Firsts....

Tonight I did something I have never done before: I helped organize a bar party.

I'm glad. It went very well, and I think those who came by the Grawood, Dalhousie's campus bar, for the final Gazette bash of the year enjoyed it, and this was the point.

Those who know me know I'm not the sort of guy who spends a great deal of time in bars. I write about them instead. I am the last person who would usually organize a party like this.

It's just one of the things that I realize have been firsts since I started at The Dalhousie Gazette four years ago. Tonight was my last real night as editor-in-chief of that paper. Our last paper comes out on stands tomorrow. It's been a lot of fun, and it hit me as I left the bar tonight how many firsts there have been in this job, and how grateful I am that they have been there.

I wouldn't usually do some of these things. I wouldn't usually experiment, but it always pays off when I do. It's experience, it's inspiration, and it's fun. So thanks to all who came out, and to Ben McDade and Paul Balite, who helped plan it with me.

I can honestly say I learned a lot tonight, and that's how a stint as editor-in-chief of the Gazette ought to end.

Top 10! Things Not to Do If One Wants to Post on a Blog

There are certain things that just have to bite the schedule sometimes. Like concert band rehearsal three weeks ago (I really was busy), like flossing one's teeth, like sleeping.

And maintaining the old personal blog started amongst much (much?) fanfare. I could offer a long and drawn out list of rational and reasonable excuses for not posting—no. I could humbly and graciously apologize (I humbly and graciously apologize for not posting—but, no). Or I could do what I meant to do five years ago at the very beginning of the Great Canadian Undergraduate Adventure (see also: sleep, lack thereof, papers, philosophy, journalism and Life). I could publish a Top 10 list publicly.

(Like anyone reads them on this blog beyond my mother and the Gazette's sports editor—hi, Ian!)

Some context: I enjoy creating top 10 lists. They're not particularly original in formatting, but I'd like to think the content offers some sort of unique view on the world. Or it might make you laugh—a bit. Traditionally I did them on Thursdays, and emailed them to my mother. Since neither of these are true now and tradition is something I rarely follow at the best of times, here's Top 10! Now proudly on Wednesdays, or whenever I remember/get time to do it.

This week: The Top 10 Things to Avoid if You Want to Regularly Update a Blog!

The End of the World

Is coming!

It's been overcast and rainy for about a week now, so I fully expect the Apocalypse by next Saturday.

It's really too bad I didn't get around to posting more before now, isn't it?

Rant: Writing Clever Journalism

Today I learned how to write clever.

I learned that alliteration is cool and makes you look like a leader in light language. I learned that putting any metaphor--any metaphor at ALL!--into writing makes you Stephen Hawking (smart!--see what we're doing here. Nifty, eh? I thought so, too).

Simple language can be beautiful, and I've heard many examples of this over the course of going on five years in J-School. There's also nothing I hate more than reading some cooked-up, purple-prosed, overwritten piece of artistic drivel, whether it happens to be fiction or non-fiction.

Nor do I want to seem like I'm discouraging metaphor and writing techniques like alliteration in journalism. The CP Styleguide could certainly use the odd little flourish, and too often news writing is devoid of personality. Writing with feelings gives it back.

What I take issue with, in the discussion of trying to write, is that there is a lot more to this craft than throwing a metaphor in or trying a little bit of mood. I'm by no means a great writer, but I know I'd cringe if I ever threw anything into any piece of writing, non-fiction or fiction, without reason or reflection. There is a craft here.

The Weather

Oh, how easy it is to hate the weather.

8 hours in the sun refereeing, burning to a crisp despite high-powered sunscreen. Followed by a hot drive home and a nap in the evening humidity. Now I'm sitting in my room trying to write while ignoring the sweat. Ugh. Fan on setting two. Anything higher will blow the paper on my incredibly disorganized desk around. And that would be bad.

Who am I to complain? There's nothing like (or quite as quintessentially Canadian, really) as complaining about the summer heat after having spent all winter complaining about the cold. In February I'll be able to write a post about how cold and wet everything is and longing for soccer season. But right now, I'm just overheated and longing for hockey season (I noticed the first symptoms of Red Wings withdrawal when the free agent window opened--though for the record I like the Ian White signing quite a bit).