It’s Saturday morning. It is a reasonably attractive day in the lovely city of Toronto.
I kid! It is beautiful here, as always. I mean, it’s outstanding outside. Get outside and take a drive out to wine country if you can.
It’s got to be good to go - because this is the Saturday morning hangover post. From the “Aki Berg” of the authors on this site. Lowering the standard of writing of matthewgood.org and challenging even the most sophisticated sppell checking programs the administrator can provide - one post at a time!
Aki is no Zoolander.
Seriously, check out Roy’s post about Turkey and the US government’s balking on acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide.
Fantastic stuff, take a bow Roy, you gravel tech. Help yourself to a burrito.
Last night I invoked my democratic right to rock out and profess my white trashiness with Van Halen down at the Hanger. I was tempted to sport mullet for the affair considering it was in fact, Van Halen and not Van Hagar, but I showed restraint and simply wore a St. Pat’s cap.
Let’s move out of the trash and into the treasure though.
Matthew Good continues his conquest of the PROUD country of Canada!
(That one’s for you Umdesch.)
This guy works very hard, right? I mean that’s a pretty steady pace - from Vic to PEI in under a month!
He’s already out on the east coast! He’s been hitting every major and minor city (and Buffalo) and it’s only been a month! All the while keeping the site up to date. That is dedication folks.
He’s definitely not a government employee. I’d be beat from that pace - and I run marathons!
This isn’t a tour, this is an epic quest!
He’s been attacked by patios and church goers too.
Bilbo Baggins never got attacked by patios.
There’s still the CASBY’s (Canadian Artists Selected By You) Where Matthew Good is up for a couple awards - and will be performing if memory serves me.
And then he plays a sold out Massey Hall.
I mean Massey Hall is huge in Toronto. The acts that have come through this historic venue is a who’s who in entertainment and art.
Massey Hall was the site of the legendary Charlie Parker-Dizzy Gillespie concert recorded as Jazz at Massey Hall in May 1953. Accompanying Gillespie and Parker in this acoustically sound hall were Bud Powell, Max Roach, and Charles Mingus.
Many famous figures have stood on the broad stage of this stately hall, including Winston Churchill, Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, Sir Edward Elgar, Toscanini, George Gershwin, Oscar Peterson, Glenn Gould, the Dalai Lama, Maria Callas, and many more. The hall has also hosted more contemporary entertainers and public figures, including Hawksley Workman, Tori Amos, Our Lady Peace, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Arcade Fire, Gordon Lightfoot, Rush, the Smashing Pumpkins, James Brown, Aerosmith, Eric Clapton and Cream, Moxy, Ryan Adams, Marilyn Manson, Alice Cooper, Diana Krall, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Michael Brecker, Herbie Hancock, Roy Hargrove, U2, David Gilmour, Barenaked Ladies, The Whitlams, Great Big Sea, Dream Theater, Sigur Rós, Alanis Morissette, comedians Margaret Cho, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle and many more.
They used to have performances for Royalty there. (No truth to the rumour that King George or Churchill talked during acoustic performances.)
So it’s a good time to get fired up around here.
So fired up that I think we should spill the beans!
What?
Oh yeah, I’m letting the cat outta the bag matthewgood.org.
Now I know that Vancouver is Matt’s town.
I love Van. I saw him play there almost 2 years ago to the day. It was great - and the city provided no shortage of fond memories. Ask - I have stories.
So we’re going to repay that favour in the lovely city of Toronto. We need to do this in style.
We need a place. We need some friends. We need to get fired up for the show.
We are gonna do - a Pre- Matthew Good at Massey Hall get-together.
It’s an idea whose time has come.
If you’re in the area come on down. Even if you couldn’t get to the show because it sold out so fast, come on down.
Because you know who’s gonna come out for it?
We got the Lovely Blogger and Toronto fixture - Raymi the Minx:
And if you wanna talk loyalty and a fan. This is a fanatic. All the way from Los Angeles - writer and editor for LAist - Tony Pierce is flying out to Toronto too!
So that should be a good get together.
We’ll get a place at the the Library Pub.
We’ll go and meet some new people, make friends, hump legs and we’ll talk some Matt Good and then hit the show at Massey - and it’ll be a good chance to meet some people and put faces to the names we see around here.
Because in my opinion what makes this site so good, isn’t just the authors or the great content, but some of the great comments and personalities in the streams too.
Okay, Pitt, it’s been a slow week in the military so you gotta get some filler out - we read ya, so let’s just keep running with this Matthew Good love in.
Can’t do it.
I was going to comment on the broo ha ha that was the potential exit of our current CDS - General Rick Hillier - but it really is much ado about nothing at this point.
He’s gonna stay beyond what is a standard CDS three year tenure.
He’ll remain “at the pleasure of the government”, and because he is so popular with the Canadian public - that will likely be for some time.
He’ll continue to be associated with the progress and determination to remain in Afghanistan.
He is not as widely known for blowing up the command structure of the CF as a whole - resulting in the 4 distinct command elements.
He invoked a physical fitness standard for the Reserve force.
(WHAT PITT? THE RESERVES DIDN’T HAVE A MANDATORY FITNESS REQUIREMENT?!?! Not really no. Not unless under a specific contract. Shocking.)
Soldiers seem to like him. He comes across as blunt and doesn’t mince words - an officer for the boys from the East Coast. He holds a certain Chuck Norris mystique for some. ( For example, “Rick Hillier doesn’t get wet - water gets Rick Hillier”).
He’ll be known for his trips overseas with a circus of Hockey Players and Comedians.
He’ll be known for referring to terrorists as scum bags.
Maybe he’ll be remembered for his handling of detainees by the CF overseas.
He’ll be known for keeping his job when O’Connor didn’t.
Bottom line - he’ll be remembered - like him or hate him.
Agree with him or not.
The fact of the matter is this: You know who he is. And that my loyal (read bored) 3 fans and that guy who likes to hate mail me - is why Ranger Rick is going nowhere soon. Please get comfortable.
Because I doubt you can recall Baril or Henault.
Who?
Exactly.
HEY! I just commented on broo ha ha.
Other than that it’s been a light week. So if you want to discuss your thoughts on the top General of our Forces we can do that.
Do you think he’s been a good CDS? If not, and if he’s sticking around, what has he got to do to win you over?
Has he been to visible? Has he overstepped his boundaries?
Who should be his successor? I mean usually you go Army, Navy, Airforce - but some think the job should go to General Leslie.
They don’t have to give it to an admiral.
Should the CDS be more behind the scenes - more of a facilitator of the bureaucracy between the Forces and the Minister of National Defence, his civilian counterpart?
Should his focus be troops or foreign policy? What’s the balance of those priorities when you’re the top ranked soldier?
These are critical questions because they will have an impact on what happens overseas in the next few years.
Or maybe you just want to stay on the Matt Good tour love in. That’s fine by me!
I’m looking forward to Oct 26th - I can’t wait to hear and see what the rest of the country has been getting a chance at hearing live!
If you want to talk hockey and Mats Sundin - I’ll definitely go there. He’s no Aki Berg - but I’ll go there.
Oh and Evander Holyfield - 44 - fights in Moscow today. Can you speak?
Have a great weekend regardless! Enjoy it!
Now Playing:
itunes: Matthew Good - In A Coma
Book: Essays Moral and Political - David Hume
I like polygamy
PS2: NHL 08
DVD: The Last King Of Scotland
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Another great post. Your style boggles the mind - in a good way - and gets the reader thinking. Where to start?
Hillier will be remembered, I agree. However, the general public who have a lot less exposure to military info than yourself will most likely associate him with Afghanistan, and since that whole affair is far from over and entered into the history books, I guess we don’t know what lasting opinion people will have of him.
Sundin? Awesome. He eclipsed Sittler this week - what more do you need to say. Along with Sittler, he is one of the best Leafs ever, though still behind the great Keon, I think. The fact that other players on the Leafs can wear number 14 is a crime against hockey greatness. And I’m a Montrealer!
I wish I was in TO for the MG concert, then I’d join you guys. As it is, I wish you a great time and I’m sure many cold beverages will be inbibed…
I wouldn’t say you’re the Berg of matthewgood.org, more like the Darcy Tucker! Stirring things up and always reliable for a great effort and contribution to the team.
Now playing:
iTunes: Dancing Invisible, MG
Book: 2 and 1/2 Pillars of Wisdom - Alexander McCall Smith
DVD: Revolver by Guy Ritchie
SlingBox: Montreal vs Pittsburgh (from Wed)
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SLING BOX! COOL!
how are those things?
Well I appreciate the well wishing…but I think I’m gonna stick with the Finnish branding…it did wonders for Ikea or Roma…or one of those solutions to modern day living.
You know - on one hand Hillier embodied the elements of a very fine leader and general. I think he was in touch with his force and he was passionate and not bullied by suits.
On the other hand he was passionate and not bullied by suits.
Some see the CDS as a bureaucratic link between the uniforms and the civilian sector of parliament.
More Darth Vadar than em porer if you will.
And yet a lot of the public dig Ranger Rick - though it could be they’re easily swayed by the cavalier straight talker versus some of the decisions he’s made and put into place… The fact that he IS memorable distinguishes him from past 4 stars that have filled that role.
Regardless we’ll have to wait to see how history remembers him because he’s going nowhere soon.
And if Tony is making it to the Library Pub you gotta find away. We’ll all go out for burritos.
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I’ll be there sweetpea.
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Keon was good wasn’t he?
Best Captain was Sittler though. Sundin might be the most unrealized in talent. Clark is my personal favorite. Gilmour was the best leader. Keon will be remembered for what happend last 40 years ago.
Sundin is the hockey counterpart for Halladay in Toronto though. The type that leads by example and that has a lot of charm in Leaf Nation.
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MUGFORD IS IN!!!
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Hmmm…the Library is a cesspool of bad memories for me, and a bunch of my students are having a debauchery and drag party there that night…but if there’s gonna be burritos…heck, I might have to join you guys.
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As a longtime Leafs fan I have Sundin listed as one of my favorite players of all time, though Dougie will probably always retain that title.
I have to admit though, if I was in JFJ’s position I would trade him for prospects and start rebuilding now. The best we can hope for is a spot in the bottom of the East (7th or 8th) and a subsequent Cinderella run to the finals… at which point we would lose like almost all other Cinderellas. Mark Messier was a great player too, just look at his point total, but its his ability to bring home a cup that make him a legend. Without bringing a cup to your team its impossible to be considered the best.
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Christ as a cartoon!
I was sold on the debauchery! Not so much the drag….
I believe we met at the edge didn’t we? You’re a teacher? You’re smarter than I look than.
I would’ve traded Sundin too Sean- but you can’t argue with 2 goals and 6 assists so far…
That last statement of your’s is really what draws the criticism. I mean Sittler had Lanny and Tiger. Who did Mat’s have? But that’s what makes special athletes special. They gotta produce when the cards are down.
There’s a reason I threw in that Holyfield reference. That is is his fighting for a minor title at 44! People can perform into the twilight.
Cal Ripken, Bernard Hopkins….Lennox Lewis…Matthew Good….HAHAHA!
…I’m fired
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Heh heh, it will be mostly pretty girls, who cares if they’re wearing moustaches…and yes, we did indeed.
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Nice post … dissappointed I was not able to get into the Massey Hall show too but wishing all the fortunate ones that did and Matthew Good an awesome show .
It is a very cool venue .. the ole girl is going to become that much more grandiose after Matt’s appearance !
did somebody say mullet … LMFAO !!!
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Mark and I are in for the pre-show in TO!!! Thanks for planning this!
Cheers.
Christine
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Business in the front, party in the back.
Now I gotta call you McHodey…This is an Irish (and now Finnish) inspired post..>Irish cuz of me and Finnish for the Magnificent Aki Berg.
So around here - it’s Schlainte. We can’t do cheers.
I will accept anything French.
Salut.
Or even some Hungarian- agashe (sp?)
…Or for Oktoberfest - Probst!
Or some Serbian - Zivali!
But no cheers! NO CHEERS YOU LOYALIST WANKKKKKKKKERSSSS!!
Now Playing:
DVD - Braveheart
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Hey!
I KNOW Aki Berg…
And you are NO Aki Berg…
:-)
Why does no one invite me to these soirees?
Is it because I have cooties or because I am the buzzkill of all buzzkills with my socio-economic-anti-globalization sweatshop-environmentalism-the sky is falling-military industrial complexism-Bulgarian girls are hot-nanny state-1984-Serbo Croatian tension-Hezbollah-the Kings have given up 22 goals in just four games-angry Turks-angrier Burmese-the world is going to hell in a hand basket gobbledeegook…?
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JEBEMTI!
Oh you didn’t get the invite? That’s strange….It must’ve gotten lost in the mail…Oh wait…no….I forgot…Infantry don’t use invites…they just bust in and show up and rape and pillage…..
Yeah sure, you’re invited.
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Alas, I shall not be attending, as I am in cloudy/rainy Torrance California, on my knees, laying bricks for a patio on which no one will sit and have drinks with me.
Oh Woe Is Me.
WOE!
And Darcy Tucker is a good MG alter ego for you…
as for me…
I’m kind of the MG Gary Roberts… old, crazy, scarred, but able to poke in the odd goal now and then…
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If i was in california on my knees i’d be trying to lay pipe not bricks. go hang out with pierce. he’ll drink with anyone…he drank with me.
The vancouver fans will kill me if we run with that tucker moniker…
that said…i do have the autographed jersey…only 2.5 hours at future shop to get it….
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Heh…I got immortalized in a Pitt post! ;)
Damn man, I wish I could get out to Toronto for that get together. I’d buy you a beer, and I’m sure the conversation would be worthwhile.
Plus, one of the things I miss about TO is Massey Hall. It would be brain-numbingly cool to see Matt there. I hope people get good pictures (and video too!)
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Sorry.
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I’ll be there. I just gotta figure out how to put these bells on.
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sounds like it would be a blast ,cant it make it though,
i’ll just get everyone around of cyber beers ,since i cant buy them in person
so cheers
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Will there be punch and pie? What about free hats?
Yes Pitt, I exist only to quote South Park. That and adore movies that “lick your balls”.
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I’m going to this thing I guess I have to if all cool people are going, geez.
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We must be living in different Torontos, cause it’s cloudy and cold as hell!
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You gotta find the joy in everything Sagar - which i believe is the name for a soviet anti tank missile? Wait no…that’s a sager….or a bob sagat….
I digress. I love the crisp autumn.
Let me help you. Are you bein shot at? No? Then it’s beautiful out.
Plus….eye candy….eye candy helps….it would appear boots are in this fall, and i’m really just quite fine with that.
Zack - Punch and Pie….very nice. How’s your ali g?
mchogey - we also don’t accept apologies in this stream. I’m just hacking on ya. Note still_goofey…finishing with the “cheers”…very cheeky but canceled out by the use of the lame term cyber beers…
Cyber anything isn’t as good as real life something…Cyber sex? Big let down.
DUANE IS IN!! Tell your friends…
umdesch we will put you on the path of belief yet. what the shit is an umdesch?
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I’d love to go! I miss the good ol’ tee dot o.
On another topic, I love waking up on Saturday mornings to artillery fire. It shakes the whole Q.
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One man, two hair cuts; the coupe Longueuil; the Barry Melrose - it’s the MG Massey Hall concert official hairdo, brought to you by the Canadian Hockey Association, proud sponsor of bad teenage hair from sea to sea to sea.
We want pictures from the pre, during, and post Massey goings on.
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I’m not sure if I’ll be in for the meet and greet, but I am getting very excited for this show.
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Quoting Patrick Pitt:
Heh, it’s the same userid I’ve had everywhere since I first got it in 1990. It breaks down like this:
UM = University of Manitoba
DESCH = 1st five letters of my last name
4 = Apparently, I’m the 4th one
I use it all over the place, since it makes it easy for people who know me to find me, and it’s practically guaranteed to be unique.
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I came within 10 feet of a General once this summer!!!! ha ha.
All kidding aside, RH doesn’t seem to be that bad. I don’t know if I’d call him sir though cause I bet he works for a living *wink*.
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I’m down. Oh yeah.
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Anna - I miss the m109 for just that reason on Friday mornings - good morning Shilo.
Blanchie - Photos - i have no doubt Pierce and Raymi’s talented friend Phil, link in the side bar, will provide no shortage of quality footage. Well, phil will.
Umdesch - I thought it was like you were making it up where you were from…”Ummmmm…i’m from Deutshland”
Size - RH has some flaws according to many sound critics though. He pushed the boundaries on his PR campaign. The MND is in that role not the CDS - it gave the impression of transparency into the minds of the CF and it came across borderline politically aligned - which the CF isn’t. Some might argue, that was what was needed to get the support for the current operation in Afghanistan. On the other hand, if the public needed that kind of convincing maybe it was the wrong Op. In addition, what other areas of the CF or operations have been neglected if RH is so strongly tied to this operation?
DWF is in! what is a DWF?
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Toronto Meet Up eh?? Count me in!…
To Duane: Very glad to hear you’ll be there; it was too bad you couldn’t make it out to the meet-up in Vancouver… I’m really looking forward to meeting you at this one :P
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Pitt - the Slingbox is awesome. As a hockey fan it lets me watch all the games (in English, Bob Cole, CBC, thank you very much, and with NHL Centre Ice… Pittsburgh and The Kid) from Europe at my convenience (it’s attached to a PVR). You can’t imagine how boring Swedish hockey commentators are, especially if you can’t follow. They seem to forget for minutes on end that they should be describing the action.
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I bought my dear brother Peter a single ticket to Massey Hall. I doubt he’d go, but I’ll let him know about the Library Pub get-together. He’s a marathoner, too. And a cyclist (he was a bike courier for over 20 years–in Toronto, that ain’t easy). He’s even been in the military (militia, I believe).
About Hillier–if people tend to respect the guy even after public scrutiny in his current position, he can’t be all bad. Visibility is good, I think, as long as it isn’t all fluff for the public. Not that I agree with his decisions and views on Afghanistan, but I don’t have much hope for the next leader to do things much differently.
What the hell is a slow week for the military when there’s a war going on?
Instead of a pre-show party here in Ottawa, we’ll be lining up to get seats. I guess we could party in line …
I want to see your Magnum face, Patrick.
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What’s your thoughts on him approving of transfer of detainees?
And sounds like your bro has me beat - I run marathons for charity….not for fun. If there was no tax shelter I’d drink and eat chips.
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I agree with ‘ol H on approving the transfer of detainees. I mean, this isn’t intended to be completely naive, but are we not “allied” with the ANP, ANA? SO by not approving it, would that not be symbolizing our lack of trust within them? Unfortunately, there are going to be situations of wrong doing to say the least, but I think in order to maintain good relations and build trust of the ANP, ANA, Afghani people, we must take this step.
And as far as results after the transfer? How can we be held reponsible for that? I mean, it totally sucks and all when bad things happen; but at some point, whether it be now or when we eventually withdraw, everyone, nevermind detainees, will all be subject to their authority anyways.. or the taliban.
Do you have your own blog?
iTunes:Galvanize- Chem Bros.
Book: People of Hamilton, Canada West
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Who votes the Pittster should write 2 articles a week? Les résultats sont super sexuelles.
I love Death From Above 1979; oh, and MSTRKRFT.
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Blogs are for geeks. So I should think about getting one.
Look I hear what you’re saying but how do you respond to critics that say we’ve compromised our following of the Geneva Convention - which handing POW’s over to questionable authorities is a violation of. You did hear about the summary executions of prisoners without trial right?
I understand that we can’t hold onto them (detainees) forever. And we shouldn’t be picking and choosing how we’re going to boss and construct the ANA - but perhaps having the ANA more sensitively aligned to it’s moasaic of tribes would cut down on the potential for impropriety. It would certainly lead to an easier trained force.
Some might argue that if we can’t conduct ourselves in operations IAW our foreign policy ruling documents than we shouldn’t be involved at all. Wouldn’t leadership by example be better. Look no further than Blackwater - Afghan is neither a place for cowboys or those that are not willing to wear helmet and hat of diplomat
Hillier was a strong leader. Charismatic and courageous. But it is a slippery slope indeed when we let our soldiers and generals start to improvise the rules as they go along.
I write Saturday morning because that’s when Matt and Samar and Dale and Roy are asleep and the community has little choice but to pay attention.
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Quoting Patrick Pitt:
I’m one of those “some”. Not sure we should blame Hillier for that, though. Our government would have known going in that we’d be in a position to violate the convention when partnering with the ANA–are they not ultimately to blame?
I don’t pretend to know how to resolve this situation and what to do with detainees, but it is easy enough to know what is wrong, and knowingly continuing to improvise/break those rules is just not acceptable.
If our military has influence over the ANA, we should be using it to stop improper treatment of detainees. Perhaps we can blame Hillier for that failure.
It is tricky since ideally the Afghans should be making their own decisions and policing themselves wrt war conduct. However, when their conduct violates the rules to which we’re bound, I think we need to stand firm.
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Yes he is responsible. He is the highest ranking member of the CF. Hillier followed by the commander of CEFCOM LGen Gauthier, then the commander of the Operation in theater at the time of the transfer.
“Our government would have known going in that we’d be in a position to violate the convention when partnering with the ANA–are they not ultimately to blame?”
In my archives I recently posted the transcript of where this issue was breached in Parliament.
Standing firm is not always easy but it is a form of leadership. I could convolute this further by asking if we violated the Ottawa Treaty by benfiting from US anti-pers mines while overseas - but I won’t.
Bottom line is this. The decision about the treatment of detainees is something that should’ve been crystal clear before deployment. In an operation as sensitive as this one - and one could argue, a completely new experience to the CF - you can’t make up stuff on the fly. And when there is a difference of opinion on items like handling of prisoners - you stand firm on the side of caution IAW your historic policy. And if you’re going to break trail from that you better have some good answers as to why. Hillier coloured outside the lines - and his popularity and charisma allowed him to do so. We’ve seen it in the past in Bosnia, and to a much greater degree, with much worse an outcome in Somalia.
An opportunity to not look like a whipping boy for NATO/US allies was lost - so it was spun as being a team player. Responsibility for actions like that go top down - in this case they didn’t nor will they.
Do I think he’s a General of the troops and has respectable qualities? Yes. A good war time General? Probably. Is he perfect and does he walk on water in every decision he’s made? No. A good politician - in that he sells his decisions? Yes - one of the best. Is this a good thing? Time is certainly telling and will continue to do so.
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I’ll be there, despite your best efforts to the contrary.
All BS aside, I am getting pretty amped for this little adventure. Should be good times. I promise to not run around drunk out of my skull searching for some dude from Arkansas thereby almost getting my ass kicked out.
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When mgmt takes issue with me I just go to Victoria…works every time.
Oh yes your promo is coming…you’re the “secret opposite-of-weapon”.
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“Aki is no Zoolander” oh god. hah, give the guy a break. Don’t you think he had it hard enough playing in TO? I am not even a Leaf fan and I knew of his amazing faults. Mostly due to my co-worker who reads the Toronto Sun, and anything to do with the Leafs seem to be more important than anything else in the world to commit the front page to.
Another great article!!
Also, did you make it down to KW for some Oktoberfesting? It is a small religion of mine being mid-twenties and lived in KW all my life.
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Lots of people feel the liberal party castrated the CF over the last 30 years.
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Nope didn’t make it. Tickets were hard to come by.
Size - very observant….and?