To the specific union threatening to shame people for taking work: you don't know a person's situation. Threatening to reveal identities and make a person's life hell is not the way to get them on your side. You should be asking them to not take jobs, BUT THAT'S IT. It's tough for a lot of people to get jobs right out of school, and even tougher to get paid freelance work without a lot of experience. So please, can you not shame a human being, possibly trying to feed theirs and another’s mouth, and just ask them politely to not work for a greedy company? Or better yet, reach out and help them find some work. That kindness will go a lot further for your cause then telling them you know what's best and will "blacklist" them for trying to make a living. —Shamefully Yours, the Recent Student Struggle

I can't believe that following mayor Savage's pitiful job of snow removal after last winter's admittedly insane amounts of snow that for our first snowstorm of the year the snow removal today is similarly godawful. There's no excuse for it this time. We knew it was coming. The circumferential highway, which isn't exactly a low traffic route, was snow covered and dangerous in several places well into the morning. What have the snow plow drivers been doing all morning? Napping? Jerking off? We're a goddamn capital city. We shouldn't have this pathetic a showing on snow removal yet again. Has our mayor learned NOTHING from last year? —Slip Sliding All Over The Road

To the cute, "Extreme Couponer" brunette at a certain grocery store in Dartmouth on Sunday evening who was with what I assume is your father. You unscrupulous! The cashier told me all about you, you thief! It's because of people like you is why I hate the world. The store knows all your tricks, sweetheart. Like, how you try to use coupons to try and lower the final total on your bill without actually having to buy the item you are using the coupon for; and lying about having a "rain cheque" to get items with expired coupons; and how you were caught peeling "50% off" stickers off of one item and sticking it on another item that you are using a coupon for; and combining coupons to lower your final total even further knowing full well you can't do that. How do you sleep at night? I'm all for being a thrifty shopper, but when you pull dishonest stunts like what you do, you make everyone suspect in the store's eyes. In your cute little twisted head, you probably think that even though you are actually handing over an amount of money to the store, you are technically not "shoplifting". I've got news for you sweetheart, the next time I see you, I am following you around the store and watching you like a hawk, and I will report you to the staff of the store if I catch you pulling one of your stunts. As I already said, you are VERY attractive, but I would bet anything you are single and can't keep a man because no self-respecting dude would put up with your shit. —Hate Cheap

You three work in a store which sells things, like... pepperoni and other such fare. I am a customer who buys things, like... pepperoni. Why don't you smile? Better, why do you scowl? In all the years I have been buying things from you, like... pepperoni, you all scowl. Not one of you smiles and not at anyone. No one. Not a smirk. —Max

FUCK YOU the COAST! Remind me to take your paper and burn it in front of you. —CH

How is that young girl not charged with distributing Porn. She took the picture. She sent it out. The buck started with her. I just don't get it. She's as innocent as the other two for sending it out from her personal device. Another example of Justice failing the Youth. —Be Accountable!

Thank you to the driver who nearly hit my mother when she was coming out of the Superstore. if it hadn't been her reflex to move her out of the couple of inches [despite tripping over from a carpet bump inside] She'd probably be dead just so you could get home quicker, did you even see her?, bet ya didn't because despite it being a parking lot you were speeding. She's still nervous and upset by the way. So I hope you lose a foot and/or a hand so you can never drive again you walking hazard. —Miffed, Agitated, Loathing, Hatred

To the young woman at the Canada Games Centre a couple of nights ago: I feel like strolling down the middle of the track in your sock feet, fully absorbed in your texting is not the most appropriate use of the space. Yes, I should have said something and I didn't. So I might be the idiot here, but still... —Just Trying to Walk in the Lines

Just read in this week's Coast that HRM's intention with the new jaywalking fine of ca. $700 is "to level the playing field." Are you kidding me? There's a HUGE power imbalance between wealthier car owners and pedestrians, in favour of those wielding automobiles. This disgusting fine punishes health-conscious, non-polluting, can't-afford-to-own-a-car nondrivers, and is obviously created by people who don't actually walk. As a lifelong nondriver, I jaywalk where I do because it is traffic-free in both directions and therefore safer. I find 4-way-stop intersections ambiguous (whose turn is it?) and terrifying, full of bad-tempered, impatient commuters. I've lost count of the times I've nearly been killed in 4-way-top intersections. Jaywalking is safer!! It shouldn't be, but the fact is--it IS safer. —Cites are for people, not cars

What a shock coming back to Halifax on the 30th after Christmas holidays to find the city yet again awash in slush, slop, and snow, still not cleaned up DAYS after a storm. Again streets "plowed" 3 feet out from the curb, instead of tight into the curb. Again sewer catchbasins buried so that meltwater can't drain, but floods and freezes causing a hazard. Again mountains of Bobcat-plowed snow dumped on street corners, trapping runoff so that street corners are obstructed and flooded for pedestrians and those using wheelchairs or walkers or strollers. Again snowbanks are shoved up against the rear exits of buses, making those back exits unusable. Has HRM learned NOTHING from last winter?! —I do a better, faster job shovelling it myself