Oh, hello Halifax,

Let’s start with a funny joke today, shall we?

Ah-hem…

Why did the pervert cross the road?

To buy a pair of Meta glasses!

These atrocities have been living rent free in the back of my mind since they launched, but now they have been pushed to my frontal lobe because Meta has paid Kylie Jenner millions to hawk these new “cool” looking versions of them. Talk about “disguise with intent”.

Let’s not even get into the irony of this collab. Mz. Jenner—gated homes, security teams, NDAs, lawsuits over privacy violations—promoting glasses that let strangers record people without their knowledge. It’s almost as rich as she is.

Earlier this year, Meta faced backlash over privacy concerns surrounding its AI-powered smart glasses. According to an investigation by a Swedish newspaper, contractors in Kenya reviewing AI data may have seen highly personal footage captured by the glasses. This includes bathroom visits, intimate moments and credit card information.

To which I say…duh!

The glasses, which first launched in 2021, are a collaboration between Meta and Italian-French eyewear company EssilorLuxottica—which owns Ray-Ban among many other brands. The smart glasses feature two small cameras, open-ear speakers, a microphone and a touch panel built into the temple of the glasses.

Let’s put aside the insane fact that everything recorded on these things is immediately uploaded to Meta’s AI mobile app—which is required to set up the glasses—allowing Meta to super-surveil you. The really scary thing is that anyone can sit at a playground or a pool or a dressing room with these now cool and normal looking sunglasses on and record whatever the eff they want.

I know that you little devil’s avocados just want to yell: “but Julie, people can already record you without your consent with a phone!”, which is true. But phones are so much more conspicuous and, deep down, you know that.

If you’re honestly just wanting to video your day from a first person perspective, put a Go-Pro on your head so that everyone can at least SEE that you’re a freak and avoid you if they want.

Either these glasses need to emit a flashing laser when they are recording to let everyone around them know OR anyone that buys them needs to have their name and address put on a registry. Those are the only two options that I would be comfortable with and I will not be taking questions at this time.

Love and light!

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

Today: ☀️ 29°

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 28°

Next Day: 🌤️ 28°

7-day forecast

🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

Police in Halifax say racial hatred motivated a recent assault at a Costco in the city’s west end and are asking for the public’s help as the search continues for the suspect. Officers were dispatched Saturday to the store on Chain Lake Drive after receiving reports that a man was yelling racially offensive language at a family.

If you find this story shocking, you shouldn’t. The Coast has been covering the rise of white nationalism for over a year. From online harassment to fascist photo ops, white supremacy is becoming more emboldened. Liz LeClair explains why we can’t stay silent.

🎷 The Halifax Jazz Festival has cancelled its Saturday night show after headline act Broken Social Scene pulled out late last week—the last-minute change comes after drummer Justin Peroff of the Toronto-based indie rock band fell during a June 26 performance.

🚨 Halifax police are investigating the discovery of human remains near Long Lake—officers responded to a report of human remains in the area of the southern end of lake near Old Sambro Road just before 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

👕 Edwin Theriault, founder of Frenchy’s—a chain of regional thrift stores that helped transform the experience of buying and selling second-hand clothes in the Maritimes—has died at the age of 94.

🏳️‍🌈 Join the Museum for an evening of film with Parade: Queer Acts of Love & Resistance, a documentary that shaped Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ movement.*

🏡 Seniors and their families are thinking ahead about a home’s long-term fit for aging in place. This free screening guide helps with the process.*

*Sponsored Post

😡 The man who recorded a video of a racist, profanity-laden tirade and was allegedly assaulted by the suspect in a Halifax Costco store says he is shocked and angered by what happened.

🚧 The overhaul of the Windsor Street Exchange is entering its next phase—early preparations for the redesign are finished and major construction will now get underway.

🚨 Police were called to the intersection of Quinpool Road at Quingate Place for a pedestrian who was struck and seriously injured—officials said that the vehicle collided when the 72 year-old woman in a marked crosswalk.

🏛️ The University of King's College says "hard choices" may be necessary as it aims to reduce its workforce due to budgetary concerns—the Halifax university is implementing a "workplace adjustment program" in an effort to reduce its employee numbers by 14.

🚢 Two Canadian warships sailed out of Halifax harbour on a NATO mission to detect and neutralize sea mines in European waters—the mission is part of Operation Reassurance, which has been dedicated to deterring Russian aggression in central and eastern Europe since Russia invaded and seized Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

🎓 Acadia University is moving forward with a plan to restructure its faculties starting in the 2027-2028 academic year—the reconfiguration will leave the university with two faculties, compared to its current three.

Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓 Public Lecture Night at Beaty Centre - Sharks: Join Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity to meet a PhD candidate in Marine Biology at Dalhousie University, Esteban Salazar Cervantes, who will share his recent field expeditions in Mexico, detailing the process of tagging whale sharks and discussing how these field data are directly applied to advance regional science and dynamic conservation planning.  | July 9 | 6:00pm | $14 | 

🗓 Virginia MacDonald Quartet with special guest Kirk MacDonald Presented by the TD Halifax Jazz Festival: Juno Award-winning clarinetist Virginia MacDonald has established herself as a leading voice of  her generation. Known for her lyrical and dynamic approach to the clarinet, she has been described by legendary clarinetist Doreen Ketchens as playing “like a scholar, very refined with plenty of soul.” As an in-demand bandleader, sidewoman, and composer, she maintains a busy international performance schedule across North America and Europe.  | July 9 | 7:30pm | $47.65 | 

See FULL TD Halifax Jazz Fest Line-up

🗓 Spontaneity - Improv the Musical: Join ‘Improv the Musical’ for their opening AND closing night of a brand new improvised musical inspired by YOU! Each show, these seasoned improvisers create the next big musical, with each scene and song made up on the spot! | July 9 | 7:30pm | $15 | 

Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].

➡️ The Atlantic Sun container vessel departed Halifax for Liverpool at 1am.

🚢➡️ The HMM Sapphire arrived in Halifax from New York at 4:45am and departs for Singapore at 11pm.

🚢➡️ The MSC Giada III arrives in Halifax from Sines at 6:15am and departs for Montreal at 5pm.

🚢 The Asian Vision arrives in Halifax from Southampton at 11am.

🍗 R&B Kitchen has a favourite returning to their menu: fried chicken! Pair it with some mac & cheese, candied yams and cornbread.

🦪 2 Doors Down is serving a classic seafood dish you need to try: Mussels Mariniere. Made with mussels, white wine, shallot, garlic, tomato and focaccia from Maria’s Pantry.

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