Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Ottawa

What do you use your cell phone for?

Decimask — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:10:52 -0800

What do you use your cell phone for? Odd question, I know. Some short background:

I got my first cell about 3 years ago--a super-basic cell with the minimum number of bells and whistles I could find. I have yet to pay a dime on ringtones, games or wallpapers. What I've come to realise is that:

A camera would have been handy

Making calender entries without a QWERTY keyboard sucks

Now I'm planning on moving to a plan of some kind. But I'm seeing features on some phones and wondering: What the hell would I ever need that for?

So, like it says on the front page, what are you using your cell phone for?

Ottawoptometrist?

Decimask — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:01:15 -0800

Any recommendations for an optometrist in Ottawa? And what pieces of information do I need (which a doc might not give me) to order new glasses online? (sorry, multi-pronged) I've recenly moved to Ottawa and I haven't gotten new glasses (of a different perscription) in about six years. I have gotten my eyes checked regularly, but the decline has been very slow--last time (3 yrs) I was roughly 20/20 with my current scrip on. Computer eyestrain and street signs are telling me it's time to bite the bullet. That and my main pair broke on me last week. 8(

The last optometrist I went to used some kind of testing method I hadn't encountered before--I don't remember much about it other than it was NOT the standard giant mask with the: "Better or worse? Better or worse?" clicking of lens combinations. All I really remember was having to focus my eyes independantly and I *could not* do it. If anyone knows what that is, I'd love a name so I can avoid it.

Last (I think) is what information do I need to have about my eyes in order to be able to order additional pairs from online places? Pupillary distance¹? Skull measurements?

I know there's been some commentary in AskMe about online places and experiences with said, so I'll go looking for past recommendations. New ones always welcome, though.

1 - I know this term because a friend of mine used to work in the production side of optical industry. He also told me how much a plastic lens blank costs, and I've hated the optical industry in Canada ever since.

New midrange desktop computer in Canada?

Monday, stony Monday — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:41:41 -0800

Buying a new desktop computer for gaming, programming and photography, in Canada. My old (2001) computer isn't cutting it anymore; it only has USB 1.1, so transferring photos to it is a pain, and RAW processing is almost right out. It only has integrated graphics, so modern gaming is right out. It does okay for programming, but even simple IDEs (e.g.: DrScheme) are slow.

I need a new Desktop computer that will, ideally, allow me to run Fallout 3 at moderate detail, allow me to do some RAW processing on my photos, and allow me to run DrScheme relatively fast.

I'm live in Gatineau, right next to Ottawa, in Canada.

My options, as I see them:

1) Get a "name brand" computer, such as this Dell. Pros: I get a lot of computer for little money, and a warranty (no DOA parts, I hope). Problem: the affordable Dells (<1000$) have utterly basic graphic cards; I would have to get a new card or run games in low detail & resolution. I'm not completely sure putting a new card in one of those cheap computers is a good idea (heat, power supply). Other brands: I have a prejudice against Compaq/HP (bad experiences of friends). Are Acers any good?

2) Buy parts online (tigerdirect, ncix, newegg), build something myself from one of the online guides (djb, ars technica, techreport). Pros: I can get all the parts I want. Cons: it seems that I would get slightly less performance for my money; I have to assemble it myself, and may have to deal with some problems (DOA parts, incompabilities), which I'd rather not.

3) Buy a custom computer from a local shop. Pros: as with 2), I get to choose exactly what I want. The shop deals with assembly. Cons: probably more expensive than either 1) or 2). I don't know which local shops are reputable.

4) Go all out and buy a Mac (Fuck everything, we're doing 5 blades). Pros: Hell yeah, a Mac. Cons: the Mini seems to not have the power I need, so that's out. The desktops in my price range have integrated screens; I want something large, to that's going to cost me.

My budget: strictly online (credit card limit): $1400, taxes included, max, for the box. Brick and mortar: add $600 (it has to be worth it). I will be buying a screen, possibly separately.

Laptops are right out. If I'm building, I'm probably looking at the better price/performance ratio possible, which seems to mean AMD or maybe the new "mainstream Intel i5/i7". If you know of a good shop in Ottawa or Gatineau, please tell me!

What would you do if you had an engineering degree?

MechEng — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:55:15 -0800

What would you do if you were a recent engineering graduate? (What companies would you be looking into across Canada?) Suggestions for all branches of engineering are welcome.

A bit of background about myself:
Recent Mechanical Engineering graduate. ( with ~ 2 years of co-op experience). I am interested in almost anything Mechanical Engineering related, from vehicle engineering (aircraft, trains, automotive, etc) , HVAC, to power generation. What would you suggest as companies to apply for within Canada?

Willing to move anywhere for the right Job / experience. (Although Major cities of interest are Ottawa, Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto)

It has also been suggested to go back to school for something business related (seen a bunch of links about mba on ask metafilter)

I understand that mechanical engineering is a wide branch of engineering on it's own, and would like some suggestions as to which direction I should take.

Swimming in the Ottawa river?

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:30:15 -0800

Is the Ottawa river good for swimming in? Specifically around the Westboro beach area. I know there is red / green flag posted on the beach, I assume for E. coli, but I am also nervous about heavy metals, crazy radioactive runoff, or other evil humours.

Otterwa?

Jairus — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:41:31 -0800

Are there any animals in the Ottawa (Canada) area likely to be harmed by flushable cat litter?

Movers: Ottawa-Montreal

Lemurrhea — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:30:54 -0800

Moving from Ottawa to Montreal - looking for a recommendation for a good mover (or movers I should not use). I will be moving to Montreal at the end of the summer. I do not have a lot of stuff; the move is from a bachelor to a 1 bedroom. Does anyone know of any good movers who service these two locations? Alternatively, are there any movers I should NOT use?

Mounties - check. Beaver tails - check. Now what do we do?

dismitree — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:11:00 -0800

CanadaDayinOttawaFilter: What are the Don't Miss activities and attractions in Ottawa on Canada Day? Bonus points for additional recommendations for things to do on the drive to and in and around Montreal on July 2nd & 3rd? I've got a buddy in from the U.K. and we're going on a good old North American road trip. We're getting into Ottawa the evening of June 30th - after a day of whitewater rafting - with the intent of spending Canada Day in the nation's capitol. I've been to Ottawa a couple times, but the last time was twelve years ago. I've seen the official schedule but am wondering what else is there? What's good, what's lame? Etc. Activities which include nature, music, culture, food, and drinking are all good activities.

Thanks in advance and let me know if I can provide further detail.

J'en ai besoin d'améliorer mon français. Any suggestions?

Decimask — Sun, 10 May 2009 12:09:15 -0800

« J'en ai besoin d'améliorer mon français, » or: "I need to improve my French." I'm looking for advice from anyone who has worked on improving or regaining their n^th language. I'm closing out my graduate degree this summer, and it looks like my recent work placement may turn into a job (yay, work!). A degree of bilingualism is required (not sure of the levels, B/B/B definitely, possibly C/B/C).^[1] I went through French immersion from K-12, but I'm 28 and Grade 12 was a long time ago.

So I'd like some help from the hivemind. I'm going through some of the previous French AskMe questions right now, but they look to be "I'd like to learn" questions. Some of them do seem promising.

If you are/were in a similar situation, what worked for you?

Where I stand
I think can understand 90-95% of spoken French other than figures of speech--that was my experience living in Gatineau, mostly from carpooling with my boss's québecoise boss during the OC Transpo strike.^[2] Reading it is also not a problem. Writing it is a brutally slow process though, and I get the "brain freeze" initially when someone speaks French to me as I change gears. My vocabulary is full of holes I don't know about until I step in them.

I've got a Bescherelle and Schaum's French Grammar workbook, which has a 2-star review in rhyming couplets. There was a prof in my program who had a french discussion group going during the year, but he may not be teaching during the summer.

[1] The letters are written, spoken and comprehension--not sure of the order. Unilingual<A<B<C<Exempt.

[2] I've wondered a few times how often my brain is just recognizing that it's French & familiar, and not actually understanding the vocab.

Moving to the Canada's capital city.

tybeet — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:18:14 -0800

Moving to Ottawa in the Fall. Looking for some apartment/ neighborhood/ living-in-the-area advice - anecdotes welcome! I'm moving to Ottawa starting in August to attend school, and I'm looking to get a head start on an apartment hunt. I'm not sure what neighborhoods are nice/beautiful/fun in the area, or what to expect when looking for a "good deal". I'm coming from a small English area of Quebec where housing is ridiculously cheap (sometimes in the sub-$300 range), so I realize I have high (low?) standards for cost, and since I'm living on a student budget I'd like to bridge the gap between low-cost living, and nice-area living because I may be there for the next 2-7 years.

I've started my hunt online: (247apartments.com, ottawaliving.ca) and decided I'd build a map of apartments I'd like to check out with mapbuilder.net - this way when I drive down to look at them, I can organize things pretty well.

I realize however, that the best places are probably not advertised online, so this is where you come in Hive Mind: where should I look for off-the-book apartments in Ottawa? Also, if you've lived there before, I'd love to hear your experience with public transit. I have a car but I also have a green heart and would like to avoid using it: would it be worth it to live near a terminal and stash my car for emergencies/special trips, or should I live somewhere in an outskirt and drive to University?

Is the "experimental farm" as sketchy as it sounds to live near?

Also, what can I expect to pay for utilities in the city? I know some apartments include the utilities, so I'm trying to calculate what the cost would be if it's not included.

Thanks!

Say Click! Take a pic!

Abbril — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:49:35 -0800

Where should I go tomorrow in Ottawa to take pictures simply for the sake of taking pictures? I want to get out with the camera (Canon xsi, 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses) and take some pictures but I'm slightly restricted in that I'll have my 3 young kids with me. Any suggestions for kid friendly, stoller accessable locations?

creative thank-you for choir members?

LN — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:42:38 -0800

An imaginative thank you for my choir members? My choir (about which I asked a previous question) is about to do its final two concerts of the "season" this coming week. They have been a fantastic bunch, incredibly hard-working and committed, and we've had a ball together. Despite having planned on doing only two concerts this year, the numerous invitations we have received to perform have tripled that. The choir has stepped up to the plate admirably to take on these extra performances.

The choir launched this past September, so they are a very, very new ensemble. They sing primarily Celtic music, in both English and in four of the six Celtic languages. Some people joined in the middle of the year, and have picked up the music and been ready for performance in as little as two weeks. So, as you can see, I have thrown a lot at them, and they've done an amazing job.

I'd like to do something for them as a thank you, for all the aforementioned great work they've done this season. Hive Mind, help me think of a creative thank-you that my choir members will appreciate!

P.S.: I do plan on actally *telling* them all this, so thank you in advance for that suggestion, but I'm looking for things I can *do* for them.

Cheap glasses in Ottawa?

kmennie — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:03:09 -0800

Where can I find cheap eyeglasses in or near Ottawa, Ontario? A friend wants bargain-basement specs to keep in the car. He's wanting to buy them in person rather than on-line.

I have a hazy memory of driving past a storefront on Merivale Road a few years ago with big window signs re. cheap glasses; this memory may or may not be accurate, and the store may or may not still be there. Somewhere in the vicinity of the Petsmart, I think. Maybe you know what I'm talking about?

Any other suggestions gratefully received -- I wear glasses myself but the only places I've bought them here are Lenscrafters -- shamefully overpriced -- and Costco, and Costco's a good deal but I'm wondering if there's even cheaper out there.

Ottawa to Mont Tremblant

canoehead — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:00:21 -0800

Drive from Ottawa, Ontario to Mont Tremblant, Quebec mid April. Suggestions? We have never been to Ottawa or Quebec before and will be attending a conference at Mont Tremblant Quebec in mid April.
So we are thinking of flying to Ottawa and renting a car from there and taking extra time for a tour.
We have Ottawa figured out but can you recomend what to do along the rest of the route; culture, scenery,
outdoor recreation , food are our priorities.
I assume winter is over by then so no driving issues?
Also, our French is poor to non-existent.

Yet Another Moving-To-Vancouver Question

blue grama — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:12:30 -0800

I'm thinking of moving from Ottawa to Vancouver. How would you compare these cities in terms of: a) their green-tech/environmental and software/high-tech sectors; b) the nightlife, specifically live music and indie/foreign films? (More inside) This previous Toronto vs Vancouver question had some great responses. Ottawa's a lot quieter than Toronto though, and I wondered if Vancouver would have more music/film/etc going on than Ottawa? Do major acts skip Vancouver (or the West Coast) the way they skip Ottawa? Vancouver has more of a film industry -- is that reflected in more independent cinemas / film festivals?

Secondly: I am interested in exploring green tech, especially related to energy and transportation. BC has a reputation for being forward-thinking in terms of energy and the environment. Does there seem to be a lot of business/industry activity in this area in Vancouver? What about environmental consulting? I'm also interested in software jobs, of which there seem to be enough in Vancouver. How would people compare the *sorts* of software jobs there are in Vancouver and Ottawa? One comparison I've heard, for instance, is that Ottawa is more about hardware and government, and Vancouver is more about videogames, the arts, and web 2.0.

Any other comparisons between Vancouver and Ottawa would be welcome, especially from people who have lived in both.

(I looked at this previous question on moving from Ottawa to Vancouver, but I'm less interested in the logistics of moving and specific neighbourhoods. Apologies if this seems too close to the above-mentioned previous questions.)

Where can my dog go swimming in Ottawa?

Chick Pea — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:51:17 -0800

Where can I go swimming with my dog near Ottawa, ON? I recently moved to Ottawa, and my husband and I are having a hard time locating pet-friendly places to swim. We have found some good dog parks, but no pet-friendly places near the water. We have a car, and we are willing to drive a few hours if we need to.
We would really love to get away this weekend, bonus points if you can suggest pet friendly cottages or campsites that have beaches open to dogs.
Thanks!

CanadaFilter: Moving Ottawa to West coast.

hungrysquirrels — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:25:31 -0800

CanadaFilter: Moving Ottawa to West coast. Within the next two months, I'm seriously considering a move out west. I've already resigned. I visited North Vancouver for about a week a month or so ago. It had long been at the top of my places to go. Most of my time was spent in Stanley Park. The Lions Gate bridge was a serious pain in the arse, 4 major lanes merging into one? But that is a separate issue.

Currently I'm a software developer. Have been for at least 11 years. Most of that has been Windows development with C++, and MFC.

Everyone I've spoken to has warned me about accommodation prices in Vancouver. And to be honest, after my visit there, I'd probably want to wear my motorcycle helmet whilst driving a car.

Sorry, this is getting long, and a bit of a rant.

The real question, assuming I fly, does anyone have experiences shipping housing possessions.

Secondly, what's the best place to go to seek employment as a Windows software developer. I would think Vancouver, but, well as mentioned.. Anywhere else? I'd prefer near the coast.

Anyone have thoughts, or insight? I'm admittedly lost. Job leads would be helpful as well.

Get me out of the parks!

sunshinesky — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:25:52 -0800

Ontario Crown Land: Help me find somewhere to go camping near Ottawa this weekend. The Ministry of Natural Resources map of ontario crown land is giving me a lot of grief, and all I want to know is where, outside of provincial park camping, we can go camp for the weekend.

Besides location, any supporting info about what to expect before/while using crown land would also be appreciated.

Montreal Activities

saradarlin — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:11:24 -0800

What are the best things to do/see in Ottawa and Montreal from June 26th to June 30th (I do realize that I am just missing the amazing Canada Day activities in Ottawa but can't help it). Visiting Montreal for the first time in 6 years. I used to love Jazz Fest, Just for Laughs, Grand Prix, shopping on Rue St. Catherines and Vieux-Port. What should we see? Where should we eat? (we still love smoked meat)

As for Ottawa, what kind of activities go on, if any, before Canada Day.

No ice in Ottawa?

kamelhoecker — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:10:11 -0800

I'm going to Ottawa tomorrow, and I just found out that the Rideau Canal is officially closed for the season. What? It's -9C in Ottawa and is staying below zero for the next few days. So, what are my chances of getting some ice skating in? I also saw maintenance dudes driving their pickup on the ice today on the canal webcam, so this seems to be more of a policy issue than a safety one. I'd love to know if it's possible to skate on parts of the canal when it's "officially" closed or if there are any other ponds or great places for ice skating in the Ottawa area.

Low-carbon Ottawa-Boston travel

sindark — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:09:34 -0800

Travel question: I want to travel from Ottawa to Boston for a weekend and an looking for any decent options aside from flying. From what can be understood of the AmTrak schedule, the trains are very indirect and about 24 hours of travel each way would be required. Is there a better option, or is a long, boring bus or train ride the only choice? I do not have a driver's license.

I would be leaving after work on the night of Thursday April 10th and returning sometime on the night of Sunday April 13th.

Ottawa bra shops and fittings: cause I gained weight in the wrong place.

flibbertigibbet — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:45:18 -0800

What's the best bra shop and bra fitting you can get in Ottawa? I can't really get to Toronto or Montreal, so it does actually have to be in Ottawa. Cheap (i.e. free) fittings would be better, but I'm willing to pay as I'm sure a quick whip of the measuring tape won't work for me. However, most of the chains I've tried just whip the tape around, and then my bras fit like crap. Any suggestions?

Help my choir find a home.

LN — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:10:34 -0800

Help the choir I'm trying to start find a home! So, I'm starting a new choir in the Ottawa area, a choir that will do mainly Celtic-y type stuff as its repertoire (British Isles, Brittany, Eastern Seaboard of NA, Ottawa Valley). The problem is, I have been looking for rehearsal space for the better part of five months, and have been coming up short. Most places in the area, such as churches, old-folks' homes, community centres and the like, want too much in rent to make running the choir feasible, or are unwilling to rent the space out on anything other than a week-to-week basis. Schools are a possible venue I'm looking into, but I can't get away for under $150 CDN a month, bare minimum, and they're only available for the school year. I would like to keep the member's cost of the choir down to something workable - I don't want to scare potential members away with a huge membership cost!

Hive Mind, what are some alternative rehearsal spaces - spaces you wouldn't normally consider for a choir rehearsal, but that might work?

And any Ottawa mefites that can think of spaces specifically in Ottawa, I would be much obliged.

How do I switch to VOIP in Ottawa?

valleys — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:58:38 -0800

I need help understanding how to switch to a VOIP service, with bonus points for recommendations about an ISP in Ottawa that can provide dry loop DSL. My ISP (Primus) keeps pushing their VOIP service, so I assumed that they now had dry loop DSL available. They don't - the customer service agent recommended that I switch to a different ISP to get dry loop DSL, then come back to them for VOIP!! Not gonna happen.

But, I still want to VOIP somehow, and realise I will have to switch ISPs and give up the email address I've had for 8 years. I can live with that. So, which ISPs can you recommend for me to get dry loop DSL in Ottawa? I think Sympatico can, but the whole reason for getting VOIP is to get away from Bell. I also don't want to go to Rogers for cable internet. (Primary motivation is to save money over my existing Bell bill.)

Next, I need help understanding how this would all work, as I've not found any clear guides despite a lot of looking. Important: I want to keep my existing phone number.

Is the process:
- apply for dry loop DSL on my existing phone line/number from a new ISP (would this kill my regular Bell phone service? that would be ok - I have a cell phone I could live with for the time there was no access on the main home number)
THEN WHEN IT'S ACTIVE
- apply for VOIP through Vonage or whoever, using the existing phone number?

Am I missing something? How long should all this take? How long would I be without phone service? What other information should I know?

How to make the most of a month in Ottawa?

obiwanwasabi — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:12:14 -0800

I'm thinking about visiting Ottawa, Canada for a month in June 2008 to do this course at Carleton. Looking for advice on how to make the most of our visit, as well as practical tips on where to stay, how to get around and so on. I'd only be there for a month. I'd probably be travelling with my wife and son (who'll be 18 months old by then) - I'll be in class during the day, so I'd appreciate suggestions on how she can keep entertained. We're into pretty much anything, but especially parks, walking, geocaching, books, craft breweries, music, cafes, people watching, markets and "antiques" (read pointless junk). I'd probably be happy to pay up to CDN$500 a week on accommodation. We've never been to Canada before.

Bonus points if you've been to Canberra, Australia and can compare and contrast the two cities (apart from the fact that they're both national capitals nobody knows about).