always that fact which bothers me most (though it sure can bother me!), but rather why it happened--I can drive myself meshugganah trying to reason through those failures and disappointments, even those over which I have no control nor played no part. A colleague of mine says that she carries a Q-Tip in her pocket to remind her about failures for which she cannot be held responsible: "quit taking it personally." Good call.

I am hoping my quasi-insomnia disappears and that as I head into December work will slow down a bit, as my boss has predicted. I am also going to do my best to block out all Christmas music until December 1st at the very earliest. Fingers crossed...

what I learned tonight...

2009-11-07T22:28:00.002-08:00

I was at a pottery studio opening tonight for Caitlin's cousin and it was good to be there to support her, especially because she's actually a fantastic potter. Despite this, I did have a few things reaffirmed for me throughout the course of the evening:

I hate small talk. With a passion. However, I must admit that it was refreshing to not have one single person ask what I do for a living so that I didn't have to explain that as a librarian I don't get to just sit and read books all day.
Really fancy cheeses smell like stinky feet.
Caitlin is more of an introvert, but a far better 'mingler' than am I. She looked downright comfortable shooting the breeze with strangers. I was ready to leave after about a half an hour, after having a beer and way too much Almond Roca.
Speaking of which, I love Almond Roca and I'd forgotten just how tasty a treat is this little delicacy--English toffee wrapped in chocolate and almond bits. Delightful.
Gazing pensively (in this case at the art on the wall/shelves) is a good way to keep people from talking to me when I'm not feeling particularly social. I employed that at least 12 times during the evening...

Like I've told people, sometimes it's not our initial discovery of something that is most enlightening to us, but rather its rediscovery. Such was the case tonight.

loyalty for sale

2009-11-01T12:43:00.000-08:00

I normally post hockey/Leafs-related stuff on my Leafs blog, but this was too good to pass up. Click on the link and read on; I am considering following suit based on the crap I've had to put with so far this season...

equation

2009-10-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

Here is an equation, courtesy of Bob Opperman, that I have been pondering for the last week:

GRACE + TRUTH / TIME = LOVE

I try my best (and often fail) to fully practice this, yet I can name people who have practiced this math on me and continue to do so. I think that this should be the glue that holds community and authentic relationships together.

If I wasn't a fan of the Olympics before...

2009-10-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

...I'm certainly not one now after reading this. Seriously, BC government? Are you kidding me? Since when did we join the United States of Amerikkka?

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

2009-10-12T15:11:00.000-07:00

We just finished putting on a highly successful brunch for my family, including my year-old nephew dressed like a jack o' lantern, here at Casa del Bingham and now are relaxing on the couch, looking forward to a restful remainder of the day.

Much like my pastor Randy, one of the reasons I most love Thanksgiving is that it does not involve "getting" (other than perhaps a bit of overindulgence in foods of the turkey and pumpkin pie variety), but rather taking stock of all the blessings we already have: food, shelter, family, friendship, and a host of other things. It is perhaps my favourite of all holidays because it forces us, whether or not we consider ourselves to be people of faith, to look at all of the good in our lives.

So I want to wish you, all my readers, a happy Thanksgiving. All of God's blessings to you this Fall season and as we head toward Christmas!

Donald, Eddie, and the rest

2009-10-07T09:33:00.005-07:00

Hi all, Matt here. Since I've been pretty sick and unable to do much that requires any semblance of energy, I thought I would take the time to peck out a blog post about what I have been reading, listening to lately, and some other stuff. I will not have much time to do so in the next couple weeks, so I better do it now!

As I mentioned previously, I got to go and hear Donald Miller promote his new book A Million Miles In A Thousand Years, which was a fantastic evening--what an amazing speaker he is! Well, I finished the book as well and I must say it was a brilliant read (minus all the first edition typos and spelling mistakes!). The whole idea of taking the elements that make up Story and applying them to one's life really spoke to me and made a lot of sense. It made me think about the story I'm living and I am still evaluating what I think of that story and whether or not it is a really good one.

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Both Pearl Jam and The Black Crowes dropped new albums recently, much to my delight, and both groups have outdone themselves in their efforts. Pearl Jam's Backspacer is a taut, 37-minute unrelenting adrenaline rush, while the Crowes' Before the Frost...Until the Freeze is a studio album cut live in front of a handful of diehard fans at Levon Helm's studio; in truth it's a double album as buying Before the Frost... gives you a download code for ...Until the Freeze. The Crowes' double album is their finest ever: Chris Robinson sounds incredible, the playing is tight, but loose, and the songs are perfectly executed . These guys play fiery, powerful, gorgeous rock and roll that pays homage to great roots rock history without completely aping it. And they're only getting better with age! Pearl Jam's album is the sound of them having the most fun in their history, a huge shock to the critics. It's a lighthearted album; gone is the political railing against the Bush administration and in its place are highly personal songs about love, marriage, and blues legends (Johnny "Guitar" Watson). And these songs rocked live when I saw in in Vancouver a week and a half ago!

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I am growing really sick of watching some smokers treat the world as their personal ashtray. Hey folks, how about you put your cigarettes in designated receptacles rather than just throwing them out of your car window or throwing on the ground wherever you want. What a concept!

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I am fully stoked for my church's annual retreat, which is happening in a couple of weeks. This is easily one of the highlights of my year since it involves going to a beautiful, rustic camp on Thetis Island, enjoying the beauty of Creation, and spending time with some amazing people. It's a place of profound conversations, epiphanies, and calming/stilling of the soul. No TVs, computers, or anything. We sit around the fire, talk, play cards, play music, and just generally get to know members of our community in a deeper way. I can't wait!

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We received our five-DVD set of The Office: Season Five within the last few weeks and have finally been able to watch a few episodes and thus far I've had to pause proceedings a number of times because I've been laughing too hard. This line, where Dwight is confiding in Phyllis about his love for Angela (who is now engaged to Andy Bernard), is a prime example:

"She introduced me to so many things: pasteurized milk, sheets, monotheism..."

Brilliant.

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One of my favourite moments in the Gospels is when Jesus tells his disciples that he's "sending them out as sheep among wolves" and that they are to be "as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves." There is no possibility of counting the number of ways that the Church has gotten THAT little missive wrong, is there? I could make a lot of jokes starting with "more like as dumb as...", but I'll refrain. However, despite all of that , I still have hope for the Church...

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My friend Michelle talked about 'meeting me halfway' on this Battle of the Blades thing (though I don't have cable), since she loves figure skating and I love hockey, but I don't even know how this is halfway--where's the hockey? Unless Claude Lemieux can rub out Shae-Lynn Bourne with a bone-crushing bodycheck against the boards post-triple lutz, this is not meeting halfway. When Shae-Lynn can beat any NHL backup goalie short-side with a wrist shot, then we'll talk.

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Do I like Swiss Chalet gravy or do I not? I can't decide whether it's tasty or totally gross.

open up your hands, Matty...

2009-09-28T19:27:00.002-07:00

I hold on tightly, too tightly. I leave few things to 'chance'. I do not just have a "Plan B" for when things go wrong, I have a "Plan X". Almost everything is totally thought out, the pros and cons are weighed, and I see the potential long-term ramifications of every move that is made (based on this you'd think I would be good at chess, but I am not). I am a tightly coiled spring of nerves, worry, and anxiety who often chews his fingernails down to nothing. And I'm starting to learn about how unhealthy this is for me and those I love.

I think that I'm often trying to do a job that is not mine to do. I try so hard to make sure I'm there for everyone I love, to be the person that will make them laugh, and therefore I take responsibility on myself to "fix" things when they're not going well; in short, I spend an exorbitant amount of time needlessly worrying, especially about my loved ones' health and safety. And you know what? If I keep it up like this, I'll have an ulcer by the time I'm 40. Anxiety grips me like a vise every single day of my life and though some of it can be chalked up to genetics (coming from high strung parents), the majority of it is my own doing.

Last night, I was forcibly struck with the realization, as I sat in my seat at The Place and then later was served communion by my wife, that despite the depth of my faith in God and the strength of my convictions, I often do not trust God enough with the things that are most precious to me, namely, the people in my life. I was biting back tears as their faces flashed through my mind: my wife, parents, siblings, and close friends. I realized that there isn't a damn thing I can do for them other than love them and pray unceasingly for them; I can't "fix" them, can't be responsible for making them happier, and can't save them from health issues or life issues. It was a lot harder to come to grips with than you might think and it completely humbled me.

My prayer is that God will help to loosen my grip, that I might open my hands rather than clenching my fists and not allowing Him to take from me what is rightfully His.

here here, Mahatma!

2009-09-23T10:06:00.001-07:00

I was reading about the Prosperity Gospel (or prosperity theology) this morning and came across this quote from Gandhi:

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. The materialism of affluent Christian countries appears to contradict the claims of Jesus Christ that says it's not possible to worship both Mammon and God at the same time."

I was just about to make fun of Joel and Victoria Osteen (who wholeheartedly endorse prosperity theology), but I'll try to put the classic "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" into practice. I had a sweet picture and some scathing words ready to go, but all I will say about them is I could not disagree more with their theology.

Thinking a lot about both this and living a good story....

The Miller/Isaacs show

2009-09-21T21:40:00.002-07:00

As I discussed in a previous post, I got to hear Donald Miller and Susan Isaacs speak on Wednesday night, which was a real privilege as they are two of my favourite authors. It was a highly enjoyable night with the only drawback being that I thought there would/could be higher attendance. Come on people!

Susan Isaacs opened the show with a coruscating, witty monologue, based on her book Angry Conversations With God, that showcased her facility at portraying a variety of characters and moods. I enjoyed watching my wife Caitlin's reaction to Susan; I had an idea of what I was going to hear (having read her book), but Caitlin hasn't had the chance to read it yet so she was laughing pretty hard at Susan's highly irreverent and engaging style and stories. Even my (highly conservative) father was enjoying it and I caught many smiles out of the corner of my eye!

Mr. Miller brought his characteristic good humour and thought-provoking stories to the stage about 20 minutes after Susan finished. He was very low-key, but the audience was riveted from the get-go. Don shared some vignettes from his new book, A Million Miles In A Thousand Years, as well as some other stories. The great thing was how he was able to tie what seemed to be a number of highly disparate elements into a cohesive whole that talked about the importance of Story and how that can influence the lives we choose to lead. It was a powerful piece of speaking without being rah-rah, over-the-top, or emotionally manipulative. One of the things I love about Don's writing and speaking is that he is not a proselytizer; rather, he meets people where they are at and engages them in language that they can understand. What I found so revolutionary about Blue Like Jazz when I first read it (and subsequently what I found about books by Anne Lamott), is that it did not try to 'sell' you on a point of view or 'win you over' to a way of thinking. On the contrary, Miller confesses his shortcomings, pokes fun at himself, and admits to not having all the answers--his writing is all about real life: grit, pain, frustration, humour, and ultimately transcendence. On top of that, he tells a good story. It's refreshing.

Perhaps the coolest part of the evening was working up the courage to introduce myself to Susan Isaacs, who totally remembered me from conversing with me on Twitter!! I told her how much I loved her book, the story of how I accidentally stumbled upon it, and how I've been spreading the word about it to friends and loved ones. She was so incredibly down-to-earth and genuinely pleased that the book had had an impact on me and others; we got into a really good conversation and I did my very best to encourage her to continue doing what she is doing. Caitlin thought Susan was wonderful too and we both wished that we could have sat her down on a couch and had a good long conversation with her--she's one of those people that you feel you could talk with all day without ever running out of conversation topics! Plus, she's incredibly animated and really funny!

exactly how I feel...

2009-09-19T09:17:00.001-07:00

I got to hear Donald Miller speak lately and as I was flipping through his book Blue Like Jazz yesterday, I stumbled upon a snippet that sums up how I feel perfectly about the argument between both sides of the belief debate:

"My most recent faith struggle is not one of intellect. I don't really do that anymore. Sooner or later you just figure out there are some guys who don't believe in God and they can prove He doesn't exist, and some other guys who do believe in God and they can prove He does exist, and the argument stopped being about God a long time ago and now it's about who is smarter, and honestly I don't care."

And he's totally right, this argument did cease to be about arguing for/against the existence of God a long time ago; rather it has become a showcase for posturing and intellectual one-upmanship. Frankly, I'm not interested in that.

major update on the Leafs blog

2009-09-13T13:10:00.001-07:00

For those of you who follow my Leafs blog, I have posted a long treatise on why I'm a Leafs fan (still!). I hope you enjoy it.

it takes all kinds...

2009-09-07T15:23:00.001-07:00

It's been awhile since I threw out a one of my random posts with interesting (to me) and funny links, commentary on music/books, and other such tidbits

My work has been keeping me very busy, but one of the real 'joys' of my job is my interactions with some of our more colourful patrons, some of which have been regulars for years and years before I came on the scene. Obviously, I will not name names in order to protect the guilty, but I still get surprised some of the characters who tend to frequent Central. So, when I saw this website, I could relate completely. I feel slightly mean-spirited by laughing at this, but I can relate because it's very similar to what I'm exposed to day in and day out. My job is never boring...

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I have been listening to a lot of CBC Radio 2's 'Concerts On Demand' and have had the joy of listening to live shows by Neko Case, Great Lakes Swimmers, Luke Doucet & Melissa McClelland, and Daniel Lanois, among others. There are a number of others I am excited to get to, including Stars, Kathleen Edwards and the "Neil Young Live at Massey Hall 1971" tribute gig.

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I have been connecting with my Scottish heritage lately (I don't even know how much there is back there, but I'm pretty sure there's some since my mom's side of the family is from Nova Scotia!) and reading How The Scots Invented The Modern World by Arthur Herman. It's actually a fascinating piece of work and within a few pages, this well-read history major had learned a whole score of new and interesting facts. It has the same kind of feel to it as does Thomas Cahill's Hinges of History series, which I, personally, enjoy a great deal. I love reading history and I wish I had the time to do more of it!

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I find it disturbing that the word 'mortgage' contains the French word for death. The irony of that is not lost on me because I'm going to be paying this place off until I'm in the grave, I'm pretty sure...

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The other night Caitlin and I played Ultimate Frisbee for the first time in about four years (on a damp field with no cleats!) and had a pretty good time. I took it fairly easy, didn't huff and puff too badly, and only had a few Kurt Browning moments out there where I essentially pirouetted to keep my balance due to the slickness. The fallout: a day or two later, despite post-game stretching, we were both incredibly sore! A week or so later, I'm still feeling it. I certainly do not have the kind of recovery time that I did as a young lad!

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I find the idea of privileged suburban white kids walking around in Che Guevara t-shirts to be hysterically funny! I wonder how many of them really "get it" because my hunch is...very few. I would not have the nerve, to be honest, considering who I am and my material conditions. The irony of Che's visage as a cultural icon here in North America, helping to spur on a consumer culture, is not lost on me...

It's hard to believe it is already September--what happened to the summer? I did not accomplish some of the things I would have liked, but all-in-all it was a good summer. I enjoy the Fall very much, however, and I am especially looking forward to this month and October as lots of good stuff is happening: concerts, traveling, and hanging out with some of my nearest and dearest friends. I'll try to post here and on the Binghams' blog as much as possible. Once the pre-season fires up, look for my Leafs blog to kick into gear as well! Cheers!