Solar spotlight
While traveling back and forth to a nearby provincial park for a swim on this warm summer day, we had an opportunity once again to view the massive solar panel set up near Galetta, about a forty minute drive west of Ottawa. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Social & political commentary’ Category
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“Just a moment, please”
It still happens. It happened again today.
I was making a phone call to set up a dental appointment, and was put on hold at the clinic. I wasn’t surreptitiously ignored, but was given the verbal rote “Just a moment, please”. As usual, this proved to be an extremely inaccurate time frame, as I hung up unfulfilled after a couple of minutes. Fortunately for me, it wasn’t an urgent issue, so I could afford to be pro-active. (more…)
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In the cracks of sports commentary
Yesterday during the TV coverage of the women’s tennis final at Wimbleton (England), in the early stages of the broadcast, viewers were exposed to a very unfortunate comment from a well-known, outspoken ‘analyst’, John McEnroe. (more…)
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Get Out of the Line
One of the best responses to annoyingly dumb behaviour coined by recently departed, and sadly missed, comedian John Pinette was “Get out of the line!” His stories featuring this plea were usually about food.
This morning I experienced the driving habits version of this refrain. (more…)
Saving syllables
Students of the English language should find frustrating to say the least a common practice illustrative of the lazy way of speaking too many are prone to exhibiting.
This time of the year in our hemisphere, as days gradually become warmer weather forecasters (and many others) say “The days are getting longer”. This culminates at the official beginning of summer with “This is the longest day of the year”. Conversely, late in the year “The days are getting shorter”, topped off by “This is the shortest day of the year”.
No, they’re not! (more…)
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Bobblehead Reporting
Have you noticed how often nowadays TV reporters in the field seem to feel obliged to give several head nods when the studio host bounces the on-air feed to them? In some cases, this occurs almost every time the feed switches to them during the report. (more…)
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The Personal Pension Problem
Now that the electorate has seen fit to return the Liberals to governance, a review of concerns about proposed centre piece legislation is in order: namely, the Ontario pension plan.
As a recently retired financial consultant for a large Canadian investment firm, I certainly share the concern, and frankly find disappointing the readiness of some to rush into it. (more…)
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the watch of time 
Sign of some improvement
Here is a follow-up to my posting June 29th of the questionable direction sign leading to Ottawa International Airport:
In the last couple of days, I’ve had correspondence with a senior person in the city’s traffic services branch posting department. He provided a picture of the pending new green sign, to be replacing the current one (see picture below) soon.
The new green sign is the same size, with ‘TO/VERS’ plus ‘TERMINAL/AEROGARE’ removed. Also, there is (more…)
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Pictures speak volumes, Social & political commentary