Your Voice

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, it's off to work we go

2010-09-20T16:59:32Z

We're waiting for the "Liberal Express" bus to carry Leader Michael Ignatieff to the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. It's warm and sunny, one of the better September days Ottawa has to offer.

Andrea McCrady, the Dominion Carillonneur who plays the tower bells some 200 days a year, is serenading us with several songs. She started with O Canada and then "Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, it's off to work we go."

Quite appropriate for what feels like the first day of school here on the Hill. ]]>
Andrea McCrady, the Dominion Carillonneur who plays the tower bells some 200 days a year, is serenading us with several songs. She started with O Canada and then "Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, it's off to work we go."

Quite appropriate for what feels like the first day of school here on the Hill.

NASA tweetup: Good way for the agency to spread its message?

2009-11-16T17:58:45Z

The space shuttle Atlantis sits on the launch pad under cloudy skies at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Nov. 16, 2009 (Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)

One hundred space exploration enthusiasts gathered at Cape Canaveral Sunday for a two-day NASA "tweetup." The event will culminate with participants viewing, live-blogging and tweeting the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis on Monday.

Last month, NASA invited its Twitter followers to sign up online for the chance to see a shuttle launch up close for the first time.

The 100 slots - as well as 50 backup positions - filled up in less than 20 minutes in October.

NASA officials say they're tapping into social media in an attempt to reach a new audience. The space shuttle program is nearing its end, and the U.S. government hasn't signalled what might be next for the space program.

Full story

Is this a good way for the agency to spread its message? How else could NASA combat indifference toward space exploration? And what should come next for the space program?

Are you planning to purchase Sarah Palin's book?

2009-11-16T16:54:39Z

Sarah Palin, the former U.S. vice-presidential candidate, will be on Oprah on Monday afternoon to discuss the upcoming release of her memoir, Going Rogue: An American Life. This is the first interview regarding Palin's new book and will kick off a U.S. tour.

The 413-page memoir follows her life from her birth in Sandpoint, Idaho, and includes details of her teen daughter's pregnancy, some strong words about run-ins with McCain staffers and her notorious interview with CBS anchor Katie Couric.

Advanced sales for her memoir have already made her book a bestseller. Palin received an advance of at least $1.25 million US.

Are you planning to purchase Sarah Palin's new book? Do you think Oprah should be featuring the book on her Book Club list?

Like, whatever! What tops your list of most annoying slang?

2009-10-08T21:10:25Z

The popular term "whatever" topped a list of five most annoying phrases, easily beating "you know," according to a poll by New York.-based Marist College.

The survey found that 47 per cent of Americans were highly annoyed by the slacker term, followed by 25 per cent who were most peeved at "you know."

Other annoying contenders were "it is what it is," with 11 per cent and "anyway," with seven per cent.

Smoke-Free Ontario: Should a truck be considered a workplace?

2009-10-08T17:11:22Z

A truck driver from London, Ont., has been fined $305 for smoking in the cabin of a tractor-trailer because it is considered a workplace.

Essex County Ontario Provincial Police pulled over a truck on Highway 401 near Windsor, Ont., at about noon on Wednesday after the driver, 48, was seen smoking.

He was fined under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, a 2006 law that prohibits smoking in enclosed workplaces and public areas such as bars and restaurants.

Full story

Do you think this fine was justified? Should vehicles be considered a workplace?
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Essex County Ontario Provincial Police pulled over a truck on Highway 401 near Windsor, Ont., at about noon on Wednesday after the driver, 48, was seen smoking.

He was fined under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, a 2006 law that prohibits smoking in enclosed workplaces and public areas such as bars and restaurants.

An enclosed workplace can also be any vehicle that is covered by a roof and that employees work in or frequent while working, regardless of whether "they are acting in the course of their employment at the time," according to the legislation.

Police spokeswoman Shawna Coulter told the Windsor Star it was the first time Essex County provincial police had enforced the legislation.

Neil MacKenzie, the manager of tobacco programs for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, said his group has laid 10 charges for vehicle-related offences since the law went into effect, to taxi drivers and construction workers, among others.

Do you think this fine was justified? Should vehicles be considered a workplace?

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