vttoth — February 17th, 2010
I’ve been reading about a 60-year old show trial, the so-called Standard case (link in Hungarian), held in Communist Hungary, and decided to search for contemporary English-language articles. In the process, I came across something delightful: A 1953 issue of the Ottawa Evening Citizen. Its front-page headline: An incredible “Red offer” to free an imprisoned British businessman in exchange for a female Communist terrorist awaiting the gallows in Malaya.
The British businessman was eventually released a year later. I have no idea what happened to the Malayan woman. As to the other accused in the Standard case, several were executed, others received heavy prison terms… after the 1956 revolution, they were all released, but not rehabilitated until 1990, when Hungary’s Supreme Court declared the convictions null and void, as “no crime was committed”.
Meanwhile, I learned for instance, that in 1953 Ottawa, the daily newspaper listed two television stations: one in Montreal, one in Syracuse, N.Y., both of them broadcasting only in the afternoon and evening hours.
Categories: History, Local Ottawa |
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vttoth — February 8th, 2010
The newsroom and possibly, significant portions of the archives of CTV Ottawa turned into smoke last night. Newsrooms can be rebuilt, equipment can be repurchased, no lives were lost, but the archives may be irreplaceable.
What’s up with all these big fires here in Ottawa this winter?
Categories: Local Ottawa, Television |
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vttoth — October 29th, 2009
Yesterday, I phoned Rogers, basically because I wanted to give them some more of my money. At the same time, I also wanted to complain; several analog cable channels still have just one side (left or right) of the stereo audio (I first reported this almost a year ago, still unfixed), and I wanted to know why they’re suddenly charging me more, claiming that a bundle discount I used to get “expired”.
To make a long story short, after being interrupted and lectured about matters of life by an impertinent representative (one example: “Why do you want to have the analog service repaired when it will be discontinued in a few months anyhow?”) I asked for his supervisor. Predictably, I was told that the supervisor was not available, but they’d phone me back in 24 hours.
That was more than 24 hours ago. Needless to say, I’m still waiting… and I’m not the only one. I am getting more and more fed up with monopolies.
Categories: Communication, Local Ottawa |
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vttoth — September 27th, 2009
Back when I used to work late evenings in an office in downtown Ottawa, one of my favorite retreats after work was the bar upstairs at Friday’s Roast Beef House. Although I have not visited this fine establishment in ages, it was still shocking to hear on the news tonight that Friday’s is closing, after 37 years.
Categories: Local Ottawa |
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