In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

      Between the crosses, row on row,

   That mark our place; and in the sky

   The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

   Loved and were loved, and now we lie

         In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

   The torch; be yours to hold it high.

   If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

         In Flanders fields.

-- John McCrae

Radio … and Me - 27

Last evening, CBC Radio One presented a special program on 'Ideas,' because today marks the 75th anniversary of the scariest radio drama in history: 'The War of the Worlds.'

Airing of the Orson Welles CBS 'Mercury Theatre of the Air' adaption of the H.G. Wells novel led to panic and outrage by those who heard it as a description of a real event, during the tense years and months that would lead to the beginning of World War II.
Photo: KPCC, Southern California Public Radio
According to a comprehensive article in Wikipedia, 'most of the play was a contemporary retelling of events of the novel, presented as news bulletins interrupting another program.' It began with an introduction from the novel, and went on to relate an alien invasion of Earth, beginning in a small town called Grover's Mill, New Jersey.
The story grew more and more ominous, as Martian war

The Holy Land

Dear Reader: Here is a Local Cultural Fact:
When a Cape Bretoner casually tells you: 'I'm going to the Holy Land next week,' he/she is not referring to the land where Jesus walked, but to the island on the other side of the Causeway.
Here are a few reasons:

1. At this time of year, it is even more fitting, because of the Fall colours, which are at their glorious best wherever you travel , and the Celtic Colours International Festival, a two-weeks stretch of concerts, displays, and kitchen parties, currently in full swing, literally, all over the island.
2. Recently, I had a chance to read a book -- that was in short supply this summer on the mainland, The Promised Land: A Novel of Cape Breton, by Bill Conall (Boularderie Island Press).
The stories recount the adventures of many 'characters' living on the island, including:

Traffic, Traffic, Everywhere - 2

I have been fascinated by driving for a long time. When I was a youngster, I used to observe drivers' hands, and longed for the day when I would be able to drive.

Over the last 50 years -- in fact, since I have had a driver's license -- I have enjoyed driving, loved the excitement of the 'open road,' which one summer took me all the way to Victoria, B.C.
I have braved the rigours of driving in bad weather, even foggy nights and winter storms, and have survived driving on narrow roads, dirt roads, and 'no roads!'
Until recently, that is, when driving has lost some of its allure.
It has been said that one of the guiding principles behind 'Defensive Driving' ciourses is that you assume that all the other drivers are idiots, and are going to do the wrong thing!
Wise words.

Traffic, Traffic, Everywhere

Just last week, I was complaining about the traffic congestion and construction around here.
We were driving in Halifax, where the usual post-vacation traffic was in full swing, and where almost every artery is having some kind of work done on it.

Here in Bedford, there is major construction activity: just to the south of us, housing for about 40,000 folks who are being added to our population is under construction, and to our west, a brand-new $40 million high school (for 1300 students) has just opened. The streets and roads can barely keep up with the new traffic demands.
During my driving career, I have experienced many kinds of traffic. As a new driver here in Nova Scotia, I loved nothing better than the 'lure of the open road.' I enjoyed highway driving in almost all conditions: from sunny summer afternoons

The Highway Through Nowhere

Today, class, we will present a Nova Scotia geography lesson.
If you look at a map of our province, you will notice that almost all of our cities and towns are located along the sea.
History will tell you that Nova Scotia was settled by people who arrived from the sea, the basis of our original transportation system, and that includes a series of navigable rivers and even canals.
The provincial roadmaps show that our major land routes follow the sea coasts:

-- Highway 101, from Halifax to Yarmouth, follows the contour of the Annapolis Valley, from Windsor to Digby, and the “French Shore" for the rest of the way.
-- Highway 102, from Halifax to Truro, however, is a completely “non-coastal” route.
-- Highway 103, from Halifax to Yarmouth, follows the South Shore region.

Bonne fête!

Demain, nous autres -- les Acadiens et Acadiennes, d'ici, de chez nous, et de partout au monde -- nous célébrons notre Fête nationale.

C'est l'occasion de faire un grand 'Tantamarre,' pour proclamer: 'Asteure q'on est l à, c'est pour y rester!'
C'est aussi la fête de l'Assomption de la Vièrge Marie, 'Stella Maris,' notre Patronne.
Félicitations, et bonne fête, cousins et cousines!
---
Tomorrow, we -- Acadians, from here, from home, and from all over the world -- we celebrate our National Day.
It's time to make a 'Loud Noise,' to proclaim: 'Now that we're here (this time), we're staying!'
It's also the Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary, the Ocean Star, our Patronness.
Congratulations, have a great Acadian Day, cousins!