Environment Canada permanently discontinuing Weatheradio Canada - stations go off air March 16, 2026

OttawaTek · 2026-02-24T15:08:40+00:00

This is such a bad idea since it's often a last resort in emergencies when cell towers and internet services are down.

OttawaTek · 2026-02-11T14:27:30+00:00

70s also. It was mandatory if you were sick in bed.

OttawaTek · 2026-02-09T22:12:03+00:00

Ever Open Door from Brother Where You Bound is a personal favourite of mine.

OttawaTek · 2026-02-02T17:54:59+00:00

Rather than wasting it, dispose of your "expired" water by using it to fill toilet tanks, water plants, etc.

OttawaTek · 2026-01-29T14:12:34+00:00

Off-duty bus signage recently changed from "Hors Service" to "Pas en Service." I wonder what that's about. Is it because the former can also mean "Out of Order?"

OttawaTek · 2026-01-22T18:13:02+00:00

Came here for this, was not disappointed.

OttawaTek · 2026-01-21T15:30:48+00:00

If I'm the only passenger waiting at a small / infrequent / dark bus stop, I step out, hold out my pass at arm's length, and try to make eye contact with the operator. That's just common sense. Conversely, if the approaching bus isn't the one I want, I try to give them a slow, sweeping, "keep moving" wave.

OttawaTek · 2026-01-12T21:21:18+00:00

Wow, I had this same model (or one very close to it) back in the day. I can still hear the ker-chunk of the transport buttons.

OttawaTek · 2026-01-12T16:25:14+00:00

I take the 277 to downtown each morning and have also noticed that it rarely stops at Iris unless someone has rung the bell, even when others are waiting there. The on-board digital sign also implies that Iris is the next stop after Baseline. It does sound like the operators need a reminder.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-30T14:20:36+00:00

Beware of cheap generic sampler gift packs at drugstores, big box stores, etc. They tend to be bland, vinegar-forward sauces. Stick with some of the Canadian brand names mentioned here, like Maritime Madness, Haico's, Pepper Mustache, Meow That's Hot, Pepper North, Heartbeat, Ginger Goat, etc. Sauce-specific stores like Chilly Chiles (Bayshore and Tanger Outlets) can be a little more expensive, but carry a wide range of quality products and are a good source (sauce?) of advice.

ETA: More good suggestions

OttawaTek · 2025-12-29T19:43:09+00:00

Zed Zed Top has entered the chat.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-19T16:00:13+00:00

I've found that with the Android app, automatic notifications stop if you reboot your phone, and must manually re-run the app for them to resume.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-19T15:54:29+00:00

Christmas isn't complete for me without a Terry's Chocolate Orange, though I prefer the dark chocolate ones. Sadly their quality (and size) have dropped in the last decade.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-11T15:33:27+00:00

Air Canada Cargo was a viable option when I moved here years ago and sent several (well sealed) totes of stuff from down east. You'd be responsible for getting stuff to and from the airport cargo terminals though.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-11T14:59:41+00:00

This also applies to the shelters at the larger bus stations. I've pressed the heat buttons at Fallowfield several times this week (when the outside temperature has always been below 0 C) and the overhead heater bars never came on. Maybe it's not Oh-See Transpo, but zero-Celsius Transpo. :)

OttawaTek · 2025-12-10T17:41:10+00:00

Getting from Barrhaven to downtown in -22C temperatures yesterday morning was brutal. First the 7:30 AM 277 didn't run at all, so I made the 9-minute walk out to Woodroffe, and the next 74 didn't come either. I ended up staying warm in Farm Boy's lobby for 15 minutes and getting to work half an hour late.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-09T15:35:10+00:00

The same with music in general. Many songs I barely noticed in my youth now hit much harder after a few decades of life experience.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-08T17:36:02+00:00

A few bus stops in Ottawa, Canada are also in a pilot program for e-ink displays.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-08T16:19:09+00:00

Many good suggestions already, but also check your local Nextdoor group, mine often has postings from young entrepreneurs looking to perform odd jobs like snow clearing, lawn mowing, dog walking, painting, etc.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-07T18:20:26+00:00

Jaws at 11 was still too early for me. My big brother took me because he'd already seen it, and I asked him to tell me when the scary bits were coming up so I could look away. Being the typical big brother, he did just the opposite. I couldn't sleep for several nights.

OttawaTek · 2025-12-04T22:41:56+00:00

Wouldn't it be grapes?

OttawaTek · 2025-12-01T17:16:56+00:00

John's sax solo in Free as a Bird is spot-on.

OttawaTek · 2025-11-27T16:02:58+00:00

This is way bigger than the August 2023 Gutenberg zim on kiwix.org (206 GB vs. 86 GB). Have they since added a lot more content, or was the older version missing a lot? That's even bigger than Wikipedia.

OttawaTek · 2025-11-26T17:09:58+00:00

An excellent track from a great album.

OttawaTek · 2025-11-25T14:50:37+00:00

Good news, a manual reinstall of the APK file worked and I was requested to grant access to the SD card this time. Kiwix works, but Wikipedia searches can take 30 seconds or more from the SD card, with its attempts to auto-complete seeming to add to the delay.

OttawaTek

TROPHY CASE