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Reuse Your Booze
2007-08-24 04:03:00
Wine lovers rejoice New liquor laws now allow restaurants to recork your bottle to take it home with you. In some restaurants you will even be allowed to bring your own bottle with you. It may seem silly to some people, but liquor lovers have wanted this for a long time.Before these changes, bottles were rarely sold. People who did buy them were forced to drink the entire bottle then cab home. Most people simply ordered a glass, but this option is not always available for the expensive wines.They government is also allowing fire halls and legions to stay open an hour later than before. There will also be less paper work for store owners. In a semi related story, Brooklyn Nova Scotia has voted to remove their "dry" status.Glad to see some changes being made which will improve the fine wine experience. Hopefully they will also decide to up the cost of drinking and driving for those who decide not to take home the bottle.
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Gas Price Prediction For August 24th 2007
2007-08-23 09:47:00
It is Thursday again which means gas prices change for the people of Nova Scotia tomorrow. Here is my prediction for gasoline prices on August 24th 2007.I predict gas prices will go up by 3 cents per literGasoline Price s In New BrunswickAugust 16th 2007 - 101.5August 23rd 2007 - 103.2Difference - +1.7To find out which zone you are located in, check out the map provided by Service Nova Scotia. You can also get a copy of the latest gas prices across the province by viewing the official report release. This prediction is in no way official and should only be used as informational. Any decision to purchase or not to purchase gasoline on any given day rests with you. All prices are based on self serve regular unless otherwise specified.
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Widget Testing
2007-08-22 18:10:00
I am testing a new widget on my side bar which will allow me to share stories from other web sites. I previously used Google Reader but it would only work with RSS feeds. The new widget allows me to link any page to my del.icio.us account and write my own note about them.Take a look at it and let me know if you like the widget for sharing news items.
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Backshift Blues
2007-08-22 03:34:00
After the brutal assault on a middle aged woman in Dartmouth, people are beginning to question if backshift workers should be allowed to work by themselves. The woman is currently in the hospital with life threatening injuries.Having people work by themselves at any time of the day is a bad idea, let alone the night watch. I firmly believe that the employer needs to take steps to keep the workers safe during their shift and would like to see a law such as this one created. Ultimately it will not stop incidents such as this one but it would go a long way in deterring criminals.Employers would also be in a better position to protect their property One person working alone has ample opportunity to steal items which fly under the radar. By having the second employee on watch there would be a higher cost in salaries but there could be a savings in property loss.I have worked the backshift by myself at a gas station and I can honestly say that it can be a scarry situation. Anyone working ...
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Metro Transit Takes Strike Steps
2007-08-20 18:39:00
A bad situation could appear thanks to a 98% vote to turn down the latest offer to Metro Tran sit employees. While a strike is not guaranteed it is possible and could take affect as early as tomorrow. The strike would cause many people with fewer options to make it to work or meet important appointments. Thankfully the employees seem to know how bad things could become. The quotes in the media seem to lean towards this being a negotiation tactic and a strike will only take place if a suitable agreement is not reached. Talks are still ongoing at this time. The current dispute centers around wages and the amount of hours in between routes. I will update this post as more is learned.
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The Canadian Blood Service Wants You
2007-08-20 11:00:00
Levels of blood storage have reached a nine year low, and the Canadian Blood Service s needs you to donate. There is a desperate need for all blood types from anyone willing to help out. The reason for the shortage has been attributed to the aging donators who are slowly passing away. Younger people typically do not make special trips on a regular basis to the blood drives. Now with more need put on the system, there simply is not enough supply remaining. If you are able to donate please make it part of your regular routine. You never know when you may be in a hospital needing blood. For more information call 1-888-2-donate.
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Blogging Our Way To The Future
2007-08-17 19:01:00
I would like to go off topic for today to speak about a guest which appeared on the Colbert Report last evening. Andrew Keen spoke about how the Internet is destroying our culture by allowing armatures to take on the role of a professional. He also believes that the Internet is a breeding ground for people stealing other artists work. Listen to this quote:"We need objective professional journalists who responsibly collect the news rather than anonymous bloggers who are often in pay of corporations and foreign governments."I have been blogging for over a year and I can say that I have not seen a penny from any company or foreign government (I know I have ads on my site but I have never made any money from them). I would also trust hearing news more from someone who loves writing about their topic as opposed to a journalist who is paid to sway the story in a direction which benefits their sponsors. I can also say that I am in no way anonymous since my name appears in the URL of this s...
More About: Future , Blogging , The Future

Halifax And Rural Nova Scotia - The Great Divide
2007-08-16 20:12:00
Someone should tell the Nova Scotia Government about the old saying "never put all your eggs in to one basket", because that is exactly what has been happening recently. Every year Halifax receives more and more while every other region struggles to survive. Even with 60% of the people living outside of the city.A good example is within the education department. This year metro opened up 4 new schools while the old Duncan MacMillan High School in Sheet Harbour is in need of replacing. The high school was shut down for weeks due to unsafe mold levels 10 years ago and has caused many students to become sensitive to chemicalsSticking with education for a moment, did you know that many schools have been cutting out programs left and right? Many core programs such physics and pre calculus are only being offered every second year and extended french is a laugh at only two classes per year. Students who choose to go on to university are at a significant disadvantage due to the lack of a pr...
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Hide The Cigarettes
2007-08-16 02:45:00
The following is a guest post from Wolfville Watch. To view this article on this site as well, you can use the following link: Wolfville Watch"Out of sight out of mind." That's the philosophy that seems to be behind the new rules for displaying cigarettes. Either that or it is another sadistic anti-business stab in the back thought up by leftist gremlins in the Provincial bureaucracy. As if small businesses don't have enough red tape and regulation strangling them. And most businesses in Nova Scotia are small – about 3/4 of businesses in the province employ fewer than five people.The new rules, part of the Tobacco Access Act, stipulate that tobacco products can't be visible from inside or outside a store. Shopkeepers must keep them under, above or behind the front counter and the products must be behind a spring-loaded cabinet door or another device that closes on its own. The cabinet space can't be any bigger than about 1.6 square metres. Vendors may still display a sign that...
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Gas Price Prediction For August 17th 2007
2007-08-16 01:58:00
It is Thursday again which means gas prices change for the people of Nova Scotia tomorrow. Here is my prediction for gasoline prices on August 17th 2007.I predict gas prices will stay the same or change by less than $0.02 in either directionGasoline Price s In New BrunswickAugust 10th 2007 - 101.4August 16th 2007 - 101.5Difference -To find out which zone you are located in, check out the map provided by Service Nova Scotia. You can also get a copy of the latest gas prices across the province by viewing the official report release. This prediction is in no way official and should only be used as informational. Any decision to purchase or not to purchase gasoline on any given day rests with you. All prices are based on self serve regular unless otherwise specified.
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Passing Gas
2007-08-15 14:20:00
A $30 million dollar project will begin to supply the peninsular regions of Halifax with natural gas. Almost 80% of the businesses have agreed to switch to the cleaner burning fossil fuel. The pipeline will run from Dartmouth to Halifax underneath the harbor and could be expanded in the future to other regions.This plan will help us reach our goal of lowering our emission levels and should be completed by December. Heritage Gas Ltd will be picking up the costs and the province will spend $3.5 million to convert the capital health buildings.Natural gas is still a fossil fuel but it creates less pollution than any others. Maybe in the future wind and solar power will be widely available but until then natural gas will suffice.
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BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)
2007-08-14 13:23:00
Pete's Frootique has made a bold move to stop plastic from making its way to our landfills. Any customer who chooses to use plastic bags from the company will now be charged $0.05 per bag. People are allowed to bring bags from other stores or request a box if needed at no cost. The money raised will be put towards a committee to make the store more eco-friendly.At first I was turned off by the plan because of the amount of money the store stood to receive from the plan. Their current usage of plastic bags would net them an extra $2500 a week for no new services. Since learning the money would be used for this committee I have learned to tolerate it. I would have rather they offer discounts to consumers who bring their own bags since it would not bring more money in to the company.I will still give my congrats to Pete's Frootique for taking steps to become more environmentally friendly. More companies should consider how they can do their share. Plastic may be cheap to buy but is v...

Pictou Poison
2007-08-12 06:44:00
Despite health concerns, the Nova Scotia Government has approved a plan to kill hardwood trees using pesticide sprays. The spray will kill all hardwood trees on private lots in Pictou to allow softwood trees more room to grow. Residents, the Green party and the Stop The Spray community group have all raised concerns over the idea.The people want more testing done on the long term health affects. Without the testing there is no way to asses the risk to people in the area. The Vision and Vision Max sprays could affect people for many generations with no way to reverse the symptoms.So the government has approved a plan to kill trees with no idea how it will affect the people of Pictou. They are playing a dangerous game of Russian Roulette where the only benefit would be more space for softwood. Why would it be so hard to simply cut down some of the trees causing the problem and then putting them to good use? We do this on a daily basis in our province so why switch to spraying them to ...
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ALC Introduces New Safeguards
2007-08-10 14:45:00
The Atlantic Lottery Commission will introduce new policies to give consumers peace of mind. Starting Monday all winning tickets will be stamped and handed back to the owner including a validation slip. This will allow the owner to verify the prize amount being handed by the cashier.The old system was flawed because the clerk would keep the winning ticket to hand over to ALC. Many believe the clerks were handing back small amounts on tickets which were worth more. The new system is meant to give consumers a sense of confidence when claiming their prize.There will also be controlled numbers printed on both the ticket and the validation slip so you can verify the slip is actually yours.Auditors have found that store owners were winning more than statistics said they should. ALC's old system had no way of tracking the amount actually handed back to the customer which made it impossible to track down the crooks (assuming they existed). ALC was not the only company to make headlines ove...
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Gas Price Prediction For August 10th 2007
2007-08-09 12:52:00
It is Thursday again which means gas prices change for the people of Nova Scotia tomorrow. Here is my prediction for gasoline prices on August 10th 2007.I predict gas prices will drop by 2-3 cents per liter.Gasoline Price s In New BrunswickAugust 2nd 2007 - 104.1August 10th 2007 - 101.4Difference - -2.7To find out which zone you are located in, check out the map provided by Service Nova Scotia. You can also get a copy of the latest gas prices across the province by viewing the official report release. This prediction is in no way official and should only be used as informational. Any decision to purchase or not to purchase gasoline on any given day rests with you. All prices are based on self serve regular unless otherwise specified.
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Gay Pride Flag Will Not Fly In Truro
2007-08-08 12:25:00
The Truro council has voted 6-1 in favor of not allowing the gay pride flag to fly at the town hall during the gay pride activities. The flag is normally displayed to show respect to the community during events supporting the movement. The town has since been labeled as disrespectful and non accepting to homosexual persons.Since the town is allowing the activities to take place with no objections I would be hesitant to call the entire city disrespectful. The decision was made by seven people only and not a popular vote so do not judge the residents.The real dispute came when Mayor Bill Mills stated the following:"God says I'm not in favour of that and I have to look at it and say, I guess I'm not either,""If I have a group of people that says pedophiles should have rights, do we raise their flag too? I don't want to lump them in with homosexuals, but that's the point, the issues, and that's my feeling."This was an unfair comparison between the gay community and those who commit...
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Commenting Rules
2007-08-08 03:24:00
I figured it was time I created some rules on comments posted on this site since I was blind sided once before. First of all I encourage the use of the comment section and hope everyone takes advantage of it. Below is what will not be permitted and will cause a deletion of a comment:Any message which is offensive or discriminatory in natureAny comment which is off topic and considered as spamAny personal attacks on other readers commentsAny comment with foul languageI am keeping these basic because I do not want a controlled environment but rather one where everyone can speak their mind and not be worried about any backlash. I hope there are no objections to this policy and if necessary they could change at any time.
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Animal Cruelty
2007-08-07 13:37:00
There has been an alarming trend in Metro over the last few weeks. Cats have been killed in front of their owners or hung from trees as a form of enjoyment. One person has been charged in the latest incident but many more are forgotten about. This could end up being a big concern another 10 years down the road.Killing animals has been known as the first step to becoming a human killer. The act shows a blatant disregard for life in general and for some is like giving a dog it's first taste of red meat. It could lead the person down a very slippery slope and be a gateway for more crimes in the future. This is why actions against animals needs to be treated very seriously.Not only is it a warning for future actions, killing an animal is terrible all by itself. Normally they are innocent creatures which act only out of instinct Any harm they cause is not intentional, it is simply what is built in to them. Would anyone ever kill a baby because it would not let the parents sleep at night...
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Family Forced To Relive Soldiers Death
2007-08-06 13:32:00
Kevin Megeney's family went away on vacation and returned to an article inside the Mother Jones magazine describing in depth about the death of their young soldier. Dr. Kevin Patterson wrote about the attempt to save Megeney's life which ultimately failed. An advance copy of the issue was sent to the family however their vacation caused them to miss the warning from the magazine.Megeney (from Stellarton Nova Scotia), was shot in the chest last March in Khandar by a member of his platoon. He did not survive.The family is upset that they were not notified before and also concerned about the graphic detail the article contained. Some have even claimed this could breach the Doctor-Patient confidentiality laws. This claim is doubtful since the confidentiality laws do not apply after death has occurred, however it was morally wrong.The magazine should have verified that the family was aware of the article and prepared for what was to be written. They also should have made certain that i...
More About: Family , Forced , Death , Soldiers , Sold

NSP Plant Spews Ash
2007-08-04 03:41:00
A power plant in Cape Breton sent ash flying through the neighborhood which covered the homes of residents. A boiler leak played havoc with the pollution controls which is being blamed for accident.Residents were greeted by Nova Scotia Power employees who offered to clean up the mess left on automobiles and outside furniture. This is not the first time an incident such as this one has happened. The infamous Tuff's Cove plant has created similar situations over the last few years.Since the industry was privatized there have been an increasing amount of power outages, constant price increases and incidents such as this one. They have been criticized for their lack of communication and, until recently, their unwillingness to move to renewable energy sources.But there have been some positive moves by the company recently which include no rate increases for 2008, plans to reduce emission levels and proposals to create wind turbines for energy creation. All great changes which may show t...
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Minesota Bridge Collapses (How Nova Scotia Compares)
2007-08-03 21:13:00
A great story about the condition of our bridges has been posted on HawkEyeNews. He goes in depth on the condition of our bridges as compared to the one which collapsed in Minnesota. I wrote about the bridge in Sheet Harbour earlier on my post entitled "East River Bridge Is Falling Down".Check out his post titled "Minnesota - 4 Nova Scotia - 0"
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Gas Price Prediction For August 3rd 2007
2007-08-02 05:10:00
It is Thursday again which means gas prices change for the people of Nova Scotia tomorrow. Here is my prediction for gasoline prices on August 3rd 2007.I predict gas prices will stay the same or change by less than 2 cents per litre either way.Gasoline Price s In New BrunswickJuly 26th 2007 - 105.0August 2ns 2007 - 104.1Difference - -0.9To find out which zone you are located in, check out the map provided by Service Nova Scotia. You can also get a copy of the latest gas prices across the province by viewing the official report release. This prediction is in no way official and should only be used as informational. Any decision to purchase or not to purchase gasoline on any given day rests with you. All prices are based on self serve regular unless otherwise specified.
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Halifax Crime Survay
2007-08-01 23:26:00
5000 people in Metro will soon open their mailbox to a survey involving their thoughts on Halifax's level of violence. The information will be used by the Mayor during a conference in the fall which will address violence in general.There are constantly new stories popping up on how Halifax experiences the most violent crimes per capita in Canada. Even with a lower crime rate this year, the crimes classified as violent are on the rise.We have already installed cameras, hired new police officers and studied this issue to death. The municipality has already spoke with 1200 people by telephone and in focus groups so why is more public opinion needed? We already have enough data showing our current state.The only resolution is to start getting tough on offenders and stop giving out sentences like house arrest. The tougher the penalties the more likely it is that people will not engage in the actions in the first place. While more police do help it is also necessary that they are placed ...
More About: Crime , Rime

$2 Million For Jobs
2007-07-31 19:50:00
The federal government is investing in to the futures of Nova Scotians by handing over $2 million for employment related projects. $1.3 million will be given to The PeopleWorx Society who will assist in finding jobs for 1500 adults in the rural regions of the province. There will also be funding for training people with mental disabilities and for part time youth positions.This could give a big boost to the people outside of Halifax, but without creating new jobs it is pointless. We will now have more qualified people who will eventually have to move to the city in order to obtain a quality job. It is a great first step but I hope there are plans to take it even farther.Seeing that this is coming straight from the federal government, it is most likely Stephan Harpers way of saving face. After the media frenzy over the Atlantic Accord he has been dropping in popularity. Giving something back to the people directly is something he can use in the future when people claim he ignores our...
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Province Working With Dalhousie To Solve Doctor Shortage
2007-07-30 15:55:00
Starting in 2009 some graduates of the medical division at Dalhousie University may be required to sign a contract forcing them to work in rural areas of Nova Scotia. Dalhousie is asking the province to consider paying for as many as 20 new seats with the condition that the successful candidate will remain in the province for 3-4 years afterwards. The graduates would then be placed in rural areas where doctors are in short supply.While it would be an expensive program it would go quite a long way in placing doctors where they are needed the most. With so many great offers outside of Nova Scotia, there is little we can offer them to compete with the rest of the country. A cheep education may be just what the doctor ordered.The only concern is what would happen to people who do not finish the program. Would they be forced to reimburse the province afterwards or will it be considered a business risk. There are many first year students who change their major after the first year that it...
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Inflatable Beach Toys
2007-07-27 22:46:00
Birtch Cove Beach in Dartmouth has created a new policy against inflatable toys during lifeguard hours. The lifeguards claim the size of these devices make it difficult to see swimmers on the other side. While the concern is valid, this policy is a little bit too extreme. While inflatable devices should not be used as a replacement for a life jacket, they can give confidence to those still learning. An inflatable arm band may not keep you above water but makes a great compliment for those who struggle to keep their head above water. If such an idea was necessary then why not put a size restriction on the devices? Anything more than two feet in length would not be allowed on the beach while everything else is fair game. Let kids have their fun while still taking safety measures for their protection.
More About: Toys , Inflatable , Flat

Still Looking For Your Votes
2007-07-27 00:14:00
I am still looking for more input on what you want to see covered on this blog. There is a poll on the right hand side of my blog with a few options. You can also feel free to email me at bloggingnovascotia@gmail.com or use the comments thread of the post titles "What News Do You Want To Read?"I am looking to provide more content of what each of you wish to read so please help me out by providing feedback.
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Halifax Parking Tickets
2007-07-26 20:45:00
Last week I got my first parking ticket in many years. Back in my University days it would not be uncommon for me to bring home one every month due to the lack of space available. Parking has always been in high demand in the downtown area and today has become even worse. The shocking part of this experience came when I saw the price changes. It used to be $15 with a small increase after a month or so. This new ticket is going to cost $20 within one week, $25 for the first 60 days and then a late fee of $57 afterwards. That makes the late fee 285% if not paid by September 17th. For most companies a late fee of this size would be illegal. $20-$25 is a fair fee for parking beyond the meters time length but what is the justification for such an exorbitant late fee? This would make the cost of being 20 minutes late at a parking meter $82. I will be paying it before it gets to that level of course but the fact that this charge exists is simply ridiculous.
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Gas Price Prediction For July 27th 2007
2007-07-26 14:03:00
It is Thursday again which means gas prices change for the people of Nova Scotia tomorrow. Here is my prediction for gasoline prices on July 27th 2007.I predict gas prices will drop on average of 1-2 cents per litre.Gasoline Price s In New BrunswickJuly 19 2007 - 107.2July 26th 2007 - 105.0Difference - -2.2To find out which zone you are located in, check out the map provided by Service Nova Scotia. You can also get a copy of the latest gas prices across the province by viewing the official report release. This prediction is in no way official and should only be used as informational. Any decision to purchase or not to purchase gasoline on any given day rests with you. All prices are based on self serve regular unless otherwise specified.
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Latest "Good News" Newsletter
2007-07-26 03:09:00
Rodney MacDonald released his latest newsletter to all the people in the province. This program is meant to show you how Nova Scotia is progressing and provide the news that traditional media has missed. Of course this is paid for by the tax payers since it is for their benefit If anyone actually read the newsletter they would have read article after article on the Atlantic Accord. Hardly something the media has missed. If only there was a way to get this information out to the people at little to no cost. The program is expensive at more than $200,000 per year which is being diverted from other more important programs. How about this...an online posting with printings in the newspapers. It may not reach everyone but would get to most residents. There is little point in spending our cash to hear the samething we have heard a million times. I agree we disserve the Atlantic Accord with the new equalization formula but I do not like having it shoved down my throat and then asked to pay...
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