CYSI:3 A Collection of Kintrasts

You wanted it and you got it! (Well maybe you didn't want it, but now you have it, or at least you sort of have it...) It's Can You Say Indie? Volume 3: A Collection of Kintrasts!
This is truly an eclectic smattering of songs. I guarantee that you will not like some of the songs. Well maybe I shouldn't guarantee that because I like all the songs. Ok, disclaimer: You will not like all the songs on this disc unless your subconscious wants to be exactly like me. There is a very large genre range here as well, something I like in any mixed cd. And the subject matter is all over the place too. We have songs about dropping a cell phone, searching for your friends in various places, a duet about two people falling through the ice, love songs, a touching (could even be described as teary eyed) song about a nurse of sorts, a couple covered songs (both Radiohead and Beyonce), a song featured on Grey's Anatomy, one featuring a clarinet where they sing about being silent, and many, many more jems. So you want the song list? Ya you do.

CYSI:3 Kintrasts

1 Acceptable In The 80's - Calvin Harris
2 Drop The Phone - Shy Child
3 White On White Crime - The Jai-Alai Savant
4 Charlotte - Air Traffic
5 You Are The One - Shiny Toy Guns
6 Transylvania - Mcfly
7 Black Shoes - The Films
8 The City, The Airport (Remix) - Loney, Dear
9 Pink Light - Laura Veirs
10 Crazy In Love - The Magic Numbers
11 Rose - The Feeling
12 Creep - Damien Rice
13 A Bitter Song - Butterfly Boucher
14 The Sky Opened Wide Like The Tide (Remix) - The Blow
15 Silence Teaches You How To Sing - Underwater Sleeping Society
16 Fire It Up - Modest Mouse
17 Rosia - Kelly Jones
18 Lost And Found - Last Days Of April
19 When We Fell Through The Ice - Fireworks Night
20 Elephant Gun - Beirut
21 Street Of Dreams - Sofia Talvik

And, like always, a cd can be made available upon request. And, in a limited time special offer, I can burn you a compilation cd featuring every song from CYSI 1, 2 and 3 in mp3 format.

The Soundtrack of Matt's Life

Ok, I should be writing a paper, but I couldn't help my self. I started to peruse Facebook (I know... don't lecture me, I only took 20 mins or so... it's not a big deal...) and I saw this in my brother's notes. His was too hilarious so I had to try it for myself. You be the judge.

Soundtrack of Your Life

So, here's how it works:
1. Open your music library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle
3. Press play
4. For every question, type the song that's playing
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button
6. Don't lie (don't worry, you will want to many times...) and try to pretend you're cool... and a lot of the songs fit with the setting

Opening Credits:
Get Through – Mark Joseph

Waking Up:
You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins (does that call into question my manliness?)

First Day At School:
bittersweet – The Echoing Green

Falling In Love:
Unsung – Helmet (The hardest song of the bunch…)

Fight Song:
Signal to Noise (Acoustic Version) – The Cure

Breaking Up:
Rapper’s Delight – The Sugarhill Gang (Breaking up makes me turn to oldie rap I guess)

Prom:
So Long Jimmy – James Blunt

Life:
Opening the Mouth – Boards of Canada

Mental Breakdown:
Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen (Hilarious!)

Driving:
Mardy Bum – Artic Monkeys (Great driving song for sure)

Flashback:
Strangers in the Night – Frank Sinatra

Getting back together:
High Voltage – Linkin Park

Wedding:
Let the Truth Sting – David Gray (don’t ask me what that means…)

Birth of Child:
Pornography (live) – The Cure (I’m scared to make a comment)

Final Battle:
Love is Better Than a Warm Trombone – Gomez (Make love not war?)

Death Scene:
All We Have - Disciple

Funeral Song:
Rie’s Wagon - Gomez

End Credits:
Two Left Feet – The Holloways (A nice upbeat jig inducing song to finish it off, that worked quite well.)

Check out Mike's in his Facebook profile.

It has been far too long

Writing a blog entry after watching a good “romantic comedy” will surely effect its content (I just finished watching The Holiday. Jack Black definitely added a great deal to the movie. I think I will sing more often while renting movies). But, I think I will anyway.

I have not written on this thing in a very long time, as I’m sure you have noticed. I apologize. I was in no way trying to show disregard for you, faithful reader. Many things have happened since we last met. Although you may think Can You Say Indie? Volume 2 was the latest highlight from my lack of writing, it surely could not compare to Jamaica. I left for Jamaica almost one month ago, it seems like it was just last week. I still think I am recuperating from Jamaica time, but in a good way. Actually, I have been getting up earlier and going to bed earlier since getting back from Jamaica. It has been a good thing; I don’t find it too difficult to endure the ridicule from my friends when I get tired at 10. Jamaica was an amazing experience. I absolutely loved the kids in Jamaica. We spent most of our time there just one-on-one with them. I am convinced that it was the best way to influence their lives and was most changed by the time I spent with them. The world seems like a smaller place now. I like it.

I feel like I might do the trip injustice to give you a quick overview, and I fear writing it all in a blog entry would take far too long and no one would read it. But, that’s how it should be. I just wrote that one-on-one time was huge to me in Jamaica, why would that change now that I am here? So, feel free to ask me out for coffee to hear about my experience because you just wouldn’t feel the impact if I only wrote it down here. You wouldn’t see me display the actions we did singing “Walk all over you.” You wouldn’t watch my eyes start to tear up as I remember how amazing of a friend Kevin was. You wouldn’t hear my poor attempt at a Jamaican accent or the pause as I searched for the words to describe the Joy displayed by Cynthia. Yeah, it was an amazing experience.

learned so many things from my time surrounding Jamaica. The most significant thing that I brought home was an emphasis on prayer. Really, I just started to pray more when I was there. It just made sense. I mean, there we were, going from seemingly unconnected place to place singing songs, giving testimonies and hanging out. As we would drive away, I wondered if we really made an impact. Then God would assure me that I made absolutely zero impact on anyone. He was the one who did it all. That was humbling and reassuring at the same time. I learnt what it meant to boast in my weakness. My brother and I were talking the other night and he explained the importance of changing lives as opposed to imparting knowledge. I agree, and I realize that I have no hope of making a change in someone’s life if God is not a part of it. The only way that I can assure that God is involved is to pray. So I have learned that I need to pray more. I need to pray a lot. Really, I need to pray constantly; you know, without ceasing. I think I heard that somewhere once…

I am getting tired, and it is only 11. (Or, from my perspective, it is 11?! Why have I not fallen asleep yet?) There is so much more to say. I haven’t even started to tell you about the amazing times I have had with Von. I changed Von’s diaper for the first time yesterday. I’m glad it contained no surprises. Anyways, you might have to just check back later. This is all you are going to get today.

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day! I hope you wore green and were proud of it. The world could use more colour themed holidays. Let's see... April Fool's Day is the next holiday in Canada... we should all wear a certain colour... or stripes! That seems to be more "foolish" than any one colour. The most colourful stripes win. Yeah, that sounds just about right.

Can you say Indie? Vol 2!

That's right, it is finally out. And just in time; I am leaving on Friday for Jamaica. After I made my selections for the cd, I realized that many songs featured prominent violins or cellos, hence the "Attack of the Strings" sub-title. Here is the track list, including a couple that didn't quite make the cut, but deserve honourable mention. And, as always, I can send a copy of the cd your way via request. Enjoy!

Can you say Indie? Vol 2: Attack of the Strings

1. Kerfuffle - Ladyfuzz
2. Commercial Breakdown - The Sunshine Underground
3. Annie, Let's Not Wait - Guillemots
4. Dumb Dumb Ditty - Farrah
5. Dream Song - Passing Stranger
6. Before I Fall To Pieces - Razorlight
7. Cannonballs - Elsinore
8. Carbon Monoxide - Regina Spektor
9. Relief - Chris Garneau
10. Sackcloth In Ashes - Small Leaks Sink Ships
11. Naive - The Kooks
12. Valerie - The Zutons
13. Welcome, Ghost - Explosions In The Sky
14. Pictures - Sia
15. Candylion - Gruff Rhys
16. Curse Your Little Heart - DeVotchKa
17. Children of December - The Slip
18. Souvenirs - Architecture In Helsinki
19. In Shock - Kristin Hersh
20. Me Plus One - Kasabian

Honourable mention:

• Dancing Shoes - Artic Monkeys (the "Matt likes to Mambo" version)
  
• Truman - Ratatat
• This is a Song - The Magic Numbers
• The End's Not Near - Band of Horses
• Starz In Their Eyes - Just Jack
• No Emotion - Idlewild
• I'm A Rat - Towers of London
• Heart of Hearts - !!!
• A Bad Dream - Keane
• Damage - Cooper Temple Clause
• Do It First - The Crayon Fields
• And seriously, there was a bunch more...
  

As you can see, I debated thoroughly each song, and I really couldn't make up my mind. I seriously considered a double cd compilation, but I didn't want to start that trend, so one cd it stays. But, if you have a chance, check out these bands and/or songs.

Oh Where is my Hair?

I'm sure most of the people who read this blog will have already experienced Matt sans long hair, but on the off chance that you have not yet... I shaved my head! (I didn't bic it however, that would be crazy.)

I should start at the beginning. I have mentioned that I am going on a missions trip to Jamaica with people from McKernan Baptist Church. It is going to be an awesome experience and I hope that we can spread the Good News of God's love to a bunch of people. Way back in January I had a crazy idea for a fund raiser and foolishly told my small group. I somehow committed to letting people bid on the privilege of shaving whatever they wanted into my head. Over the weekend at the College and Career Winter Retreat I started the bidding. Thinking that people wouldn't raise that much, and giving myself an out, I said I would not shave it unless $250 was raised total. Everyone surpassed my expectations (remember, these are poor college students and people just starting their careers) and raised over $500! They must have really wanted to see my lovely locks gone.

Matt Penner raised the most and therefore won the right to do what he wanted with my hair. He devised a plan involving hidden cards with the fate of my hair written on them. I chose card "C" and only had to loose a lock of hair! It was still scary however. When the deed was done however, the crowd wanted more. What happened next is difficult to write down; I may have suppressed the memory. Thankfully Cait recorded everything on tape and has made this video so I can relive the whole event. You can't tell, but my legs were shaking the whole time.



Here are some pictures of the final product:


Alicia's hand was shaved into my head...


My long hair in the back was left... however they shaved it up the middle...


Probably the best picture of the "hand" that I can find.


They made me wear it in pigtails for the first day. Oh, and that is Matt Penner on the right.

I called it the Red Sea Blessed Mullet for blessed business in the front and its parted party in the back. Part of the whole deal was that I had to keep my hair how they shaved it for a full week. My hair was shaved on Sunday morning which meant that I had to keep it that way until after church one week later. By the end of that week I absolutely hated the hair in the back. It drove me nuts. So, almost immediately after church I got my Mom to shave the rest off. To prove to everyone that I kept it for that whole week and didn't hide it under a toque all the time, I told people that I would take a picture every day with one of my profs at Taylor. Here are those pics.


This is Pat Fisher. She teaches most of the Leadership and Spirituality classes at Taylor. She is also my Academic Adviser because I am in the Leadership Emphasis (it's like a minor, but different because it requires work experience as well). She also attends McKernan where I work and worship. She wanted to feel my hair, so we took a picture of that. Both my classes with her have around 5 people on average. It is a weird and interesting dynamic. Pat has lots of quirks and I used to think that's all she was. Now I am starting to get past them and realize that God can and does speak through her. It is sorta cool I guess.


This is Ralph Korner. He teaches some higher level Religion courses at Taylor part time. He also used to be the Campus Pastor at Taylor. He is a great guy, a great teacher and a great example. And, apparently he wanted to give me bunny ears.


I told him we needed a picture of him "with his hand on the hand." We shared a moment as you can tell.


This is Nathan Kowalsky. We attempted to take a picture making weird faces. He looks like he is eying a delicious pie on the table and I look like I am trying to stop time a la Hiro or something. I think we both failed at the whole picture thing. But, I do have to rave about this prof too. He is teaching at St. Joseph's College at the U of A and teaches one class (Science and Religion) here at Taylor. He has two Masters degrees and a PhD and he is only like 30 or something. He is an amazing prof, incredibly knowledgeable yet still shows that he is continuing to develop his ideas. His classes always feature great discussion, although Taylor is making him have tests in his class and he doesn't want to. Last term grades were determined by papers alone and I loved it and learned a ton.

And I had to include this picture of him that he put up on his profile at St. Joe's.


He loves the outdoors and has told us about his "primitivist" leanings. For Halloween last year he came dressed like a hunter and wore a full bear pelt. I don't know many profs that would do that.


This is Brian Gold, or as most of his students call him, BG. The other guy is Jeremy Cook and BG wanted him in the picture because of his sweet suit. So I had to try and look badass. I don't think I am very good at it. BG is fairly hilarious in a weird way. He has spent a bunch of time in South Korea and is currently doing his PhD in a related field. He always has one class each semester where he requires his students to sing a song. One year he taught everyone a Korean kid's song with actions (he also taught that whole day like a Korean teacher would teach, and we had to act like we were students in Korea. It was memorable). Watching him sing in Korean and get really into the song was priceless. He also likes to put a chair on a table, sit on his "throne" and ask the class questions which correspond to participation marks. He also takes out all willing students to a authentic Asian restaurant where you all eat on the floor in a separate room, then everyone goes and sings Karaoke. I haven't went yet, but I have heard it is a blast.

So there's the story of how Matt lost his hair. It's a good one. Although I don't mind short hair, I really do miss the long hair. I probably would have cursed it in Jamaica though, so I guess it is a good thing. To truly grasp my feeling of horror the first time that I saw my hair, I tried to recreate my facial expression.

Later.