lost in translation- second semifinal

Hi all,

Welcome back to the semifinal round. Winner goes on to the final in mid-July against 'komorebi'...

Thanks for your time and attention as always. It is very much appreciated.

The next post will be on Monday, sometime between 5am and 6am EST.

Enjoy the rest of June.

Tim


Lost In Translation- Second Semifinal
meraki- Greek adjective

Pouring yourself wholeheartedly into something, such as cooking, and doing so with soul, creativity, and love

--vs.--

iktsuarpok- Inuit noun

The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking if someone (anyone) is coming

I worked on this pairing for about thirteen minutes before I got stuck.  When I get stuck, I usually just write down everything I can think of. Once everything possible is on paper, I sort out the mess and, eventually, find that my true feelings about the matchup emerge in the process.

It took awhile this time, though. I first wrote a bit about 'counter proverbs' and speculated how those proverbs that do not have a contradicting twin usually point at a universal truth. I couldn't come up with anything that went against the idea of living fully in the present so it seemed like I had a starting point from which to push 'meraki' forward into the final.

But then I realized that 'good things come to those who wait'...

Meraki 1, Iktsuarpok 1.

I thought about what I mentioned in the tournament recap post, that elements of both words live on in the process of writing. You pour yourself into it and produce utter rubbish (which I've been informed is called The First Draft). You put it aside and edit, add, delete and repeat, until you have something closer to the real thing (which I've been informed is called The Final Draft).

But the only thing that you are really doing is waiting for the product to emerge. Each time you look at the draft, the only thing you look for is whether that product has arrived yet.

It is hard to really separate the role of each in the writing process, so...

All tied at two points apiece.

I considered possible ways to unearth the deeper meaning of each word. But as I reviewed the previous entries involving these words, I saw that I already covered these ideas.

'Meraki' allows us to achieve by holding our fears and insecurities at arm's length to allow full dedication. We apply all our creative energy into a project, a dream, a moment. We lose track of the mundane that constantly weighs us down. It is among the best ways we know to fully immerse ourselves in the present.

'Iktsuarpok' is subtler. It is a way to achieve by embracing a balance of past and future. There is regret and hope in equal measure. To wait without knowing connects past and future together. It is among the best ways we know to look ahead without losing track of what has passed.

Perhaps there is a hair to split in the above but I could not find it...

3-3.

I suppose when the facts fail to clarify a decision, all that is left is to trust my own instincts and make the call. To me, the idea of 'trusting your instincts' is a way to consider my own experiences. What have I done and how has it shaped me? What have I learned from all of this?

Since this tournament's premise revolves around the past year, I thought about what I've done this year. And the realization I had was this- I don't remember much from the past year, at least in terms of things I did and the specific dates those events took place.

I remember a few calendar dates. I remember going to a Lake Street Dive concert in late August and seeing Muse a few months later. I remember a nightmare that shook me up for a full week after. I remember a night out with my brother in September. I remember using a pay phone, getting laid off, and my cousins from Japan visiting, all in January.

So, not much. My memory bank is like a computer with a file missing. Something should be there but I cannot find it.

Or maybe it is like how when someone leaves you in a room. You can feel the trace of presence that lingers there. But it will not point you to where that person is hiding.

On its own, this revelation is not particularly notable. People forget. And I don't remember anything from two years ago, for that matter. But there is something else to think about and that is June of 2015. Because another thing I learned this year is that my recollection of last June is razor sharp.

On this day last year, just as an example, I remember that I accompanied my mom to a chemotherapy treatment. Like all the other treatments in June, it did not go particularly well. But it was unlike all the others ones, too, because instead of returning home as usual we decided to keep her in the hospital.

I remember how I left work that day, early relative to colleagues but at that stage the usual time for me. I stopped at the building's vending machine to buy Doritos, the only thing Mom was eating at that point. Since the direct bus into downtown Boston did not run at noon, I went the longer way, taking the 132 into Oak Grove. From there, I rode the Orange Line all the way into Roxbury Crossing and walked a few minutes to Brigham and Women's Hospital. I remember stopping in the cafeteria to pickup a butterscotch pudding dessert and heading across the bridge connecting the hospital to Dana Farber with it in hand. I remember seeing an advertisement on the way that if you donated blood that month you would get a pair of sunglasses that were just the kind I like- free.

The whole month has been like that. I wake up, venture into a new day, and at some point I recognize a new one year anniversary.

Today was the day we got sushi. Today was the day Mom stopped speaking. Today was the day I brought sake to a party. Today was the day I laughed along with friends, friends who had all lost their fathers, as they shared funny Father's Day stories. Today was the day of the bumpy ambulance ride- 'like a ride at three flags' was Mom's verdict. Today was the day I rode the 47 bus to the H Mart. Today was the day Mom made fun of my brother for his jeans being too tight. Today was the day I got those sunglasses at a beer festival (for free, of course). Today was the day I skipped the company boat cruise. Today was the day we went to Ittoku for the first time. Today was the day I went for a six hour walk. Today was the day Mom started speaking on the phone again.

I remember conversations with specific people. I remember marveling that the timing of the books I was reading was impeccable. I remember the conductor on the train who, for some reason my brother and I never quite figured out, declined to charge us for a single train ride we took from Norwood to the city after visiting our parents. I remember walking home down Newbury Street late every Sunday night after those free train rides. I remember running every day, just after dawn, not quite in time to beat the sun up but still early enough to squint into its early morning glare. On and on like that, memories only from June of 2015.

So where did the rest of the past year go? Where was I and what was I doing?

I guess I was biking, pedaling pointlessly, meandering through Boston and Cambridge, turning around in Brookline, Somerville, Dorchester, going everywhere and nowhere on rides stretching through the night until tomorrow blended into today. I was volunteering, more so than ever before, using my vacation time to contribute midweek, finally doing something on my own that I always happily got pulled into but never put in the effort to initiate. I was working, somewhat ironically putting together the half year that I am proudest of, a six month stretch in which I finally tore down the divide between self and employee. I was writing, hours spent digging many holes that I eventually refilled, occasionally finding something worth keeping, always considering where the shovel went next.

The more I thought about the past year, the more I thought about 'meraki'. What I recall of the past year is a list of things that I fully absorbed myself into. These experiences were valuable. They made excruciating times bearable. They don't have timestamps, I suspect, because the essence of the word is full absorption into the moment.

In acknowledging how I lived up to the 'merkai' idea, I see how investing wholeheartedly can happen even when you feel heartbroken. If the glue isn't ready yet, you can at least corral the pieces until it is time to reassemble the fragments.

I've started to get a better picture in this past month of how reassembling these fragments might happen. I'm starting to feel the energy needed to do this, the internal spark required to put in a sustained effort for the long haul.

June has been the most difficult month but I'm getting through it better than I've gotten through any other month. In fact, I'm almost surprised by how easy it's been to get through. Memories come, sometimes they are difficult, and maybe I even need to sit down to think about it. But I do what I need to and get on with it.

It is just like last June, in fact, the way I'm getting on with it.  Its funny how similar the two Junes are in that sense. Throughout the course of this month, the sense of myself coming back, in the way you do after returning home after a long trip somewhere, grows each time I recognize a connection from this year's calendar to last's.

The concept of a trip reminds me of the Japanese word 'omiyage'. This word translates pretty much to souvenir, which is probably why it did not make it into the book on which this bracket is based. But there is a difference and the difference is important to me.

The difference is that a souvenir is something you get for yourself to remember a trip by. An 'omiyage' is a gift from a trip for family or friends at your destination. It's usually a local product from where you are arriving.

At some point, I'll be back from my own journey. Maybe I'm already back. I'll know for sure the day I look in the mirror and recognize my full return. But the return has been spoiled a little bit because I know what the 'omiyage' is going to be. It'll be a blueprint, a set of ideas and principles for how I can be my best self at all times.

It'll be drawn up around the framework of June 2015, a month that I look back on now and see as a first glance at that best self. That was a month where I was fully on point. I did things I valued with courage and heart. I observed the many different ways we extend kindness to one another and felt firsthand the eternal value in those acts. It was a time where I discovered how many people lived as their best selves every day. In interacting with these living examples, I furthered my own understanding of being your best and ratcheted my expectations for myself even higher.

My memories of the time are full of sadness and regret and disappointment but these are good memories, too, because it was my best self that responded to circumstances and pushed on as well as I could. This past year, when I immersed myself fully into so many things, was just an exercise in patience, the way I waited until I was ready to return to becoming this person I glimpsed last June.

I read just a week ago that one gift of grief is the return of yourself. I understood that sentence instantly. Having a full sense of yourself is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

It's a gift worth waiting for, even if each month to come turns out like this one and stretches my trip out a little longer. Until the waiting ends, I'm prepared to go outside everyday, just to check and see if I'm arriving.

Lost In Translation Final- July 15 (rain date- July 19)
'komorebi' --vs.-- 'iktsuarpok'

lost in translation- first semifinal

Good morning,

Anyone looking for a tournament summary should start here and read my summary post from the first two tournament rounds. You will also find links to all the original tournament posts there.

I also posted on Friday. It is a 4500 word nonsensical preview of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament. Umm, good luck reading that? Anyway, I did not mention that blog at the end of last Tuesday's post so if you missed it go back and have a look.

Ready? On we go, then. Enjoy the post and I'll see you back here next Tuesday for the second semifinal.

Tim

Lost In Translation- First Semifinal
'Wabi-sabi'  / Japanese noun

Finding beauty in the imperfections, an acceptance of the cycle of life and death

--vs.-- 

'komorebi' / Japanese noun

The sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees

This is a tough matchup. Each word shares much at a base level and such similarities make comparison a difficult task.

At the core is a shared essence of observation. 'Wabi-sabi' challenges us to find beauty despite imperfection. The word brings value and meaning to life through its acknowledgment and acceptance of its single irreversible opposite- death. The brightness of a well-lived and impactful life often is seen most brilliantly in the wake of its end.

'Komorebi' parallels these reflections. A sunny day to most means one not marred by shade. It brings to mind the warm feeling of the sun reaching us uninterrupted by cloud or building. 'Komorebi' takes what may mar this idea and defines its value by stating its value regardless of the manner it takes to reach us. Through the filter created by tree cover, the planet's source of life is seen in a new light and we come to appreciate its resilience in the face of nature's obstacles.

The semifinal comes down to the difference in the words. In this case, the distinction was subtle and it took me some time to think through it in full.

'Wabi-sabi' is the word of the result. It looks for the beauty that is already there and implores us to uncover it. With this word, imperfections are the required opposite and the comparison against it reveals relative beauty. Death brings the needed balance and perspective to life. It is the map that indicates the way out when the forest around is dark and mysterious.

'Komorebi' is the word of the process. It gazes on what is already there and challenges us to filter it through the lenses we wear to see beautifully. Such a view of imperfections reveals absolute beauty. Death and life exist on the same bench, not on opposite ends of a see-saw. It is the 'philosophy of how', the underbrush we push into because it is how we blaze our own trail out of the forest.

As I examined my reasons for and against each word, I saw that 'wabi-sabi' contains both the essential understanding needed to live fully while also grounding us in ways that make a full life difficult. It brings understanding and acceptance to what life brings by stating the truths that apply to us all. Though this balancing brings us back to life when we inhabit a place of death, it also kills off the discovery driven by our individuality.

'Komorebi' beautifies our own experience. As I stated in the quarterfinal round, there is no iron law which states that sunlight filtering through leaves is a thing of beauty. This word exists only due to one person who sought to see beautifully and found the resulting experience so meaningful that a name was created for it.

I am sending 'komorebi' into the final because I find the idea it presents more meaningful. There is an infinite element to 'komorebi', one that suggests there is always more where it came from. Unlike its opponent, which creates value in life by framing it around an acceptance of death, 'komorebi' fails to acknowledge the difference and instead looks for value by asking that we bring our best view to the world at all times. It hints that the value of a full life is knowing that each frontier is not a place in which to settle but the foundation from which we look for the next horizon.

Lost In Translation Final (July 15): 
'komorebi' --vs.-- winner of semifinal #2 (June 28)

euro 2016 preview

Hi all,

It is time for the first official nonsense post of this blog's history (*). Its been a long time coming and for those who've been waiting around for it- I thank you for your patience.

*Does this mean that I consider the other posts 'sense'? It suggests that but I'll let you, reader, form your own opinion.

I recognize that most of my readers bring little to the table in terms of soccer knowledge. Its OK. I thought I would lend a hand today and preview this summer's European soccer championships (*). Generally referred to as the Euros (and for this particular edition, Euro 2016) this tournament brings together Europe's twenty-four top national soccer teams for a month long competition that is very similar to the World Cup and, as I understand it, very close in terms of importance from the European point of view.

*I know it started already. That's how things go around here, sometimes.

But again, I recognize my readership's limitations. So, to help drive understanding forward a little, I thought it might help to compare a few of the important teams to different parts of Boston, a topic which I think most of us have a solid overall handle on.

Without further ado- the official True On Average preview for this summer's Euro 2016 soccer tournament.

Netherlands- Cambridge / Denmark- Somerville

Featuring several world-class superstars, the Dutch are a perennial fixture in the final stages of major tournaments. Amsterdam, its capital, has a well-earned green reputation for its, uh, bike riding.

Denmark is a little further north and a little less renowned. It surprisingly won this tournament in 1992 after initially failing to qualify- it was included in the final field only after Yugoslavia was 'disqualified' due to its breakup and civil war aftermath. The Danish capital, Copenhagen, is like Amsterdam in its reputation for cycling. Both cities are on my short list for 'I would move there sight unseen' (1).

Cambridge features a pair of world-class universities. It has a well-earned cycling reputation, reflected in Hubway's year-round availability within the Cambridge city limits. Somerville, a little further north and a little less renowned, is also a bit of a biking hotspot. Both feature locations prominently involved in my current apartment search as I would move there 'sight unseen'- though at this point I think I've seen mostly all there is to see in each area.

Unfortunately, both the Netherlands and Denmark failed to qualify for this summer's tournament. In the same way that many casually informed visitors assume Cambridge and Somerville are a part of Boston (like I did for about a decade), many assume that these nations are involved in this summer's football (*) tournament.

*Soccer.

Japan- Maine

Sometime in the 1800s, Maine left Massachusetts and became its own state. This bold move eliminated it from future consideration as part of the city of Boston (*).

*As Maine charges drivers for using I-95 while Massachusetts does not, this move eventually cost Massachusetts-based Colby students millions of dollars in tolls (approximately- but the number is still climbing) as they zoomed up to the Waterville campus.

Sometime several decades ago, UEFA determined which countries were part of 'Europe' and which were not. Japan, sadly, was left out and eliminated from future consideration as part of any upcoming European football championships (2).

Greece- The 'D' branch of the Green Line

In 2004, Greece stunned the football (*) world by winning Euro 2004 despite being 150-1 underdogs going into the competition. Greece's journey to the championship included harsh criticism for its negative tactics- in short, the viewing public did not find Greece's 'defense first' strategy aesthetically pleasing. Greece has been nowhere near footballing (*) success since.

*Still soccer for both of these uses of football. The training wheels are coming off now, though. If you want to talk helmet football, come back in a couple of months for my 'Fantasy Football For Dummies' post.

In 2004, the 'D' branch of the Green Line stunned the transportation world by completing a trip from its Riverside terminus to Park Street without screeching to an unexplained halt, allowing passengers to board without paying the fare, confusing Red Sox game bound passengers with its Fenway/Kenmore station naming, or getting stacked up behind three other 'trains' going into Boston. Throughout its journey, the train endured harsh criticism for its lack of aesthetic appeal. The train has been nowhere near such a successful journey since.

Greece is usually involved in the Euros but did not make it this time around. In the same way, the Green Line is usually in Boston but sometimes drifts out- to Brookline, Newton, etc.

Portugal- The rest of the Green Line

Often a seductive 'surprise' pick prior to major tournaments despite being consistently among Europe's top five teams, Portugal's appeal is centered on the endless possibility brought on by its exclusive access to the tournament's best player, Cristiano Ronaldo. With his tremendous goal scoring skill and athletic prowess in the side, the logic goes, anything might happen.

The Green Line works in the same way. Full access to the Green Line means full access to the best parts of the city. For just a couple of bucks, you could shoot up to the Science Museum (provided you enjoy looking at SCIENCE) or down to Longwood (provided you enjoy looking at MEDICINE). Who cares? Do both. The Green Line covers more area than any other method of transport and thus the possibilities are endless.

But it is possible to shut down Ronaldo. Its happened before, in fact, its happened at every major tournament he's played in. Sometimes, he is his own worst enemy, occasionally becoming frustrated with a lack of service or failing to track his man on defense properly.

The Green Line is possibly shut down, right now. It is sometimes its own worst enemy as trains coming into Kenmore station (where three of the branches merge) block each other and create traffic. Passengers occasionally become frustrated with a lack of service. Once the trolley goes street-level, drivers sometimes fail to track boarding passengers properly and do not collect the fare.

My bet is Portugal do fine, just like the Green Line, but will not be involved in the tournament's final rounds.

Italy- The North End

One of Boston's historically relevant neighborhoods, the North End also is the site of several well-regarded Italian restaurants and is known for its Italian-American history. The North End is very much a part of Boston but brings something a little different in terms of atmosphere and feel when you walk along its streets and alleys. It is hard to explain.

Italy, one of Europe's historically relevant teams, also is the site of several (hundred? thousand?) well-regarded Italian restaurants. Their style of play is always a little different from the rest of the tournament field though exactly why this is remains difficult for me to explain.

I like Italy's odds in this tournament. The rest of the teams are well-regarded for their offensive capability but the Italians boast perhaps the tournament's best defense. International football teams do not have the benefit of year-round training sessions and it would not be the first time a well-drilled defensive unit frustrated offensively-minded opposition on the journey to an unexpected victory.

Belgium- East Boston

I've been hearing for years about East Boston- its the up and coming place, buy land there, its going to blow up soon, blah blah blah. People unfamiliar with the area see the name and assume it must be within walking distance of Haymarket. But it is actually not connected by land- it just seems like you can get there by foot.

I've been hearing for years about Belgium, too- its the up and coming team, look at all the value there, those players are going to be world-class soon, blah blah blah. People unfamiliar with world football watched them beat the USA in the 2014 World Cup and assume they must be good. But they have not actually accomplished anything yet- it just seems like they are similar to Europe's other historically successful sides.

To be fair, both East Boston and Belgium have a lot going for them. The success predicted should come. It just has not happened yet. I don't expect it to happen for Belgium this time- a couple injuries too many and a lack of success on European soil will probably hamper them.

Germany- South Boston

South Boston has always been a major part of the city, just like Germany has always been a major player on the European stage. Historically, each has developed its own identity to set it apart from its surrounding neighbors.

Of late, a renewed focus on development has seen new levels of success for both. South Boston is seeing it through rising land values in both the residential 'Southie' section and in the booming Waterfront. Germany is seeing it through a wealth of young talent that has recently emerged from its revamped youth development setup.

Germany won the most recent World Cup and is considered among the favorites for this tournament.

Poland- Brighton

On the surface, Poland is a little like Germany, except slightly worse. Centrally located, but not as central as Germany. Great economy, but not as strong as Germany. Germany is 80% German, which does not seem particularly diverse, but Poland is 93% Polish. Poland is among the most visited countries in the world but I don't know anyone who's traveled to Poland- I only know people who've traveled to Germany.

The only reason they are considered relevant for this tournament is the present of Robert Lewandowski, perhaps the best pure forward in this tournament (*).

*That 'present' is not a typo- well, it was, initially, but I'm keeping it- because I just realized Lewandowski is like a present, from Germany, given that he developed his skills to become a top-level player in the German Bundesliga.

On the surface, Brighton is a little like South Boston, except slightly worse. Neither is 'centrally located' but you need a car to live in Brighton, generally, while getting around without one is Southie is easier. Brighton is T accessible but South Boston's combined access to the Red Line, the '7' bus, and the '9' bus are superior to Brighton's Green Line, '57', and '66' trio. Recent developments in South Boston include the entire Waterfront while the only relevant development I'm aware of in Brighton of late is the Ittoku restaurant.

I don't like Poland's chances in this tournament. 

Turkey- Chinatown

Turkey is partly in Asia. In Euro 2008, Turkey scored several goals very late in matches and made a surprise trip into the semi-finals. Many consider this team an up and coming presence though I suspect this is because, in general, countries with a lot of people always seem like they are 'up and coming'.

Chinatown is technically not partly in Asia though sometimes it seems that way. I always make surprise late-night trips into Chinatown. Many consider Chinatown an up and coming area of the city from a land value perspective though I suspect this is because, in general, everywhere in Boston is currently considered 'up and coming'.

Not sure about Turkey's chances this summer.

Hungary- The Cheers Bar

Hungary, like Cheers, was relevant several decades ago. Everyone knows a bit about both because they were relevant in times where there were not many other options to be aware of- Austria-Hungary was one of approximately three empires involved in World War I while Cheers was on NBC when it was one of approximately three networks on TV.

Hungary moved the sport forward, at least in England, by demolishing an over-confident England side 6-3 in a 1953 game dubbed the 'Match of the Century'. Basically, all Hungary did was expose England's tactics, training, and playing methods as slow, antiquated, outdated, etc. Allegedly, this led to a review and change in England's approach (though some viewers of recent England tournament appearances might disagree). People in the world of football still talk about this match though I am unaware if any of these people actually saw the game live.

Cheers moved the idea of the sitcom forward, at least according to several things I just looked up, by its writing, setting, and thematic elements. All Cheers did was influence the next generation of television comedy. People in the world still talk about this show though I am unaware of knowing anyone who actually saw the show live.

Hungary today is a bit irrelevant and likely headed for an early exit. They are just happy to be there, like most of the people I see grinning and milling about in front of the Cheers bar.

France- The Public Garden

The garden is Boston's prettiest area. Located centrally, it is also the informal host to many gatherings and events. You see all kinds of tourists here, mostly enjoying the sites and sounds. If you are in the right place, you might witness a marriage proposal.

France is a pretty, centrally located country. It is formally the host to this tournament. I suspect this summer you will see all kinds of tourists here, many enjoying the sites and sounds of a major football tournament. If you are in the right place- I'm guessing Paris- you might witness a marriage proposal.

The host nation, if a top ten team, is almost always among a tournament's favorites and France is no exception.

Spain- The Back Bay

Many years ago, Spain established a worldwide reputation for its mastery of the sea, a reputation earned by its formidable armada. Today, those who consider Spain think of its culture and its big-name destinations (such as Barcelona or Madrid).

Like Spain, the Back Bay once had a reputation for its mastery of the sea, a reputation earned by its filling of a bay with land. Today, those who consider the Back Bay think of its culture and its big-name destinations (such as the Prudential Tower or Copley Square).

Spain's footballing reputation is built around a compact, highly intricate passing system where players come together in tight spaces and work the ball through narrow openings without seeming to look at each and, eventually, find their way toward goal. The Back Bay is similar- the layout is a complex, highly intricate system of one-way roads where pedestrians come together in tight spaces to work their way through narrow openings without seeming to look at each other and, eventually, find their way in the path of oncoming traffic.

Spain's reputation was dented two years ago in Brazil but they are gearing up for a rebound performance this summer. If they ever bother to take a shot on goal, they are likely to be among the very last teams in the tournament.

Croatia- Charlestown

Charlestown is technically one of Boston's newer sections. It left Middlesex County after a popular vote in 1873 and joined Boston. That does not change the fact that it is also one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. Sadly, its history does include involvement in a war for independence, marked most notably by the Bunker Hill Monument. Geographically, it is close to the center of the city but just slightly off to the east.

Croatia is technically one of Europe's newer countries. It was a part of Yugoslavia until 1991 before breaking off and joining Europe as an independent state. This does not change the fact that it has, like all parts of Europe, been around for over a thousand years. Its history does include a war for independence and it is located just off to the east of what many consider the center of the continent.

Croatia is an up and coming team with many whispering about their dark horse potential. I suppose I am in that camp for this summer and would not be surprised to see this squad still kicking about in the semi-final round.

Republic of Ireland- The Charles River

Not many are immediately aware of Ireland's significant presence in my background but it becomes obvious once my last name is scrutinized. I do not look Irish though occasionally I am spotted drinking a Guinness. I have never set foot in Ireland but I could see it happening one day.

The Charles River has some similar elements for me. Not many are aware of how much time I spend near it but it becomes obvious once my apartment's proximity to it is considered. I am occasionally spotted running along the river but on these occasions I do not look I am spending time just hanging around there. I have never set foot in the Charles though I concede that I could see it happening one day.

Ireland is up north in Europe just as the river is up north in Boston. They participate in international tournaments infrequently, most recently in Euro 2012, in a way similar to how someone sailing down the length of the Charles River would only spend part of his or her time in Boston. In terms of natural beauty, Ireland is well-renowned within Europe while the river is similarly thought of in Boston (perhaps- maybe if you catch an early summer sunset).

Ireland's odds? Well, Greece won the tournament, once, so anything might happen (3).

England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland- Tavern In The Square

Tavern In The Square refers to a series of drinking establishments in and around Boston. Like the coverage of England's national team by English speaking media outlets, Tavern In The Square is impossible to avoid if you are wandering about the city.

However, no matter what you are told, nothing is to be believed about England. They are not a great team and never have been. The English Premier League is not the best top-level league in the world- and these days, it is not even close. They always exit the tournament at the appropriate time, usually a couple of rounds prior to the end of the competition, though occasionally they will find themselves lingering if they catch a break or two with the (random) tournament draw.

The same goes for Tavern In The Square- very little of what you are told is to be believed. I would not describe one of their locations as a tavern and most of their Boston establishments are neither square shaped nor located in squares. These places are not top level establishments- and these days, it is not even close. You always exit them at the appropriate time, usually a couple of rounds before the end of the night, though occasionally if certain things fall a particular way (such as ordering nachos) you might linger around a little longer.

Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland combine with England to form the United Kingdom but in football terms these nations play separately. I suppose that makes Wales and Northern Ireland, both making their inaugural Euro appearances, the recently constructed North and South Station locations. Scotland did not make the tournament so we can put it any of the locations based outside the Boston limits- Central Square, Porter Square, Lowell, whatever.

I'm not sure what to predict from these teams but I will bet that England loses on penalties.

Iceland- Comm Ave Mall / Boston Harbor

A tiny country around half the population of Boston, Iceland is a place I first became aware of in The Mighty Ducks 2. A quote from that movie sums it up- 'Greenland is full of ice, but Iceland is really nice' (*).

*I am pleased to report that I will write a 10,000 word post about the Mighty Ducks at some point in the near future. I have a lot of questions and comments about those three films.

Maybe it is nice or maybe it isn't. I don't know much about Iceland except that it has both really long days (now) and really long nights (winter).

The world of football does not know much about Iceland, either. The little island is making its major tournament debut this summer after finishing ahead of the Netherlands in their qualifying group. Since qualifying for this tournament began in the fall of 2014, this appearance is about two years in the making (4). Overall, it is the culmination of a multi-year process where emphasis on youth development saw a steady progression at the national team level.

I picked out the Boston comparisons purely for personal reasons. The mall and the harbor have both been there for a long time but they did not become relevant for me until the last two years. My appreciation for these places is the culmination of a multi-year process where emphasis on spending more time outside saw a steady progression at the leisure time level. It started in 2010, when I never spent any extra time outside than needed, and steadily advanced to the point where having access to outdoor space became a major criteria when I searched for my current apartment.

These days, I spend most of my time by the harbor on spring and summer mornings, early mornings, when sunrise approaches 5am or so (but not that early, yet). The mall is a really nice place to be, year round, but I find it best in the winter when lights are strung out along all the trees. The way the dawn and the lights bring out the best in these two Boston locations reminds me of how a tiny country must bring out the best in its own limited resources to compete against the big nations at a major international tournament.

Iceland is probably going to do what other similarly scrappy teams have done in past major tournaments- go out gallantly in the round of 16 after missing a host of half chances.

I think that will do for now. There are twenty-four total teams but that covers the extent of the squads I think have a shot to win plus a few more that I saw easy Boston comparisons for.

A prediction? Not for me. I don't really get into that stuff. Plus, I'm always wrong anyway. I'll enjoy Ireland's spirited run in the tournament and try to catch as many late-stage games as I can (5).

Back on Tuesday with the first semifinal of my own tournament.

Tim

1. Short list?

Amsterdam, Dublin, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Sapporo, Vancouver. I would move to other places but some of them I've seen (parts of Colorado, Inman Square, Osaka, Portland ME) and other would probably require a targeted sightseeing trip (parts of Colorado, East Boston, Dortmund, Portland OR).

2. And to be clear...

Japan was never considered as part of Europe. But this little joke is not entirely nonsense- like I mentioned in my last post, Australia is part of Asia for FIFA's purposes while Israel and Turkey are a part of Europe.

3. Ireland...

I love watching Ireland play. They are generally very well-regarded in terms of team spirit and endless will but lacking in technical prowess. Let's say Ireland's playing style would not go over well were it replicated in your living room. Whenever they qualify for a tournament, they usually do so through a playoff round reserved for a tournament's final entrants.

The most recent qualification campaign was no exception. Ireland had to beat Bosnia in a two-game series- the team with more total goals wins. The first game was played in almost zero visibility thanks to what I assume was the European Fog Convention taking place in Bosnia's national team stadium. This game ended in a 1-1 tie.

The second game was in Ireland. I went to watch it in the cafe next door to the office. Arriving ten minutes into the game, the first play I saw featured a Bosnian defender heading a ball clear in front of his country's penalty area. Three full seconds later, Ireland's captain on the night, Glenn Whelan, came flying into the picture and crashed into this player in what I assume was the least convincing header attempt in the history of the sport.

I rubbed my hands together and thought 'Ireland are ready to play tonight'. They won 2-0.

4. Is there a different word for ash when it is inside of a volcano?

Prior to Euro 2016, Iceland's involvement in world football was limited to the aftereffects of the eruption of one of its volcanoes in 2010. The ash cloud from this eruption spread across Europe and disrupted air travel for around a week, forcing the highly decorated Barcelona team to travel to Milan by bus instead of air for the first leg of its Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.

This may not have been the reason for Barcelona's surprise elimination from the tournament but it certainly did not help matters.

The story reminded me of a bus trip the Colby basketball team took in the winter of the same year. Heading to Williams for the NESCAC tournament semi-final, a snowstorm turned the usual three to four hour bus ride into a twelve hour fiasco. Though not the reason we lost to Middlebury the following afternoon, it certainly did not help matters.

5. Fine, pull my leg...

Before I make a prediction- I don't plan on watching non-Irish games until the knockout round starts. This is because the group round only eliminates eight teams and that is not nearly enough to keep it very interesting.

This is a change that was implemented for this summer's tournament. It is a response to the expansion of the tournament field from sixteen to twenty four teams. In the past, the teams were divided into four groups of four and the top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout round. This summer, the top two teams from each of the six groups of four will advance and the four top third placed teams in each group will join them.

So, what does this mean in terms of points needed to progress? Teams are awarded one point for a draw and three for a win. In the past four tournaments, these are the point totals of the third-placed teams:

Euro 2012: 4 3 4 3

Euro 2008: 3 1 2 3

Euro 2004: 4 2 5 2

Euro 2000: 3 3 4 3

To get an idea of how many points a third place finisher might need to advance to the knockout round this summer, one could look at the average of the second and third ranked third place team in the above list (since 2/4 = 50%, 4/6 = 66.6%. 3/4 = 75%)

Euro 2012: 3.5 points

Euro 2008: 2.5 points

Euro 2004: 3 points

Euro 2000: 3 points

So, any nation that wins a match and draws another could reasonably expect to book passage into the knockout round.

OK, prediction time? All I hope for is that everyone has fun, gets equal playing time, and maybe the coach buys ice cream for everyone after the game.

Or gelato, maybe, for Italy, after they win the tournament in a minor surprise.

prop admin special edition- lost in translation tournament summary

Hi everyone,

Remember this?

Fortunately, I did. The good news- it is back.  And one month from now, it will finally be over. Here is the schedule:

Tuesday, June 21- semifinal #1- 'All Japan': 'wabi-sabi' --vs.-- 'komorebi' (1)

Tuesday, June 28- semifinal #2- '(nickname to be announced)'-  'meraki' --vs.-- 'iktsuarpok'

Friday, July 15- final- winners of the semi-finals + postgame show

The first thing I learned from this tournament is the danger in setting expectations for something you've never done before (*). The above schedule is posted with that lesson ignored. Perhaps once I establish a proper exception, I can begin following the rule.

*To clarify this lesson- go back and read the 'schedules' I posted for writing about future matchups...

Since it has been several fortnights since we last visited these words, today's post is going to summarize what happened back in March and April. If you retain a full memory of what happened (unlikely), clicked on this blog by pure accident (less unlikely), you found the tournament concept dull (more likely), or you are about to run out of laptop/cellphone battery (likely)- feel free to skip this one. 

Otherwise, enjoy the post. To create value for long-time readers, I'll add some comments as we go in the manner I've done with my other 'proper admin' monthly recap blogs.

The introduction post

One thing I look back on here and wish I'd done differently is include the word 'commuovere'. Here is the definition and entry I made at the time for this Italian verb:

*To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that movedyou to tears*

OUT because: I generally don't react to stories in such ways- I might occasionally be moved to a tear or two but I don't think that is the essence here.  And that is what it comes down to with this book- can you connect on an emotional level to the concept, or not?  I cannot, at least to this word, so 'commuovere' is out.

The reason I look differently at this decision today is a sense that I misunderstood the meaning of the word. In reading 'a tear or two' above, I see an interpretation of a moving story as one centered on degree. In dismissing those stories where the emotional impact is muted yet real, I ignored that the difference in a story from being 'not moving' to 'moving' is the biggest one out there.

Another angle to look at it from is the word's use as a verb. Verbs, such as write, run, or speak, do not take into account degree. They only concern themselves with the thin gap between doing and not doing. 'Commuovere' is a word that bisects stories into two libraries- one where emotions are moved and one where they are not- and I feel this was a big oversight on my part during the initial tournament selection (2).

Maybe an idea for Lost In Translation II?

A word I ran into since the start of the tournament which I likely would have squeezed into the tournament field is 'luisne'. This is an Irish noun for the 'first blush of predawn light'. Sometimes, we call this twilight, and other times we deputize adverbs and adjectives to describe what we see as night turns to day.

But I think this word is the perfect fit for the idea. It captures for me the tentative, shy shift in the early morning sky as the sun cranes its neck around the horizon. Perhaps a little embarrassed that it arrived first to the party, it waits as far away from the center of the room as possible before mustering up the conviction to accept its place in the morning sky.

Recap...

The promised recap of each tournament matchup along with my comments on each decision two to three months later.

Round one

'wabi-sabi' def'warmduscher' & 'kabelsalat' def 'hiraeth'

*'Wabi-sabi' moved on as I implored my readers to accept people for who they are no matter what their hygiene ritual. This is perhaps because I find cold showers intolerable.

*I sent 'hiraeth' home in a confused, somewhat arrogant, but certainly inspired rant about home and how we should build it. Ultimately, though, I think I went with 'kabelsalat' because I found the suggestion that you could grieve for 'places that never were' to run directly counter to my belief that grief grows in proportion to love.

'tima' def 'saudade'& 'komorebi' def 'shlimazel'

*I suggested here that 'saudade' is a feeling I would understand better as I got older. I was right. Perhaps the best way to describe this feeling is the resulting emotion when you begin to accept that life does not always work out the way you plan.

*I stand by what I wrote here, mostly, about 'shlimazel'. I see now that the word, using 'seems' in the definition, is perhaps less permanent than I originally understood, but I still think 'komorebi' deserved to go through.

'mamihlapinatapai' def'struisvogelpolitiek' & 'meraki' def 'vacilando'

*WOW was I bitter about my layoff when I wrote this post. I stand by my decision but concede that I did not feel much of a connection to either word.

The primary reason for this is each word's length. I recognize that I do not understand the language of origin but each of those 'words' is long enough to max out a tweet (approximately). Perhaps it takes so long to speak in these languages that unspoken longings and culture inconsistencies occur with great frequency and require strict definition.

*Ironically, 'vacilando' is to travelling as (some word I have not met yet) is to my blogging. Still...

I am not surprised this is a Spanish word. To do for the sake of doing is hardly American and the context of traveling requires both resources and destinations, something that I expect is a fact of Western Europe.

'iktsuarpok' def'akihi' & 'mangata' def 'trepverter'

*'Iktsuarpok' is the word that made the biggest jump forward in my mind between its victory in round one and appearance in round two. I feel a bit silly that my decision came so close.

*I thought more highly of these words at the time of deliberation but at this point each word means a little less to me. But the decision stands and yes, I do still feel the competitive side of me slowly melting away.

Quarterfinals

'wabi-sabi' def'kabelsalat'

*I think the decision to make here was clear but my reasoning was stretched. Analogies using death are a good way to talk about things in one sense but I have found that I tend to do a little better when I go straight in (3).

'komorebi' def 'tima'

*Like in the above, I think if I put the reasoning for this post together today the end result would hold but the exploration of the meanings would change. 'Tima' contains an undercurrent of regret, acknowledged or not, that I come soveryclose to exploring in the original. The rewrite would center mostly around this thought and tie it back into the idea of maturity that I paraphrased in the original.

'meraki' def'mamihlapinatapai'

*'Meraki' is a very good word.

'iktsuarpok' def'mangata'

*This was an important post for me. Up until this point, the writing around these parts was earnest but often lacking an important portion my own voice. I relied on prompts or gimmicks to get started and worried about things like consistency (to a schedule, to a topic, etc) over worrying about things like having a good idea.

The post about 'iktsuarpok', I believed, went up because I had one idea- waiting at a red light is unrelated to whether it turns green- and I wanted to say something about it. I do not think it is a coincidence that the post came out clear and to the point. I also do not think it is a coincidence that soon after this blog went up, I went a week between posts for the first time.

So, how long do we have to wait...

Like I mentioned at the top- the schedule is something I intend to stick to. We'll be back in one week with the first semifinal.

Tim

1. All Asian semifinal tangent...

I suppose this could have been the 'All Asian' semifinal. I went with All-Japan using the 'lowest common denominator' concept I learned in math. You have to put these degrees to use somehow, you know?

I am often amused by how the label 'Asian' is used to describe things. What exactly is an 'Asian salad'? If I meet a group of people from the Middle East, should I describe them as 'Asian'? If I made a joke about how we are all 'aging' but pronounced it like 'Asian', would anyone get it? Why does Australia play World Cup qualifying soccer games in the Asian group?

2. Parts of speech...

In fact, the biggest change in how I look at the words today centers around the part of speech. 'Tima', a word I thought would at least reach the semifinal round, went out partly because its status as a verb made it less applicable to me. As a noun or adjective, 'tima' is perhaps a word that better fits me.

If I were to apply a part of speech to the year that has been, I would most likely go with adjective. Nouns and pronouns are out because I am not exactly sure what I am at this point. Verbs are out because I'm rarely definable by the things I do. Prepositions are out because I am no longer a reference point around which others link to each other and conjunctions are out because I rarely serve as a proper link point between two things. Interjection is out because my outbursts of emotional exclamation are nonexistent. Articles are out unless I change my name to Ann.

Adverbs bring emphasis to verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. In a way similar to adjectives, adverbs reveal an angle to those others. But adverbs are a little more reckless, I think, prone to bend to emotion and more likely (by definition) to focus in on themselves over others. They worry about perceptions or seek to create meaning out of what others do over worrying how they simply exist. Although I find elements of myself here, I do not think it fully suits me at the moment.

This leaves the adjective by process of elimination. Adjectives search out the meaning within nouns and through their positioning cast the truth of the noun in a more defined light. They are support figures, not central, but are powerful in their ability to change the meaning or context of a noun in their subdued way. They find what the noun is best at and step aside to allow them to do it. If the noun is all set as is, the adjective drifts away and waits patiently until needed.

As is the case with any conclusion reached by elimination, the fit is not perfect. But I think it is close enough for now.

I'm off to the courthouse to see about that name change.

3. The Sims, baby!

I cite 'playfulness' as one endearing quality of 'kabelsalat'. I never was one to describe myself as such but kind of discovered this by accident through the annual battles in this video game I've (I think???) described here in the past.

This happened as I went through the character creation process. As stated by Chuck Klosterman in Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, most people tend to try and recreate themselves as accurately as possible before playing this game and I was no exception.

The Sims determines personality by scoring on five categories. You are allowed to allocate points among the categories (I think it is thirty points out of fifty total). These are the categories and my usual point allocations:

*Shy/outgoing: 2 points

*Grouchy/nice: 8 points

*Sloppy/neat: 3 points

*Lazy/active: 10 points

It kind of comes about by accident that the final category leaves seven points.

*Serious/playful: 7 points

There is an argument to make for some minor tweaks to the above. I'll leave that for the next holiday season. For now, I think it is amusing that this is one game where self-examination is part of the activity and that it is possible to learn about oneself from playing.

I suppose the point allocation system implies that people who combine all the above are impossible. I should note that it is not required to use all thirty points, however, so if you are an easily irritated slob who takes seriously their lack of interest in both movement and social interaction, there is a place for you in this game.

prop admin june- part two (books)

Hi all,

Prop admin, part two...this one will focus almost exclusively on books I read in May.

If you missed it- I briefly mentioned three books I read which made almost no impression on me in my last post- Jane, An Episode in the Life of a Landscape Painter, and Downtown Owl.  Have a look if interested...

Familiar friends return...

Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman was probably the most enjoyable of his books that I've reread so far. It is a collection of essays and, as expected, covers the widest array of topics possible. I think this is the most recommendable of his books so far (*)

*Klosterman is dropping by Cambridge on Thursday, June 9, in connection with the release of his newest book. I'll be sure to chime in with my thoughts next month.

I'm not quite sure where I stand regarding Haruki Murakami's Kafka On The Shore. Reading this one started slowly for me but, at some point, I locked into the story and raced through the final two hundred pages.

On reflection, this is perhaps not my favorite of his novels but might be the most 'Murakami' one I've read this year- a story written in the mood and style that I associate strongly with him (1). If you like the author, you'll like reading this, but perhaps the most likely outcome is you will want to reread some of his other work that you enjoyed in the past (*).

*Well, in my case anyway. I still have three or four more to go before I wrap up his entire published/translated work but then I will likely go back and reread three or four of my favorites from this author.

Thoughts on a good story...

Actually, the title is The Good Story. This book is an exchange between a writer and a psychotherapist. The primary thread of the book explores storytelling in the context of how we examine and interpret our own lives. There is also an element of psychotherapy here which I did not draw as much insight from but nevertheless found insightful.

This work involves two people going back and forth and therefore it lacks the big, coherent ideas that some might seek out in their reading. However, I took several insights or comments that I found interesting.  I'll put the book notes into the bottom of this post (final footnote).

I found it an interesting coincidence that a book I began reading at the end of May, Tiny Beautiful Things, puts a lot of the observations made in The Good Story into the context of real-life situations.  I'll write more about this in July because I finished Tiny Beautiful Things on June 1, making it ineligible for proper dissection in this post.

Remember when I talked about the interview question from Zero To One?

It was in my first ever post but, well, that answer I wrote about is now headed out the window.

Divine Beauty, by John O'Donohue, articulated an idea that I think is a much truer answer to that question. In one section of the book, he writes that the most astonishing moment of revelation in his life was that there is death.

The story he describes is one from his childhood. In it, he writes of how jarring a moment it is to learn that one day someone is here and the next, they are not. How true it is.

A strange thing happened while reading this book. I took my usual notes, as described in a past post, but I also found myself writing horrendous haikus to capture concepts that did not translate so easily to my usual note taking style. Here is one I put together to describe the above idea:

What I see as truth

The thing that lies beyond proof

Is that there is death

This one must have come to mind when I was doing laundry or folding paper cranes:

I fold with care so

Corner meets corner and yet

It always ends crooked

Sometimes, fully inhabiting darkness is the best way to find the light:

To see a sun rise

And erase night with new light

You must wake in dark

Ten points if you can figure out what song I just listened to:

With a new band and

Maybe new lyrics this song

Could be pretty good

I think everyone has suffered long enough in this poetic nonsense- but it is not as bad as some places I've been lately:

Public restroom means

Below the bowl a puddle too

Just water I bet

I adapted this one last Friday to talk about a specific bar I was at:

(__ __ __) restrooms

Fresh puddles ripple underfoot

Just water I'm sure

Perhaps the most enduring idea from this book was the idea that we are not equipped to see beauty, we are equipped only to see beautifully.

Remember that post about how I 'read' books on some sort of 'schedule'? Yeah, about that...

The last week of May was a difficult one for me. And as I've mentioned before, when the going gets tough, the reading gets impacted first.

So, I knew what I had to do next when I picked up Torch, a novel by Cheryl Strayed, and found that I could not put it down- I went right to her next book, Wild, a memoir about her hike along the Pacific Coast Trail. As soon as that wrapped up, I moved on to Tiny Beautiful Things. This book, which I first read last year right around this time, is a series of reprinted articles from her 'Dear Sugar' advice column (*).

As mentioned above, I finished reading Tiny Beautiful Things on June 1. I think it will work best if write about all three of those books together in greater detail at some point next month. For now, I'll share a couple of quick ideas.

I learned from Wild that if your toenails are constantly cracking or falling off, your shoes might be too small. I know I've changed a lot over the years but I never thought my size twelves would require an upward adjustment. Shoe size inflation at Nike?

Tiny Beautiful Things led me to Dear Sugar Radio, a weekly podcast where Cheryl Strayed and her 'Dear Sugar' advice column predecessor, Steve Almond, answer questions from listeners. These questions are discussed in the same way the advice column wrote about them- with truth, with compassion, and always with an eye forward toward becoming the best version of who you are meant to be.

I like the radio format a little better because it feels 'live'. As I've learned myself this year in the process of writing this blog, there is a distinct difference between writing your first draft and finishing the final- the final draft is how your head sorts, organizes, and presents the first draft that poured from your heart.

The podcast, though certainly produced to an extent, retains that fully organic feeling you get from a great conversation. Real life is messy, lacking in dress rehearsals and proofreading. I think the nature of the topics covered is better addressed in a medium that retains this feeling.

Tiny Beautiful Things was great the first time, reaching me in a place last June that almost no other books could, and rereading it a second time was critical in a way I am still exploring. When it comes to medicine for the soul, every treatment is a placebo. The tonic will work in this context only if you trust the source and consume the words and ideas that you believe in.

I'm grateful that the essence of the book lives on through this podcast and I'm looking forward a great deal to each of these episodes.

More podcast chat...

One podcast that I tried and discarded recently was Song Exploder. The concept is simple and appealed to me right away- musicians talk about the creative process behind a song and take the listener through a detailed examination of each component that makes up the song. Each episode is around fifteen minutes long, which I consider a plus.

I tried four episodes featuring artists or songs that I already knew. I enjoyed the episodes but concluded that if I did not find each episode fascinating for its exploration of something I already knew, it would be futile to listen in on a discussion about something I never listened to before.

Still, I did enjoy the episodes (2). U2 was, as always, fully able to articulate the meaning behind both process and product. Will Butler and MGMT each expressed joy in their craft and thoroughly analyzed the process of finding the right sounds for their music.

I liked Courtney Barnett's episode about 'Depreston' the best (*). It revealed something about her music that, although I understood it on some level up throughout 2016, I was unable to fully confirm until the end of the episode. I'm not sure what the right word is for it- wisdom, maturity, perspective- but she seems to come up with music that contains some combination of those three. 

*Surprise...

It reminds me of the work produced by someone who has been around a little longer, both as a person and an artist. Although the members of U2 are twice my her age, I do not think it is any accident that her episode resembled theirs much more closely than it the episodes from Will Butler or MGMT, two artists who were born in my her decade.

The way she described the song reminded me of an idea I really liked this month. It was about how art is a consciousness of your own life. With art, anecdote moves past the limits of the personal and helps us understand what our experiences mean and how they fit into the context of our lives. The artist who continues to do this might one day find a way to create the work which guides others to the place where they can do the same for themselves.

Thanks for reading. Back next Tuesday, just before lunchtime.

Tim

Footnotes...

0. I think I said I had a list of 2012 books to throw in here?...

I may not have promised this in my last post but I did intend to pick out some winners from 2012 to make up for a lack of 'life changing' analysis. It is coming soon! A lot changed between last Monday and today (Sunday, June 5) and the blog's content direction has shifted as a result.

1. The most 'Murakami' musings...

Another way to articulate this idea involves music. At some point, every band comes up with a sound that listeners associate with them. This does not necessarily mean that the band's best or most well known song is one that has this sound.

I went to see a Muse concert in January and thought they fit into this category.  Their most well known song at the moment is likely 'Madness' but this song does not sound very much like their other well-liked tracks. If I had to pick one song out for the band that best encompassed their 'sound', it would likely be 'Stockholm Syndrome'.

An analogy which covers this idea in a much zanier way is if I went outside and immediately caught a baby falling out of a third-story window. This would objectively be the best thing I do today and likely something I become fairly well known for.  However, it would hardly be describable as a 'Tim Concannon' type of thing to do- I rarely catch things at street-level and usually go months between interactions with infants.

I think Murakami's most well-known (and perhaps well-liked) book is 1Q84 but I think there are a couple of others books that have a stronger imprint of his style, including Kafka On The Shore.

2. Song Exploder summary...

The other three episodes were MGMT's 'Time To Pretend', U2's 'Cedarwood Road', and Will Butler's 'Anna'. 

The latter is a solo effort from one of the Arcade Fire's core members. His brother, Win, is the frontman of the band and looks almost exactly like Jimmy Chitwood from Hoosiers.

Book note endnote: The Good Story...

These book notes were not organized into categories or themes as I felt each of the ideas here stands alone.

*Should the story of a life be like that matra of the courtroom- the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but?  Or should it seek to construct the most interesting possible narrative?

*Repetition of a life story which slants our past to our liking is one way we try to change our past

*Relationships take two stages- the first is where we go along with the other, meeting their needs or worldview, and the second is when we first establish distance that is used to view the other in a colder, separate light.

*True therapy can begin when we stop searching for a miracle cure and instead embrace the slow, halting, and grinding process of trying to take small daily steps toward healing.

*Societies cannot heal if they collective choose to ignore what troubles them

*Those who bully others project their own feelings of smallness onto the target- to what extent is this projection real for those who are funny, insecure, clever, dull, etc?

*Do the naughty 'grow up' over time or does the system simply weed out students who do not fit what the culture demands of those it self-selects to carry it forward?

*Most societies have no need for a large number of immature males.