After blocking a proposed rock quarry two years ago, Digby Neck is fast establishing itself as the NIMBY* capital of Nova Scotia. Developments of any kind on the Neck are sure to face opposition that is relentless, emotive, and impervious to evidence. So it was a relief this morning to hear Barry Zwicker of Scotia Windfields, co-developer of a 20-turbine, 30-megawatt wind farm on Digby Neck, stand up to project critics on Halifax's Information Morning program in a manner that was calm, rational, and persuasive. Doing this is harder than it seems. An emotionally appealing lie can be across town before the...

09 September, 2009

Deep in the Cape Breton Highlands lies a magnificent vista not shown on most tourist maps. Cape Clear is a 1000-foot precipice overlooking the uppermost reaches of the Margaree River's Northeast Branch. At left, the spectacular ravine formed by the river's headwaters. Below, the valley widens as the province's premier salmon stream wends its way to the Northwest and the sea. [Photos taken September 2.] ...

03 September, 2009

We're all familiar with the "you are here" markers, sometimes known as ideo locators, on story-board maps in shopping malls, museums, and parks. But what if maps were actually embedded in the real world. That's what Timo Arnall, a designer & researcher at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, wondered: Map/Territory from timo on Vimeo. Hattip: FlowingData....

19 August, 2009

Several real life events and issues, most notably including the need to program our fall film series, have kept the cranky fellow from posting in recent days. Apologies to several readers who have inquired. Over the next week, we'll do our best to work our way through a backlog of topics including: Reflections on the life and death of Donald Marshall, Jr.; what the sorry state of provincial finances and its analog, the sorry state of our political leadership; a simple way HRM could save money while curbing greenhouse gasses; and a few nuggets about mapping....

19 August, 2009
[caption id="attachment_1736" align="alignwrap" width="550" caption="Mishra's Dream: Rob Scott, Donald MacLennan, Graham Scott, Michael Dalton, and Devin Ryan. The unlikely Antigonish group begins a national tour Thursday night at Stayner"]Mishra's Dream: Rob Scott, Donald MacLennan, Graham Scott, Michael Dalton, and Devin Ryan. The unlikely Antigonish group begins a national tour Thursday night at Stayner's Wharf in Halifax. Photo: Emma Gabriel.[/caption]
Donald MacLennan grew up in Chimney Corner, Inverness County, a tiny place where it's still cool for kids to take up the fiddle. He played Scottish tunes from the age of 12, but at 18, around the time he headed to St. F.X., Donald got bored with the old diddly-diddly, and set aside his violin. A couple of years later, Donald was hanging out at home when he some strange guitar riffs wafted in from the front deck. Mike Dalton and another friend were outide jamming. "What's that you're playing?" asked Donald.
05 August, 2009

Jacob and Josh (previously seen here) are on vacation in Calvert, NF, where they played with this kiddie car in the driveway. It didn't roll as well on the grass, but they still enjoyed taking turns with it. More at Jenn's blog, Newfoundland Vacation. ...

29 July, 2009
SJ Tele-Journal logoThe Saint John paper that broke the Wafergate scandal now says there is "no credible basis" for its story. Moneyquote:
The story stated that a senior Roman Catholic priest in New Brunswick had demanded that the Prime Minister's Office explain what happened to the communion wafer which was handed to Prime Minister Harper during the celebration of communion at the funeral mass. The story also said that during the communion celebration, the Prime Minister "slipped the thin wafer that Catholics call 'the host' into his jacket pocket." There was no credible support for these statements of fact at the time this article was published, nor is the Telegraph-Journal aware of any credible support for these statements now.
28 July, 2009

Patrons lined up at 4 p.m. Saturday for one last meal at the Midtown Tavern ...

25 July, 2009
Contrarian reader David Smith has doubts about the Anne Calder arrest story:
Too much about this story is starting to look like a setup to me. First, there is the bit about the police not identifying the lawyer, but "sources" naming her.  Somebody wanted her identity leaked, and the front-page photo in the Chronicle the next day certainly made sure everyone knew who she was. Then there were the two "tidbits" about her legal career: that one client had a mistrial, and that another client had fired her.  How many other trial lawyers in Nova Scotia could have both of those things said about them?  I'm willing to bet a fairly high percentage.  Again, it looks to me as if this information is being reported in an effort to embarrass and humiliate her.  Just to make sure, the Chronicle-Herald repeated those "details" again the next day. Just who did Anne piss off, anyway?
22 July, 2009

A wee bug has laid contrarian low for a few days. Posts will resume shortly....

20 July, 2009
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