Contrarian's friend David sends this snapshot from the arrivals lounge at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg: David adds: Immigration very friendly and efficient. A really exciting vibe with lots of banter between nationalities lining up to collect their game tickets on arrival.  The ticket operation, too, seemed smooth and well organized. Weather: gorgeous - cold for the locals but perfect for us Canucks. ...

11 June, 2010

Dustin M. Ramsey of Toledo, Ohio, took this photograph somewhere near Parrsboro on 26 July 2007. Click for a larger view. Anyone know anything more about this building or its decorator? [Update] Roland McCaffery does. He writes: The building in the photo is located behind the Sunshine Inn, a motel just outside Parrsboro at a place called Crossroads. The inside office/restaurant is covered with license plates sent be people who have stayed there from almost all states and provinces, as well as from quite a few countries. The extras that were recieved were festooned to the building of which you have a photo. They...

06 June, 2010

Most of the dignitaries had cleared out by the time Contrarian showed up for an inaugural stroll along Louisbourg's freshly opened Lighthouse Trail Saturday. The footing is sure, the viewscapes sublime. The eponymous lighthouse, near the site of the original 1731 structure erected by the French, is down at the heels. Commemorative plaques placed on the lighthouse by the Historical Sites and Monuments Board of Canada display a curious bit of  politically correct non-evenhandedness: The French displayed "valour and endurance against overwhelming odds." The British? They were "commanded by Gorham and Wolfe." C'est la Guerre!...

06 June, 2010

A flight of pigeons has taken up residence inside Sydney's iconic Big Fiddle, with the usual unfortunate consequence for the soundboard of Whitney Pier artist Cyril Hearn's creation....

06 June, 2010

If you are in or near Sydney this Saturday, here's an event to enjoy: The L'Arche Cape Breton Springfest show, an annual tradition in Judique, expands this year to Sydney. The program features two short videos produced at the community, a short play featuring L'Arche core members and assistants, and a selection of desserts from the Cocoa Pod—all for $15. There's also an auction with Leo Cox of Mabou swinging the gavel....

03 June, 2010

The velvet-voiced Max MacDonald leads the cast of the Cape Breton Summertime Revue in a chorus of "Everybody's Going to the Bungalow" Tuesday night at Glace Bay's Savoy Theatre. The revival of the anthemic show, which ran from 1986 to 1998 and launched the careers of many of Cape Breton's best known performers, is playing five nights to packed — and rapturous — houses. Like its namesake, the revival combines poignant lyrics and melodies, like those of Leon Dubinsky's heart-wrenching, "Remember the Miner," Remember the miner; have a thought for the one Who's working the back shift while this song's being sung. His blood...

01 June, 2010

Some Nova Scotia submissions to the website OneMillionGiraffes.com, where Stavanger, Norway, resident Ola Helland is using crowdsourcing to try and win a bet that he can assemble one million images of giraffes in a year. He is currently at 800,000. Left to right, top to bottom, first two images by Taylor, age 15, Halifax; then Peter Merideth, 24, Antigonish; Taylor again; Alina, 17, Halifax; next two by Dalbtron3000, 29, Antigonish; Joshua, 31, Sydney; and the last two images...

01 June, 2010

The stupidest thing the late, lamented Halifax Daily News ever did was to fire weekly columnist Jane Kansas over sloppy attribution of an Internet joke. Busybodies elevated the offense to plagiarism, requiring capital expiation — the irony of firing Nova Scotia's most original writer for unoriginality lost on all concerned. Currently on Sabbatical from Halifax, Kansas is travelling on foot from Helena, Montana, to Medicine Hat, Alberta (a 543 kilometer side-trek to visit a friend), thence from Western North Dakota to Toronto (which Google maps calculates at 2082.5 km.). Kansas likes a challenge. Along the way, she files occasional dispatches to...

29 May, 2010

A stiff sou'west breeze pounds the stratified shoreline of Green Point, in Gros Morne National Park, on Newfoundland's west coast Sunday afternoon. ...

24 May, 2010

Friday Night on Sydney's The Esplanade. Don't ask for ketchup. ...

23 May, 2010
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