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February 2011 Archives

Monday February 28, 2011

All in a Day Music - Monday Feb 28

Between 3 & 4:

  • "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine" by Patti Page, from the soundtrack The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
  • "Clavdia's Waltz" by the Dreadnoughts, from the album Polka's Not Dead
  • "Hush" by Marie-Josee Houle, from the album Monsters

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Paper Airplane" by Buck 65, from the album 20 Odd Years
  • "The Glorious Land" by PJ Harvey, from the album Let England Shake
  • "Just a Song Before I Go" by Paul Keeling, from the album Farthest Reach

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Farewell" by the Deep Dark Woods, from the album Winter Hours
  • "Caught You Looking" by Oh My Darling

Monday February 28, 2011

Political Panel: Getting Canadians out of Libya

This week's political panel may have seen no MPs in the House, but there was still plenty of politicking in Ottawa & beyond. On the agenda for Susan Lunn and Rob Russo this week: the government's response time in getting Canadians out of Libya, Elections Canada's charge of Conservative overspending during the 2006 election campaign, and a cross-country economic blitz by Conservative MPs.

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Categories: Columnists, Political Panel

Monday February 28, 2011

A Russian-Kiwi-Ottawan on a toy piano

pestova.jpgSometimes, pianist Xenia Pestova thinks big -- like when she plays a 9-foot grand piano.

But often, Xenia thinks small -- like a-piano-you-can-pick-up-and-take-with-you kind of small.

The Ottawa-based performer, trained in Russia and New Zealand, brought her toy piano in studio as one of her last local performances before heading off to Wales to head performance studies at a university there. Tune in to hear just what a tiny piano can sound like in the capable hands of Xenia.

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Photo by Veronika von Volkova

Monday February 28, 2011

The Caldwell Glee Club

When some neighbours in the Carlington area tuned into the popular TV show Glee, they saw more than just high school students singing and dancing. They saw a way to bring the people of their very diverse neighbourhood together. 

The result is the Caldwell Glee Club, made up of Carlington residents, and this past weekend was their first performance. Two of the members, Steve Crawford and his mother Darlene, joined us in studio for a preview, and to explain how the simple act of singing is helping to dispell some of the stereotypes about where they live. 

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Monday February 28, 2011

Monday Feb 28 - links & info from the show

Monday February 28, 2011

The Aylmer man who got close to Oscar

OK, so he didn't win. But it was still pretty cool that the Aylmer-born-and-raised, L.A.-based animator Dean DeBlois was up for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film this past weekend -- the film in question being the well-reviewed How to Train Your Dragon.

On Friday, as the buzz over the impending Academy Awards began to build, we reached Dean in L.A. -- and his very proud mom, too.

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Friday February 25, 2011

All in a Day Music - Friday Feb 25

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Straight Up the Dial" by Hooded Fang, from the album Hooded Fang
  • "Lunar Attack" by the Reverb Syndicate, from the album Sputnik-a-Go-Go
  • Live toy piano performance by Xenia Pestova -- Broken Music Box by Clio Montrey
  • "Misery" by Peter Elkas, from the album Repeat Offender

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Oh My Heart" by Jenn Grant, from the album Honeymoon Punch
  • "How I Met You" by Jenn Grant, from the album Honeymoon Punch
  • "Any Fool Can Fall in Love" by Jill Barber, from the album Mischievous Moon

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Gakondo" by Mighty Popo, from the album by the same name

 

Friday February 25, 2011

Robert Fontaine's Oscar picks and pans

If you're going to be one of the millions who stays glued to the tube on Sunday for the glitz and glam of the Oscars, you're probably going to want to hear Robert Fontaine's predictions before you settle in with your popcorn.

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Categories: Columnists, Film

Friday February 25, 2011

Double-decker buses: will they work for Ottawa?

doubledecker.jpgOC Transpo is hoping to take more of its riders to new heights.They're asking the city for 75 double-decker buses for express routes across the city, which would expand on a pilot project the agency has been running. 

Double deckers can carry double the number of passengers compared to the older buses -- and only 8 of those 90 passengers have to stand.

But not everyone is welcoming more double-deckers. Some say they present unique challenges for people with disabilities. Catherine Gardner is the chair of the city's advisory committee on accessibility, and Charles Matthews is the president of Access Now. Both joined us on Thursday's show to talk about the practical realities of bus design.

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What do you think? How do you like the design of double-decker buses? What kind of bus design works best? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below, or email us. And stay tuned to All in a Day next week, when we pose a bus design challenge to industrial design students at Carleton University.

Friday February 25, 2011

Protecting whistleblowers -- for real this time...

In three years as the Public Service Integrity Commissioner, Christiane Ouimet never found a single case of wrongdoing in the public service -- but only because she wasn't looking.

Now a local integrity protection group says it wasn't just the commissioner that was to blame for not shielding whistleblowers; it was also the law. The Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR) has identified over two dozen loopholes in the legislation. And they're joining an alliance of 30 citizens' groups to call on the government to close those holes and start protecting whistleblowers.

David Hutton is the director of FAIR, and he joined us in the studio on Thursday.

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Thursday February 24, 2011

All in a Day Music - Thursday Feb 24

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Honey" by Great Bloomers, from the album Speak of Trouble
  • "Chere Trahison" by Melissa Laveaux, from the album Camphor and Copper
  • "Bumps and Grinds" by Sonny Lester

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Malayisha" by Lorraine Klaasen, from the album Africa Calling
  • "Drive On" by Johnny Cash
  • "Howlin' with Hubert" by JW Jones, from the album Midnight Memphis Sun

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Your Sweet Name" by Harry Manx, from the album Isle of Manx
  • "We Belong Together" by Randy Newman, from the album Toy Story 3

Thursday February 24, 2011

Bureaucratese, in both official languages

PSvocab.gifAcross conference room tables all over Ottawa float terms that would make little sense to anyone outside the public service. Like annual estimates cycle ... or superannuation. And just try translating this bureaucratese into French -- quite the challenge indeed.

But retired public servant Dick de Jong has written a book that will soon be on desks all over the city. It's the first bilingual dictionary of terms for bureaucrats, and it's called the Bilingual Vocabulary for Governance, Public Policy and Administration. Listen below to find out what made Dick wade through mountains of bureaucratese to compile this book -- and how it might help those taking their French exams.

 

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Thursday February 24, 2011

A new provincial session

How much work can possibly get done in the new Queen's Park session if election fever is so thick in the air?

There are still 7 months to go before Ontario goes to the polls, but already MPPs are making promises and staking ground. We checked in with 2 local MPPs, Conservative Steve Clark from Leeds-Grenville, and Yasir Naqvi from Ottawa Centre, about how they'll be serving their constituents this season -- and earning their votes again in October.

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Thursday February 24, 2011

A new company for the old bard

Can Ottawa sustain another theatre company? How 'bout one that focuses entirely on the works of Shakespeare?

The new Ottawa Shakespeare Company says yes. And not only that, but they plan to update the plays with some edited versions, and reach out to any Shakespeare-nervous potential audiences by making the plays as accessible as possible. Listen to the interview with company director Charles McFarland below to hear just how they plan to do that. And watch for Hamlet 2011 to hit the stage in late April.

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Wednesday February 23, 2011

All in a Day Music - Wednesday Feb 23

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Let's Go to the Beach" by the White Wires, from the album WWII
  • "The Measure of Attitude" by Eye Was an Ion, from the album Eye Was an Ion
  • "Winter Winds" by Mumford & Sons, from the album Sigh No More

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Man of Constant Sorrow" by Elage Diouf, from the album Aksil
  • "Starting as People II" by Giant Hand, from the album Starting as People

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair" by Led Zeppelin, from the album BBC Sessions

Wednesday February 23, 2011

D is For Dinner: Short Ribs

Serves: 4

Wine pairing: Peller Estates Cabernet 2009 VQA
Trius Cabernet Sauvignon VQA
Dan Aykroyd 2007 Cabernet Shiraz VQA

Ingredients
=== Protein ===
3-4 lbs short ribs - flanken cut or along the bone
=== Braising liquid ===
1 large onion
2 large carrots
1 celery stalk
3-5 garlic cloves
4 tbsp flour
1/3 small can tomato paste
200ml red wine for deglazing
1 tomato, large
1.5L beef stock
1/2 tsp mustard powder, optional
1/2 tsp chili powder or cayenne (for a more smokey flavour, use chipotle), optional
1 Jalapeno pepper
=== Bouquet Garni
10 cps black peppercorns
6 thyme stems
6 parsley stems
3 bay leaves
=== to finish ===
callebaut dark chocolate chippits, to taste
=== Garniture ===
2 large carrots, sliced
10 pearl onions, peeled
4 large potatoes
=== if glazing carrots and onions ===
sugar
butter
salt
Vegetables
Prepare the vegetables when the ribs are cooking. Some vegetables that would pair well with
the short ribs are:
• Glazed pearl onions
• Glazed or boiled carrots
• Glazed white turnip
• Boiled Green beans
• Roast potatoes
Ribs and sauce
• Cut carrots, onions, celery in large pieces and cut garlic cloves in half.
• Season (salt and white pepper) the ribs
• Using some vegetable or olive oil, sear the ribs in a dutch oven/cocotte on top of the
stove. Heat the oil and then add the ribs. Sear all sides of the ribs. Reserve.
• To the cocotte, add onions, carrots, celery and garlic and sauté until soft.
• Add flour: Move the vegetables to the side, add flour directly on bottom and about 30
seconds later mix vegetables with flour. The flour will cook slightly and give nicer
flavour; it will also thicken the sauce while the ribs cook. There will be some of the
flour sticking to the bottom; that's expected. Deglazing the pan (below) will fix that.
• Add tomato paste: Move the vegetables to the side, add the paste directly on bottom
and about 30 seconds later mix vegetables with paste. The paste is there to give
colour and some flavour. There will be some paste sticking to the bottom; deglazing
(below) will fix that.
• Deglaze with good red wine making sure to clean the bottom of the cocotte with a
scraper/spatula. The wine should cover the bottom of the cocotte (¼ to ½ inch is
good).
• Add fresh tomato if desired. Chop tomato in large pieces and add to pot.
• Place ribs in cocotte. Try to avoid placing the ribs directly on the bottom as they may
burn.
• Add beef stock to cover. This liquid will be a sauce later. Depending on the size of the
cocotte more than 1.5L may be needed to cover.
• Add bouquet garni items and other spices including jalapeno pepper. Do not add the
chocolate at this point; it's for when the sauce is complete.
• Bring liquid to a boil, cover and place in 225F oven. Cook until rib meat is falling from
the bone - about 3 hours.
While the ribs are cooking, prepare some extra vegetables as the ones being cooked with the
ribs will be thoroughly soggy and have all their flavour removed into the sauce.
Making the sauce and finishing
• When the meat is done remove the rib meat carefully to another plate, reserve under
aluminium foil. The bones can be discarded. It's usually easiest to do this by spooning
out the solid items with a slotted spoon and picking out the meat from that.
• Strain liquid into bowl/pot, removing any meat missed in the step above - this will form
the basis of the sauce. The vegetables can be discarded.
• Wipe cocotte clean as it will be used to finish the sauce.
• Strain sauce back into cocotte.
• Reduce sauce until fairly thick (a la nappe) and check seasoning. If the sauce is too
thick, add water or beef stock to thin.
• Add the chocolate over low heat (or even off heat if the cocotte has enough heat in it).
Melt the chocolate into the sauce. Check seasoning.
• When sauce is at the right consistency and has the right seasoning place the ribs back
in the cocotte and fully coat. Heat in the oven at 350F for a few minutes to reheat
the ribs.
• Serve with the new vegetables.

Compliments of James Watt of the Manotick Village Butcher

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Categories: Columnists, D is for Dinner

Wednesday February 23, 2011

How should teens talk about suicide?

When 14 year-old Daron Richardson killed herself last November, the issue of teen suicide rose to the surface in Ottawa. And since then, there have been countless school assemblies, and public talks about teen suicide. But the question remains -- what should teens do if a friend says they want to die?

Krystal Shannon, the friend of Jesse Graham --- a 17 year old in Perth who killed himself last June, just days before his high school graduation -- has been wondering that since her friend died. And for a response, we spoke with Anne Marie Nicolson. She's a suicide intervention trainser with the Royal Ottawa Hospital, and she joined us on Tuesday's show. 

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If you or a loved one needs someone to talk to about suicide or mental health, these organizations can help:

  • The Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line for Eastern Ontario (1-877-377-7775)
  • Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
  • Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (613-260-2360)
  • Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth (613-264-1415)

Wednesday February 23, 2011

Libyans rally in Ottawa

For the third time this week, protestors came together in Ottawa to demand the resignation of Moammar Gadhafi.

On Tuesday, about hundred people started outside the Libyan embassy on Metcalfe street and marched to Parliament Hill. Their call for action has taken on new meaning since Gadhafi appeared on state television earlier that day -- he vowed to stay on leader of the country and said he would die a martyr.   

Joining us on the phone from the rally in Ottawa were Safiah Aghliew and Balquees Meherig, who both helped to organize the Ottawa rally.

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Wednesday February 23, 2011

Marc Jordan's journey

jordan.jpgMarc Jordan's song "Hueco Tanks" describes looking for America The Brave. And, in fact, many of the poetic songs on Marc's new album Crucifix in Dreamland have him describing travelling around the States --  in one song he writes about leaving home for Southern California...another describes New Mexico melting in the sun, or a trip from Springfield to Maine, and in one tune he's walking down Sunset Boulevard, while another song's title says it all with "NY Snow".

But Marc Jordan -- a Canadian, we should remind everyone, even if he was born in Brooklyn -- made it through the Ottawa snow to be with us in studio on Tuesday.

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Wednesday February 23, 2011

Take a (Virtual) tour of your neighbourhood

There are plenty of ways to get out and explore your neighbourhood. But one local blogger is making the experience easier than ever -- right on your smartphone. He's using social media to curate guided tours of Ottawa communities, and taking explorers to little-known Ottawa landmarks. Even from the comfort of your own home.

Evan Thornton is the editor of the Spacing Ottawa Blog, and he joined us in studio on Tuesday to guide us along. Listen below to hear about the tours, and you can also get more info here.  

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Tuesday February 22, 2011

All in a Day Music - Tuesday Feb 22

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Wrongs" by Withering Pines, from the album Into Corners
  • "Good for You" by Shannon Rose & the Thorns, from the album Sing Me a Song
  • "Hueco Tanks" by Marc Jordan, from the album Crucifix in Dreamland
  • "Like the Sun" by Marc Jordan, from the album Crucifix in Dreamland

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Ramblin' Man" by Hank Williams, performed by Serena Ryder & the Beauties, from the album Serena Ryder and the Beauties

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Little Voice" by Rebekah Higgs, from the album Little Voice

Tuesday February 22, 2011

Links & Info from Tuesday's interviews

Tuesday February 22, 2011

Political Panel: Bev Oda's bad week, and Layton-Harper budget talks

On this political panel this week: It's clear Bev Oda's had a bad week. But how has that little word "not" reflected on Harper and the Conservatives? And what could the Harper-Layton talks on the budget mean for the possibility of a spring election? Rob Russo and Julie van Dusen reveal all.

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Categories: Columnists, Political Panel

Friday February 18, 2011

All in a Day Music - Friday Feb 18

Between 3 & 4:

  • "A Love That's Simple" by Roxanne Potvin, from the album The Way it Feels
  • "One Day" by Johnny Max Band, from the album It's a Long Road
  • "Do You Remember" by Ra Ra Riot, from the album The Orchard

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Soul Man" by Sam & Dave, from the album 100 Soul Classics
  • "Lotus Flower" by Radiohead (excerpt), from the album The King of Limbs

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Post Break-up Sex" by the Vaccines
  • "Shine a Light" by Eman

Friday February 18, 2011

Robert Fontaine reviews Black Swan and the King's Speech

Film reviewer Robert Fontaine has been catching up on the Oscar-nominated movies. This week: the psychological thriller Black Swan, and the period drama The King's Speech. Are they indeed Oscar-worthy? Find out by listening below.

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Categories: Columnists, Film

Friday February 18, 2011

MOOSE on transit

This week, people have been talking rail transit in the Ottawa region. But not the kind of rail transit that involves digging a tunnel downtown. An Ottawa group would like to see a network of passenger trains that criss-cross the region on both sides of the river, and they presented to public policy experts on Thursday.

The group is called MOOSE...That stands for Mobility Ottawa-Outaouais: Systems and Enterprises. Joseph Potvin is the president of MOOSE, and he joined us in studio to talk about a new proposal for light rail.

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Friday February 18, 2011

The U.S. National Ski Champ is...an Ottawan!

Let's start things off, half-way down Aspen Mountain in Colorado. Watch the last half of this:

 

Dude, Who was that!?

Dude, that was Dustin Cooke, tearing it up at the National Downhill Ski Championships in Aspen, Colorado on Wednesday.

The cheapseats commentary you hear in that race footage came as the 22 year-old from Ottawa screamed down the hill and became the the U.S. National Downhill Champion. He won the title with 2 one-hundredths of a second to spare. And he didn't have much more time to spare on Thursday, with 2 races to go, but he took the time to talk to us from the mountain.

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Thursday February 17, 2011

All in a Day Music - Thursday Feb 17

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Another Year Again" by the Sadies, from the album Darker Circles
  • "Ask Me Now" by Thelonious Monk, from the album The Very Best
  • "Common People" by Pulp, performed by William Shatner, from the album Has Been
  • "Don't Bury Me" by Tanya Davis, from the album Clocks and Hearts Keep Going

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele, from the album 21
  • "He's So Fine" by the Chiffons, from the album He's So Fine

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Move on Up" by Angelique Kidjo, from the album Oyo
  • "Through to You" by Ben Wilkins, from the album Back of My Head

Thursday February 17, 2011

Get talking about youth and mental health

Until a few months ago, youth and mental health issues wasn't something people in Ottawa discussed. Not often, anyhow. But the suicide of 14 year-old Daron Richardson in November changed that.

When Daron's parents spoke out about her suicide, more and more people began talking about it too. And now more parents are ready to bring that talk to their kids.

On Wednesday night, Michael Baine tried to get that conversation started. He gave a talk at the public school board's ongoing Speaker Series. Michael is a long-time educator and the chairperson of the Youth Services Bureau, and he joined us in studio before giving his tips to parents. 

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Thursday February 17, 2011

D is for Cuban Caldoza

The middle of February is a pretty good time to be taking that trip to Cuba. But if you can't quite drop everything, book the dog into a kennel, throw a few days worth of clothes into suitcase, and jump on the next seat airborne for Havana, we have a decent second option.

For D is for Dinner this week, we headed south, for some Cuban comfort food. Caldoza is a traditional Cuban soup -- and it's one of the specialties of Havana Cafe in Old Ottawa South.

Stu dropped by the restaurant to meet Oslaide Guerra, who was tossing a little of this and a little of that into the soup pot.

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Categories: Columnists, D is for Dinner

Thursday February 17, 2011

Winning Apps

ottawaguideapp.pngThroughout the past month we've been shining the spotlight on the app developers who are hoping to have some space on your smartphone -- and a piece of the winning pie at the city's Apps4Ottawa contest.

Well, we've got your winners -- two of them, anyway. Ekwa Duala-Ekoko won the overall prize, and a couple of others, for his Android app Ottawa Guide. It's a really neat program that allows you to hold up your phone to an Ottawa landmark, and instantly be linked to information about it.

No less neat is the app by Tyler Pearce, who won in the "best student app" and "having fun in Ottawa" categories for Ottawa Fun, which easily links Ottawans to recreational facilities, pools, rinks, and anything else you need for some, well, fun.

Ekwa and Tyler joined us on Wednesday's show to tell us what's next for their apps after their big wins, and how open data from the city might be used in the future.

 

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Wednesday February 16, 2011

All in a Day Music - Wednesday Feb 16

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Defier les Rites" by Tricot Machine, from the album La Prochaine Etape
  • "When the Movie's Over" by the Golden Dogs, from the album Coat of Arms
  • "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" by Paul Simon

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Flor de Amor" by Omara Portuondo, from the album Flor de Amor
  • "Awakening" by Souljazz Orchestra, from the album Rising Sun

Wednesday February 16, 2011

Wavin' Flag on the Carillon

It's played about 200 times a year. But of those performances, the Dominion Carillon bells ring out quite a lot O Canada, and Maple Leaf Forever. Tuesday was a little different, however. Tune in below and try to recognize what sung rung out on the Hill for Flag Day...

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Wednesday February 16, 2011

Vanier 311 -- snitching or preventative action?

Last year, the city fielded about 75-thousands calls to the 311 line -- that's the line for complaints about the neighbour's barking dog, a bylaw infraction, the car parked illegally on the street...Thing is, each of these phone calls costs money to investigate. And some people, like Councillor Rick Chiarelli, are urging people to maybe just try talking to their neighbours before they call 311 to snitch on them.

But there are some communities where calling 311 has had a positive impact --- like Vanier. Lucie Marleau is with Eyes on Vanier, a group that organizes regular community walks, and Elaine Leger is with the Vanier community association, and has lived in Vanier for more than 30 years. Both joined Stu in studio on Tuesday to talk about how 311 has helped clean up the community.

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Wednesday February 16, 2011

Tommy and Melanie have 2 pet rats and 1 syndrome

tommy.jpgWhat do you do when other kids friends make fun of your sister because she's different? In Tommy Glatzmayer's case, you write a book about it.

Tommy is eight years-old. And his ten-year-old sister Melanie has a rare condition called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. There are only 100 cases of CDLS in Canada.

Most people have have never heard of it, but thanks to "Tommy and Melanie Have Two Pet Rats and One Syndrome," that's about to change. Tommy and Melanie gave a presentation to their school in Manotick on Wednesday, but they stopped by our studio -- pet rats in hand -- the day before.

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Tuesday February 15, 2011

All in a Day Music - Tuesday Feb 15

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Blue" by We are Wolves, from the album Invisible Violence
  • "Nadine" by Fool's Gold, from the album Fool's Gold
  • "Crabbuckit" by K-OS, performed by the Good Lovelies, from the album Let the Rain Fall
  • "Wavin Flag" by K'Naan, from the album Troubadour

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Route 66" by Nat King Cole

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Hold My Hand" by Gramercy Riffs, from the album It's Heartbreak
  • "Singing Sands" by Catherine Maclellan, from the Great Canadian Song Quest
  • "Sand or Snow" by Wool and Howl, from the album Shake that Dusty Wool and Howl at the Sky

Tuesday February 15, 2011

Sweet Tarts Takeaway

Two friends, caterers and repo women...Wait, that doesn't sound familiar. But it's the premise of a new web-only TV series shot here in Ottawa. Sweet Tarts Takeaway debuts this week, and actor Kel Parson and series creator Bonnie Robinson joined us in studio on Tuesday to tell us all about it.

 

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Tuesday February 15, 2011

Tech Column: Beware of your username!

The digital world is full of threats to privacy and security: viruses, malware, phishing schemes...Now, according to new research, there's one more risk to add to the list: your username. Yes, your Twitter handle...or eBay user ID...could be used against you. Our technology columnist Dan Misener was here to explain, and here are links to both the research he cites and the tool you can use to see how safe your username is:

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Tuesday February 15, 2011

Bringing parents to Canada

Canadians waiting to bring their parents to live in Canada may have to wait even longer. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has announced plans to reduce family reunification visas,
and new figures obtained through Access to Information suggest the federal government is hoping to cut overall immigration by five percent this year.

Amir Attaran faces a 60-month-wait for his parents' application to be processed. On Monday, he held a press conference to talk about the complaint he's launched against Citizenship and Immigration Canada. He filed it with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Amir is a professor of law and medicine at the University of Ottawa, and he joined us on the show to talk about why he thinks his parents shouldn't have to face such a long wait to come to Canada.

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Tuesday February 15, 2011

Sex survey results: are your pets watching?

If Ottawans have a reputation for being somewhat staid, what about the sex lives of Ottawans? Do you ever wonder what your fellow capital-dwellers are doing under the sheets?

Well, Apt613 did. The local blog surveyed over 700 Ottawans about their sex habits, health and preferences, and the full results are available here. For an overview, we invited sex columnist Nadine Thornhill on Monday's show. Tune in below to hear what results surprised Nadine -- including whether your pets are aware of your, er, bedroom activities...

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Monday February 14, 2011

All in a Day Music - Monday Feb 14

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Them There Eyes" by Billie Holiday
  • "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Jully Black, from the album Funkytown (soundtrack)
  • "Do it Again" by Jane Russell
  • "Roller" by April Wine, from the album First Glance

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Summer Wind" by Frank Sinatra
  • "When My Baby Calls My Name" by Stephen Fearing, from the album So Many Miles

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Ready to Start" by Arcade Fire, from the album The Suburbs
  • "Danger High Voltage" by Electric Six, from the album Charlie's Angels (soundtrack)

Monday February 14, 2011

"India's first Youtube star" has got a song for you...

Who the heck is Wilbur Sargunaraj? If you believe his own hype, he's no less than "India's first Youtube" star, and he boasts thousands of followers on Facebook for his, well, exuberant videos.

Lucky for us, Wilbur has turned his attention to Ottawa, with a video shot during the heart of Winterlude and featuring all the important touchpoints of a capital winter -- including Beavertails and a skate on the canal. Check out the video below, and then listen to Stu's conversation with the highly charming Wilbur.

 

 

 

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Monday February 14, 2011

Ottawa-Gatineau's film industry: no longer an oxymoron

It's an industry of movie stars, trailers and special effects. So it should be hard to fly under the radar. But that's exactly what Ottawa's film and television industry has been doing this year. It grew enormously last year, and many in the industry predict that it's just going to get better -- but does the average Ottawan know that we're becoming a hotbed for film?

Roch Brunnette manages the Ottawa Gatineau Film and Television Development Corporation, and Don Osborne is with Zed Filmworks. Both joined us in studio on Friday.

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Monday February 14, 2011

AIAD's Pol-Pan Discusses loose lips...

Loose lips may sink ships, but they also cause major headaches for the government.  Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant managed to enrage an entire province earlier last week by suggesting that Newfoundlanders should take care of their own search and rescue when they get into trouble at sea.

And then there was Maxime Bernier taking on Quebec's sacred language law...

Yes, it was a rough week for the Government and our political panel -- Julie van Dusen and Rob Russo -- came in on Friday to tell us all about it.

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Categories: Columnists, Political Panel

Friday February 11, 2011

All in a Day Music - Friday Feb 11

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Under Cover of Darkness" by the Strokes, from the album Angles
  • "Missing" by Eliza Doolittle, from the album Eliza Doolittle
  • "It Hurts Me Too" by First Aid Kit, from the album It Hurts Me Too

Between 4 & 5:

  • "For You (The Latin Mix)" by A-Slam
  • "Blowing in the Wind" by Ras Lee, from the album Showers of Blessing

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Silverado" by Black Dub, from their self-titled debut

 

Friday February 11, 2011

Robert Fontaine reviews Biutiful

Robert Fontaine joined us in studio on Thursday to review the latest film by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. He's known for making films such as 21 Grams and Babel, and this latest film, Biutiful, stars Javier Bardem -- who's up for an Oscar for his performance.

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Categories: Columnists, Film

Friday February 11, 2011

A Stamp for Carrie Best

carriebest EDIT.jpgIf you happen to be at the post office this month, picking up some new stamps, watch out for  the smiling woman on a stamp to mark Black History Month. That's Carrie Best. Her Order of Canada medal is prominent on the stamp and in the background, a younger Carrie is reading a newspaper - her newspaper.

Carrie Best was a journalist, an author, a civil rights activist, and the first black female newspaper editor in Canada. But she was also a grandmother. Jamie Best is Carrie Best's grandson. He lives in Ottawa, and he joined us in studio to talk about his extraordinary grandma.

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Thursday February 10, 2011

All in a Day Music - Thursday Feb 10

Between 3 & 4:

  • "The One I Love" by R.E.M., from the album Document
  • "You're the One that I Want", originally from the Grease soundtrack, performed and rearranged by Danielle Duval, from her album L'Etranger
  • "State of Radio" by Coco et Co., from the album Coco et Co.
  • "Montebello" by Katie Moore, from the album Montebello

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Tell Me" by Jill Barber, from the album Mischievous Moon
  • "Bright Lights Bigger City" by Cee Lo Green, from the album The Lady Killer

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Pump it Up" by Elvis Costello, from the album This Year's Model
  • "Dedicated to You" by Ella Fitzgerald

Wednesday February 9, 2011

All in a Day Music - Wednesday Feb 9

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Heart of Sticks" by Jenn Grant, from the album Honeymoon Punch
  • "Love Song to Canada" by Jason Collett, from the album To Wit to Woo

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Constellation" by Jim Bryson & the Weakerthans, from the album Falcon Lake Incident

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Shevchenko Shuffle" by Ukrainia, from the album The Maiden
  • "Flirt" by Toots Thielmans (excerpt)

Wednesday February 9, 2011

D is for Dinner: Hearty Veggie Stew

Mushroom & Seitan Stew, by Danielle Rochon from Market Organics Kitchen

  • 3 packages Cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 packages dry wild mushrooms, broken up into small pieces
  • 6 red potatoes, scrubbed & chopped
  • 9 Roma tomatoes
  • 2 leeks, cleaned well & sliced
  • 2 large rutabagas, peeled & chopped
  • 4 large carrots, peeled & sliced
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 cup port
  • 1 cup chicken stock, chickenless
  • 2 cups chopped white onion
  • 1 bulb garlic, peeled & minced
  • 3 packages Seitan, chopped
  • 2 tbsp mushroom powder**
  • 3 tbsp (or so) Thyme
  • 3 tbsp basil
  • 1 tbsp veggie pepper
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 2 cups spelt flour
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 2 tsp liquid smoke
  • 2 tbsp black truffle oil
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning

1. Slice Roma tomatoes lengthwise through the middle, sprinkle with garlic granules & Italian seasoning. Drizzle with EVOO and roast on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper with cut side up. Roast at 450 for approx. 1 hour until darkened.

2. **Make mushroom powder by pureeing dry wild mushroom into a fine powder.

3. In a large bowl rehydrate dry mushrooms; let sit about 10 minutes.

4. In a frying pan, add 3 tbsp EVOO, brown onions with a sprinkle of salt, then add creminis and saute for about 2 minutes and add half the minced garlic. Saute another 2 minutes and remove to a bowl.

5. In the same pan add 3 tbsp EVOO and saute seitan until it begins to brown.

6. Sprinkle seitan with small amount of salt and veggie papper; add the rest of the garlic. Saute for about 3 minutes -- do not burn!

7. In a large pot, add cooked creminis, wild mushrooms and seitan and the water it was rehydrated in.

8. Mix stock with 4 cups of water and add to the pot. Add Thyme, basil, port, nutritional yeast, mushroom powder, 1.5 tsp salt and white pepper. Bring to a simmer and add carrots and roasted tomatoes. Cook for appox. 10 minutes and add 8-10 cups of water and the rest of the veggies.

9. Whisk spelt flour with stock mix and add 2-3 cups cold water. Make sure there are NO lumps.

10. Bring stew to a full boil and add flour mixture. Carefully whisk mixture into stew. Stir quickly to ensure no lumps.

11. Add liquid smoke, taste, and adjust to taste. When done, add truffle oil.

This recipe won 3rd place at the 2011 Byward Market Stew Cookoff.

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Categories: Columnists, D is for Dinner

Tuesday February 8, 2011

All in a Day Music - Tuesday Feb 8

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Cool Thing to Do" by Peter Elkas, from the album Repeat Offender
  • "Perfect Word" by KD Lang, from the album Sing it Loud
  • "You May Be Right" by Billy Joel, from the album Glass Houses

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Imaginary Bars" by the United Steel Workers of Montreal, from the compilation album Weewerk is 6
  • "Runaway" by Del Shannon

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Something on My Mind" by Random Recipe, from the album Fold It! Mold It!
  • "Candy Lips" by Random Recipe, from a live television performance

Tuesday February 8, 2011

Do It For Daron

difd South Carleton High School.JPG

MPs on Parliament Hill did it. So did employees at ScotiaMcLeod in Kanata. In fact, more than 200 local schools, businesses and organizations pulled on the colour purple today.

Purple was Daron Richardson's favourite colour. Last November, the Ottawa teen took her own life. And on what would have been her 15th birthday, groups across the city pledged to wear purple to raise awareness about youth mental health and suicide prevention. In honour of Do It For Daron Day, the students at South Carleton High School in Richmond even poured purple syrup into the school's slushie machine. And the cafeteria chef scattered purple sprinkles on her cupcakes. At 5:15 p.m., Grade 11 student Cydney Roseler will talk about the money they raised in Daron's name for the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health.

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Tuesday February 8, 2011

Reading the Web -- Now clearer and calmer!

Call it the reader's paradox in the age of technology: There's tons of great stuff to read on the web. But often, reading on the web is a terrible experience -- a barrage of banner ads, distracting pop-ups, and ugly formatting.

Well, now there's a web app that promises to quiet the storm of garish web page design, and replace it with a tranquil sea of easy-to-read text. Dan Misener is our technology columnist, and he joined us to explain.

Tools/apps that Dan mentions:

Readability

Instapaper

Read it Later

 

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Tuesday February 8, 2011

Called Home from Cairo

IMG00247-20110129-1510.JPGLast night, two brothers landed at the Ottawa airport. But their hearts remain in Cairo.

The Abdelaal brothers have lived in Egypt for past 7 years. They were in Tahrir Square for the first three days of anti-government protests. But they decided to leave Egypt....mostly because their parents told them to.

Their mom lives here in Ottawa...which is where the teens grew up. Sharif Abdelaal is 16, his brother Amr is 15, and both joined Stu in the studio on Monday.

 

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Monday February 7, 2011

Book Panelists Ann & Randall's Picks for February

Ann Archer's picks:

  • I Curse the River of Time by Per Petterson
  • Atlantic by Simon Winchester

Randall Ware's picks:

  • C by Tom McCarthy
  • Your Voice in My Head by Emma Forrest
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Categories: Book Panel, Columnists

Monday February 7, 2011

All in a Day Music - Monday Feb 7

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Neon Love" by Armistice, from the album Armistice
  • "Thicker Skin" by Kelly Prescott, from the album I Leave You Dreaming
  • Quartet No 68, 4th Movement by Joseph Haydn, performed by the Borodin Quartet, from the album Haydn, Beethoven, Schoenberg: Quartets

Between 4 & 5:

  • "I'd Rather Have Jesus" by George Beverly Shea
  • "Keep on the Sunny Side" by Bill Frisell, from the album Beautiful Dreamers

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Requin Tigre" by Galaxie, from the album Tigre et Diesel

Friday February 4, 2011

All in a Day Music - Friday Feb 4

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Need A Break" by David Myles, from the album Turn Time Off.
  • "What Do You Wanna Do?" by Louise Burns, from the album Mellow Drama
  • "Girls of Winter" by Black Tiger Sex Machine, from the album Silk Bones.

 

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Nice To Come Home" by Julie Doiron, from the album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day.
  • "Afternoon Girls" by Ghostkeeper, from the album, Ghost Keeper
  • "Maybe Baby" by Buddy Holly, from the album The Best of Buddy Holly
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Between 5 & 6:

  • "Working for the Weekend" by Loverboy, from the album Get Lucky
  • "Gorgona" by Ouzo Power, from the album Ouzo Power Greatest Hits Volume One
  • "To Paploma" by Ouzo Power, from the album Ouzo Power Greatest Hits Volume One

Thursday February 3, 2011

All in a Day Music - Thursday Feb 3

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Xin Nian Hao" by Zhao Li, from the album Happy New Year.
  • "Canadien Errant" by Christine Fellows, from the album Femmes De Chez Nous.
  • "One I Love Is Gone" by Secret Sisters, from the album Secret Sisters: Country Duo.

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Hiroshima, Mon Amour" by Hugo Bourcier, from the album La Demangeaison Qui Precede L'Orage.
  • "Don't Go Anywhere" by Snailhouse, from the album Friends In Bellwoods 2.

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Nineteentwentytwo" by Pete Samples, from the album An Unsent Letter.
  • "God Gave Me Everything" by Mick Jagger, from the album Goddess In The Doorway
  • "Little Ghost" by White Stripes, from the album Get Behind Me Satan

Wednesday February 2, 2011

All in a Day Music - Wednesday Feb 2

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Without You" by Random Recipe, from the album Fold It! Mold It!
  • "Little Bird" by Friends on Friends
  • "Blizzard" by the Buttless Chaps, from the album It's a Team Mint Xmas Vol 2
  • "Steady Ground" by Julie C, from the album Steady Ground

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Closer to the Door" by Laura Merrimen, from the album Love Letters for Lonely Hunters
  • "Let's Get Away From It All" by Della Reese, from the album Voice Of An Angel

Between 5 & 6:

  • "February Song" by The Good Lovelies, from the album "Oh My."
  • "Cherries In The Snow" by Elk City, from the album "New Believers."

Wednesday February 2, 2011

KNL responds to Beaver Pond land controversy

tp-ott-city-hall-protest.jpgIt's a hotly disputed piece of land: 29 hectares, future home to 3300 residential units, and some of them will rest on the Beaver Pond forest, in the South March Highlands.

KNL, a partnership between Urbandale and Richcraft, owns the land and has the rights to use it. But concerned community members have tried to stop the development from going ahead, citing the environmental impact and the potential for Algonquin artifacts on the land.

These opponents took their protest to City Hall on Tuesday. Six protesters staged a sit-in in the foyer of the Mayor's office, which ended shortly after the Ottawa Police arrived. And outside City Hall, at the Human Rights Monument, more protestors called out for Mayor Jim Watson. Finally, Tuesday morning police broke up another related protest at the Beaver Pond; after sunrise, two Algonquin men chained themselves to trees. But after threat of arrest, they left, and the clear-cutting resumed.

To get a response to all this controversy, we spoke with Lyon Sachs, president of Urbandale.

 

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Wednesday February 2, 2011

D is for Dinner - Protein Bars

Home-Made Protein Bars

1 cup soy protein powder*
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup oatbran
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or tropical source chips*
1 cup chopped nuts and/or sunflower seeds
1 1/2 cups plain or vanilla yogourt (or soya yogurt)
 1/4 cup canola oil - preferably organic
 2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, or 325 if using a glass pan. Lightly oil a 9 by 13 inch baking pan and a baking tray or line with parchment paper.
2. Mix together the soy protein powder, flour, oats, oatbran, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. Crumble in the brown sugar, making sure there are no lumps. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts/seeds.
3. Measure the yogourt, oil and vanilla in a second bowl. Stirring until well combined. Add the wet mixture to the dry, and mix until thoroughly blended.
4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, patting it evenly into place with your hands. Bake in the center of the oven 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and cut into 20 bars. Place bars on the prepared baking tray and bake another 15 minutes, or until golden around the edges. Remove bars from the oven and place on a rack to cool.
5. Store in the freezer in a heavy plastic freezer bag. You can defrost in the microwave for 15 seconds or in a toaster oven.

*soy protein is available at bulk or natural food stores. Make sure to get unflavoured, ask if it is suitable for cooking and baking.
*tropical source chips are dairy free and available at health food stores.

Courtesy Donna Davis www.elationcentre.com

 

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Categories: Columnists, D is for Dinner

Tuesday February 1, 2011

All in a Day Music - Tuesday Feb 1

Between 3 & 4:

  • "Footprints in the Snow" by Ry Cooder, from the album My Name is Buddy
  • "The City" by Sarah Harmer, from the album Oh Little Fire
  • "I Will" by Lynn Miles, from the album Fall for Beauty
  • "Agbara" by the Souljazz Orchestra, from the album Rising Sun

Between 4 & 5:

  • "Feeling Good" by Kellylee Evans, from the album Nina
  • "Riverside" by Hollerado, from the album Record in a Bag

Between 5 & 6:

  • "Whispers of the Waves" by Buck 65 & Gord Downie, from the album 20 Odd Years
  • "Helplessness Blues" by Fleet Foxes, from the album Helplessness Blues
  • "Snow" by Jesse Winchester, from the album Jesse Winchester