I don't need the NHL

Oct. 11, 2012.

In the future, I expect to look back at this date as the moment I finally stopped caring about the NHL.

Today, the NHL regular season was supposed to start. Eight teams were supposed to hit the ice to kick off another year.

But, alas, hockey fans such as myself are left with nothing after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the 29 NHL owners (remember, the Phoenix Coyotes are still owned by the league) chose to lock the players out when the collective bargaining agreement expired. Rather than continuing to negotiate and let the season carry on under the old CBA, this small group chose to shut the league down.

At first, there was talk the lockout would be brief. There might be pre-season games lost, but in the end, no one really cares about the pre-season.

But as the start of the regular season approached, fans started having flashbacks to 2004. As the lockout approaches the month-long mark, it seems as though we won't be seeing any NHL hockey this year. And you know what? I'm OK with that.

I may change my tune in November or December, but for now, I'm OK with no hockey. I can watch MLB playoffs, I can watch the NFL. In two weeks, the NBA will open its regular season. Plenty of sports on TV to watch.

Beyond sports, I can read, I can play video games (about the only way I know of to get the Maple Leafs to hoist the Stanley Cup) or any number of other things. There's lots to do.

So, Mr. Bettman, Mr. Fehr. I don't need your league. And the longer you stay away this time, the more people you will discover who feel just like I do.

On writing endings...

Frustrating novelist, thy name is Stephen King.

The master of the macabre, one of the most prolific writers of the last (insert crazy length of time here), has written some classic works of fiction.They may not be Shakespeare or Mark Twain or Tolkien, but there's no denying they're popular and considered must-reads by many.

So why is it he seems to struggle with endings?

I spent about a year and a half reading his masterwork, the Dark Tower saga. Seven books, a few thousand pages. And I got to the end and couldn't believe my eyes. It was just like a punch to the gut. I was shocked that after I had spent a year and a half reading these seven books that I would be left with what I discovered on the last page. (Note: don't think this means I'm discouraging you from reading the books. On the contrary, they should be must-reads for anyone who enjoyed The Lord of the Rings trilogy, or any other fantasy stories.)

(Image created by Michael Whalen) http://www.darktowercompendium.com/fottergrafs-dt7.html

Just last week, I finally finished the uncut version of The Stand, considered by some to be King's best work. Again, an engrossing tale, although it did take me a little while to get into the story.

But again, I got to the end and found it wanting.

I'm not going to spoil the details of either story, but suffice it to say, the endings could have used some work.

In his defence (for now, anyway), these are the only two Stephen King books I've read. But it makes me nervous as I delve into some of his other work. And I plan to read a number of his books as I explore the connections between The Dark Tower series and other books (Salem's Lot, The Stand, etc.).

I don't limit my criticism to King, either. I read Stieg Larsson's trilogy – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc. – and loved it. But the ending of the final book was a little rushed and went out with a whimper rather than a bang. Does this mean the time I spent reading the three books was wasted? Not at all, but I would have appreciated a little more of a payoff in the end.

Perhaps my disappointment is the result of watching so many movies/TV in my life. I've grown to expect a certain concreteness to an ending. Obviously, there will be times when an 'ending' leaves room for a return to the universe (See X-men: The Last Stand for an example) and that's fine. If a film makes hundreds of millions of dollars, it will almost always spawn at least one sequel.

But I feel I, as a reader, deserve more after investing hours and hours in a hefty tome. Am I on the fringe with this opinion? Should I simply accept that sometimes a story has a *blah* ending?

Perhaps I should, but I still prefer closure from a story.

Stephen King's official website

The Dark Tower official website

Talking to the strange

My day job as a reporter often requires me to deal with irate people.
Sometimes they're upset with me, although not very often.
Usually, they're upset about some perceived injustice done upon them or someone they know. Sometimes the injustice is a real one, other times it's been exaggerated by the caller.
In the latter case, I'm understanding. Who hasn't been in a situation where a problem arises and it seems worse than it actually is.
Every now and then, however, I'm required to deal with someone's rant.
So how do I separate the story from the fact I can't take this person seriously? Or the fact that I find what they're saying offensive?
It's a dilemma I don't have to deal with very often, but it does come up from time to time.
When it does, I suppose the toughest thing to remember is that I'm not engaging this person in a debate or an argument. I'm simply listening, writing down what they're saying and throwing out a question now and then for clarification (and to let them know I'm still listening.)
But when it comes time to write a story based on such an interview, it becomes difficult. It's like separating the wheat from the chaff. I have to pick out the ideas that follow the story and put them together into something coherent.
Beyond that, I also have to worry about the possibility of a lawsuit. I mean, I can't just print something because I want to. It has to be true.
So I have to listen to people who tell me someone is conspiring against them, nod politely, and keep thinking to myself that I'll get myself a coffee as a reward for suffering through the insanity.

Fulfill the dream

Author's note: This is based on a personal dream involving my favourite hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. I decided against using the actual name of the team in case I ever turn this into something more.

Chris couldn't explain why he was an Aces fan. Friends asked him all the time, and all he could say was that he'd never known anything else.
What made his choice of teams unusual was the fact they were atrocious, had been so since long before Chris was born, and looked as though they would be for the foreseeable future.
"Why did you pick such a crappy team?" was the question he had to answer at least once a week.
His response was often something like "My grandfather's been a fan all his life and he got me interested."
Always because of Grampy, who actually remembered the last time the team won the championship.
But Chris really had different thoughts when it came to his favourite team.
Some day I'm going to own that team. Someday I'm going to give this city a winner.
Chris was nothing if not a dreamer. He'd had this notion in his head since he was a little boy. He would run that team.
He'd hear people say they could run the team better than the clowns in charge, but they were usually just blowing off steam following another loss by the sad-sack group.
Chris would be the first to admit he was as guilty of the bellyaching as the next fan, but he was the only armchair coach/owner who had a plan to actually run the team.
Luck would certainly play a part in his plan, but then, when doesn't it?
But this would require something more. It would need ambition, hard work and the willingness to give up other things in order to achieve the goal.
Despite the complexity of achieving it, his goal was simple.
Chris was going to become the owner of the Aces, and bring a championship banner to his beloved team, the first in nearly half a century.
He kept it to himself to avoid the ridicule that was sure to accompany such a bold statement. But he knew he could do it. He knew he could bring an end to the ineptitude that had plagued his favourite team for so long.
He just needed to work out how.

Choke: A Hockey Story

I have witnessed one of the worst choke-jobs in sports history. The Canadian team at the 2011 World Junior Championships blew a 3-0 lead after two periods and lost 5-3 in the gold medal game to Russia.

Now, obviously receiving a medal at an event like this is an extraordinary accomplishment. And Canada does it year after year.

But this team LOST the gold medal. I refuse to celebrate a second-place finish in a team sport. Silver in team sports means you lost the final. End of story.

This team dominated 40 minutes of play, then got cocky, sat back, and the Russians made them pay dearly. The winning team took nothing for granted.

What makes that even more astounding is the fact Canada was considered an underdog entering this tournament. The USA was the pre-tournament favourite to defend their title. Canada beat them in the semifinals, but they blew it when it really mattered.

I'd rather play for a bronze, at least then you've won something. Team Canada gets a silver because they blew it. It's like awarding abject failure.

Maybe I've been too harsh because the loss is so fresh in my mind (I'm watching the medals being handed out as I write this), but this is still our game. And now it's two years running we've lost the gold.

I think another problem, at least from my perspective, is the memory of Sidney Crosby's golden goal in Vancouver is still very fresh in my mind. That was one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history and it still brings a smile to face when I watch a replay. That team brought a country together.

This team just pissed off 30 million people because they choked.

This team became arrogant. And because of that, they missed an opportunity to bring home a gold medal.

A knock and strange triangles

"What does this have to do with me?" I asked.
That's the question I find myself asking when these conspiracy theorists bring me there wild ideas about some lost artifact that they claim will change our world forever.
"This is what I get for opening the door," I thought.
It's a mistake I make all the time. Every time someone comes calling at my office door I can't resist. I can't take the chance that this time it might be something worthwhile.
But every time, I'm disappointed, and sometimes mildly irritated that these people waste my time with their ridiculous ideas.
Like the guy who came in a few months ago, claiming he had information that would lead to a secret energy source that would solve the problem of the world's dwindling oil reserves.
I looked at him and told him he was the third person in a week to come to me with that idea. I admit, I lied to him. He was actually the sixth, but I wanted to spare his feelings a little.
But this time, for the first time in months, I was intrigued, even if only slightly.
"Look, this could fundamentally change the way we look at our world," the visitor said.
"I'm sure it could, but you haven't answered my question. I still want to know what this has to do with me."
The visitor paused and looked at the paper he'd been explaining to me. It was worn and faded, but I could still make out the image of a stylized triangle.
I took a closer look at the faded image. There was something familiar about it.
"I'll be damned," I whispered. "That's impossible."
The visitor sat down across from me, smiling.
"I told you it would be worth your while."
He was right. When I looked at that image, I saw something I thought I'd never see outside my parents' notebooks. I thought it was just something they'd doodled over and over, the same way I drew little trees when I was lost in thought.
But this, this was different. As far as I knew, this design had been exclusive to my parents imaginations and their doodles.
"You need to tell me where you found this. Right now."
"Perhaps a drink is in order? We've got a lot to talk about," my visitor said.
For once, I was glad I'd answered the knock at my door.

Legalized Insanity

Robin Williams has made a career of stream-of-consciousness comedy. He just picks up on an idea, starts riffing and an hour later ends somewhere totally different. Listen to his 1986 performance at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, or his Live on Broadway performance in 2002.

Or this clip from his appearance on Inside the Actor's Studio.



He just starts with a simple thing and continues to riff throughout the interview. It's such a natural thing.

I'm a big fan of Williams and his comedy. I'm sure he works hard to put together his performances, but he also has a knack for improvisation, and the rapid-fire delivery has always amazed me.

I'm not on his level, and likely never will be. But it's an inspiration to me.

Tomorrow, I'm going to write something. I don't have any idea what it will be, but I'm just going to sit down and write for half an hour and see what I come up with.

Check back here to see what I come up with.

The original

It's tough to come up with an original idea. I mean, hasn't everything been thought of already?

English author and journalist Christopher Booker wrote a book called The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, which distilled everything ever written down to seven plots: overcoming the monster, rags to riches, the quest, voyage and return, comedy, tragedy and rebirth.

So how do I come up with something original if there's only those seven stories? Seems tough. Especially when you look around pop culture today and see nothing but remakes, sequels or adaptations. How does a writer come up with something original?

I've been exposed to a massive amount of pop culture in my life, almost 25 years. Everything from Sesame Street to Star Wars, all kinds of music and literature. Surely it's impacted my thinking and my imagination. Where do I come up with something new and different.

I guess it's a matter of taking one of those seven plots and adding my own twists to the idea. I've been reading some articles about free-writing; just sitting down and putting words on paper or on the computer screen. No self-editing or anything, just see what comes out. And I see the value in such an exercise. It's like brainstorming.

It's a matter of keeping a notepad or something with me at all times so I can write an idea down when it comes to me. I just need to do this.

I'm not fooling myself. I realize this is going to be tough, but it's something I need to do. I know I have some good ideas, I just need to get them from my head to the page.

The first link

This blog has been sorely neglected. When I last posted, I was all gung-ho on trying to write a novel. That went nowhere fast, and the idea has basically fluttered away on the breeze.

I need to write more. I had a conversation with a friend recently. We talked about a lot of things, including my unhappiness with my current job. I was basically told I had to stop bitching and moaning about my problems and just do something about them.

I read something today about Jerry Seinfeld's key to productivity. You can read the article here if you want. Basically it's about doing something daily, whatever it is you're trying to improve or achieve. Build a chain.

I may not write a lot every day, but I have to write something. I still want to write something big, but now I'm not going to limit myself to a novel. Why not a screenplay? Why not a play? As my friend suggested, "Just write an instruction manual. Write something."

I've tried in the past, and always failed at it. I'm not going to. This year, I start and I don't stop. I'm taking control of my life.

-BT

A brief aside...

Just a brief thought before delving into novel-writing.

President Obama called Kanye West a "jackass" after the singer interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the the MTV Video Music Awards.

The comment was made in a conversation with a reporter from CNBC. It was overheard by a reporter from ABC. The conversation was apparently off the record. It made out into the world.

Why the fuss? The most powerful man in the world offered an opinion (I think, the correct one) on the antics of a spoiled, arrogant, tactless musician. Much like millions of others around the world, he spoke up. The only reason it's a big deal is because he's the President of the United States.

Let's move on, but not before offering kudos to President Obama for speaking his mind, and to the ABC employee who tweeted the quote. Welcome to the world of new media folks.

Here goes nothing...

I love poker.

I love to play poker. I love to watch poker on television. It's a fantastic game. I play it online and, whenever possible, play live. Online, the game provides a relatively mindless distraction along with allowing you to improve the math skills (calculating pot odds, counting outs, etc.) involved in poker. Playing live is an opportunity to get together with friends, share a few laughs, enjoy a few adult beverages, and (hopefully) win a lot of money from your friends.

I'm by no means a great player myself. I've definitely improved over the past few years, but I'm still what would be charitably described as a moderately-skilled amateur. I've no ambitions to ever be a person who can make a living playing a game, but it's a good way to relax and unwind.

But I've thought about it, turning poker playing into a career. It was certainly never more than a little imagination run wild, but it's something I've thought about. Realistically, the only thing I ever want to do in terms of entering the larger poker world would be participate in the main event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). For anyone unfamiliar with the event, it's a $10,000 buy-in event, where the game is No Limit Texas Hold 'Em. It's really the only game on television, because it's the easiest to explain and understand.

Participating in that event remains a dream, albeit a tough one to follow.

Then I got to thinking (yes, that is what the burning smell has been). There are other ways to pursue this dream.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've wanted to try my hand at writing a book for a few years. The notion festered for awhile in the back of my mind, but recently, it found a spot near the top of my to-do list. Much like my poker skills, it may be something that will never become a serious pursuit. But unlike poker playing, this is something I feel I have a legitimate shot doing.

So as I tried to come up with an idea, I found myself playing online poker, just as a way to get the creative juices flowing. And it hit me.

Why not try writing a poker novel?

Not exactly the most brilliant idea ever, but I figured I might as well start with something relatively easy, something I'm familiar with.

So over the next few weeks, I'm going to post some bits of writing that will (hopefully) turn in to a poker novel. I've already written most of a beginning.

Follow along as I try my hand at the Great Canadian Novel :P

With the stroke of a pen...

I've always wanted to try my hand at writing a book. Specifically a novel. Non-fiction is great, and I read a lot of it, but I don't think I'm enough of an authority on anything to write a non-fiction book.

It's been something that's been sitting in the back of my mind for years, but I've never really done anything with the idea. My mother sometimes says I should write a book, and maybe build a career like Michael Patterson in "For Better or For Worse." He started out as a journalist, worked his way up to a magazine editor, and eventually had a novel published. Sure, he's just a character in a comic strip, but that doesn't mean I can't do the same thing.

I want to write something for myself. Not necessarily drawn from my own experiences, although that would certainly be part of it.

So I'm going to start posting some ideas on here, just as a way to get feedback. Later on, I'll post some samples of what I come up with.

All of this is hopefully going to lead to participating in National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November. It's another of those things I look at every year and think "I should do this." This year, it's going to be "I'm doing this."

I should be posting the first ideas in the next week or so. I've got a few written down, and I'm going to flesh them out a bit, and then post them here. I'm sure many will be garbage, but that's the nature of writing. Much of it ends up being worthless, but buried in all the detritus can be something mind-blowing. Time for me to find that something.

-BT

Out of that rut

Ever feel like you're in a rut? I mean, the kind of rut that takes forever to get out of, and often requires a boost.

I'm in that kind of rut right now. Stuck in a job I hate, stuck in a town I desperately want out of, and seemingly no way out.

It's weird how people get into these positions in life. Quite often, you don't see it coming. You're just cruising along, when all of a sudden...BANG!...There's that rut I mentioned.

Although, sometimes, you don't notice you're in the rut. Sometimes there isn't an obvious sign of the rut. You only notice when you try and change direction.

I went along like that for awhile. The signs were there. I started to hate getting up and go to work. That's the worst part. This was my career choice, and I haven't been at it for a year yet, but I hate it and want out.

There have been several times over the past few months that have led me to this point. Just things at work, little things, that have gradually piled up and become a monster. I've reached the point where I've circled a date on the calendar, and written "new job by today."

My job has sucked the will to write out of me. It's a chore for me to write anything, whether for work or for myself. I had to force myself to write this post, as I've had to do with many of the posts on this blog.

But today, something gave me a boost out of the rut. I don't what it was, but I came home from work in a foul mood, which has got me thinking, and got me planning, which is more than I've done in awhile.

I took this job because I was desperate and this was the first place that offered to hire me. The next one won't be that way.

-BT

Circle those bandwagons

When's the right time to jump on a bandwagon? Are there different levels of bandwagon jumping? Why do people take so much grief for jumping on and off a bandwagon?

Sports fans can be a fickle lot. They get behind the hot team, but disappear as soon as the team struggles. With a snap of the fingers, they'll turn on the team.

This phenomenon has been especially prevalent in various markets over the years. The New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics. Actually, let's just say the Boston sports market except for Bruins fans. The other teams have definite jumpers, both on and off. There are some who follow the Montreal Canadiens. There are definitely many, many jumpers who followed the Tampa Bay Rays on their magical run to a berth in the World Series last year.

There are also those who don't jump on and off, but support their team through thick and thin. The best example would have to be Chicago Cubs fans. Last championship for the Cubbies? 1908. Not many people still alive who saw them win their last title. Cubs fans are the most die hard of die hard. Die hard fans are those who follow a team through long droughts, like the Cubs, the Chicago Blackhawks, and my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. Of course, within those groups there are bandwagon jumpers and/or sheep who follow for no good reason, but for the most part, these teams have fans who live through the bad times with boundless optimism, and uttering over and over the mantra, "Just wait 'til next year."

Some hardcore sports fans can't stand the ones who jump on the wagon when the team suddenly starts doing well. And some hate the ones who jump off when the team begins to under-perform after a period of success.

So is there a good time to jump on or off a bandwagon?

Obviously, if you're just getting interested in a particular sport, it can certainly be okay to jump on a particular team's bandwagon. If you've never followed a team or sport before, it's certainly a unique situation. Some people start following a team because of a relative. My grandfather has been a fan of the Maple Leafs for much of his life. I began following the Leafs when I was a little kid. That situation is an acceptable one for bandwagon jumping. Or if it's just a case of suddenly following a sport because you saw a game and start following one of the participating teams, I couldn't really fault you for that either. I've done it myself.

It's nothing that's ever going to change. There will always be people jumping on and off when their local team suddenly becomes the hot ticket or implodes into mediocrity. That's the nature of sports. I just want people to admit it, rather than say they've followed a team for years, meaning they occasionally check standings and bitch/cheer because the team is winning/losing.

-BT

Employed in a dying industry

It's a terrifying thing, wondering if or when you might lose your job.

The Halifax Chronicle-Herald recently laid off two dozen reporters and editors. Two dozen. I'm not sure how big the staff at the paper is, but two dozen sounds like a lot to me. I work at a paper where there aren't even two dozen employees between all the departments. There are six people in our newsroom, half of them editors.

I compare the paper I work for to the Chronicle-Herald simply because of similar situations. The Chronicle-Herald lost its competition, the Daily News, last year. My paper lost its competition, the Carleton Free Press, in the past few months.

On a story from The Coast the stories of a few laid-off reporters from the grand ole Halifax daily are told. And it was heartbreaking. Some of these people are like me. Relatively new to the journalism industry. Just brushed aside by the corporate honchos. It's shocking.

Now the word comes down that CBC is planning on dumping some 800 employees. So when even the national broadcaster is cutting people loose, what chance does someone at a community-based, twice-weekly paper have?

People want to save the media, particularly newspapers. The print media is struggling to stay afloat. The Rocky Mountain News closed, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer shut down the print operations, San Francisco almost became the first city in North America without a major daily newspaper.

Newspapers have failed to evolve with the rest of the media. Some have figured out bits and pieces, putting together multimedia packages for websites. In fact, the Rocky Mountain News produced a fantastic video detailing the death of that historic publication. But many papers have yet to learn their lessons. This is the 21st century. When the internet provides 24-hour, up to the minute news, why would you read a paper, particularly a weekly? Why not get your news online?

I'm all for the salvation of newspapers. I enjoy having the physical product in my hands, but why should I pay for information I can get online for free? It makes no sense.

The other problem is a newspaper that essentially ignores the internet. Like the one I work for. The website for this paper, and every paper owned by this company, is utter garbage. It's simply the print edition stories posted online, in a difficult to navigate, ugly interface. We just got an award for having the second best website in Canada for a paper this size. Which suggests to me at least we're not alone in not having a clue about the website.

Like I said, a terrifying thing.

-BT

Comedian extraordinaire

I'm a big fan of Colin Mochrie, the Canadian comedian probably best known for his long-running gigs on the American and British versions of the improv comedy show "Whose Line is it Anyway?"

Well, a friend of mine apparently saw Colin doing the weather on CP24, the local news program in Toronto. The man is the Canadian answer to Samuel L. Jackson. He pops up in everything.

So in honour of Mr. Mochrie, I present a version of the classic game "Hoedown" from the British "Whose Line", which was performed in honour of him. Colin is well known for his skill at the game, and often finishes his verse with an excellent pun.

Enjoy.

Crazy Motherf***ers

Just a short post on the stupidity of a certain demographic.

Transport truck drivers.

Sunday evening, I was making the drive from Woodstock to Quispamsis, in what would charitably be described as a blizzard. Poor visibility, slick roads, not really a good night to be driving.

So imagine how I felt, seeing this giant truck coming up in my mirror, doing normal highway speed, or above.

I realize these trucks are a little more secure than a small vehicle, but they also don't exactly stop on a dime, and they certainly don't handle like a small vehicle. So if I can only manage 70-80 km/h on a four-lane highway, these idiots shouldn't be going any faster than me, never mind 40 or 50 more.

So how about our law enforcement officials maybe take a stand against this kind of dangerous behaviour? I know it's a bad idea to drive in bad weather like that, but sometimes it's necessary. So for those of us forced to share the road with these maniacs, do a little to protect us.

-BT

Six more weeks? Or is it just a month and a half?

Groundhog Day is more than just a comedy classic starring Bill Murray. It's an annual tradition where we gather around various holes in the ground to see if the furry forecasters will doom us to another six weeks of winter or not.

This year, many of the more famous prognosticators, including Nova Scotia's own Shubenacadie Sam, were spooked by their shadow, so we get another six weeks of winter.

Now, I'm all for tradition, and I've always thought this one was kind of cute. But let's not kid ourselves. Winter ends when it ends. Officially, that'll be March 20th. But I live in Canada, which means winter ends sometime in April or even May. Tradition or not, unfortunately, the little guys can't really relieve the misery that is a Canadian winter any sooner.

Although, if there's any scientists out there, maybe you could find some way to actually link the end of winter to the groundhog's shadow?

Just a thought...

-BT

A little piece of history

For your viewing pleasure. Some of the talking heads say it isn't "memorable", but I think they're missing the point. Enjoy.

Part 1:


Part 2:

Hail to the Chief

It's been a rough couple of weeks for your humble scribe. Getting back to work after the holidays sucked a lot out of me. But never fear, for I've been inspired, and have returned after my absence.

Barack Hussein Obama was inaugurated today, becoming the 44th President of the United States, and ending eight years of the retarded child emperor, George W. Bush.

As a Canadian, watching the inauguration made me long for the kind of leader that my neighbours to the south find themselves welcoming. Obviously, we have a different system of government, and our prime minister isn't the same kind of figure as a U.S. president. But still, our leader is supposed to be the face of our country, and should inspire the Canadian people.

Instead, we find ourselves with a button-down accountant as our leader. Just as Bush will likely be remembered as the worst president in American history, Stephen Harper may be remembered as the dullest prime minister in Canadian history.

As Obama spoke to the two million plus people in Washington, and the millions (maybe billions) watching on television, I got the sense that things were going to be okay. Maybe not right away, but eventually. When Stephen Harper speaks, I have to fight the urge to yawn.

I'm proud to be a Canadian. But recently, I've started to think it might not be so bad to be an American. It would mean living in a country where people actually care what their politicians say and do. In Canada, apathy is slowly becoming more prominent.

We need an Obama of our own.