Grim:  •  “Beijing is like an athlete trying to get into shape by walking on a treadmill yet eating double cheeseburgers at the same time. Polluting factories have been moved or closed. But auto emissions are rising as the city adds up to 1,200 new cars and trucks every day. Dirty, coal-burning …

It was a grey old day the other day when I dallied on the other side. But I took the opportunity to stop at all the local history plaques I passed, the car being devoid of those who would complain. Click for more detail of these ones between Alex Bay and Ogdensburg. That's Canada on the other side …

And you think you had it bad.

It is fine to call this one bad decision but it challenges the meaning of what is local and what is security:  •  “...officials wonder whether increased border security cost the firefighters precious minutes. Mr. Hébert said fires double in intensity about every minute. The six Quebeckers showed …

First, I would like to thank the Canadian dollar for peaking just about the very weekend we traveled. Then I would like to thank the new customs guy who asked "you mean like a bunch of cases" when I advised I had 67 beer in the back - to which I responded "well, I have some singles." Woot.  •  Ann …

Today. North of Waterloo Ontario. 12:10 pm. Click for a bigger view if you like.

If you are interested, I wrote a bit about Halifax in the 1980s yesterday for The Session, a monthly thematic series where beer bloggers globally write on the one same topic. Yesterday was "beer and music" and that reminded me of the Halifax of my young wayward adulthood.  •  It also reminded me …

Not that things are bad but if it weren't for the Red Sox I wouldn't have met the nice people from Albany attending a wedding at our hotel's bar on Saturday night. I wouldn't have been able to watch them checking the scores inning by inning as they dashed in, a little less stable from their free …

I am not really helping things. But you know I have been driving into the US on a regular basis for years. Yet still I intend to shop.  •  “Canada's loonie has been at or above par with the American dollar for weeks, which has sparked outrage among shoppers frustrated by the fact goods still cost …