Nice post today on the ** ** ELgiN StreEt iRReguLars blog about the local “non-mainstream” candidates running in the federal election. It’s an entertaining and informing post: The latest polls seem to be pointing to the return of the Conservatives to government, the only debate being whether they get a majority or a minority. ...

Peter Simpson has a w onderfully sardonic take on Stephen Harper’s approach to arts funding his The Big Beat blog. Here’s a sample: ** ** Prime Minister Stephen Harper is absolutely right: all that money that His government spends on the arts each year could go to other, more useful purposes - say, covering His government's subsidy to Bombardier for one day - instead of being wasted by rich folks who fritter it all away going to fancy galas. ...

Robert Taylor Larter ran for mayor in the 2006 Ottawa municipal election. He didn’t participate in any public debates and ignored media requests. The only time he made the news during the campaign was for a) his enigmatic status and b) a threatening email he sent to some politicians. ...

Milkman reports on Tuned In Canada : ** ** Ottawa’s Newest radio station DAWG FM , has a name and has received it’s call sign from Industry Canada. C I D G will be found at 101.9 on the FM dial in spring of 2009. ...

Derek Puddicombe writes on the Sun and the City blog: “Word to those who sign Marion Dewar’s book of condolence Turn your cell phone off before you walk up and sign. Oh, better yet, don’t answer it and talk while you’re signing the book. ...

Ever wondered what people are looking for when they visit OttawaStart? Here are the top “guide” pages from August 14 - September 13, 2008. 1. [ Television ](http://ottawastart.com/tv.php) 2. [ Jobs ](http://ottawastart.com/jobs.php) 3. [ Movies Guide ](http://ottawastart.com/movies/) 4. [ Radio ](http://ottawastart. ...

[ ](http://ottawastart.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/Urban-Electric-Inuksuk28.jpg) You have to check out David Scrimshaw’s blog for his account of how he built the amazing urban inukshuk pictured above. David says: “A couple of years ago, I told Keane I wanted to make an inuksuk … Unlike on the barren tundra, flat rocks are hard to come across here in the centre of Ottawa. ...

JP MacDonald (aka Johnny Vegas), the director of entertainment at Barrymore’s Music Hall, sends along this note: Hi Everyone Barrymore’s will finally re-open this Thursday night, September 11th ! It’s been a few crazy weeks, but we’re back in action. ...

This afternoon on CBC’s All In A Day , they were talking about Will Inrig, a Cantebury High School student and animator. His animated short, ** ** The Depose of Bolskivoi Hovhannes, is going to be shown at the Ottawa International Animation Festival later this month, alongside over a hundred films from around the world. ...

On his Ominvore’s Ottawa blog, Ron Eade relates this interesting story about a phone call from Costco about the Maple Leaf Foods recall ** : ** Received an alarming computer-generated voice mail message at my house yesterday, from Costco advising me that on such-and-such a date I purchased sliced pastrami that is being recalled by Maple Leaf Foods due to the listeriosis scare. ...