Those wacky dictators
The New York Times just posted an obituary under the headline “Gen. Alfredo Stroessner, Colorful Dictator of Paraguay for 35 Years, Dies in Exile at 93” Here’s a sample of what the piece says about Stroessner: “Under General Stroessner, Paraguay’s security forces became so efficient at intimidating potential opposition figures that eventually fear itself —…
But what we really want to do is direct
Mark Palermo, Megan Wennberg, Stephanie Domet and myself all have short films in the Atlantic Film Festival. There will be much linkage once the AFF announces its full slate at the end of the month. You can buy reasonably priced packages here. And because everything needs a blog, here’s mine.
Random catness
It ain’t really a blog until there’s a cat involved. Or George Bush doing something stupid.
CHRIS BUCK
Coast photographer Scott Munn is in NYC right now. He just called Chris Buck up who has agreed to meet with him. Oh lordy! I love Buck’s work and this is a reminder that the space between me and my idols is only a quick email away (well except maybe for Madonna or Cyndi Lauper…).…
The Stolen Minks Summer Tour!
Going on tour. That’s right. The ladies and I are breezing through Quebec and Ontario in the hopes of winning some fans and selling some records. Tell your friends. Check it: Aug 26, Quebec City, Temps PartielAug 28, Toronto, HorseshoeAug 29, St. Catharines, Mansion HouseAug 30, London, Call The OfficeAug 31, Toronto, Rancho RelaxoSept 1,…
How do you say “zeitgeist” in Arabic?
What volumes are in a simple scrap of paper discovered on Brunswick Street. Is the person who wrote these simple translations a suspected terrorist? An immigrant trying to watch Law & Order reruns? A maid getting a second chance? Only our novelists will know for sure.
notsosexyBack?
I was well on my way to declaring Justin TImberlake’s “SexyBack” as brilliant until I saw the plot-a-confusing video. Watch closely…he rips off her pearls, yadda, yadda, more hotness, yadda. Wait. She reaches for the nightstand drawer. He stops her. What do people keep beside the bed?? Condoms!! Yes, they’re spies or whatever, and sure…
Rodney’s family values
How sad to see former phys ed teacher and current premier Rodney MacDonald ending his marriage. After campaigning like a Republican on the value society must put on the family unit, he must feel like a big lying hypocritical failure. Unless he’s happy to be proving the adage “Those who can, do. Those who can’t,…
There’s something about Arjun
Last Thursday’s “Reality Bites” criticized Halifax for fawning over 8-year-old Arjun Thaker. Then Friday’s Herald said Arjun is dying. What the? According to all the coverage of Thaker’s trip to the east coast—and there’s been a lot, lead by the Chronicle-Herald but picked up by such organs as the National Post—he’s a regular boy from…
This means you, pretty boy…
Ben, you may have fooled the rest, but I see right through your orange skin. Call me!
Halifax on notice
Don’t say you haven’t been warned…look closely at Stephen Colbert’s board, Mr. route #6 bus driver who always ignores me. You’re on there.
What do I want?
I like a good bar show because it’s more intimate, the band is likely not polished to the point of edgelessness and you can scream out a request and there’s a good chance it’ll get played. BUT Bars can get awfully overcrowded — I love Wintersleep but I dread their shows, especially when it’s university…
Letters to the Editor
To whomever it may concern… I am absolutely irate with a certain property that University Living owns. It is disgraceful! I can’t believe that they are getting away with what they are! To start with, the property in question, is a four level home (including attic and basement) which they rent to a total of…
So simple. So inspiring
This guy could be one of my future husbands www.ilikedrawing.co.uk/html/work.html
The rumour Park
Some major Trailer Park Boys rumours have come our way this week. Though neither Showcase nor Trailer Park Productions is in the business of confirming anything just yet, we hear the about-to-be-filmed seventh season of the comedy series will be its last. We also hear that Rush is scheduled to play the closing party of…
Folkin’ A
Since moving on from the more complicated recording processes of her former band The Guthries, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Ruth Minnikin has been focused on capturing the moment through natural, simpler methods. Her third record, Folk Art, will be recorded over two days, mixed in another and printed in just over one week—this week. The Guthries…
Wine not?
For three years, Seven Wine Bar & Restaurant at 1579 Grafton has been striving to please local wine aficionados and casual diners alike. Their hard work recently earned them a high honour from Wine Spectator magazine, a major player in the global vine scene. “When it comes to wine, is very highly regarded,” says Tommy…
Fast boat to suburbia
Once upon a time—back when he was running for mayor of the amalgamated municipality—Peter Kelly couldn’t get enough of commuter rail. He banged the drum for a high-speed link from his Bedford home base to downtown, talking about it at every chance and staging photo-ops on trains. Then, as silently as his two Metro election…
A shoulder to lean on
To the editor, I am writing because I was stunned today while cycling on the Bedford Highway. I used to ride this road a couple of years ago when I commuted from Halifax to Lower Sackville, with the traffic and buses flying literally centimetres from my bike. I am quite comfortable with traffic and crazy…
Charity begins at home
To the editor, Congratulations to the Ecology Action Centre for achieving the sustainable renovation of an older building here in Halifax (“Green roots,” July 27). It sure gives others leadership to follow suit. Thanks to The Coast for profiling such a practical community service. It’s quite amazing to think of the thousands of volunteer hours…
Don’t pay the ferryman
To the editor, I’m very upset with the fact that the Halifax Regional Municipality is contemplating a third ferry. I think that money should go to improve the current transit system for all HRM and not just to serve mostly Bedford residents. It’s ridiculous that residents in Timberlea, Tantallon and other areas like Herring Cove,…
Bear necessities
The newly renovated restaurant in the Prince George Hotel has been getting a lot of attention recently, and justifiably so. Gio is a feast for the senses; each plate a work of art, a perfect balance of style and substance. The decor is striking, the service superb, the menu full of unique offerings that Halifax…
Joe…Corona?
Q: Six years ago, Joe Canadian helped make drinking Molson Canadian synonymous with national pride. Are you a Canadian drinker? A: Actually, I prefer a cold Corona or Coors Light in the summer time, and there are times when I really enjoy a good pint of Guinness, so those would be my first choices. But…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
Embrace the chaos, Scorpio, says Rob Brezsny.
SAVAGE LOVE
Dan Savage straightens out the married folk.
The X-films
It isn’t a wild generalization to say that most people who get into filmmaking want to make a living doing it. It’s the result of a pervasive and populist medium of entertainment. This means understanding how to tell a story in projected light, but there are those who are able to look at unique elements…
Pawn shop blues – Page 3
I stop in the living room to press play on the cd player. There’s a Tom Waits cd in there I’ve been listening to nonstop. As his dusty voice mingles with the sunlight and the coffee smell, I start to feel a bit human. It’s not a bad feeling. I’m just getting dressed when the…
Satellite rights
Ahmed Assal’s human rights case was destined to be a media circus. That it happened in the middle of the slow news days of summer only added fuel to the hype. Even Fox News’s website picked up the Halifax story, summarizing Assal’s position in a particularly lampoonable way: “A man in Canada is claiming that…
The litter laws forgot
Outside Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth, Tyrone Clyke is on his 10-minute break, inhaling deeply and rapidly on a cigarette. In three hours he’ll be back here again. On average, Clyke leaves about 20 cigarette butts here a week. Smokers like Clyke are caught between two city campaigns; one to eliminate smoking, the other to…
Life’s work
One too many rounds of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” has finally taken its toll on us. Canadians, according to expedia.ca and Ipsos-Reid, are taking fewer vacation days per year. But at the risk of being run down in the street by minivans full of early-in-the-roadtrip, not-yet-ready-to-kill-each-other families, might I suggest this isn’t…
No compromises
The last song on NOFX’s latest full-length, Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing, begins with: “We’re the band with our own label/That’s money under the table, that’s answering to no one/But still, other bands just love to hate us/Talking shit behind us, but smiling to our face.” NOFX is a band that writes its own ticket. It’s…
International embarrassment
On a recent visit to Halifax, former American president—now international HIV/AIDS activist—Bill Clinton appealed to the audience to ask themselves three defining questions: 1) What do you want to see happen in the coming century? 2) How can that be accomplished? 3) Who’s going to do it? On August 13, Clinton will be in Canada…
Stance up
Fuck The Stance. The slogan has been showing up on curb-sides and mail boxes around the city. Directed at Halifax-based rockers The Stance, it would seem the up and coming band has found some vocal opposition right out of the gate. “Someone else made it, they don’t like us,” says singer Mark MacAulay. “It’s so…
The Descent
The nature-survival film gets rehauled as straight horror in The Descent, a UK item that’s well-versed in scare tactics. The documentary quality of the shot setups and observational tone recalls Wolf Creek, but The Descent’s primal terror—clautrophobics might have a rough time with it—hits harder, with more innovation and skill. The location of the horror…
