Some Semi-random links - 5 July 2014

A long-storied "beer tunnel" under the Lebreton Flats section of Ottawa has been found...and filled in to ensure the safety of users of our future LRT expansion. We do have active local breweries elsewhere in Ottawa after all, so maybe the loss of the tunnel isn't what it might be.

Rick Salutin shares some thoughts about how the CBC is being managed of late. The idea that there might actually be protests in the streets of Canada's cities and towns over the loss of, say, Murdoch Mysteries or the Mercer Report is a pleasant one to entertain, but as Vancouverites and les Montréalais will remind us all, we don't do riots over anything but the Stanley Cup up here, right?

Yes, there's still going to be a CAN-CON this year in Ottawa. Keep an eye on that home page for news as they're able to unveil it.

Heather Mallick bemoans our national capacity for stinginess. Not the first time, and as one of the precariate myself, I find myself dancing on one of the blade-edges of the sword here. I buy the Toronto Star at the nearest retailer I can because, living in Ottawa, I'm pretty sure that I can't afford a subscription at the rates required of Ottawa residents. Which makes things more difficult for those of my neighbours working at Canada Post, as well as the Star's staff. I know this. Can't help it, if I want to buy that paper at all. And because I buy it at the newsstand every day, I find myself a little resentful of their paywall.

(Oh, and despite my circumstances, I still buy my books retail. There's two places in particular I like for that.)

Laundry chores call, but there will be more on other topics later on...