Smokey’s House of Paincakes

Hon. Bob Rae, MP for Toronto Centre
514 Parliament St., Toronto, Ontario, m4x 1p4

Dear Bob Rae,

I have recently become aware that government initiative to create a cellphone rate calculator has been dropped in favour of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.

Canada has some of the highest cellphone rates compared to the rest of the world. A tool like this is not only convenient for customers, but is also a necessity to help bring down the price of our over inflated wireless rates.

Too often are the large telecoms favoured over the general public and this type of favouritism needs to stop. It is difficult enough as it is since there are very few providers and they keep a monopoly on the industry.

This tool needs to be made public and not swept under the rug. The telecommunication industry needs to know that they need to provide a better service for a lower price and not get a free pass on everything.

I look forward to your reply in the near future.

Sincerely yours,
Bryan Smith

Sources
CBC News:
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/09/08/cellphone-calculator-slideshow.html
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/08/11/canada-cellphone-rates-expensive-oecd.html

Long have I despised Rogers Wireless, but not as much as I despised Bell; in this case, Rogers is the lesser of two evils.

After being completely fed up with Rogers, I switched everything off of my phone plan to try and pay as minimum as possible. This means I got rid of my long distance, which I easily replaced with Skype, and also removed the ridiculously overpriced data plan.

Of course you would think that since I have an iPhone, having a data plan would go hand in hand. Well, it turns out, even though I had such plan, I barely even used it.

This is where the bastards step in. Once everything was canceled, I figured I’d get a smaller bill next month. Nope, it was even larger than previous months? Basically, I was “What the hell?!”

After doing some investigation, it turns out that Rogers turned off my data plan, but they didn’t bother to turn off access to the data account, even if it was used by accident. As it turns out, while trying to connect to WiFi, sometimes it would quickly jump on the Edge network to grab some data. For one month, my phone access just over 640kb worth of data. The amount charged against said data: $38.00!

Those retards charged me close to $40.00 for a minuscule amount of data. Now I can’t even decide who the bigger assholes are. Bell and Rogers tied at the moment.

So, this time I take it up to myself to turn of the access to the Edge network. After a little bit of reading, I discovered I make these changes on the phone myself. After following the instructions, I quickly realize that said setting is not on my phone. Thinking I misread, I started snooping around more. Turns out, Apple included a feature that allows a mobile carrier the ability to hide the network settings section. Of course, Rogers takes full advantage of this to try and rip off their customers even more.

I had to search around for a third party tool to allow my settings to be changed and changed them I did. Right after I give the giant middle finger to Rogers.

Maybe I should just go back to having a home phone only. We’ve survived before in the past, why can’t we still do it? If Skype ever allows Canadian phone numbers, I’ll be that much more tempted to do so.

I never want to get another service from a company who screws over their customers so much. Just imagine this happening to someone less tech savvy who wouldn’t know to change their data settings.

I want you out of my life Rogers.

Woohoo!! I got my tax return in the mail the other day and I didn’t spend a dime of it. In fact, I fully paid off a line of credit and a credit card in one shot! Wooo, what a good feeling that is! I’m now that much closer to no debt. :)

On another note, I’m back in Delaware! I know, I should just myself an apartment here since I’ve been down here longer than my new place. Funny thing about this trip is that there is actually some sorta conference going on, so all the hotels in the area were booked solid. Because of that, I’m now staying at the Hotel Dupont, which is the “ritzy” hotel in the area! Woo me! It’s really awesome. Plus, I’ve never seen a hotel with a “bath menu.” That’s right, you can order baths to be made up for you. I think I’m gonna go with the rose-pedal with complimentary champagne bath. ;)

Oh, one last thing… I hate douche bags that use the word kewl in real life.

Woo! I was the second person in line this morning to get GTA IV. The only reason is because I thought the mall opened at 9 and not 10. hehe. I was supposed to do the midnight launch last night, but I got sleepy, so I said fuck it! I even got interviewed this morning from some press dude about picking up the game. It might have been a good idea to ask who he worked for. Oh well, if you guys see my goofy face on tv or the web, let me know!

So I’ve been playing it, and yes it does indeed rock! You won’t see me online though because I haven’t had a chance to get a wireless adapter for my 360. Oh well, soon enough!

In other news, I’m being sent back to Delaware again next week. Man, I must be doing something right, but that’s a lot of travel. I’d be in a hotel longer than my new place. Crazyness!!

Howdy!

I’ve been in Delaware for the past week now for business. Before I left, everyone kept telling me how borning it’s going to be, but they must have been smoking crack because I’ve had a blast!

Of course, I got the work done that I came for, but nothing like partying your face off in the mean time!

Also, Delware has no sales tax. Zip, zilch, zero, nodda, boogers! So, I decided to take advantage of that fact and purchase myself a new phone. Of course I didn’t need it, but my over all urge to by new toys becomes too strong when I travel. It’s a weaknes, I know. Anywho, I’ll give you a hint about my phone. It starts with iP and ends with hone.

Now I get to be one of those douche bag you see on the train! I’ll just have to pop myself a few collars to go with it.

I’m headed home today, and I’m completely hung over. I don’t know if that’s going to make my flight better or worse; We’ll have to see.

I am coming back to Delaware in a week, so I figured I’m going to bring a larger suit case and pack lightly. I didn’t exactly have a chance to go shopping this time around, but most definitely will when I come back.

I’ll also be staying the weekend, so that means I’ll be in some Philly sports bar watching Gwildor and Bud duking it out at UFC!

Well.. that’s my update. I think I should be hung over more because it seems to give me the urge to write. That, and it’s distracting my from pounding head.

I just thought I’d show off my desk at work. I think it’s cool!