Tim Houston thinks being an outrage farmer is the same as being a leader.

The cruelty is the point.

Nov. 4 is the first year anniversary of this Halifax regional council meeting. I have been trying since December to get an interview with Mayor Andy Fillmore. Three tries with no luck. But I wrote about reporting on Fillmore and some of his motions: www.halifaxexaminer.ca/arts-and-cul...

#Halifax has a new survey where you can provide feedback on the municipality's #housing strategy. engagehalifax.ca/housing-stra...

A packed Morning File today with stories by @joanbaxter.bsky.social and @dartjenhen.bsky.social. I wrote an essay inspired by comments actress/screenwriter Emma Thompson said about AI on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. www.halifaxexaminer.ca/morning-file...

My daughter has spent weeks designing and making costumes for Hal-Con. She, her boyfriend, and their friends are spending all weekend at the event. I look forward to seeing all the pics! #Halifax

Nova Scotia announces protection of 1,267 hectares, but no word on West Mabou Beach Provincial Park Story by @joanbaxter.bsky.social www.halifaxexaminer.ca/environment/...

Maybe this won't be popular to say, but many working class voters started following Poilievre because the NDP was out of touch. Many of Poilievre's followers are terrible bigots but others aren't. But the NDP can win them back.

"Maybe [Democrats] are embittered and resentful that where their calculated, cynical, focus-grouped campaign strategy of insincerity and manipulation has failed, Mamdani’s unabashedly sincere campaign of joy and principle has succeeded." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

On Nov. 12, #Halifax is hosting an open house on development around the Sandy Lake Special Planning area. The sessions take place at Bedford United Church at the following times: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 2 to 4 p.m. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. engagehalifax.ca/sandy-lake-s...

I hope the Canadian left pays attention to Zohran Mamdani. He understands the working class, can connect with all kinds of people, he got out into communities, and made his campaign accessible and fun.

Listen to this interview!

😊

I don’t know why people talk with ChatGPT when they can talk with #animals. That’s what I do.

I've long maintained that Jennifer Lawrence is a perfect case study for sexism. Criticism of her basically came down to "She's everywhere & she's too charming in media, so she must be fake." Meanwhile, Gosling was everywhere & said so himself but people screamed "Don't take a break! Give us MORE!"

This column by Drew Magary has good advice about using AI. The first letter writer asks about using AI too often: "Studies are already showing that using ChatGPT and its siblings will make you, as an individual, dumber. And probably more depressed, too..." 1/ defector.com/am-i-a-shitt...

Just heard a program about #gaslighting and thought of this song. m.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVP...

This is why I wanted my daughter to grow up in a city. #Halifax needs some tweaks but I grew up in a semi-rural area and the burbs (Beaver Bank and Lower Sackville). Unless you loved hockey or drinking in the woods, there wasn't much else to do.

If Zohran Mamdani wins the New York City mayoral race within 24 hours of Dick Cheney dying, I will feel very hopeful!

On Thursday night, the Nature Conservancy of Canada is hosting an online event called "Feathers in the Frost," which is all about birdwatching in the #winter. If you can't watch it live, you can still register and they will send you the recording. I signed up. natureconservancy.ca/events/feath...

People who get rich off development complaining about development in their "piece of paradise." Rich, indeed! www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

When people ask me what how they can be a writer, I’ll say, “just write.” You don’t need AI: if you have something to say, just write it. Yes, you have to deal with fear, rejection, making errors, and people hating what you write. But you will also find people who want to read your words! #justwrite

I have a new post on my newsletter! Lessons from a late bloomer. suzannerent.substack.com/p/lessons-fr...

Another story to show #birds are the canaries in the coal mines of how we treat the environment.

When I hear the beeps and squeaks outside, I know it’s time for a break. #birds

#Halifax's Accessibility Advisory Committee is hosting its annual town hall on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. The town hall is taking place at the Halifax Central Library but it'll be livestreaming over Zoom as well. More information here. www.halifax.ca/city-hall/bo...

I do not understand needing AI to write emails.

My #cat Stewie is keeping me from falling asleep too early.

I am one of those people who falls asleep when it gets dark. Maybe this is part of getting older? Anyway, I am trying to find ways to stay awake later tonight, like until 8 p.m.

Not everyone is into sports but let people have their fun!

I get ideas in my head and just put them into words. I wrote about my purse! I am proud of this headline: "A small purse from the thrift store is just fine for this old bag" suzannerent.substack.com/p/a-small-pu...

I was underweight until after I had my daughter in my 30s. I gained weight in middle age and then lost some again. While your weight may change over your lifetime, what won’t change is people’s ignorant comments/hate about your size. Like yourself. It’s all that matters.

The real trick this Halloween is #shrinkflation and how few chips there are in the bags and how much smaller the candy are now.

‘Accessibility is the first thing to go’: Committee gives input on snow clearing in Halifax Story by me www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...

"Trump’s disregard for things that other people consider precious, valuable, and historically significant is largely a function of his disregard for other people generally. He is the consummate solipsist–a man who believes mind is the only one that really exists."

Or bars or restaurants!

A new survey on #housing in #Halifax Regional Municipality

Board approves eight dispatch staff for Halifax police, nine officers for RCMP Story by me www.halifaxexaminer.ca/policing/boa...

Happy Halloween! The holiday that reminds us to be kind to children and give them treats without means testing! Don’t be stingy with the treats for teens either.

Fewer golf courses, more bird sanctuaries.

A perk of working from home is feeding the black-capped chickadees in my yard. #birds #wildlife #NovaScotia

Well, if Hurricane Melissa keeps the kiddos from trick-or-treating tomorrow night, I have more than enough mini chocolate bars to get me through.

In today's Morning File, news from @mmughees.bsky.social and @dentremy.bsky.social. I wrote about a new fund in honour of Harry Critchley, a documentary about birding, and how Tim Houston is handing over our forests to certain people just for money. www.halifaxexaminer.ca/morning-file...

I can see this from my living room window. Well, via my camera zoom lens.

Two beautiful #leucistic pigeons and the albino #squirrel at Frog Pond Park in #Halifax #birds #wildlife #NovaScotia

In June, Halifax's auditor general reported that the municipality is doing a snow job on its snow clearing efforts. Here's a story: www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...

On the Halifax municipal beat today: The Board of Police Commissioners meets at 1pm to hear more about the proposed budgets from the Halifax Regional Police and the Halifax Detachment of the RCMP. www.halifax.ca/city-hall/bo...

Halifax council approves regional strategy for Dartmouth museums Story by me www.halifaxexaminer.ca/arts-and-cul...

Ask @timbousquet.bsky.social a question and he’ll answer it in Friday’s Morning File!

I just read a post that suggested Halloween be rescheduled because there’s lots of rain in the forecast. How on earth do these people cope with real emergencies? (Hint: they don’t)