

Company doorstep
Published December 03, 2008. Company doorstep To the dude who started cursing because I asked him to move off our company steps for “loitering” (eating pizza and having a cigarette), I just wanted to say, WE can’t, so I HAD to ask you to go elsewhere. I just never meant to piss you off so…
Rodney macdonald’s signature!?!?!
Published December 03, 2008. Rodney macdonald’s signature!?!?! *see title, wtf is up with that? Is he a 13 year old girl? I guess we’re lucky his name has no i’s ’cause they’d have hearts on em! the signature police
To all men: Read the fucking ad before responding!
Published December 03, 2008. To all men: Read the fucking ad before responding! I am a very physically attractive woman with a high-paying medical job (do not want to state what it is exactly), and I like to drink and party on weekends. I am very successful, especially career-wise, however, I haven’t met a decent…
Let’s see how consistent we can be
Published December 03, 2008. Let’s see how consistent we can be Ok, so here we are in a “financial crisis” and the throws of a recession. Bailout this, financial package that. The housing market is set to decline (by way of overall sales and housing prices), so lets see how the annual property tax assessments…
Public not powerless
Dear Tim Bousquet, Despite not quoting me (or perhaps because of it!) in your feature, “Downtown’s missing buildings” (Nov. 27), I really enjoyed the piece on development. Well done. You’re bang on with the need to invest in ways that make this city, especially downtown, a better place to live. Many US cities have downtown…
Cold comfort
To the editor, regarding Bethany Horne’s story, “Out in the cold” (Nov. 27, News), I was stunned when I heard that the city’s only wet shelter, Pendleton (truly a shelter of last resort), would not open this year. I was equally disturbed at the way the St. Leonard’s society went about not re-offering the service.…
I love rock ‘n’ roll and Floria Sigismondi
OK, so there’s no real local news angle here, except that The Coast’s art editor loves music-video director Floria Sigismondi and had the opportunity to interview her a couple of years ago. Swoon. Apparently Sigismondi is set to direct her first feature-length film about The Runaways, Jett’s teen-years punk band. Kristen Stewart from that wee…
Velicotron blues
If you go down to the Common on Monday, December 7 at 3:30pm, you’re in for a big surprise. Four NSCAD U students—Erin Allen, Steph Young, Jeffery Davison and Pika Blades—have initiated a project called the Engine Ear. They’ve constructed a musical instrument, known as Velicotron 3000, which they’ll play in a walking jamboree that…
Velicotron blues
If you go down to the Common on Monday, December 8 at 3:30pm, you’re in for a big surprise. Four NSCAD U students—Erin Allen, Steph Young, Jeffery Davison and Pika Blades—have initiated a project called the Engine Ear. They’ve constructed a musical instrument, known as Velicotron 3000, which they’ll play in a walking jamboree that…
North of America make up for the lump of coal you will surely receive
Are you as excited as I am for the North of America reunion/10-year anniversary shows? (December 23 at the Marquee with The Just Barelys, $10/$12 and December 28 at the North Street Church with Dog Day, $10. Tickets available now at all Ticketpro outlets or online by following this link. All five members of the…
slopping at the pig trough
Published November 30, 2008. slopping at the pig trough Jesus fucking christ!! some have no goddamn fucking clue, no respect and no manners. What in the fuck is wrong with people who go to a restaurant and leave more fucking food on the floor than they put in their slobbery useless mouths??? Do you eat…
Smoking Causes Car Cancer?
Published December 01, 2008. Smoking Causes Car Cancer? To the tight-ass in the parking lot with the smart car – FUCK YOU. On a day when it is raining cats and dogs and I go outside to have a smoke break, you ask me not to smoke in a PARKING LOT because you don’t want…
Insane Motorist
Published December 01, 2008. Insane Motorist I don’t know why you were driving with your head up your butt this morning but thank you for almost mowing me down with your car at the corner of Mumford and Joe Howe. When someone has the right of way and then they stop you MAY want to…
Little boxes.
Published November 30, 2008. Little boxes. To the residents of Waterstone in Sackville: I’m sorry the trailer park I live in is expanding so more people can have affordable homes. Sorry smaller houses drive down your precious “property values”. But please, stop showing up at community meetings and calling it “the expanding of the slums”.…
The fate of the world
It’s lost in the wall-to-wall news coverage of the prospect of Canada’s New and Improved Government, but there’s an important environmental story unfolding this week and next as representatives from 185 countries meet in Poznan, Poland to negotiate a post-Kyoto climate change pact that will be signed next year. Quite literally the fate of the…
Seriously people?!
Published December 01, 2008. Seriously people?! Stop putting garbage and all your shit in Coast newspaper boxes! It is unpleasant to reach for a paper on the street and grab a handful of old coffee cups and other such crap. THERE ARE GARBAGE CANS EVERYWHERE and it would be nice to pick up a paper…
Sebastian’s Bistro closes
Last week Sebastian’s Bistro (5518 Spring Garden), formerly home of Deco Restaurant, served the last supper. The French-inspired cuisine has left an unsavoury taste in Bernard Smith’s mouth, manager of Spring Garden area business association.”It’s unfortunate about Sebastian’s,” he says. “It could have worked. I don’t think they really reached their stride. I tried to…
Piss Covered Seats
Published November 29, 2008. Piss Covered Seats To all you “hoverers”: Okay, you have a phobia of sitting on public toilets, I’m fine with that. But if you happen to piss on the toilet seat, CLEAN IT THE FUCK UP!!!!! I know some of you are grown women therefore you should fucking know better! I…
Norm on tonight
If you’re wondering what to watch in the heinous wasteland that is television right now, may I suggest a lovely documentary that won the Rex Tasker Documentary Award at the Atlantic Film Festival this year. Tonight on CBC’s The Lens. Directed by Kent Nason and Teresa MacInnes, Norm is described as a love story: “‘I’ll…
Halifax author wins Metcalfe-Rooke Award
Two young Halifax writers spent the last week waiting anxiously for the announcement of the Metcalfe-Rooke Award for Short Fiction. Ryan Turner and Amy Jones made the five-writer shortlist, selected from over 90 entries. The winner receives a publishing contract with Biblioasis, $1,500 cash prize and a bunch of other great perks, so it seems…
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
Hey Dad! You know how you bailed me out of the drunk tank and then didn’t even make a huge deal out of it? And that time I backed the car into the neighbours’ stupid little stone lion at the end of their driveway? And when I got super stoned and knocked the TV off…
Rally for a Coalition Government
Facebook: Let’s Make Parliament Work! HALIFAX INDOOR RALLYfor a COALITION GOVERNMENT NOW! Thursday December 4th5:30pm to 7:00pm MARITIME HALL at the HALIFAX FORUM(Corner of Windsor and Almon Streets, beside Bingo Hall) FEATURING speeches by officials from: the Liberal Party of Canada &the New Democratic Party of Canada * Rally at 5:30pm / Speeches at 6:00pm*…
Wait times
Published November 27, 2008. Wait times Being a university student out on my own for the first time with considerable learning difficulties is hard, but is made harder when people don’t take me seriously. I ordered a a piece of technology that was deemed NECESSARY for me to have to make my college experience easier…
American observations
I’ve been down in the states, visiting family over the American Thanksgiving weekend. When I was growing up, Norfolk, Virginia was a southern city with typically southern racist attitudes. The huge military presence provided a broader world view, but while the military has long been better on race than the south generally, it’s as socially…
Dear ex-boyfriend
Published December 01, 2008. Dear ex-boyfriend Dear ex-boyfriend: No. No, for the hundredth time, I do not want to be your friend. You chose to end it. You made that decision. Youre a nice guy and all, but you took my family away from me. You took the one stable woman your son has ever…
I Hate.
Published December 01, 2008. I Hate. I hate my X-husband. I hate his 2nd wife. You are an idiot. She has been married several times before. Several ? How many does several mean ? You destroyed our home, our family; us and our 4 children for a whore! All the men she married & divorced…
Get Off The Road, LOSER.
Published December 01, 2008. Get Off The Road, LOSER. To the insane moron driving on Herring Cove Rd at about 8:30 tonight, in a white Uplander with dealer plates: you are a fucking asshole. You continually sped and slowed down, making it nearly impossible for me to merge into the main lane (as the lane…
that aint no fuckin donair
Published November 28, 2008. that aint no fuckin donair allright.. there is a PIZZA place in this TOWN that likes to pass off this “donair wrap” as an actual donair. It may look all nice with its “red onion” and “grill lines”, but a flour tortilla aint a mothafuckin pita! Do you know where you…
Fuck the police
Published November 30, 2008. Fuck the police Go fuck yourself you over zealous, pretentious, Robocop wannabe fucking assholes. The Citizens
Future’s so bright…
Published December 01, 2008. Future’s so bright… So the brilliant, forward thinking minds at city hall have another road widening project in the works. Bayers Rd this time. Sensible chaps. A quick look at the satellite view of Bayers Rd on Google Maps shows an avenue in the midst of a sea of green. Trees!…
Roids Suck
Published November 26, 2008. Roids Suck I hate ass-grapes Turd Fartknocker IV
Letters to the Editor
I was stunned when I heard that the city’s only wet shelter Pendleton (shelter of last resort) would not open this year – I was equally disturbed at the way St. Leonard’s society went about not re-offering the service – the wet shelter had an advisory committee of shelter providers across the HRM – St.…
Old People Should Not Be Driving
Published November 30, 2008. Old People Should Not Be Driving Anyone over the age of 65 should either not be allowed to drive OR be required to be re-tested every year. The reason why i say this is because I was almost hit in a CROSSWALK in broad daylight by some old man who was…
On December 2 get all your holiday shopping done
Noyes Records are releasing two new records this December 2. And not just any old records, either. The Memories Attack S/T album (also on tUMULt, and it is TOTALLY STELLAR) and the Kestrels 7″ Seaside/On Our Time. Yeahhhh boyeeeeee.
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Fuck The Facts tear Halifax a new one. Said one is still in repair from last time.
Relapse Records’ Fuck the Facts return to Halifax to play with We, the Undersigned this December 5 at the Pavilion. If you’ve been craving a dose of mullet-core, make sure you get there early to secure yourself a copy of their new record, Disgorge Mexico, which was inspired by a band road trip to Mexico.…
Rude people/employees/employers
Published November 28, 2008. Rude people/employees/employers I am so tired of the people in Halifax being rude to each other that includes especially in the work place. Beware if I ever work for you…you may be the recipient of the biggest lawsuit you ever saw that’s after I walk out the door on the busiest…
Discrimination (capital D)
Published November 26, 2008. Discrimination (capital D) dis⋅crim⋅i⋅na⋅tion noun 1. an act or instance of discriminating. 2. treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and…
Gee, glad I wasted my time and bandwith sending you my application…
Published November 26, 2008. Gee, glad I wasted my time and bandwith sending you my application… Dear Unionized Organizations: If you’re going to hire internally, why do you post your job opportunities externally? I mean wouldn’t it just be easier and less of a waste of time to external candidates if you just posted internally…
Cat hater!
Published November 28, 2008. Cat hater! The bottom line is … your a untrustworthy, NeUrOtiC, disloyal gossip venom spewing phycho! I hate untrustworthy phycho’s!
WHADDAT?!
Published November 23, 2008. WHADDAT?! I love to fuck. Always have. And people tell me I’m damn good at it, too. To the girl whose name I can’t remember (never care to remember, anyway) who I picked up downtown on Saturday night: piss off. You didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend. Having your bonehead…
News insensitivity
Published November 23, 2008. News insensitivity Dear news papers, television news stations and online sources of news: When something terrible happens and someone gets seriously injured or dies, keep you graphic images of blood spatter and body bags out! I know there are sick people who want to see this stuff and it therefore sells…
To The Coberg Coffee Tagger
Published November 24, 2008. To The Coberg Coffee Tagger There are a bunch of terrible buildings in Halifax with no character, why would you ruin one of the few that aren’t, next time go tag a fucking BMO or something that doesn’t really matter and leave my coffee house be. Caffenated And Pissed Off
Being bi sucks sometimes.
Published November 25, 2008. Being bi sucks sometimes. So I saw this beautiful girl today. Absolutely stunning. And it’s not like I could say anything to her or hope for anything that I could turn into a psst because I am also a girl. And I can’t just approach girls like I can approach guys…
Pissed at Pete
Published November 25, 2008. Pissed at Pete Peter Duffy aka Nancy Grace North, aka worst column in the league. Nobody fucking cares about how long you waited to drive back to your Bedford Mansion, or poor grammar around the city. GFYPD
Powerless to fight NSP
Published November 28, 2008. Powerless to fight NSP So it’s bad enough that I had a really painful breakup with my long term girlfriend and she moved out… but it’s sort of throwing salt in the wound when I change our friggin’ NSP account over to my name instead of hers and they charge me…
who’s tha boss
Published November 29, 2008. who’s tha boss To the ugly prick with the prego belly who thinks he’s in charge of of my sister’s kids listen up fuckhead, YOU HAVE NO FUCKING RIGHT TO ORDER MY NEPHEWS AROUND. And I DO NOT care that you and her bore a child together. That DOES NOT score…
Winter Lover
Published November 25, 2008. Winter Lover Should I stay or should I go to work today? The alarm goes off at 6am, I wake up to a freezing cold house, frozen pipes, so I can’t shower, flush or make coffee before I head off to work. When I try to warm my blue stumpy toes;…
Kate Watson’s Mulu’s Pub and Cafe review
It’s a difficult thing to critique a piece like Mulu’s Pub and Café, as it was written with an a honorable goal in mind–exploring the immigrant experience in Canada—and is obviously a labour of love for many of the people involved in the production. However, as written by Robin Arthur, editor of Touch Base, a…
Shit filled Trails
Published November 28, 2008. Shit filled Trails Just got in from walking my dog at the frog pond. To all you dog owners who think that your dog`s shit is too disgusting to pick up so you`ll just leave it, to hell with you. My responsibility as a dog owner is not only to walk/care…
A Dog`s Life
Published November 28, 2008. A Dog`s Life Took my dog for a stroll the other night, I am very concious that he doesn`t piss all over people`s lawns, I give him a little nudge to move him along. When he poses to do his dirtiest deed, I don`t do this as I think he just…
Need it good, badly!
Published November 26, 2008. Need it good, badly! I broke up with my boyfriend of 5 years back in July 2006. I havent had sex since ’bout that time, i know its crazy but its true! I met this guy and we went on a few dates. He gave me flowers, he paid for my…
Red means STOP!
Published November 27, 2008.Red means STOP!To the idiot drivers who turn right on reds without stopping, what the hell?!?! I’ve nearly been clocked 3 times in the last month by drivers not stopping at reds before turning right while walking across a crosswalk with a green light in my favor. It seems reasonable to expect…
Joel Plaskett Emergency fills in for April Wine tonight
Straight from press release HQ: “Please be advised that due to a medical emergency, the Joel Plaskett Emergency will fill in for April Wine at the Q104 Quarter Century Concert at the Cunard Centre tonight at 8pm. April Wine’s Myles Goodwyn collapsed in the Montreal airport this morning and is now at a hospital under…
No Flyers Please go for it, to the MAX, to the LIMIT, straight to the TOP
No Flyers Please are releasing their first CD called Radio Music this Friday, November 29 at Gus’ Pub. Park Effects, Hoop Dreams round out the bill and Everynight Fireworks are playing their first show ever. Their songs are, like, insanely catchy. Your orders: Attend this show, purchase the album, buy at least one beverage for…
HEY YOU GUYS!!!! Road Rash demo pronounced awesome
Road Rash are four youthful dudes who like to thrash. (FYI, please ignore the stupidity in their “sounds like” category on their myspace profile, they are actually pretty nice). You can (and should) buy their next demo from them at their next show. It may or may not come from a pizza box. But it’s…
IDOW, OMG
Mellow music fans have a reason to love Halifax winters with a burning passion, and that’s thanks to the fine folks at the In The Dead of Winter Festival. Held on January 27-31, this year’s festival will play host to Mike O’Neill, Saddle River String Band, Good Lovelies, Amy Honey, Cahalen David Morrison, Dinah Thorpe,…
Size 14 is not “Plus Size”
Published November 25, 2008. Size 14 is not “Plus Size” Who the hell is in charge of ordering stock for clothing stores? Why can I never find anything in my size? Why must I circle like a buzzard waiting for new stock to arrive, so I can swoop down and snag the ONLY size 14…
Kate Watson’s Girl in the Goldfish Bowl review
Hilarious or heartbreaking? It’s a toss-up as to which word most accurately sums up Girl in the Goldfish Bowl. Let’s just say that either way, this is one fantastic production. Sherry Smith is utterly charming as 10-year-old Iris, a precocious child who’s parented (I use the term loosely) by her fragile and frustrated mother Sylvia…
Go see this: Rachel Beach
Before it’s too late, go check out Rachel Beach’s work at Anna Leonowens Gallery (1891 Granville). A NSCAD grad, she now lives in NY. Her work combines sculpture and painting–and will completely play tricks with your mind, thanks to her manipulation of three-dimensional forms and illusory painting. Go. Now. And while you’re there, drop in…
The ever-rising cost of food
Published November 27, 2008. The ever-rising cost of food I am a single person. I pretty much go to the Mega-grocery store on Joe Howe Drive every day. Things I have noted recently- cost of canned/stewed tomatoes up to $1.19 from .089 cents/canned generic soup first up 0.69 from 0.59 and it has gone up…
Care-e-okee?
Published November 28, 2008. Care-e-okee? Hi there bitch — this is to the “host” of a popular karaoke bar on Spring Garden Rd. When reallly geeky dude gets up to sing Justin Timberlake really unfortunately, and somewhat geeky dude come sup and helps him and everyone loves it, it’s a success for everyone involved. When…
No direction
Published November 27, 2008. No direction What the fuck is up with all the traffic lanes coming to intersections with NO ARROWS telling drivers which lane to be in? Quit the arguing about cats, horses and whatever other lame arsed things you guys get up to and get out the bucket of paint, the brush…
Metro Ferry Fuck-up
Published November 25, 2008. Metro Ferry Fuck-up When the FUCK is Metro Transit going to resume it’s regular Alderney-Downtown ferry service on the quarter hour instead of this over-crowded-no-seat bullshit? On October 15th a notice was posted that service on one of the ferry’s would take place over “several weeks” and it’s been 6 and…
Shauntay Grant @ Prismatic
Friday, Nov. 21, 6:21pm at Neptune Studio Theatrephoto by Scott Blackburn
NSLC AGRICOLA
Published November 26, 2008. NSLC AGRICOLA To the employee’s at the NSLC. STOP BEING SO FUCKING RUDE…How do you get on such a power trip working retail???? Why can’t I go and buy my beer without having to listen to you arrogant pricks hem and haw over every customer you have to serve? If you…
Shovel horder
Published November 23, 2008. Shovel horder To the dried up old fart who wouldn’t lend three young girls a shovel on Saturday afternoon to dig out their car, what country do you think you’re living in? This is Canada man! I can’t explain my disbelief when I politely asked to borrow your shovel and you…
Beaners
This past September Dartmouth Crossing welcomed Beaners Fun Cuts For Kids (28 Logiealmond). Owner Jackie Percy won’t let last weekend’s dump of snow ruin her grand opening party. She’s rescheduled the festivities to this Saturday, November 29, from 10am-3pm. Pop by with the kids for balloons, face painting, cake and an appearance by Snow White.…
Feroz design
Husband and wife team Mario Dubé and Mayra Dubé opened Feroz Design (5112 Prince) in June 2007. With an extensive collection of jewellery and accessories, all handcrafted by Mayra, the twosome saw a gap in the bead supply market when The Bead Pod (30 Logiealmond) moved to Dartmouth Crossing. Feroz Design Beads and Jewellery Supply…
Natural health
Healthy By Nature Nutrition and Consulting (5411 Spring Garden) opened November 17. Owner Erika Duggan, a personal trainer and nutritionist, believes firmly in empowering people to improve their lives through knowledge, food and lifestyle. “Your body has an amazing ability to heal itself if you just give it some basic attention,” says Duggan. “I provide…
Hub home
The Hub Halifax has finally found a home on the second level above Certainly Cinnamon (1673 Barrington). With plans to officially open February 1, the social networking and work space is hosting an information session Saturday, December 6 from 2-4pm. “We’d love to invite readers who want to stop by see the space and learn…
On Patrol
What’s Wrong?: Intersection without crosswalk near William King Elementary School Who’s Responsible?: Taso Koutroulakis, HRM staffer in charge of crosswalks, 490-4816 Remarks: Herring Cove residents tried for years to get a crosswalk painted at the intersection of Hebridean Drive and St. Paul’s Avenue near William King Elementary School. “So far the answer is that we…
Need a hug?
I bet you do. This Saturday, NSCAD student Erin Allen is initiating a project called Losing Your Antennas. She’s “setting up a miniature hug factory close to the north entrance of the library. The happening will begin at 1 o’clock and continue till all the commemorative pins have been given out.” Who could resist a…
Chronicle-Herald repeats Waterside lie
Today’s Chronicle-Herald repeats its long-standing lie about the proposed Waterside Centre development: It all started after Premier Rodney MacDonald criticized city hall for rejecting a six-storey office tower addition on top of buildings that Armour owns on the corner of Duke and Hollis streets That’s simply not true. The development proposal calls for tearing down…
OK…
Published November 26, 2008. OK… So I’m hardly an expert on art, entertainment, pop culture, etc…but how the hell does “Jaydee Bixby rocks the Halifax Grammar School country style” get considered a “sure thing”?!? I’d rather hear Celine
To all waiters complaining about tips:
Published November 25, 2008. To all waiters complaining about tips: I don’t think you realize how good you have it. If you are a waiter working in a nicer restaurant (by that I mean something other than Pizza Delight) and you think you have a rough time when you have to tip out, let me…
Its not me its you
Published November 26, 2008. Its not me its you im sure a bitch complaining about stupid drivers in traffic is nothing new…but its infuriating none the less. to the dummy who yelled at me when she turned left onto bayers from connaught as im trying to turn right onto bayers from connaught. you jumped your…
Discs of the year: DVDs Eye Candy
Carsten Knox’s high fives Fugitive Pieces (Cinegram) Jeremy Podeswa’s solemn adaptation of Anne Michaels’ novel is a very moving story of how a grip on the past can cradle our present. The story follows Jakob, a Jewish boy spirited away by an archeologist from his home in Poland to Greece and eventually to Canada. In…
NSP: “Don’t blame us”
Last time in Sustainable City, human rights and environmental activists took on three multinational mining companies and Nova Scotia Power in a war of words. But Margaret Murphy, spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power, won’t comment on the controversial forced relocation of 700 villagers by Cerrejon mine in Colombia, from which our province imported about about…
No means no
Q I am a 28-year-old woman who has been with my boyfriend for two years. I would call it a stable, fulfilling and kinky relationship. I consider myself GGG, and every time my boyfriend has brought up a kink or variation, I’ve been willing to try it. Some things became a permanent part in our…
Looking for Common sense
I call it city council’s royal fuck-up. The Queen’s High School is being traded to the Queen’s Hospital for a new central library on—where else—Queen Street. And we’re all worse off. The deal means another chunk of the Halifax Common is about to disappear. It’s all part of a land swap between city and province…
Out in the cold
A deal between the provincial government and an organization that runs some of Halifax’s homeless shelters could end up endangering the lives of homeless people this winter, front-line workers say. In October, minister of community services Judy Streatch announced that Pendleton Place would not re-open this winter due to an agreement her department made with…
Gypsophilia album preview show
“It really crystallizes everybody’s energy for writing, performing, thinking about it,” says Ross Burns, after a weekend of recording live off the floor with Gypsophilia at Charles Austin’s Echo Chamber. “There’s a bunch of new compositions and new insights on old stuff.” The band—Ross Burns, Sageev Oore, Matt Myer, Nick Wilkinson, Adam Fine, Alec Frith…
Discs of the year: Playing by ear
Why not listen to our playlist while you read? Mark Blacks high fives The Dopamines, The Dopamines (Its Alive) From The Copyrights to Chinese Telephones to The Steinways, Its Alive is putting out the best pop-punk records right now. Shouldnt have been surprised by how good this record is, but the blend of early Fat…
Halifax’s cappuccino undergrounds
What do off-duty baristas do? With good-natured sadism, they train picky customers to pull espresso shots and make them compete against one another. That’s the premise of the 2008 non-barista championship, in the year coffee culture percolated in Halifax. At one end of barista Zane Kelsall’s kitchen is Steve-O-Reno’s first ever espresso machine, a small…
Discs of the year:Old Man Luedecke’s heart strings
“It seemed like a loser’s instrument, you know, like a real underdog,” says Old Man Luedecke of his chosen tool, the banjo. “Here’s this happy-sounding thing that’s full of life and totally unknown to me and everything I’ve known.” Luedecke, given name Chris, is seated in the back corner of a downtown coffee shop, under…
Cool air
Between militant security guards patting you down for bottles of shampoo over 10ml and the energy crisis, air travel isn’t much fun these days, so the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s Flight Dreams is a refreshing escape. Inspired by the story of Ken Barnes, an aeronautical designer for the doomed Avro Arrow, the exhibition brings…
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas & Bolt
The link between the WWII drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and the Disney flick Bolt is that their lead characters defy the worlds they’re born into. That sense of exploration is why both of these movies are open-minded and open-hearted. If you’ve seen ads for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, you may…
Discs of the year: Thumb fun
Sean F. Hamilton’s high fives Wii Perfect for families, casual gamers and my parents, the Wii has officially won the Next Gen war. Yet, I can’t get past the fact that it still feels like more of a toy than a game. The Wii is the board game of 2008—you pull it out when company…
Twilight’s love bites
Not since Harry Potter has an occult- themed book series struck the imaginations of millions of youth. But the grade-school ragamuffins who were nagging their moms and dads to take them to midnight launch parties for the young wizard just moments ago are now all grown up in high school and can get their older…
An American Crime
An American CrimeDirected by: Tommy O’Haver (First Look Pictures)Young Sylvia Likens died while living at somebody else’s home, the words “I’M A PROSTITUTE AND PROUD OF IT!” carved into her belly. She’d spent the preceding months being burned, flogged and degraded by various neighbourhood kids and her own temporary guardian. An American Crime tells Sylvia’s…
Rich kid
Luke Doucet is tired. The Winnipeg-born singer-songwriter’s voice is rusty with sleep when I reach him on his cellphone, somewhere around Grand Prairie. After some fuzzy but pleasant greetings, he asks me to wait a minute. I hear him cover the phone. “Uh, babe, when are we leaving?” he says. A female voice that I…
Dora Borealis
Dora BorealisDaccia Bloomfield(ECW)Dora Borealis isn’t the first contemporary urban ghost story, but it’s probably the weirdest. Unlike Stephanie Domet’s ghost in Homing who’s lost his way, Bloomfield’s ghost Bella is quite nasty. Flip, an unemployed writer lacking in the hygiene and social skills department, first met Bella (she comes to him as the sound of…


