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adam

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January 28, 2008

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Radio

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Radio Topics for January 29th

Freezing rain and early mornings…Must be time for Adam and Mike. As usual we air on CKCU 93.1fm from 7 to 9:00am. For those outside of Ottawa you can listen live on the web at the CKCU website.

The final state of the union speech by President Bush. Expect a lot of these last of moments in the next year.

R.V. Morgentaler twenty years later. Love it or hate it, the decision mattered then and matters now.

A (former) Liberal and Conservative agreeing? Harper agrees with Manly and says Canada needs help in Afghanistan or else combat missions are finished.

Toronto has a balanced budget…for the first time since amalgamation.

Urban and rural unite! Glebe Community Association opposes gigantic subdivision in Manotick.

Toronto Catholic school board refuses to partake in homophobia survey.

Canadian ISPs refuse to be gate-keepers and prevent illegal downloading.

Looks like Ontario businesses don’t like Family…Day that is.

It isn’t only students who want money… universities in Ontario also do, to the tune of $1.6 billion.

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mbpowell

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January 22, 2008

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General, Podcasts, politics

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Prof. Elly Albiom on the Firing of Linda Keen

Three posts in a day. Crazy.

This morning, Adam spoke with Carleton Journalism Professor Elly Albiom about last week’s dismissal of Linda Keen, who had been head of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Professor Albiom talks about the (distant) precedents of this sort of action, and what it means for other civil servants.

Prof. Elly Albiom on the firing of Linda Keen Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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mbpowell

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January 22, 2008

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Community Organziations, General, Ottawa, Podcasts, urban design, westboro

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On Golden Avenue

Last week I spoke with Wallace Beaton of the Westboro Community Association about the proposed closure of Golden Avenue between Richmond Rd. and Byron Ave. He’s previously joined us before to talk about the re-emergence of the WCA- an interview that I wish had been recorded, as it speaks very well to the cyclical nature of voluntary and community organizations. In any case, for more blog postings, turn to Greater Ottawa and Miss Vicky.

Wallace is careful not to stake out an official stance on the matter, important given that the association has yet to do the same, but it is clear that there is a great deal of confusion as to why the proposal has emerged the way it has. The closure was initiated by the Councilor, and comes while the community is in the midst of doing a traffic study, so it is all very curious, and to me seems somewhat ad hoc.

I am somewhat familiar with the area- it is at Golden that the city’s unmarked bike path switches from Richmond proper to the much quieter Byron Ave., and I can count the number of times on one hand that I have seen a car looking to turn onto or off of the street. I also don’t live there, so can understand that those that do might see things differently. That said, decisions that happen in one part of the city have repercussions on those that happen elsewhere later, so non-westboroians should ignore this matter at their peril.

Wallace Beaton of the WCA on Golden Avenue Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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mbpowell

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January 22, 2008

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General, Library, Ottawa

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Ottawa Public Library RSS feeds

I’m sure I’m late to the game in discovering this, but the OPL has a pretty extensive collection of RSS feeds. Importantly, in addition to the usual listing of news (subscribed!) and events, they also have a feature where by you can get updates on new arrivals and things that are on order, sorted by rough categories such as “fiction”, “kids fiction”, “DVDs”, and “graphic novels”.

This is an excellent way of keeping up to date with what is coming in, and an even better way of keeping users informed about changes to the library’s collection that may interest them. It also even puts to shame the very good Carleton library’s RSS feed, which will tell you about new databases and services (so, “news”), but doesn’t tell you what new books have arrived or on order.

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mbpowell

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January 21, 2008

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General, Radio

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Radio Topics, September 22nd

It’s Tuesday Morning. It’s Freaking Cold. Adam and I are going to get up early and entertain you on the radio*.

An exciting show for an exciting week that’s been. We’ll be joined by Prof. Elly Alboim to talk about the firing of Linda Keen. We also will be joined by Amy Robichaud of the English Debating Society to talk about their upcoming 24-hour “Debateathon”.

In other news:

I’m glad I’m too poor to own stock!

Manley to deliver report of Afghanistan, cause punditocracy’s collective heads to explode.

Ottawa says it was wrong to suggest that US, Israel participated in torture. Everybody knows that all the United States wants to do is involuntarily attach a car battery to your nipples in hopes that you’ll disclose some information. Any information.

Calgary makes pitch for National Portrait Gallery. Ottawa to make pitch for Calgary Flames.

This week is Beard anti-defamation week. Get ready for a beard in!

Ottawa delays increasing downtown parking rates, even Clive in favour.

In Monopoly, you can own all four railroads. In Canada, soon you’ll only be able to own two types of media in the city.

Condo developer wants to build on top of Sunnyside library.

*Note: We make no guarantees about actually being entertaining.

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mbpowell

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January 20, 2008

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General, Library and Archives Canada, UFO

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LAC’s Searchable UFO Sighting Database

(Photo from flickr user virginiawerewolves, licenced CC-BY-NC)

I usually bypass the Library and Archives Canada home page, using their handy google toolbar search plugin, but today I opted to do it the old fashioned, web 1.0 way.

And boy, am I glad that I did, because I discovered that LAC has set up a searchable UFO sighting database, drawing on relevant materials from DND, Transport Canada, NRC, and the RCMP. This adds to the existing databases of cabinet conclusions, and of Mackenzie-King’s diaries. Now if only I could search all three for King talking in cabinet about how he saw UFOs while writing in his diary.

In seriousness, this seems pretty neat. I couldn’t get the search to work tonight, but will have to come back to it later in the week. This might be a firefox quirk, but it could also be the usual demon’s of their website, which is notorious for sporadically deciding to not work. Sadly, I am not interested in UFO sightings beyond a geeky curiosity; for actual research I still have to figure out a way of making it to the building for the 11 minutes a day that it is actually open.

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adam

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January 14, 2008

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General, Radio

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Radio Topics for January 15th

Tuesday again, that means more Mike and Adam time. As usual we air on CKCU 93.1fm from 7 to 9:00am. For those outside of Ottawa you can listen live on the web at the CKCU website. This week fellow Carleton debater Elysse Devreaux will join us on air. As well, at 8:30 we will speak with Wallace Beaton from the Westboro Community Association regarding the possible closure of Golden Avenue.

In the best Liberal accusation yet, Helen Guergis is accused of risking the lives of Ignatieff and Dion by telling the Taliban where they were going to be.

Despite Larry O’Briens best attempt, crack pipes are still going to be given out for free thanks to the Ontario Government.

David Ahenakew to get a new trail regarding hate crimes charges stemming from his tirade of profanity in 2002.

Rejoice! The evil specter of an iPod tax has been removed. (except it raises questions about copying CDs to your iPod)

Winnipeg is attempting to beat the Rideau Canal as the longest natural skating rink. At least we still have our NHL team though.

TGV style high speed rail coming to a town near you? Depends on what the 2 million dollar study says.

With all the talk about Lansdowne Park, lets not forget Ottawa’s other public space quandary… Lebreton Flats.

Waterloo to implement an online opt-out system for student fees.

Prepare to be amazed… at the efforts Oshawa will go to keep the students out.

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mbpowell

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January 7, 2008

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General

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Radio Topics, January 8th

It’s January 8th. Do you know where your Mike Powell Community Radio fix is? 7-9am, 93.1fm in Ottawa. www.ckcufm.com for all the rest.

Carleton gets a new President. Again.

New Hampshire is today! Iowa was last week!

Golden Controversy

Some dude really wants to know what is going on at the CBC.

Watch out Maurice: OPP to crack down on people driving past pulled over vehicles.

Save money. More Doctors? Fewer years of school?

Tom Green back where he began.

Gay dude? Now you can’t donate organs either.

New trial for Pickton?

Ottawa gets a new Baseball team. Apparently solicited names. Apparently not Ottawa We have a baseball team?

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mbpowell

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