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Big News… Really late!

Colin Carmichael — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:42:46 +0000

I just realized that I never announced this month’s big news on my blog! (though I suspect that anyone who reads this would have caught the news on either Facebook or Twitter)

So, the news is that the twins have arrived! William John Sinclair Carmichael arrived at 6:15pm May 6th weighing 6lbs 8oz. Emma Bonnie Jane Carmichael arrived 3 minutes later weighing 5lbs 13oz.

There are many, many photos to be found at our Flickr account.

For those of you keeping track at home, yes this means we have four kids under four years old (and three in diapers). Needless to say it’s a busy house. ;)

I Got Your News Fix Right Here: LiveNewsCameras.com

Colin Carmichael — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:40:23 +0000

I am absolutely enamored with livenewscameras.com. This newish site – started a few weeks ago by a Steve Baron of Fox News Chicago – gives you single-page access to newscasts from around the country. On an important political night like tonight, this is extremely valuable. How else, for example, would I know that Hilary was being interviewed right now on a local Dallas Fox affiliate?

One of the most interesting things about LiveNewsCameras is that it is hosted (or moderated, as they call it) by a human… a real person… live! In the upper right corner is a second streaming window from which a NewsJockey (NJ) keeps you up-to-speed on what’s happening on the various feeds.

Even cooler than that, however, is the site’s use of Twitter. Underneath the moderator is the site’s Twitter feed. Ostensibly, the purpose is to alert viewers (and Twitter followers who may not be actually watching) of breaking news on the various feeds. BUT, as I found out accidentally, the feed also includes Twitter replies! The potential here for a truly social experience is HUGE! I’ve already experienced social news-watching through the usual channels, but imagine if LiveNewsCameras’ Twitter panel was filled with viewer tips and commentary!

I’ll be watching very closely to see how this site evolves over the next several weeks – I’ve already sent them some of my initial thoughts and I encourage you to do the same. info@livenewscameras.com

[credit to Dave Winer for pointing to LiveNewsCameras.com via Twitter]

Stupid Election Rules

Colin Carmichael — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 15:26:13 +0000

This takes the cake in the world of stupid election rules… (via Cartoon Barry)

Election 2008: A Tie?

So a house blew up in my home town!

Colin Carmichael — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:27:28 +0000

Seriously, in my sleepy little home-town of Vankleek Hill, a guy’s house exploded and took two (possibly three) others with it! There are lots of news links here but all the really good pictures are here at The Review.

My childhood home is less than 200 metres from the house. My Dad and step-Mom still live there, but no-one was home at the time. There actually wasn’t any damage to Dad’s house, but the house next door had their garage door blown in, and the house across the street lost a big picture window. According to my sources, the owner of the house that blew up had a gas fireplace installed on the weekend — my guess is that this’ll end in a court room. [ Update: the legal antics begin...]

It’s truly amazing that no-one was hurt (besides the guy who’s fridge fell on him). Apparently most in the neighbourhood are still not back in their homes. My Dad was back in time for dinner, but only because he doesn’t have natural gas. When the Enbridge guys came to inspect the house to make sure it was safe, they said “You don’t have gas? Really?” followed by the unbelievable “You want it?”.