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The Last Temptation of Chris
A few months ago, I decided that it might be a good time for me to go on an adventure. I've been feeling a bit listless lately and when I go back and read my previous columns, I see a sense of freneticism and unhingedness to my writing. Wit
Chris Williams · 2025-09-12
Backseat Life-ing
Something Serious
Good morning. I know that for those of you who read this column, you have come to expect either something funny, something not funny but desperately trying to be so, or something just plain weird. This week though, I would like to veer away
Chris Williams · 2025-08-16
Backseat Life-ing
Haida Gwaii hosting the next G7 Summit?
The answer to the above question is an emphatic no. Absolutely not. No way. There isnât a snowballâs chance in Hades that the G7 Summit will take place on Haida Gwaii next year. But what if it did? You might think that the idea of the G7 Su
Chris Williams · 2025-07-05
Backseat Life-ing
Jalopyism â A Path to Peace
Jalopyism is not only hard to spell, itâs not even a real word. But if you think thatâs going to stop me from teaching you about it, then youâre not only wrong, youâre jalopified. Simply put, Jalopyism is a brand-new religion I made up this
Chris Williams · 2025-05-22
Backseat Life-ing
Interview With a Campfire
Jeanne d'Arc once said, âA campfire is nature's television.â And you know what? For once, I agree with her. Fire isn't just a word to describe that mixed tape I recorded back in â96, it's also the heartbeat of any respectable campsite. You
Chris Williams · 2025-05-01
Backseat Life-ing
More Cheese Please
April is Grilled Cheese Month around the globe. So grab a hunk of Havarti and enjoy as I take a few words to pay homage to this wonderful, meltable, God-given gift of gooeyness. As most of you know, there are many different types of cheeses
Chris Williams · 2025-04-13
Backseat Life-ing
(I Don't Actually Own Nukes)
My first TV remote was a large square box with a faux wood finish. It had 13 buttons that you could push to select any of the 13 available TV channels, and it was hardwired to the TV with a thick black cable. In its time, it was the apex of
Chris Williams · 2025-03-29
Backseat Life-ing
The couple in the cabin
In exactly 20 minutes and 46 seconds, it will be the 150th anniversary of the time when a sweet old couple lived in the forest just south of what is now Sandspit. They lived in a small cabin along the shore, built from logs and rope collect
Chris Williams · 2025-03-25
Backseat Life-ing
The Anxiety Society
Anxiety is a pervasive condition affecting many individuals globally and locally in Haida Gwaii. It manifests in various forms, from test and public speaking anxiety to unique local varieties like BC Ferries and familiar social interactions. Embracing anxiety as part of life and finding humor in it can help individuals cope.
Chris Williams · 2025-03-09
Backseat Life-ing
Who cares about climate change anyways
On clear nights, I like to stare up at the stars and wonder about all the incredible cosmic phenomena happening out there. From small celestial debris jettisoning around to supernovas, quasars, and massive black holesâthe universe is a busy
Chris Williams · 2025-02-23
Backseat Life-ing
Waking Up is Hard to Do
Wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up - Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) The sound of birds singing, that warm sun peeking through the window, light frost on the grass â none of these things are as magic
Chris Williams · 2025-02-01