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Australia and New Zealand bid to host astronomy’s next big — one square kilometre — thing
Star gazers, both professional and amateur, are closely following progress in one of the great global science projects of the 21st Century, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). It’s a radio telescope being developed by a global collaboration of 20 countries, including Canada, and it promises to revolutionize our understanding of the universe through new insights […]
Helping Ottawa’s ‘hidden poor’
When the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade asked Ottawa’s foreign diplomatic community to help out by donating food to its second annual food fair, the diplomats responded enthusiastically. Robert Peck, outgoing chief of protocol, explained that the idea was to create a lunchtime international buffet that would raise money to contribute to […]
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia: East confronts West
The South Caucasus has historically been an arena of conflict. Much like the Balkans, it is a region where East and West meet and three great empires — the Russian, the Ottoman, and the Safavids (Persians) — clashed in earlier times. Today, it is a region where other fires burn. These are the fires of economic […]
To hell and back
Dien Bien Phu was made the capital of Lai Chau Province 17 years ago, but partly by default. The previous capital kept suffering devastating floods, caused partly by deforestation. It may soon disappear altogether under the reservoir of a huge hydro dam. But, of course, there was also another reason to elevate the status of […]
The French debacle in Dien Bien Phu
Dien Bien Phu is a market town in an almost preposterously remote corner of northwest Vietnam. Today it has a population of about 9,000. In 1953, however, it was so small it wasn’t even considered a community and, in fact, didn’t have a name. The phrase Dien Bien Phu translates roughly as “border-area administrative post.” […]
Thomas Chandler Haliburton, aka Sam Slick
Thomas Haliburton was an upper-crust Tory, a successful lawyer and businessman who was appointed to Nova Scotia’s Supreme Court and held office in England after his retirement. He was wealthy, respected and influential — and deeply frustrated. As a member of the conservative elite, Haliburton could not freely express his progressive opinions in Nova Scotia […]
An Italian castle in the woods
The phrase “It was a dark and stormy night” might echo the thoughts of the new Italian ambassador when he arrived at his home on the Aylmer Road on a dark, frigid January night this year. But when he woke up, he found he was in one of the most beautiful diplomatic residences in the […]
Margaret’s Table on TV: A preview
Are you one of those ardent viewers of TV cooking shows? Many people do spend hours each day watching a myriad of chefs stir, toss, sauté, purée and whatever. Well, this fall, I am again joining the ranks of those zealous chefs who attempt to share their own brand of culinary skills with viewers […]
The romance of late harvest wine production
Autumn is an exciting time in a vineyard. After a long year of work, patience and more than a little concern and anxiety, everything comes to fruition. In the Northern Hemisphere, the time for harvest can begin in September and, depending on the grape varietal, vineyard location, the year-to-date climatic conditions and the desired final […]
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