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Earlier this week, the City of Ottawa launched a new Application Development Search to “provide the community with convenient access to identify, investigate and make comments on applications within the development process.” Ottawa blogger Chris Taggart says the service is a big step forward, but offers these suggestions to the city to improve it: ...

Here are the confirmed performers for the 2008 Ottawa Bluesfest so far: * Alice Smith * Angelique Kidjo * Balkan Beat Box * Brian Wilson * Corb Lund * Donna Summer * Feist * Fergie * Gina Sicillia * Great Big Sea * Harper * HiLoTrons * Infected Mushroom * Jakob Dylan * James Taylor * Jully Black * JW Jones Band * Les Breastfeeders * Michael Burks * Nikki Yanofsky * Secret Machines * Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale * Soirée * Steely Dan * The Black Crowes * The Cooper Brothers * The Tragically Hip * Trevor James and the Perfect Gentlemen * Widespread Panic * Wyclef Jean Tickets go on sale April 26 via CapitalTickets. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/nepeancityhall.jpg) We’re hearing rumours today about a splinter group on Ottawa City Council that wants to de-amalgamate Nepean from the City of Ottawa. The group says growing displeasure from Barrhaven residents is fuelling the movement – they’ve even drafted plans for a new Nepean City Hall, to be located off Jockvale Road. ...

** Reader Derek Hayes writes: " ** My neighbor and I somehow got on the topic of residential water pressure. He maintains that it is considered “high pressure” coming out of the tap. My take on it is that although it is indeed pressurized, it cannot be called “high pressure”. ...

Check out Richard Akerman’s take on Ottawa’s new light rail plan . (Warning: swear words!) ** ** Honestly, just call the train a tram, which is more accurate, and build the f*****g thing. Everyone's all "billions of dollars blah blah blah" ...

The Ottawa Senators made one trade today, acquiring Martin Lapointe from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a 6th round pick. The fans over on HFBoards.com have a really funny thread going titled “6th Round Pick Appreciation Thread”, lamenting the pick that the Sens will ever know. ...

We’re a few days late on this one, but if you haven’t seen it yet, go check out CTV Ottawa’s new web site . A big improvement over the old page, this one features local news updates and lots more. ...

Here are two quick Valentine’s blog links for you: First, David Scrimshaw offers his picks for the most romantic things to do in Ottawa . Second, Lex offers lots of tips for eating out inexpensively . ** Related: ** Ottawa Singles Guide

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/skating-rink-map.png) Check out this great map showing the locations of all of Ottawa’s outdoor skating rinks . ** ** Chris Taggart created the map, and says: “I just thought I’d point you to this Google Map of all the outdoor rinks in Ottawa. ...

Keelan from Capital PR rants about bad corporate e-Christmas cards: ** ** For me, nothing says “I refuse to put any effort or expense whatsoever into this” quite like an e-Christmas / e-Holiday card does... a lot of them have been very similar: a winter scene with the ‘cutting-edge animation’ of falling snow and some generic, unoriginal greeting. ...