tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18930590370124900582012-02-01T09:30:52.705-05:00THE FIFTH COLUMN"This column is dedicated to the proposition that Canada (and indeed the world) is in a crisis situation and that fundamental social change is required to remedy this situation." - The First Column, Lambda November 2, 1971
This blog is inspired by my column of the same name in the Laurentian University Newspaper, Lambda, from 1971-1973. The title refers to the concept of subverting the system from within.
To read key excerpts from those columns read the first few posts in this blog.rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.comBlogger4841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-35360472348415410532012-02-01T09:30:00.002-05:002012-02-01T09:30:52.714-05:00There's An App For ThatI just discovered a wonderful app I have on my phone. This app allows you to make and check appointments. It has a really simple interface - you just dial the number of the place you want to check, or make, an appointment at and a very human like voice will respond (very lifelike, I don't know how they do it). The amazing thing about this app is the amount of intelligence it has built in. You rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-86328917265433988642012-01-31T12:25:00.000-05:002012-01-31T12:25:19.251-05:00Help Save the South March Highlands by Voting it One of Canada's Great PlacesThe Fifth Column has written many times about the most biodiverse natural area in Ottawa adjacent to urban Kanata and threatened by urban sprawl and development.
Now is your chance to help save the South March Highlands by raising the profile of its cause by voting to have it designated one of the Great Places in Canada. We can win this designation if we all take the time to vote daily in the rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-70784314133009711472012-01-30T15:14:00.001-05:002012-01-30T16:40:35.014-05:00A Non-Satirical Look at Ottawa's PIN Messaging "Scandal"Is Ottawa's PIN scandal really a tempest in a teapot.
You cannot legislate or regulate integrity. The only thing that can ensure someone's integrity is their integrity.
As it stands now there is a possibility for Ottawa City staff members to discuss public policy matters without there being a record of it, by holding those discussions in person, on the telephone or via PIN messages, none of rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-19001002732046444122012-01-29T10:06:00.000-05:002012-01-29T10:06:21.058-05:00City Plan to Develop Municipal Mind Monitoring Software Expected to Jump Start Local High Tech IndustryIn a move described by some observers as onionesque, the City's Policies and Procedures Committee is recommending the city issue an RFP for the development of what will be known as MMM Software. The Request for Proposals for Municipal Mind Monitoring software comes after a review of the latest moves by the City to fully document the decision-making process at City Hall.
In response to concerns rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-47230780579924229022012-01-26T10:00:00.001-05:002012-01-26T10:06:00.237-05:00NCC "Grand" "Massive" Greenbelt Expansion More Wish List Than To Do ListAccording to the Ottawa Citizen:
OTTAWA — The National Capital Commission brought forward a massive expansion Wednesday of the Greenbelt that will see the “emerald necklace” grow by 2,400 hectares in a bid to cement Ottawa’s reputation as one of the world’s greenest capitals.
(View Greenbelt expansion in a larger map)
The effort is part of a grand plan to protect the natural environment and rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-91551573241403646312012-01-25T19:16:00.000-05:002012-01-25T19:16:44.954-05:00The Ultimate Solution to Electoral Reform in CanadaYes indeed, I do have the ultimate solutions to all of our electoral system problems and I will share them with all of you. Now some of you might think this is too comprehensive and complicated to propose all at once, but for voters it will be just a simple two step process and will eliminate the most difficult part of the voting process.
We need to do this fully and comprehensively because rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-4794650651422178562012-01-12T12:04:00.000-05:002012-01-12T12:04:07.159-05:00We Must Stop Stephen Harper and the 20% from Destroying CanadaThere has been lots of discussion about how Stephen Harper's majority only represents 40% of voters because of the way our electoral system works. But, in reality, his agenda has much fewer supporters.
We must remember that the Conservative Party is a coalition. It is not a coalition in the sense that the proposed Liberal-NDP coalition (with an accord with the BQ) was. That proposed coalition rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-72916960356571653682012-01-02T20:22:00.000-05:002012-01-02T20:22:53.880-05:00Sometimes I Really WonderI think we all have friends, relatives or acquaintances that are caught up in Islamophobia and regularly send out e-mails warning that the Muslims are immigrating and breeding and going to take over the country.
Their usual solution to the "problem" is to force the minorities to abandon their "evil ways" and adapt to the majority culture, essentially for them to assimilate.
It seems to me that,rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-31875181796351978482011-12-31T19:18:00.000-05:002011-12-31T19:18:36.181-05:00New Years ResolutionWell, if it isn't obvious what it should be, my resolution is to actually write and post all those blog post ideas that come to me almost daily and get thought about but never written and posted.rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-87730329127284864132011-12-19T15:20:00.000-05:002011-12-19T15:20:22.311-05:00White Christmas in the South March HighlandsAt Least a White Pre-Christmas
Video by Ray Vermette (Ottawa Mountain Bike Association)
Source: OMBA - White Mountain Bike Christmasrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-4548705411675603162011-12-17T22:53:00.000-05:002011-12-17T22:53:34.152-05:00A Christmas Message From Your Conservative MPrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-80668804587745492872011-12-13T22:19:00.000-05:002011-12-13T22:19:22.407-05:00Cyclist Fatality Waiting/Designed to HappenIf you wanted to design a storm sewer grate to catch a bicycle wheel and throw the rider into fast heavy traffic you could not do better than this.
These are located along Eagleson Road between the Queensway and Hazeldean Road. They seem designed to capture bicycle wheels and kill cyclists.
I'm not sure why anyone would want to use something like that rather than the design below, used along rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-59490617214001199142011-12-12T21:10:00.004-05:002011-12-12T21:18:16.580-05:00The Stages of Human Communication TechnologyLanguage (pre-history)
Written Language (circa 3200 BC)
The Printing Press (circa 1440 ) (Johannes Gutenberg)
Telephone (1861/1875)
Radio Broadcasting (circa 1910)
Television Broadcasting (1928/1936)
The Internet (1969) (ARPANET)
Smart Phones (1992) (RIM BlackBerry 1999)rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-75395078064823239132011-12-07T11:55:00.001-05:002011-12-07T12:38:28.589-05:00Saving the South March Highlands: Looking to the FutureThe first thing I want to say is that any discussion of saving the South March Highlands has to start by acknowledging that, indeed, some of it has been saved and placed in public ownership and that we might not even be discussing saving the rest of it if that was not so.
On November 10, 2000 the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton announced the purchase of 556 acres of the South March rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-56041455355247534952011-12-06T11:03:00.000-05:002011-12-06T11:03:09.928-05:00Economics 101: The Reality of Canadian Capitalism
In More Academic Termsrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-90533104099787806832011-11-10T10:56:00.003-05:002011-11-16T18:40:05.479-05:00Watts Creek Pathway Construction Alternative RouteOn Wednesday November 9, I noticed that a section of the Watts Creek Pathway running alongside the Nepean National Equestrian Park has the asphalt torn up and appears ready for construction work, barriers were ready to be placed across the path in two locations. It appears that the pathway will soon be blocked.
However there is an alternative route that was used as a detour previously during rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-33065776935479719742011-11-07T18:51:00.000-05:002011-11-07T18:51:16.317-05:00Backroad Mapbooks GPS Map Review (Ontario)Read the review on my Richard's GPS Trail Maps site.rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-54923987510908171852011-10-30T20:07:00.003-04:002011-11-11T11:00:39.252-05:00Cycling and Mountain Biking Season in ReviewI know it's not over yet, and with the winter bike it is never over, but I feel it's been a great season so far and now is as good a time as ever to put my thoughts down in print. The time will come soon enough when the trails are no longer rideable and the salt is being dumped on the roads and paths, that I will have to bring out the winter bike. Last year my last mountain bike ride was on rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-28032260281181620492011-10-18T09:57:00.001-04:002011-10-18T09:59:58.830-04:00This Land is Your Land - The Uncensored VersionOccupy Let Freedom Rain: Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello to join Occupy Vancouver Wednesday? This Land Is Your LandWords and Music by Woody GuthrieChorus: This land is your land, this land is my landFrom California, to the New York IslandFrom the redwood forest, to the gulf stream watersThis land was made for you and me As I was walking a ribbon of highwayI saw above me an endless rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-18386445166158879042011-10-13T21:04:00.002-04:002011-10-13T21:07:28.129-04:00Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The South March HighlandsClick here for everything you need to know about The South March HighlandsPlease click above for what is the best overview yet of the issues relating to The South March Highlands.rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-71837729836565869552011-10-11T15:37:00.000-04:002011-10-11T15:39:08.603-04:00Richard's GPS Trail Maps Website UpdatedI have updated my Richard's GPS Trail Maps website with:New overview map: Stony Swamp Conservation Area TrailsandRevised map: Old Quarry Trail Systemrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-29594998610193434022011-10-08T20:29:00.001-04:002011-10-09T09:40:25.137-04:00If Don Cherry is Right it Means Banning HockeyI have always tried to give Don Cherry some credit for his knowledge of the game so I listened when he said fighting was necessary as a relief valve for players because otherwise they would take cheap shots and inflict even more violence when the officials were not looking.As we learn more about the impacts of violence in hockey, including fighting, and particularly concussions, I am convinced rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-13188802026471587092011-10-05T11:54:00.010-04:002011-10-05T12:22:53.852-04:00Bought My New Winter BikeWell my old Supercycle winter bike finally died after two winters and I decided to go searching for something better to replace it with, something with a somewhat better derailleur and switchers.I went to look at bikes at the Ottawa re-Cycles and found a bike in the Cycle Salvation stock. Both shops share the same space and sell each others bikes.Cycle Salvation is a social enterprise operatingrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-763264439967854562011-10-03T20:34:00.000-04:002011-10-03T20:36:13.291-04:00Let us make one thing perfectly clearOntario is parliamentary democracy, albeit within it's own constitutional jurisdiction. As such it is the Ontario legislature that determines who will be in the government and form the Cabinet. As in all parliamentary democracies a government is legitimate if, and only if, it has the confidence of a majority in the legislature. This majority can be made up of members of one party or, as is rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-65043100547609601592011-10-01T19:05:00.005-04:002011-10-01T19:31:54.155-04:00My Vote Compass Results - Ontario Election 2011Vote Compassrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-68177343205676648292011-09-18T20:14:00.000-04:002011-09-18T20:15:25.365-04:00The Most Annoying Thing About Cycling in Ottawa: PostscriptI was riding the shared bike path along the Ottawa River today and across from the War Museum on the pathway I noticed three yellow dots similar to the three yellow dots on roadways that mark where cars can activate traffic lights( I have tried using them on my bicycle with no effect). I can only assume that they serve the same purpose and, being on a bike path, are activated by bicycles. I rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-37691689630544163182011-09-11T20:09:00.003-04:002011-09-11T23:04:39.428-04:00Thinking It Through Brings ClaritySo what is an atheist who believes in a single secular public school system supposed to think about noon hour Muslim prayers in public schools.The answer should be simple but first let us look at the context.In the province of Ontario there are two publicly funded school systems, one for a specific religion and one for everybody else (all other religions and non-religious persons). If one did notrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-63675082563182679692011-09-07T21:10:00.000-04:002011-09-07T21:12:17.872-04:00The Most Annoying Thing About Cycling in OttawaWe all agree that Ottawa is a great place for cycling, but it is not perfect. Apart from the fact that the City of Ottawa and NCC have to do a better job of completing the system and linking their pathways together there is the problem of a lack of washroom and drinking water facilities along the pathways.However that is not my biggest complaint. Ottawa is supposed to be encouraging and promotingrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-52925805359861506232011-09-05T20:58:00.000-04:002011-09-05T21:00:06.257-04:00Realigning Canada's Political SpectrumCanadians have traditionally held social democratic values while supporting centrist political parties. Canadians support universal single payer public health insurance, public pensions and a social safety net, all of which, at the federal level, have been proposed by leftist political parties but legislated by centrists political parties. These parties traditionally were the Liberal Party, rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-71980568865200652222011-09-04T14:33:00.004-04:002011-09-04T14:40:11.024-04:00Celebrating the Natural World @ Beaver Pond Park - Schedule and Photo ContestAlgonquin Union Presents: “A Living Temple” - South March Highlands
Honouring Grandfather William Commanda
Beaver Pond Park (end of Walden Dr., Kanata)
Saturday Sept 10th, 6am - 11pm
(click on images to enlarge)Union-Algonquin-Union
Donations Welcome
rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-2557104463223002202011-09-02T21:54:00.000-04:002011-09-02T21:55:38.894-04:00Richard's GPS Trail Maps Website Adds South March Highlands MapsI have added the following maps of the South March Highlands (SMH) trails to my Richard's GPS Trail Maps website.
South March Highlands Trails
South March Highlands Conservation Forest Intermediate Mountain Biking Trails
South March Highlands Kanata Lakes Trails
South March Highlands Beaver Pond Paths and Trillium Woods Trailrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-54543680247221427442011-08-31T15:59:00.001-04:002011-08-31T16:00:36.369-04:00Riding the Desecration HighwayThis afternoon I rode over from Bridlewood, via the Trans-Canada Trail, Huntmar Drive and Old Carp Road, to the South March Highlands K2 trailhead to put up posters for the September 10 Celebrating the Natural World @ Beaver Pond Park and then returned via Terry Fox Drive.
It's a nice highway with nice wide cycling lanes and it's enjoyable to ride, but as I was riding through I could not help rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-39036684646846441562011-08-28T15:44:00.006-04:002011-09-23T21:52:34.962-04:00A Manifesto For Social Democracyrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-75743479843400320902011-08-23T09:51:00.003-04:002011-08-23T09:56:07.929-04:00Algonquin Union Presents: Celebrating the Natural World @ Beaver Pond Park“A Living Temple” – South March Highlands
Honouring Grandfather William Commanda
Beaver Pond Park (end of Walden Dr., Kanata)
Saturday Sept 10th, 6am - 11pm
(click on images to enlarge posters)
Union-Algonquin-Union
rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-11993372456186777412011-08-22T13:14:00.003-04:002011-08-22T13:20:02.590-04:00Jack Layton - In His Own WordsAugust 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Friends,
Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.
Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-48053284189714162042011-08-17T11:57:00.000-04:002011-08-17T11:58:42.599-04:00Much Ado About The Wrong Thing - Canadian Forces DisIntegrationAs a political scientist and somewhat of a historian I prefer our system of government based on a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. I also appreciate the role that our historical links to the United Kingdom play in our multicultural society, including their role in our political and justice systems.
Therefore I am not particularly upset about including "Royal" in the names ofrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-75435676405004430402011-08-13T15:18:00.009-04:002011-08-13T15:32:53.732-04:00When Beavers Abandon Their Dam: Heron Pond, South March HighlandsThis summer a breach in the dam at Heron Pond in the South March Highland was discovered that appeared to be a natural occurrence. In such cases the beavers will usually repair the dam, but this did not happen and it appears they have abandoned the dam and the pond. This has caused the water levels in Heron Pond to drop dramatically so that what once appeared to be a lake now appears to be dryingrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-35179377710251133602011-08-12T19:03:00.001-04:002011-08-12T19:11:02.150-04:00The Geology of Kakakiwaganda Lake (Rock Lake)Every summer we spend about a week at our favourite Bed and Breakfast Whispering Pines On the Bay which is about half-way between Sudbury and Killarney Provincial Park. Not only does it have gracious friendly hosts and interesting guests from all over the world, it is also located on beautiful Kakakiwaganda Lake, or as the locals call it, Rock Lake.
We also get out kayaking on the lake at least rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-13712116394374438372011-08-10T19:22:00.000-04:002011-08-10T19:24:02.504-04:00Three Things Every Casual Cyclist Should KnowWhile I am by no means an expert, as a serious cyclist there are some things I have noticed that I would like to share with my readers, some of whom are thinking about taking up cycling in a more serious manner.
1. Almost everyone has their bicycle seats set too low. Even when I got my first good bike, the bike shop set it too low because they simply asked me what felt right rather than rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-88708076696560321542011-08-08T20:18:00.000-04:002011-08-08T20:21:19.323-04:00Solving Urbandale's Beaver Pond Forest Subdivision Marketing DilemmaThe normal method of promoting house sales by telling buyers their houses will be close to the wilderness of the South March Highlands probably isn't going to work for Urbandale, because reminding potential buyers that they just clear cut the Beaver Pond Forest is probably not their best marketing strategy.
So I am going to try to put myself into Urbandale's mindspace. One thing they have got torwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-56027560906708196652011-08-05T19:08:00.000-04:002011-08-05T19:09:04.520-04:00For The Bible Tells Me Sorwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-13490017909736170682011-08-03T20:59:00.006-04:002011-08-03T21:37:48.375-04:00His Spirit Will Live on: Grandfather William Commanda (Ojigkwanong/Morning Star)How does an atheist write about the death of a great spiritual leader. It would be hypocritical to use the conventional references to his passing on to a greater place or going to meet his creator. But there is nothing hypocritical in speaking of his spirit living on, for it will in his works and accomplishments and his teachings and especially in those he inspired to carry them on in the rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-14382527758898177892011-08-01T20:39:00.000-04:002011-08-01T20:41:26.813-04:00Dumping Shit in The Ottawa RiverThis blog post contains graphic language because there is no way to pretty up dumping shit in the city's drinking water source.If I were to walk into the Ottawa River and take a crap I would probably be arrested, and not just for indecent exposure but for polluting the river with human excrement.However the City Of Ottawa routinely dumps shit in the Ottawa River due to a an inadequate and rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-89593098953445199972011-07-31T19:26:00.000-04:002011-07-31T19:28:47.309-04:00Ottawa: Proud of It's Municipal Water Supply and It's Pathways - The DisconnectOttawa is very proud of the quality of it's municipal drinking water supply and goes to great lengths to assure people they do not need to buy bottled water.Ottawa is also very proud of it's shared recreational pathway system which, along with the NCCs pathways, provides a great opportunity for lengthy bicycle rides. Indeed, I regularly ride over 40 km, often over 70 km and occasionally even overrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-37772622308778579082011-07-24T18:35:00.003-04:002011-07-24T21:01:51.625-04:00Scary Bear Soundtrack Performs "Beaver Pond Forest"I recently had the opportunity to hear Scary Bear Soundtrack perform both their acoustic and rock versions of "Beaver Pond Forest" live and I have to say that I prefer the rock version of it, and of all their music. Those women can really rock and their drummer is amazing.beaver pond forestwritten by gloria (2010)when the movie stopped, we took a walkinto the woods behind the cinemayou touched myrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-2586183200029781132011-07-21T14:42:00.002-04:002011-07-21T14:47:06.235-04:00Riding on the Hottest Day of the YearKnowing it was supposed to be the hottest day of the year I decided it would be a good day for a hybrid ride, but not being a fool I set out at 9:00 in the morning when it was only about 25 degrees with a humidex around 30, and headed towards Westboro Beach.It really wasn't too bad and I passed several other cyclists, mostly my age or older. There were actually very few people at the beaches rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-84078918191612155282011-07-20T19:18:00.001-04:002011-07-20T19:21:37.827-04:00Back From The Great Green NorthThe Fifth Column has been idle for a few weeks because the Fifth Columnist has been on vacation in Northern Ontario.We spent about a week at our favourite bed and breakfast, Whispering Pines on the Bay between Killarney Provincial Park and Sudbury. After that we spent almost a week at Killarney Lodge in Algonquin Park. Although a bit pricey, Killarney Lodge is a family operated lodge on Lake of rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-17619217650238130552011-06-22T19:01:00.001-04:002011-06-22T19:08:12.109-04:00Announcing Kanata's Paradise Lost - World's First World Heritage SubdivisionThe following is a fable, but like all fables it contains hidden (and not so hidden) truths.Yes, for the first, and undoubtedly last time in the world, you can own a house on a World Heritage Site. Only in Ottawa, the world's "Developers Rule Capital" ©Development Ottawa Promotion Establishment (DOPE), could this be possible. Killing Nature Limited (KNL) , in conjunction with UrbanDesolation Inc.rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-88221603580126322052011-06-17T18:51:00.006-04:002011-06-17T19:58:06.210-04:00108 Kilometres and 5 Pounds Later (Ottawa River Pathways Hybrid Epic Ride)Well it has actually been a few years since I have done an Epic (Over 100 kilometre) Hybrid Ride and I have been wanting to find out just how long a ride encompassing both the western and eastern Ottawa River pathways would be, having rode both separately.Click on Map to EnlargeOne of the things keeping me from doing this sooner was the lack of proper connectiveness between the two sections, rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-59917711500717654152011-05-28T11:10:00.000-04:002011-05-28T11:12:05.533-04:00The NDP, The Quebec Question and 50% + 1Much has been made of Jack Layton's "controversial" comments on a possible Quebec sovereignty referendum.The fact is that it is a very rational and defensible position. Based on the closest precedent, the entry of Newfoundland into Confederation, Quebec has followed the same rules, keep on holding referendums hoping to get the result you want with 50% + 1 required for passage. After all, rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-66493760955027259842011-05-27T20:01:00.003-04:002011-05-27T20:10:34.584-04:00Reflections on Mapping the South March Highlands Kanata Lakes TrailsFor purposes of simplicity, although both trail systems are within the South March Highlands, I will refer to these trails, across from the Goulbourn Forced Road (GFR) parking lot, as the KL trails and the ones in the Conservation Forest as the SMH trails.On Wednesday (May 25, 2011) I started my latest mapping project of what mountain bikers refer to as the Kanata Lakes trails, to distinguish rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-23623014540566968932011-05-19T18:02:00.002-04:002011-05-19T18:07:12.356-04:00Obama Gets it Right on PalestinePresident Obama understands what I wrote three and a half years ago, that ending the Israeli Palestinian conflict depends on recognizing that "the solution essentially comes down to understanding the most and least that each side can accept".We could argue forever whether the State of Israel should have been created the way it was but, as most Palestinians have come to accept, that is a rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-23223220771763215702011-05-13T19:03:00.001-04:002011-05-13T19:06:20.061-04:00And The Contempt ContinuesBefore Parliament even resumes Cabinet Ministers are issuing decrees to Parliamentary committees:"Industry Minister Tony Clement said Thursday he will ask oil industry refiners, distributors and retailers to appear before a parliamentary committee to explain their 'opaque' pricing methods once Parliament resumes."rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-62474921456129009542011-05-02T09:02:00.003-04:002011-05-02T09:04:16.926-04:00REMEMBERIt's Time To Voterwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-25235441731389935262011-05-01T20:00:00.003-04:002011-05-01T20:06:11.647-04:00Best CN Cycle for CHEO/Tour Nortel YetWell surprisingly this was the best year ever that I have had riding in the Tour Nortel or CN Cycle for CHEO. I've been fighting something off all week and was not even sure when I got up this morning if I could do it but decided once I was on my bike everything would be OK.click image to enlargeAfter iffy forecasts the weather turned out great, even if it started out cool. The route was very rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-68760843205700075352011-04-28T13:56:00.002-04:002011-04-28T14:18:59.417-04:00Go Canada Gorwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-24527409930279193042011-04-27T10:20:00.000-04:002011-04-27T10:21:49.189-04:00A Message to Canadian Voters from Tommy DouglasHistorical BackgroundMouseland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaTommy Douglas and the NDP | CBC Archivesrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-66557809125989948582011-04-23T09:00:00.001-04:002011-04-23T09:01:57.570-04:00It's TimeYou don't have to choose between tweedle dumb and tweedle dumberrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-19857885607203395142011-04-22T19:59:00.004-04:002011-12-17T22:46:51.097-05:00Gordon O'Connor on the South March Highlands"it isn't special ... there's nothing special about it"
rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-48997079485715454422011-04-20T20:51:00.006-04:002011-04-23T09:11:44.627-04:00Minority Governments for Dummies (and Tory PMs)the voters elect the House of Commons to governthe leader of the current government (the government before the election) has the right to meet the House and attempt to gain its confidence, however usually the party with the most seats gets the first opportunity to be Prime Minister and lead the governmentresponsible government requires that the Prime Minister maintains the confidence of the rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-35661441209152945142011-04-17T15:42:00.001-04:002011-04-17T15:43:26.563-04:00Music For A Sunday Afternoonrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-64009584960650048652011-04-15T09:49:00.002-04:002011-09-05T20:52:43.898-04:00Why You Must Vote on Monday May 2, 2011ShitHarperDid.comShitHarperDid.comrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-20395083235321255502011-04-14T09:45:00.009-04:002011-04-20T10:02:53.601-04:00South March Highlands and Carp Hills - NCC Role in Protecting Natural Environment Lands: Beyond The GreenbeltThis post is also being sent via email to National Capital Commission CEO Marie Lemay ( Marie.Lemay@ncc-ccn.ca )click on map to enlargeThe National Capital Commission has recently published maps identifying natural environment lands within the National Capital Region as part of it's concept plans for the Greenbelt Master Plan Review.Interestingly, none of the lands identified are within the rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-13120579006984635902011-04-13T20:36:00.001-04:002011-04-13T20:37:55.252-04:00Rant For CanadaAre You Voting For Canadarwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-91358906363268631762011-04-12T22:23:00.000-04:002011-04-12T22:25:04.294-04:00The Debate: Canadian Values WinThe most interesting thing I noticed about the debate was where all the leaders, or at least all of the federalist leaders, agreed. These were on what I would consider to be the most basic of Canadian values, but values that many of us suspect are not dear to the heart of Stephen Harper, yet he provided vigorous defences of them - public health care and multiculturalism. It speaks well to their rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-1068712722813124652011-04-06T11:38:00.001-04:002011-04-06T11:41:56.280-04:00Ottawa's Green Bin Program - Time for City Council to LeadAn Open Letter to Ottawa City Council and Residents RE: Residential Solid Waste Service Level Review RecommendationsThis open letter is being posted on my blog, The Fifth Column ( http://the5thc.blogspot.com/ ) and being sent via email to the the following city councillors:Jim.Watson@ottawa.caAllan.Hubley@ottawa.caMarianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.caDavid.Chernushenko@ottawa.caThere is a time for rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-68270430319442453002011-04-05T20:12:00.005-04:002011-04-05T20:15:55.929-04:00Stephen Harper Doing What Comes NaturallySource: Dawg's Blawgrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-50316777367762223412011-03-31T22:16:00.000-04:002011-03-31T22:19:25.758-04:00Do You Really Support Stephen HarperAre you a lifelong conservative, perhaps going back to the Progressive Conservative Party. Do you assume Stephen Harper represents you because he is the leader of the Conservative Party.Find out which party really represents your views by taking the Vote Compass survey.You might be surprised by the results. But don't assume a Liberal Party bias, as many have. I am a lifelong NDP supporter and it rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-32734701574458177192011-03-30T20:38:00.001-04:002011-03-30T20:38:58.981-04:00Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber Pushing for Two Party SystemIt started with Ignatieff joining Harper's anti-coalition bandwagon, the common message being that the big boys don't share power with the little guys and it's extended to the push for a debate between just Harper and Ignatieff because they think that they lead the only two parties that really matter.It is clear that the fight for a more democratic Canada and a more representative electoral rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-18608988947981288842011-03-29T10:43:00.003-04:002011-03-29T10:48:35.263-04:00Get Your Conservative Party Logo HereSourcerwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-30038438327404497952011-03-28T15:01:00.004-04:002011-07-20T16:43:50.004-04:00Map of The Kanata Lakes 40% Travestyclick on map for full size imageThis map, released by the City of Ottawa, makes it abundantly clear just how much of a travesty the so-called Kanata Lakes 40% agreement is. Indeed it was clearly a public relations exercise that the City of Kanata and Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton had to be complicit with, or totally incompetent to be taken in by.We have an agreement that allows land rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-49031703311306727462011-03-27T22:13:00.000-04:002011-03-27T22:15:01.385-04:00The Coalition is Dead - Someone Tell Stephen HarperThe idea of a coalition government is dead for the simple reason that it is not in Michael Ignatieff's political interest to enter into a coalition that would require him to share power. Although it is in his political interest not to contradict Stephen Harper's coalition fear mongering but to leave the impression he is opposed to a coalition because of it's supposed illegitimacy.Of course, if rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-15821126641509088102011-03-26T18:42:00.002-04:002011-03-26T18:49:39.815-04:00Too Smart For CanadaI am not a big fan of Michael Ignatieff but this is brilliant.rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-51010631049242837222011-03-24T12:33:00.002-04:002011-03-24T12:40:28.716-04:00Democracy ElectionWhile thousands worldwide sacrifice their lives for the right to free elections Canadians complain about having one.That is not to say there are no reasons for some Canadians not to want an election. Certainly if you support the Reformatories you have it pretty good right now. With a minority in the House of Commons (and an even smaller minority of public support) they have control of the rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-9191585037580385542011-03-23T11:48:00.001-04:002011-03-23T11:54:12.185-04:00Democracy Under AttackDemocracy is clearly under attack in Canada by those who always claim to be it's defenders, and led by the man who would be dictator.Stephen Harper wants all the trappings of Presidential Power without the checks and balances of the separation of powers in the American system, nor the inconveniences of accountability to Parliament in our system of responsible government.Pierre Trudeau is reportedrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-22439800248250225172011-03-06T11:40:00.004-05:002011-03-06T19:49:32.067-05:00South March Highlands: The New Mapclick on map to enlargerwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-34350129583478403122011-02-23T11:33:00.005-05:002011-02-23T12:17:44.304-05:00The Struggle to Protect The South March Highlands SimplifiedWhat is the Most Important Thing to Know About the South March HighlandsThe key things to know about the South March Highlands are:• it is a popular all year recreation destination for people from all over Ottawa and an international mountain biking destination• while, within the City of Ottawa, it feels like wilderness when you are in it• it is a candidate Area of Natural and Scientific Interestrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-88935408489142160972011-02-18T21:02:00.001-05:002011-02-18T21:06:52.683-05:00The Next Generation of The First Peoples Looks at The South March Highlands'Sacred Dollars' (Documentary by Aurora Finkle) Since the tender age of 9 yrs old, Aurora Finkle has had an incredible and impressive musical career. Having won the 2000 dollar grand prize at 08's National Aboriginal Day 'We Got Talent' competition in Ottawa, Aurora has performed at numerous events. She has performed in front of the Senate, Grand Hall in the Museum of Civilization, Pow-wows, rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-64117527615969779112011-02-04T08:15:00.010-05:002011-03-05T13:51:38.195-05:00Stand Up and Be Counted for the South March HighlandsDo you support saving the South March Highlands from destruction.If so, you are probably aware of the fact that Internet trolls, the media and even Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson seem to be doing all they can to foster a myth that this is a NIMBY issue, supported only be people who live near the Beaver Pond Forest.However the truth is that much more than just the Beaver Pond Forest is at stake. Indeed arwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-21260983451799695692011-02-03T11:57:00.001-05:002011-02-03T15:28:22.564-05:00Mayor Jimmy and Mayor Larry: So Similar, Yet DifferentMayor Jimmy came into office an a platform of accepting Mayor Larry's position on the two big issues of the day Lansdowne Park and Light Rail, as well as having the Mayor's Office draw up the draft budget. Only his style was apparently different.Ironically, neither one of them understands what leadership is. Mayor Larry seemed to think it was bossership, acting as a CEO and giving orders. Mayor rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-50890802500467929442011-02-01T09:07:00.002-05:002011-02-01T09:14:06.827-05:00Bearing Witness at the Beaver Pond ForestSometimes, as a social responsibility, people have to bear witness to unbearable things, such as the killing of people in state-sanctioned executions. Thankfully in Canada we have progressed to a state where we are more civilized than that.However, in Kanata this week citizens take up the responsibility for witnessing just as uncivilized an act as they bear witness to the state-sanctioned rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-26851251137696702962011-01-27T10:13:00.003-05:002011-01-27T10:49:12.408-05:00An Atheist Visits The Sacred FireI am an atheist. I do not believe in god or mythical beings, nor do I believe in organized religion. I think of myself as a physical and intellectual being and not as a spiritual one.So what does "sacred" mean to me. That is a good question for I do not usually think of things in that manner. But if I was to think of anything as "sacred" it would be the land, and in particular, land in it's rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-1579197812804906202011-01-24T13:26:00.007-05:002011-01-24T16:35:50.242-05:00Pray For The Land(please click on above image to enlarge and read)Statement by the Coalition to Protect the South March Highlands Attached is a download link to the Pray for the Land announcement planned for this Sunday, Jan 30, in the South March Highlands [announcement appears above this statement]. The current outlook, which we are still working hard to prevent, will have tree clearing begin in Beaver Pond rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-90559599891364836552011-01-23T14:59:00.003-05:002011-01-23T15:30:45.110-05:00Algonquin Chiefs Statement re proposed development in the South March Highlands (Beaver Pond Forest)This is posted at the request of the ChiefsJanuary 22, 2011Kwey Kwey, We are writing to you on behalf of several Algonquin communities who remain outside of the comprehensive land claims process and thus have not been consulted about the proposed development in the South March Highlands. The Beaver Pond Forest is one of the only remaining stands of forest in southern Ontario that contains old rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-76324336955670134552011-01-21T08:29:00.002-05:002011-01-21T08:35:54.817-05:00Will the Beaver Pond Forest Eve of Destruction lead to the South March Highlands Dawn of Correction"Make no mistake about it. Those trees will come down."Those words from City of Ottawa senior legal counsel Tim Marc, in late July 2010, make it clear that the City never intended any real consultation with the community or with any Algonquin First Nations representatives. Indeed nothing has changed since the election as far as developers determining city policies is concerned, other than perhapsrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-6000903670876342912011-01-20T11:20:00.000-05:002011-01-20T11:21:03.132-05:00Algonquin Sacred Fire at the Beaver Pond Forest of the South March Highlandsrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-2060991753875945632011-01-16T09:56:00.006-05:002011-01-16T10:01:54.336-05:00Working Class Hero - Rest In PeaceHated by some members of the public, André Cornellier always put his members first - a true Working Class HeroOttawa Citizen Obituaryrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-51178687263566671372011-01-15T11:03:00.002-05:002011-01-15T11:10:16.467-05:00RESPECTCity of Ottawa Consultations with Algonquin First Nations re South March HighlandsIt is not the purpose of this post to suggest to the Algonquin how they should represent their people in consultations with the City of Ottawa, but rather, as an Ottawa resident, to suggest to the City of Ottawa that it should deal with respect with the Algonquin in representing our interests.The Ottawa Citizen rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-82638926936093985952011-01-12T07:42:00.008-05:002011-01-13T09:21:01.218-05:00Aboriginal Peoples Speak Out on the South March HighlandsIn their words:A Message from William Commanda regarding the Proposed Development in South March Highlands January 6, 2011 Your Worship the Mayor and City Councillors, City of Ottawa Re: Proposed Development in South March Highlands Greetings for the New Year. I write again with respect to the campaign to save the South March Highlands site. This holiday season has been afire with the passion of rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-37839446072451872462011-01-08T20:54:00.002-05:002011-01-08T21:52:27.538-05:00Who Speaks For The Forest - Beaver Pond SongRough Cut: Beaver Pond SongBy Julie ComberSo much noise out thereCan be hard to hear your own voiceSo much power used against usmake ya feel you have no choiceWe may each feel smallBut together we stand tallSo wake up and raise your voiceGo on and make your choiceWho’s gonna fix this If we back downWho’s gonna save Our sacred groundIts an old storyWe don’t have much timeTo stop the chainsaws To rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-55331878549334016072011-01-06T15:29:00.004-05:002011-01-06T15:52:18.888-05:00Protest Urbandale Plans to Needlessly and Mercilessly Kill Beaver Pond Forest WildlifeDemand Destructive Clear Cutting Be Put Off Till SpringSave Beaver Pond Rally - At Urbandale Sales OfficeWhere: Urbandale Kanata Sales Office (They are the lead developer)When: Saturday, January 8 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pmMeet at All Saints High School Parking Lot & we will walk across the street to Urbandale Sales Office Implications of Destruction (courtesy of Evelyn Abell)Are we a society rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-45721003788319313472011-01-05T22:31:00.003-05:002011-01-05T22:33:43.838-05:00"Nigger" is Not a Nice Word"Nigger" is definitely not a nice word. But there is a reason for that and it has to do with what it represents and the history behind it. It reflects an attitude that is tied to the history of oppression of Black Americans, including, segregation, slavery and lynchings. This is a history that should not be forgotten. Removing the word from that history and from literature that reflects the rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-22145405935437727732010-12-23T09:45:00.003-05:002010-12-23T09:50:49.659-05:00South March Highlands Dreams Set to MusicThe Community's DreamTrail Riders' DreamUrbandale/KNL's Dreamrwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-57506579162381049992010-12-22T13:13:00.003-05:002010-12-22T13:23:01.135-05:00Can Divine Intervention Save The South March HighlandsIt appears that Ottawa City Council does not have the political will to stand up to the developers and save the South March Highlands. Indeed, City Council does not appear to even have the political will to stand up to City staff.So it is now left to divine intervention, and by divine intervention I mean higher levels of government. I have attempted to get the National Capital Commission to act rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-33933438406151886362010-12-19T19:31:00.002-05:002010-12-19T19:34:52.478-05:00In the United Kingdom Peaceful Protest Is Now TerrorismFrom Democracy Under Fire:Here’s one example of the intimidation of peaceful protest by the young that is happening all over Britain. Nicky Wishart is a 12-year-old self-described “maths geek” who lives in the heart of David Cameron’s constituency. He was gutted when he found out his youth club was being shut down as part of the cuts: there’s nowhere else to hang out in his village. He was rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-40761223371487708282010-12-14T11:03:00.032-05:002010-12-14T15:23:33.153-05:00South March Highlands - An Open LetterAs well as being posted on my blog, The Fifth Column ( http://the5thc.blogspot.com/ ), this is being sent to:Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson ( Jim.Watson@ottawa.ca )Ottawa City Councillor Allan Hubley ( Allan.Hubley@ottawa.ca )Ottawa City Councillor Marianne Wilkinson ( Marianne.Wilkinson@ottawa.ca )Ottawa City Councillor David Chernushenko ( David.Chernushenko@ottawa.ca )National Capital Commission CEO rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-18290395182338323082010-12-12T14:42:00.002-05:002010-12-19T19:27:56.252-05:00Generation Inspired - Let Capitalism FailNo comment required.However, I cannot help but comment as I watch this and think about how we are supposed to react to the international response to the economic crisis and the measures being taken to save capitalism from collapse. What is happening is exactly what Karl Marx predicted except that he did nor foresee the use of a form of socialism for the rich to save capitalism. As governments rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-81356636057934929082010-12-07T20:29:00.002-05:002010-12-07T20:34:05.500-05:00Has Wikileaks Gone Off TrackIf I recall correctly, it seems to me, that the original idea of Wikileaks was to provide an outlet for whistle-blowers who wanted to draw attention to government wrongdoing by releasing the documents that prove it.Now it seems that the idea is that no information, whether government or corporate, should be confidential and that they will publish anything and everything leaked to them regardless rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-56478762399427693762010-12-03T20:30:00.003-05:002010-12-04T20:35:20.667-05:00Blue Wall of Pork Circles The WagonsAs Ottawa Police come under attack for repeated acts of brutality, rather than condemning the perpetrators, the Ottawa Police Association goes after the judges who have condemned the atrocities.As the Ottawa Citizen reports:The association is now looking at the possibility of filing a complaint into the comments made by Justice Richard Lajoie, who brought attention to officers’ mistreatment of rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893059037012490058.post-62605956689570466332010-11-28T15:26:00.003-05:002010-11-28T15:47:34.398-05:00What is Really Scary is ...Some people will support the police whatever they do. When I saw the recent CBC poll I was disturbed, but then when I saw the CFRA poll I was disgusted.CBC Poll - Did the Ottawa police officers go too far in their dealings with Stacy Bonds?Yes 88.99% No 8.93% Undecided 2.08% CFRA Poll - Should Ontario’s Attorney General resign after the province said it supports the decision made by crown rwwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00512582677240907287noreply@blogger.com1