Sobriety tests, longer hours: E-scooters are back, but the rules have changed

Highlights:

• People will be able to ride between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m. this year. That's two hours later than in 2023, and one hour earlier.
• Riders will also be barred from taking e-scooters along the Rideau Canal Pathway or the Ottawa River Pathway. The land belongs to the National Capital Commission (NCC), which doesn't allow e-scooters or any vehicle that can't be propelled by a person on the pathways.
• Starting this year, riders will have to complete a sobriety test on the app before accessing the e-scooters after 11 p.m.
• Bird Canada will still be monitoring riders for potential intoxication outside of the restricted hours
• The 2024 season has also started three weeks earlier than last year. It's slated to run until Nov. 15, weather permitting

Also:

The top complaint filed to both companies was e-scooters being parked incorrectly. The e-scooters have been equipped with geofencing technology that warns riders not to drive on sidewalks or dump scooters in unapproved parking areas.

The e-scooters are available to use for anyone over the age of 16 and riders cannot exceed 50 km/h.

Once the season wraps up, the province will then decide whether to make e-scooters a permanent fixture, extend the temporary pilot project, or discontinue them.

#Ottawa #CBC #News #scooters #Ottawa

Who likes loud cars? Ontario study suggests they skew young, male and score high on psychopathy and sadism

When she got the results, she expected to see a strong correlation between someone who prefers a look-at-me exhaust system and narcissism, but that wasn't the case.

"We found that it was sadism and psychopathy was predicting who wants to modify their mufflers, who feels more connected to their vehicle, and they think loud cars are really cool.

"It seems to be this callous disregard for other people's feelings and their reactions. That's the psychopathy coming out and it's also they probably get a kick out of enjoying watching people get startled."

#carculture #science #study #CBC #news #cars #noisepollution

Science or stereotype? Psychology study suggests young men who love loud cars may be psychopaths | CBC News

The gunshot pop of tailpipes, the roar of engines and the sound of tires screaming rubber against pavement evoke a range of emotions. A Western University prof in London, Ont., wondered "who wants to make this kind of noise." Her study suggests...

Do you cross-country ski? Thank this Norwegian who lived to 111

Herman 'Jackrabbit' Smith-Johannsen popularized cross-country skiing in Canada

#Canada #Norway #ski #skiing #XCskiing #winter #CBC

Do you cross-country ski? Thank this Norwegian who lived to 111 | CBC News

Herman 'Jackrabbit' Smith-Johannsen popularized cross-country skiing in Canada, and was a colourful character well into old age. For CBC Creator Network, John Batt spends some time in Quebec's Laurentians region to find out who this man was.

Do you need a spring COVID-19 vaccine? Research backs extra round for high-risk groups

Recent studies suggest staying up-to-date on COVID shots helps protect high-risk groups from severe illness

New guidelines suggest certain high-risk groups could benefit from having another dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this spring — and more frequent shots in general — while the broader population could be entering once-a-year territory, much like an annual flu shot.

Medical experts told CBC News that falling behind on the latest shots can come with health risks, particularly for individuals who are older or immunocompromised.

"Even when the risk of infection starts to increase, the vaccines still do a really good job at decreasing risk of severe disease," said McMaster University researcher and immunologist Matthew Miller.
...
That means:
* Adults aged 65 and up.
* Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
* Anyone six months of age or older who is moderately to severely immunocompromised.

#COVID-19 #pandemic #CBC #news #vaccine #vaccines

Do you need a spring COVID-19 vaccine? Research backs extra round for high-risk groups | CBC News

Various Canadian provinces are rolling out spring COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, allowing higher-risk individuals to get an extra dose.

A Warning about the Bradford Exchange and its "Roach Motel" business model

• This man, 92, thought he ordered a collector's coin. $1,000 later, the coins kept coming

The packages from the Bradford Exchange, an American company that's been selling collectibles, trinkets and jewelry since the 1970s, had been coming to his St. John's home since July.

"I think this is outrageous. That shouldn't be. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with that sort of a thing," Walker, 92, said in a recent interview at his St. John's home.

Walker said he didn't knowingly sign up for any subscription program, nor does he want the coins he received. But despite writing to the company to cancel, Walker continued to be charged.

#news #CBC #PSA #scam #scams #nowyouknow

This man, 92, thought he ordered a collector's coin. $1,000 later, the coins kept coming | CBC News

Lloyd Walker of St. John's says he was charged nearly $100 every time a Bradford Exchange coin comes in the mail. Despite writing the company, the charges continued until late December.

Rideau Canal to Close for Skating

We got a total of tens days this year, only a small portion open and never rated better than "poor". Most years get 40-50 days, the full 7.8 open and rathed at least "good" or better.

Official report:

The Rideau Canal Skateway is currently open from Bank to Pretoria. It will close at 10 pm this evening, Sunday, February 25, 2024. Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the Skateway and to our concessions and hard working crews who made the most of challenging weather conditions.

Caution! Uneven ice surface with rough patches and many pressure cracks. Due to the mild temperatures, the ice surface has deteriorated and is now soft.

• Rideau Canal Skateway closing for the season on Sunday night on #CBC

#Rideau #canal #Ottawa #skating

Rideau Canal Skateway

Each winter, the historic Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink.

Warm weather persists for Winterlude's 2nd weekend

Tarps on ice sculptures, Snowflake Kingdom could close, still no skateway

Ugh, not much #winter in #Winterlude here in #Ottawa this #ElNino year.

#CBC #News

Explorers think they've found Amelia Earhart's long-lost plane. Not everyone's convinced

Aviation expert Dorothy Cochrane said it's certainly an intriguing image, but it's not enough to declare the mystery solved.

"This is a sonar image … it just doesn't quite give us enough detail to go ahead and say, you know, this is Amelia's plane," said Cochrane, a curator in the Aeronautics Department of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

"You have to go back and just identify this object and say, well, it is or it isn't…. If we get good photography, you know, that goes a long way to identifying [it]," she told The Current.

#aviation #airplane #CBC #news #AmeliaEarhart

Avoiding Romance Scams

Here is a graphic from the article:

• Romance scammer reveals how he tricks women after failing to fool Go Public reporter

Feel free to reshare, especially on Instagram, Twitter and FB!! I realize these are painfully obvious, but people need to know!

#scam #scammer #CBC #news

I let a romance scammer try to seduce me to get the inside scoop on rom-cons | CBC News

He claimed to be an American oil drilling engineer working in Scotland. In reality, he is a romance scammer in Nigeria, who says he’s bilked women out of thousands of dollars. In a forthright interview, he reveals some tricks of the trade and...

Romance scammer reveals how he tricks women after failing to fool Go Public reporter

This Nigerian man reached out to CBC News reporter Erica Johnson on Instagram, claiming to be an enamoured 40-something American oil rig engineer. In truth, he was a romance scammer looking for a big score.

#scam #scammer #CBC #news

I let a romance scammer try to seduce me to get the inside scoop on rom-cons | CBC News

He claimed to be an American oil drilling engineer working in Scotland. In reality, he is a romance scammer in Nigeria, who says he’s bilked women out of thousands of dollars. In a forthright interview, he reveals some tricks of the trade and...

Are cellphone bans in schools a good idea? Experts weigh in

“In Canada and other developed countries, scores in reading, math and science are on a steady decline,” said Maharaj.

“When [scientists] look at what’s contributing to this, the use of phones and digital technology is a significant factor.”

Cris Rowan, a B.C.-based occupational therapist, added that phone use is impacting children's brain development and impacting their focus in class.

“Research is showing that grades are directly related to the number of times you open a text.... Even having that phone on the desk is hugely affecting kids.”

Both experts say cellphones in class are also likely contributing to an ongoing decrease in kid and teen mental health.

Experts also say that cellphones in class have a negative impact by increasing opportunities for cyberbullying.

#Canada #CBC #cellphone #smartphone #news

Are cellphone bans in schools a good idea? Experts weigh in

Quebec joins Ontario as the latest province to ban cellphones from schools. Experts say the bans could help kids’ grades and mental health.

I think this photo of the ski conditions in #Gatineau Park aptly illustrates why we are not currently out #skiing.

• Local ski trails still waiting for snow

#CBC #weather #meteorology #Ottawa #snow #winter #news #xcskiing

Strained Kingston hospital asks sick people to skip holiday gatherings

Here we go:

With a surge of patients with respiratory illnesses being cared for in its hallways, the Kingston Health Sciences Centre is reminding people to stay home if they're feeling sick to cut back the spread — even if it means missing that holiday party.

"Encourage people you may invite to a gathering that you're organizing that, if they're sick, they really shouldn't come," advised Dr. Gerald Evans, the Kingston, Ont., centre's medical director of infection, prevention and control.

"You can always get an opportunity, perhaps later in the holiday season, to meet up with them."

#CBC #Canada #COVID #pandemic #Christmas

Strained Kingston hospital asks sick people to skip holiday gatherings | CBC News

With a surge of patients with respiratory illnesses being cared for in its hallways, the Kingston Health Sciences Centre is reminding people to stay home if they're feeling sick — even if it means missing that holiday party. 

Mix of freezing rain, heavy snowfall expected in Ottawa this weekend

Special weather statement issued for large area of eastern Ontario, southern Quebec

Environment Canada says significant snowfall and possible freezing rain are expected Sunday and Monday over a wide area of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa.

The agency's special weather statement said snowfall accumulations could reach 15 to 20 centimetres by Monday afternoon "with locally higher amounts."

The heaviest snow is expected Sunday night. The greatest accumulation is forecast to be "north of a line from Brockville to Bon Echo Provincial Park," the statement reads.

#CBC #news #weather #snow #winter #Ottawa #meteorology

Mix of freezing rain, heavy snowfall expected in Ottawa this weekend | CBC News

Environment Canada says significant snowfall and possible freezing rain are expected Sunday and Monday over a wide area of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa.

This snowbot is coming to help plow the Rideau Canal skateway

Professors and graduate students from Carleton University plan to unleash a robot onto the Rideau Canal Skateway later this month so it can remove snow when the ice is too thin and dangerous for humans and heavier equipment to tread on.

The tool is called a snowbot and it's one way researchers are gathering skateway data and to avoid last year's bummer of a non-skating season.

The canal, one of the city's top tourist draws, famously couldn't open to skaters last winter because weather and ice conditions just weren't right.

#Rideau #Canal #News #CBC #Ottawa

Man alleged to be behind high-interest mortgage scam living large on social media

Another #scam to watch out for. Of course they usually victimize elderly and disabled people!

Each situation is unique, but many seem to follow a pattern where homeowners — usually seniors — who have previously been duped into various door-to-door HVAC equipment rental contracts are again approached at home by people who say they can help the homeowner consolidate their debt.

In some cases, the homeowners are told they are eligible to receive money back if they buy more equipment or have renovations done on their homes. In reality, their home is used as collateral and they are allegedly tricked into signing mortgage papers that many say they did not want, or understand.

#CBC #news

Man alleged to be behind high-interest mortgage scam living large on social media | CBC News

A man alleged to be connected to a complex scheme that leaves homeowners with high-interest mortgages they say they didn’t want flaunts a luxurious lifestyle on social media, while regulators crack down on lawyers and mortgage brokers alleged to...

Paying ransom for data stolen in cyberattack bankrolls further crime, experts caution

Ceding to demands can alert other hackers, with no guarantee access will be granted

#IT #networking #malware #cybercrime #ransomware #cbc #news

Paying ransom for data stolen in cyberattack bankrolls further crime, experts caution | CBC Radio

Organizations are finding themselves on the receiving end of cyberattacks, including ransomware, where they're under pressure to pay hackers for access to their stolen data. Despite the potential interruptions, experts say ceding to attackers'...

Selling your vehicle? Watch out for this scam growing in popularity

Another new #scam to watch out for:

An Ottawa woman is warning people who are selling their vehicle to be wary of scammers who try to lure sellers into purchasing vehicle history reports through fraudulent websites in order to obtain their credit card information.

Ellen Thompson says she was encouraged by the large number of responses to an ad she posted on AutoTrader to sell her son's 2011 Honda CR-Z.

"The first day I was inundated with interested people and I thought 'Oh, this is crazy,'" says Thompson. "I couldn't even keep up to the interest."

Thompson had already paid for a vehicle history report for the pending sale, but she estimates nine out of every 10 text messages she received from potential buyers led to the same request for a vehicle history report from a different company.

#Scammers #news #CBC

Selling your vehicle? Watch out for this scam growing in popularity | CBC News

An Ottawa woman is warning people who are selling their vehicle to be wary of scammers who try to lure sellers into purchasing vehicle history reports through fraudulent websites to obtain their credit card information.

We caught technicians at Best Buy, Mobile Klinik, Canada Computers and others snooping on our personal devices - Marketplace investigation recorded technicians peeping on personal photos, browser history

Be warned!

When you need to drop off your tech devices for a repair, how confident are you that they won't be snooped on?

CBC's Marketplace took smartphones and laptops to repair stores across Ontario — including large chains Best Buy and Mobile Klinik — and found that in more than half of the documented cases, technicians accessed intimate photos and private information not relevant to the repair.

Marketplace dropped off devices at 20 stores, ranging from small independent shops to medium-sized chains to larger national chains, after installing monitoring software on the devices. In total, 16 stores were recorded. (At four stores, the tracking software didn't log anything, or the stores didn't appear to turn the devices on.)

Technicians at nine stores accessed private data, including one technician who not only viewed photos but copied them onto a USB key.

#computer #IT #repair #CBC #News

We caught technicians at Best Buy, Mobile Klinik, Canada Computers and others snooping on our personal devices | CBC News

CBC's Marketplace took smartphones and laptops to tech repair stores across Ontario — including large chains Best Buy and Mobile Klinik in a snooping test — and found that in more than half of the documented cases, technicians accessed intimate...

The CIA and Fake News (1986) CBC/Radio-Canada - Invidious

From 1986 Fifth Estate host Eric Malling investigates the covert falsification of news reports by CIA propagandists attempting to influence public perception of the world. Former CIA officer John Stockwell explains how a CIA task force wrote misleading news releases all over the world which were picked up by international media organizations. #fakenews #disinformation #misinformation #usa #cia #1980s #history #cbc #fifthestate #johnstockwell #media #propaganda ">

The CIA and Fake News in 1980s (1986) - The Fifth Estate

From 1986 Fifth Estate host Eric Malling investigates the covert falsification of news reports by CIA propagandists attempting to influence public perception of the world. Former CIA officer John Stockwell explains how a CIA task force wrote...