The lucky 24
So the game is afoot, following a close 9 to 7 vote at council. Invitations have been sent out to some 5,000 households in the County inviting them to submit their names for a lucky draw to become members of a “Citizens’ Assembly.” From the responses (a 1-in-10 response rate is anticipated, so from about […]
Ring-a-ding
In my quest to have one awesome day after the other, I find I’m still vexed by little things. Things like people who, very obviously, don’t want to spend time with the person on the “other side of the table” because they’re too busy checking their cellphones. Don’t get me wrong here—this isn’t about LOML […]
Rum running
What does rum running have to do with a sudden demand for sugar in Northern Europe of the mid 1600’s? In 1534 King Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church of England in the First Act of Supremacy. Catholic monastic orders were abolished, and monks were expelled. Honey production, which had been fostered by […]
Stanley Cup Playoffs
Action in the Stanley Cup playoffs continues to heat up after every round. One of the most interesting facts pointed out to me recently is that the four semifinalists—Pittsburgh, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles—are the last four winners of the Stanley Cup. No matter who wins, it hasn’t taken long to become a repeat winner. […]
Bent or jaded?
A friend of mine insists that all politicians are bent. I disagree with him. I’d say that few start out that way: some enter politics to perform public service, others pay homage to that principle but kind of enjoy wielding power. Politics involves messy compromises; politicians (like the rest of us) like to be liked, […]
Ride on
So, you’re reading this and The Ride for Heart 2013 is history. Thirteen thousand people rode for Heart and raised over $5 million. With your generous donations, I brought over $1 000 to the game. I rode for research. I rode for Heart and Stroke education programs. I rode for everyone who has heart disease […]
Birdsong
Its 10:30 Thursday night. The half moon and northern borealis hang low in the sky as the coarse Army Reserve Road unravels before our car headlights. Pamela Stagg is at the wheel. She brings the station wagon to a stop, lowers the window and shuts the engine. We sit and listen. The surrounding outback is […]
Terroir
Terroir defines a unique combination of soil type, climate and topography. For wine, it is important to the health and survivability of grapes during the growing season. At harvest it affects the minerality and “brix” (sugar level) of the grapes. Winemakers throughout the ages have recognized that certain parts of their vineyards have special attributes. […]
Memorial Cup 2013
The Halifax Mooseheads entered the Canadian Junior Hockey League 19 years ago. Their quest for the Memorial Cup came to fruition last weekend as they defeated the Portland Winterhawks 6-4 in Saskatoon to capture the title. The Mooseheads were led by Nathan Mac- Kinnon, who, along with a hat trick, also assisted on two other […]
Just a number
Last week a friend, who has just had an extended stay in a rehab centre following back surgery, suggested I could write about the downside of growing old. She and the LOHL had a rough go of it, that’s for sure. Her husband had only just begun to manage on his own after suffering a […]