Ponytail Picks #43 - Service

We here at Ponytail Press are ever at your service. Here’s another fresh batch of picks from the kitchen.

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LISTEN

Sunday service songs for the struggling

I grew up in the Christian church and currently work for one. My perspective on its ability to positively contribute to culture and society constantly waffles between optimism and cynicism, and I’ll refrain from rambling on too much about that. I’ll just say for the purposes of this feature that one thing it doesn’t always do very well (depending on the particular congregation and denomination of course) is allow for questions and doubt, especially in its music, so I’m putting together a playlist of alternative church service songs for those times of doubt and despair that are inevitable for even the most faithful among us.

I want to believe
Instead I look at the sky and I feel nothing
You know I hate to be alone
I want to be wrong

Did your clouds stop his voice?
And brother, have you found the great peace that we all seek?
You say take a look around
If there’s a God then he must be asleep
God must be asleep

When the gap between
What I hoped would be
And what is makes me weep for my kids
I take a cleansing breath
And make a positive confession
But is that what bearing witness is?

(Shoutout to my wife Rachel for this great guest pick!)

I’m a free thinker in the house of god
I struggle to believe in what I have received
So I sing a little hymn called
I don't know what I’d do without love

Jesus Christ, I’m alone again
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
’Cause this problem is gonna last
More than the weekend

-JB

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WATCH

The butler/maid motif in film

This particular character type has had its share of problematic portrayals in cinema over the years, but there have been many enjoyably memorable ones as well. Here are a handful of my favourites (one spoiler ahead): 

Alfred Pennyworth in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Yes, I know this particular character has had a few other portrayals in other Batman movies, but it’s Michael Caine’s fantastic turn in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy that comes first to mind for me. Caring, passionate, and a true teammate of Bale’s titular hero.

Cadbury in Richie Rich (1994)

Just re-watched this with my daughter after my first watch many years ago, and it remains good campy fun with a very stereotypical British butler (they’re the fanciest, see).

Chung Sook and Ki Taek in Parasite (2019)

A much more incising and thrilling look at the gap between the rich and the poor who serve them.

Martin and Chessy in The Parent Trap (1998)

In which the British butler and American nanny get married. Happy relational endings all around in this cheesy but fun one.

Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins (1964)

Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way, with her mix of cheeky seriousness and serious cheekyness, of mirthful magic and feigned matter-of-fact-ness, all with tender heart and voice.

-JB

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We served it to you, now hit the ball back and let us know what you think in the comments!

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READ

Will Guidara wants you to be unreasonable.

But not the way you think. The famous restauranteur and guest-experience guru flips his industry’s regular usage of the word right on its head.

As the co-owner of Make Nice hospitality group, along with his collaborator and chef David Humm, Guidara transformed the fine dining experience at NYC’s Eleven Madison Park, elevating the once-stuffy room into 2017’s #1 World’s Best Restaurant (according to S. Pellegrino).

In his 2022 book, Unreasonable Hospitality, he tells you how they did that. The key? Putting as much effort and attention into the diningroom experience as they did to the food coming out of the kitchen.

Some of the most outlandish examples of this were literally lifted for “Forks,” (episode 7, season 2 of The Bear¹), but in Unreasonable Hospitality, Guidara puts more emphasis on the little things that improve a restaurant’s service than he does the high-priced ridiculousness he and his servers got up to.

The move makes the book a lot more applicable outside the restaurant. Though his attempts to coin the title into a term come off a little cheesy, his ethos made me rethink my purpose while interacting with people in my job—on both sides of the circulation desk.

Guidara & co. won awards for how they made their guests feel, but the real magic of his philosophy comes from his focus on how he treats his employees. Encouraging passion, digging for strengths, and creating an environment of respect for everyone—not just the top dogs—are the things that pushed his staff toward excellence. The attention to workplace relationships makes this one worth reading for almost anyone.

-AK

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We’ve slipped the cheque to you discreetly. We hope you bring your besties next time as we look at our culture’s take on

girlfriends.

1. To avoid spoilers, I deleted the list of crazy shit they do to elevate service in this episode. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you doing with your life? Seriously. Some of the best TV I have ever seen.