Major Construction in front of the Novotel Ottawa hotel ?

July 23rd, 2008

Well, it looks like I’ll be once again travelling on business to Ottawa. I’m checking out hotel availability and it seems to be much less jampacked in Ottawa than in mid-June. That’s kind of surprising since it is the construction holiday in Quebec… perhaps Quebecers don’t go in droves to visit Ottawa?

Novotel Ottawa

Speaking of the construction festival… the last time I stayed at the Novotel Ottawa I was *very* impressed by the very clean and most stylish room. It’s pretty brave to use white sheets and white duvets. The downside is that there was a massive construction project right across the street - the jackhammer action started at about 7:00-7:15 in the morning. Not the end of the world if you’re a heavy sleeper and don’t open the (tiny) window… I wonder if that project is finished (I doubt it, it seemed like a major condo tower that was still at the digging stage back then…

The construction site is to the left in the above photo, just in front of the hotel. Note that the Novotel Hotel is only 9 stories high - the white part of the tower is office space.

Dell Days of Deals in Canada starts again : iRoomba 415 vacuum for $149 & TomTom Go 730 for 299

July 22nd, 2008

Well it’s here again… Dell Canada Days of Deals

Today some of the good deals include the iRoomba 415 robot vacuum for $149 down from $249- this is a a well rated vacuum but with my luck it would fall down the stairs (and/or freak out the cat!) … the TomTom Go 730 portable GPS is a really good price at $299 (down from over $400) but I much prefer the Garmin Nuvi 350 (or 660) models…

Zachary scores at soccer while Tristan cheers on…

July 19th, 2008

Well Zachary was in fine form this morning… his team “won” 8-6 in a pretty evenly matched game.

Zach letting everyone know which team is #1 ;)

Zachary with one of his score parade signals ...

Tristan started off playing practice with a friend - Frederic - on an adjacent soccer field that was empty…. (stay tuned for some cool super slo-mo videos)… and then I was was glad to see that he came back to the stands to cheer on Zachary!

Tristan Majumdar supporting Zachary at U6 soccer...

Brotherly love …

eBay Fixed Price Listing Promotion for only $0.25 - July 16 until July 29

July 16th, 2008

Yet another worthwhile deal over at eBay - list your item on eBay for a fixed price for only $0.25. You can save up to about $10 off the usual listing fees if you use it in 2 categories.

Keep in mind that you can opt to accept “best offers”…

Rapport d’enquête du CSST sur le décès de la policière Lavalloise Valérie Gignac

July 16th, 2008

Le CSST aujourd’hui a rendu public les résultats sur l’enquête des circonstances entourant le décès de la policière Lavalloise Valérie Gignac

Photo de Valérie Gignac

* une intervention policière basée sur une analyse inexacte de la situation concernant la présence d’une personne en danger dans le logement de l’individu;

* l’application d’une technique d’intervention inappropriée et dangereuse, soit l’ouverture forcée d’une porte en se plaçant devant.

Le rapport ne semble pas encore être disponible sur le site du CSST, mais selon un communiqué de presse du gouvernement, le rapport semble viser le service de police de Laval… et tout ca, si peu après les résultats pénibles dans le cas de l’officier Daniel Tessier.

It’s easy to say that we live for the present and the future, but at least we need to learn from the past.

Canadian Omar Khadr CSIS Interview Video at Guantanamo Bay - Khadr Youtube Video

July 15th, 2008

Well, at least we get a first glimpse into what a CSIS interview of a Canadian minor in an offshore holding facility (yeah, my tongue is planted firmly in cheek) by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service is like. US DOD provided special clearance to CSIS and DFAIT to release this clip upon request of Khadr’s defense team and subsequent to a court ruling.

We don’t see much, but of course we do see that Khadr appears quite distressed…

Things could be worse…

Anthony Robbins live in Toronto & Vancouver presenting “Unleash the power within!” but no date in Montreal :-(

July 12th, 2008

One Decision Can Change Your Life Forever!

Indeed.


Well, Tony Robbins will once again be touring in Canada for his Unleash the power within! seminars, but unfortunately there are no shows scheduled for Montreal… that’s a real shame. Perhaps I could become the next french-speaking Tony Robbins… who knows.

Theere are still tickets for Tony in Toronto from July 25-28 and Vancouver from October 17-20 and they start at $895. There are still Executive VIP seats (1st 3 rows) at $1295.

Lavalife discount coupon code for 15% off registration

July 7th, 2008

There is now a discount code to get 15% off your registration at Lavalife - use the discount code 780121 at the special sign-up page. It’s valid for any subscription package.
.

Lavalife is one of the better pay dating sites at least as far as giving a reasonable amount of access (photos, free smiles, flexible and powerful profile searching) for non-members. Their model for paying members is quite unique - instead of paying a monthly membership fee, you buy credits and use those credits to send personal emails or start instant messaging session.

General Synod of Church of England approves women bishops … welcome to 2008 :)

July 7th, 2008

Well the General Synod of the Church of England today carried the motion by the Bishop of Gloucester to “affirm that the wish of its majority is for women to be admitted to the episcopate”… meaning that women can now become Bishops in the Church of England.

There is, of course, a clause that allows for “existing structures” with the church, who based on “theological convictions” to opt out of having women as bishops….

The three houses of Synod voted quite overwhelming, but far from unanimously, to pass the motion:

House of Bishops - For 28, Against 12, Abstentions 1

House of Clergy - For 124, Against 44, Abstentions 4

House of Laity - For 111, Against 68, Abstentions 2

Hmm…

L’amour n’est pas seulement un sentiment

July 7th, 2008

Came across this interesting (and relevant) quote over lunch:

L’amour n’est pas seulement un sentiment, il est un art aussi.

- Honoré De Balzac