Bus stopped
To the editor, I love the Farmers’ Market and I appreciate the plans and all the press lately about the new market at Pier 20 (“Market research,” June 28). One thing I’ve wondered about all along, though, is whether or not I’ll be able to get there once it has moved—there’s no bus service to…
War of words
Like many of his equally uninformed counterparts on the right, Tim Bousquet conflates the reasons and goals for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. President Bush uses the slogan “War on Terror,” Mr. Bousquet responds with an equally useless slogan: “War on Muslims.” According to Mr. Bousquet, America wants to attack “any Muslims, doesn’t matter who…
War of words
To the editor, In his article “Land of the flee” (June 28), Tim Bousquet was right to point out many of the flaws in recent American foreign policy, the unnecessary loss of life from the disastrous Iraq invasion and the effects of the Patriot Act in undermining the civil liberties that the American constitution enshrines.…
Burning Ears for Wednesday
It’s a pathetically slow day for Metro. Prime minister Stephen Harper was rumoured to be coming by the Globe, but CTV, the Globe’s sister news organization, squashed that one. (Sources say the jackass will show up tomorrow to announce some federal make-work project.) And in New York, Halifax showed up on Newsday’s page of kooky…
RodMac live
The Globe and Mail is launching an “ask-the-Premiers” series of cyber conversations this morning at noon, and Rodney MacDonald is the first premier in the hotseat. Or the in comfy seat, while a dictation lackey hits the keys. Or on the golf course, with a room full of PR professionals acting as “Virtual RodMac” as…
Atlantiwhat?
Today’s Chronicle-Herald reports that China Shipping is shutting down its Halifax operation, pulling the rug out from under the “Atlantica” idea of turning Halifax into a mega middleman port for the importation of Chinese goods into the American Midwest. Of course, anyone with any sense and a halfway decent map can see that Halifax isn’t…
Burning Ears for Tuesday
Tall ships are coming. More cargo is coming. Stupid old Atlantic might be coming. But triatheletes won’t be coming after all. The city’s having a busy day, as you’ll see post-jump. THE SHIPS, THE SHIPSfrom Portsmouth, New HampshireAs threatened, a flotilla of big boats is heading to our harbour. “The final leg of the 2007…
Yellow Fever
Simpson avatar fever has swept through the editorial department. I got Moon to add my specs and a red sox hat. My favorite part is that I get to have Willie beard. Freaking fantastic. If you haven’t already visited the Simpson’s Movie website and made your own avatar you should go right now. Then you…
Burning Ears for Friday
Our city gets tied to one of today’s major capitalists, and becomes a source for stock market analysis, in business news. But it’s not all about the alrighty dollar, as we also endure a peaceful, righteous protest. Rock full links after the jump. BIG SPENDERfrom New YorkThe Bloomberg business news service published a ridiculously long…
SImpsons Avatars for all!
Hey beardo, vote Quimby. And while your at it, make your own Simpsons avatar at the SImpsons movie website.l It rivals the glorious majesty of the South Park Character Generator, I promise you. I did me, but they didn’t have the right hair (I couldn’t get a buzz cut with sideburns), so I kind of…
New Direction home
It’s always been an uphill battle for Direction 180, but that’s life when you’re serving the city’s most vulnerable and forgotten. There’s no disputing Direction’s struggle. Established in 2001 in association with the Mainline Needle Exchange, Direction 180 is a methadone clinic on Gottingen that provides support and treatment for recovering addicts. The presiding goal,…
Burning Ears for Thursday
I’ll keep this short and sweet. As sweet as possible considering assisted suicide is on the agenda. LifeSiteNews.com, in Pittsburg, is reports “RCMP in Halifax are investigating the death of a Nova Scotia woman at the infamous euthanasia ‘clinic’ in Switzerland, called “Dignitas.”” (story here) Brandon Manitoba’s Sun says Matt Minglewood’s hat has been returned…
Sharing Herpes and Excrement
I was freaked when my boyfriend gave it to me. He had cold sores on his face, he was a generous partner, they ended up where we might know is a bad place. Didn’t make me “marked,” or a slut, or anything, but I still felt so dirty and ashamed that I was frantic when…
Get Brent
Looking for an alternative to the Concert on the Hill on Canada Day, are you? CKDU has organized a concert on another hill, a Community Potluck Picnic at Fort Needham Memorial Park, from 2 to 5pm on July 1st. Featuring Brent Randall and his Pinecones, Matt Reid, Old Man Luedecke, Dusty Keeler and Alpaca and…
Finer dining
Things are busy at the Finer Diner in Hackett’s Cove when I call. Only a week after opening, co-owner Peter MacPherson says things are “rocking along.” MacPherson knows a thing or two about rocking. After a long stint as the manager and booker at The Attic nightclub, he and his wife, Sarah Irwin, decided to…
For those about to (cock) rock…
Here’s the band line-up for Sunday so you don’t unwittingly waste any more of the life you’ll be wasting by going in the first place: State of Shock 2pm, Default 2:50pm, Hedley 4pm, Finger Eleven 5:10pm, Daughtry 6:30pm, Staind 7:50pm and Nickelback 9:20pm.
So’s your face
The Picnicface crew is on the move this week, headed to Toronto’s annual Fringe Festival for seven performances of The Welcome to the Show Show, but not before testing out its material on the hometown. And even that format will get a little tweak—though the local sketch comedy troupe has made its name at Ginger’s…
Prevent cat-astrophe
To the editor, One unspayed feline and her unaltered descendents can potentially produce 370,000 cats in seven years! At Bide Awhile Animal Shelter we are committed to helping vulnerable and homeless animals. Our capital campaign, “Build a Better Bide Awhile,” is underway and we look forward to continuing to participate in building a better community…
Tell it to the liquor control board
To the editor, You know, I like The Coast a lot. I read it in the food court or whatever. It’s great. I’d be totally willing to go and celebrate your 14th anniversary, but, um, it’s kind of a pain in the ass to have to print out the invitation myself, with my paper and…
Taco the town
To the editor, Regarding Liz Feltham’s review of Mexico Lindo, I am somewhat confused. Ms. Feltham’s tone of disappointment seems to stem from encountering a “not purely authentic” menu, and not finding what she thought was authentic. Ana Jenkins, the chef, prepares food from her mother’s recipes. I suspect the reason you didn’t find a…
Taco the town
To the editor, In response to the recent review of our restaurant, Mexico Lindo (“Down Mexico way,” May 31), where is Liz Feltham from? Where does she get her worldly knowledge? In the eight years we have been in business we have had eight food reviews, from people like Bill Spurr, Steven Mahar, Robin Arthur,…
Accepting the challenge
To the editor, Great article by Tim Bousquet. Thanks. By Mark Butler
Challenging the challenge
Dear Tim Bousquet, I enjoyed your article “The 17-tonne challenge,” but I think you inadvertently gave diesel a bad name. When you compared the diesel commercial truck on a 3,600km trip to a 25mpg commuter vehicle, I realized you were making an argument for buying local to reduce greenhouse emissions. But when you compared the…
Challenging the challenge
Dear Tim Bousquet, Thank you for your timely and well-researched article (“The 17-tonne challenge,” June 21). I wish your research could be presented to the Metro and provincial governments in a way that would put to action some of the changes you propose. However, I have some comments on your piece. I realize I have…
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
It’s time for part two of your mid-year checkup, says Rob Brezsny.
SAVAGE LOVE
Dan Savage gives us all an anatomy lesson.
School’s out forever
Outgoing Queen Elizabeth High School student council president Brooke Stephen apologizes in advance for the state of the student council room—not that the partially tiled floor and the Swiss cheese drywall of the back entrance hallway forecasts luxury. “I hope there isn’t a mouse in there,” Stephen says, turning to her friend Kara Grandy. “There…
Market research
It’s hard to say enough good things about the farmers’ market expansion. Even premier Rodney MacDonald isn’t up to the task and he’s a professional hot-air blower who got to announce provincial cash in support of the project. “I am proud to commit $2.25 million for a state-of-the-art facility,” RodMac said last Thursday, the summer…
Land of the flee
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Spring 2005 Finally, the gates to the Old Burial Ground on Barrington Street are open. Just inside, there’s a map showing who’s buried where, so it takes just two minutes to find him. He’s got a box grave—one of those above-ground concrete boxes about the size of a coffin. It’s a…
Fireworks info
Check out The Coast’s Canada Day and Bedford Days listings. The Fireworks over Halifax Harbour happen at 10pm. Full listing of events at the Official website: www.hrmcanadaday.ca FIREWORKS CENCELLATION POLICY: In case of inclement weather, the Halifax-Dartmouth Canada Day Committee will make announcements at the following times, using local media, the website, and the Halifax…
Falling slowly
I love the idea of when somebody describes something to me, and I’m like OK, will I go because my girlfriend wants to go or because a group is going?” says John Carney, the Irish writer-director. “And then I go and I’m really happily surprised. It’s word of mouth. If people go and they don’t…
Hello, kitties
When will I stop digging holes in backyard gardens? When will you find the last turd of mine beside your tomato plant or nestled up against those petunias you grew from seed? When you catch me and staple my furry butthole closed, you moron, that’s when. I’m an outdoor cat. It’s in my nature. See,…
The magic bus
There’s no doubt Lawrencetown Beach is a provincial treasure. A long stretch of sand along the Eastern Shore, the beach is a magnet for sunbathers and surfers, and the nearby walking trails, sand dunes and marshes are a haven for hikers and nature enthusiasts. A little bit further along the road, just before the sign…
Rise’s shine
Tim McIlrath remembers the advice Alexisonfire gave him two years ago: go to the Maritimes and they’ll love you forever. “They get ignored and it’s not fair,” the band told him. It’s something his band Rise Against experienced first-hand when the two groups toured here in the spring of 2005. “We met some really cool…
The world in between
Lucie Chan sits in the courtyard in front of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the stones drying in the sun after days of rain. Inside, the artist’s latest exhibition, between, and in tears, is almost fully installed. The AGNS makes a third point in a triangle of locales for Chan, who regularly shuttles between…
