Society

Happy New Era?

Happy New Era?

January 13, 2021 at 12:17 pm

“Nuclear weapons are like a rifle hanging on the wall in a play. We did not write the play, we are not staging it and we do not know what the author intends. Anyone could take the rifle from the wall at any time.” — Mikhail Gorbachev, What Is atRead More

Some Thoughts on Planning By-Laws

Some Thoughts on Planning By-Laws

January 13, 2021 at 12:15 pm

In last week’s Inverness Oran, April MacDonald wrote about a significant issue that should concern everyone living in Nova Scotia — municipal by-laws, more specifically, municipal by-laws concerning agricultural land and land use. Many people are unaware of the by-laws that need to be created because things are changing inRead More

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

Fast & Curious: Short Takes on Random Things

December 18, 2020 at 10:00 am

The McNeil Show As I write this morning, I’ve been watching Premier Stephen McNeil set a land-speed record for opening and closing a session of the Nova Scotia legislature. In addition to worrying about the Lieutenant Governor (who sounds like he ranks among those at highest risk from COVID), I’veRead More

NS COVID Update for 16 December 2020

NS COVID Update for 16 December 2020

December 16, 2020 at 3:56 pm

Briefing Both Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang began today’s briefing by expressing condolences to the families of the fishermen on a scallop vessel that went missing in the Bay of Fundy off the coast of southwestern Nova Scotia Tuesday. The body of one crew member of the ChiefRead More

What’s the Deal with School Gym Rentals?

What’s the Deal with School Gym Rentals?

December 16, 2020 at 12:53 pm

During this month’s meeting of the CBRM council,  49 minutes’ worth of discussion was devoted to a motion by District 6 Councilor Glenn Paruch that staff be directed to draft an Issue Paper on commissioning a study into the possibility of building a facility, somewhere in the CBRM, with twoRead More

Poverty Remains Long After Christmas is Gone

Poverty Remains Long After Christmas is Gone

December 16, 2020 at 12:49 pm

Christmas is nigh and the good and the generous have been hard at work throughout our communities, making sure that each and every family awakens to everything it takes to make the day a joyful one. They’ll have food and toys and clothing and all will be fine — forRead More

Sydney’s Casino at 25: Gambling Addiction

Sydney’s Casino at 25: Gambling Addiction

December 16, 2020 at 12:45 pm

Editor’s Note: Sydney’s casino turns 25 this summer and to mark its quarter-century, Rob Csernyik has been taking an in-depth look at the promises — and realities — of casino gambling in Cape Breton. In Part III, he focuses on the question of addiction. (Read Part I here and Part IIRead More

Embracing Winter: Outdoor Dining

Embracing Winter: Outdoor Dining

December 9, 2020 at 12:47 pm

Start thinking about outside winter coffee shops, craft markets, food trucks, etc. Charlotte street has a number of tucked-in alleyways that larger cities would have some artisan or crafter in for part of the day. Plug in a little heater, burn a log, it can be done and will work.Read More

Defining Madness

Defining Madness

December 9, 2020 at 12:45 pm

A few years ago, one of my colleagues told me a funny story. One of his students had said to him, “It’s a good thing that someone invented universities. Otherwise, there would be no place in the world for people like you to fit in.” I was thinking about thisRead More

NS COVID-19 Update for 8 December 2020

NS COVID-19 Update for 8 December 2020

December 8, 2020 at 6:00 pm

Briefing Today’s update ended abruptly after questions from three reporters with Premier Stephen McNeil announcing that there were a number of “things” pulling him away today (he didn’t actually name any) before promising that he and Dr. Robert Strang would be back on Friday. The two announced seven new casesRead More