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Friday, December 28, 2007
Telus Sucks!
Name something which people love to hate. It's fairly easy to complain about institutional food be it in a hospital or school cafeteria. It's also common to be dissatisfied with the speed, or lack thereof, demonstrated by many government bureaucracies. Yet, in today's rant, I'd like to bitch about my local telephone company.I was, in fact, so worked up I filled in a complaint form at the Canadian Radio, Television, and Telecommunications Commission website. In addition, they forwarded another online form to the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services. By all means, if you're affected similarly, please give the CRTC and the CCTS your opinions too! Here's what I hurriedly typed into an online box:
I just received my Telus bill for standard phone service. I was shocked by the $2.95 LD Network Access Charge. I do not subscribe to any long-distance plan. I did not make any long distance charges during the month, so should not be subjected to the imposed, extra fee. If I did make use of Telus long distance, then I would happily pay. I should not, however, be charged this fee for months when no long distance calls are made. Telus appears to be charging for services not actually provided.
If there are general increases they should be added to standard residential rates and not tacked on as a mandatory payment of an 'extra' nature.
The lack of sufficient notification is also a very annoying factor. I received no written notice from Telus that this fee increase would occur.
Labels: complaints, telephone
Friday, November 02, 2007
Money to Burn
We had a teachers' meeting this afternoon, so I went to the Burnaby campus. It was going to be my free day for the week in theory. Yet, I hadn't seen all my colleagues for a while. It was worth using the time to attend. After all, I will have four, seperate days in November in which I don't have to go into school. Teaching a weekday and weekend course is brutal but not impossible.On the way home I had a yearning to stop at the Future Shop at Metrotown. I had no particular item in mind, but I knew I had extra money! I decided to pick up a new cell phone. I hated the design of the old one; it was not so much its size, but the fact the ringer volume often changed just staying in my pocket. I frequently missed calls because I couldn't hear it ring.
I said once that I'm not one to keep up with the Jones' phone. I don't care that the new phone has Bluetooth technology, as I'm most interested knowing that when it rings, I'll be able to hear it.
Labels: telephone
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Communicating
As well as thinking about our travel plans which start a week from today, we've been interested in following others' exploits. Jay has spent a great deal of phone time catching up on the travel of some family members. His sister, sister-in-law, and nieces visited Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. It was their first time away from Sri Lanka and therefore exciting for them. Jay's brother is working in NYC. His wife and girls have very recently completed a new house near the family's present house. So all the gals went to meet up with a friend of Jay's brother who now lives and works in Malaysia. He travelled with them for much of the time. It is quite a journey between Bangkok and Singapore on buses. They enjoyed the time and chance to see how other people live.
Cell phones and land lines between NY, New Westminster, and those countries were buzzing following and reporting their progress. In contrast, when I first went to Sri Lanka, in the mid-1980's, phone lines hadn't even yet come to their neighbourhood. Things do change.
This picture was taken last year in Sri Lanka and shows Jay with a neighbour boy, his neices, sister-in-law, and younger sister.
On another note, related a bit to communication, I got this email from a student yesterday:
Cell phones and land lines between NY, New Westminster, and those countries were buzzing following and reporting their progress. In contrast, when I first went to Sri Lanka, in the mid-1980's, phone lines hadn't even yet come to their neighbourhood. Things do change.
This picture was taken last year in Sri Lanka and shows Jay with a neighbour boy, his neices, sister-in-law, and younger sister.
On another note, related a bit to communication, I got this email from a student yesterday:
This is Dalyn from one of your previous Comm 0004 courses. I just wanted to thank you for everything, I have been accepted into full time day school for Broadcasting/Televison. I am so exited that I am finally pursuing my dream. The skills I have learned in the two Comm courses have given me great confidence. Keep up the good work, Mr. Hurd!I immediately sent a reply which thanked him for taking the time. A little gesture, such as this, can make it all seem worthwhile!
Dalyn
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Waste Not
There are two ways to be rich. One is to make more ... while the other to want less. I recently saw this on a poster, in Los Angeles, CA no less.
I feel as though I've always been cautious with cash. The only time in my life I ever borrowed money was to go to college and, fortunately, student loans have very reasonable interest rates. Of course, working abroad when right out of college did not force me to live a normal lifestyle. I mean I paid off those college loans quickly with cash from my work in Saudi Arabia. In addition, my current, eleven year old, pickup truck, although purchased new, was paid for with traveller's cheques. Even the apartment from which I'm typing this blog was 'cash on the barrel head'. I just shake my head in amazement at just how much most people have paid for the privilege of borrowing money! I don't need to make much considering how much I've saved.
Even with the small things, I tend to scrimp. This whole new global warming paranoia has at least shined a spotlight on society's excessive consumption. Let's face it most people buy way too much crap. It's nice that my choices can now be discussed as being green ones.
Today, though I went to buy new batteries for our cordless house phone. The price ranged from $16 to $21 for those wrapped, three-battery packs. Then I saw that the entire new Sanyo cordless telephone was just $19. So, of course, I'm throwing away the old but perfectly usable one. I remember doing the exact same thing about three years ago. Sometimes, it just ain't easy being green. Wait, didn't Kermit, the frog, already say that?
I feel as though I've always been cautious with cash. The only time in my life I ever borrowed money was to go to college and, fortunately, student loans have very reasonable interest rates. Of course, working abroad when right out of college did not force me to live a normal lifestyle. I mean I paid off those college loans quickly with cash from my work in Saudi Arabia. In addition, my current, eleven year old, pickup truck, although purchased new, was paid for with traveller's cheques. Even the apartment from which I'm typing this blog was 'cash on the barrel head'. I just shake my head in amazement at just how much most people have paid for the privilege of borrowing money! I don't need to make much considering how much I've saved.Even with the small things, I tend to scrimp. This whole new global warming paranoia has at least shined a spotlight on society's excessive consumption. Let's face it most people buy way too much crap. It's nice that my choices can now be discussed as being green ones.
Today, though I went to buy new batteries for our cordless house phone. The price ranged from $16 to $21 for those wrapped, three-battery packs. Then I saw that the entire new Sanyo cordless telephone was just $19. So, of course, I'm throwing away the old but perfectly usable one. I remember doing the exact same thing about three years ago. Sometimes, it just ain't easy being green. Wait, didn't Kermit, the frog, already say that?
Labels: money, opinions, Saudi Arabia, technology, telephone
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
My Digital Time Piece
I am a number of hours later than normal adding an entry today. I was very busy this morning correcting students' writing assignments. I really wanted to get the papers back to them so they could study their errors tonight. Tomorrow, I will give the midterm exams which are worth 15% of the course marks.
So, I spent the morning making comments on the yesterday's assignments. Then, I had to hastily get ready to get to the campus. I was annoyed because I couldn't find my cell phone! As a last attempt, when running out the door, I called it on from the land line. Unfortunately, I had shut it off.
As I no longer wear a watch and use it to check the time, I missed it a lot during the class. I didn't know if I'd left it at school or if it was in the truck. Or perhaps I'd left it somewhere else.
After getting home, I found it hiding right on the kitchen table.
So, I spent the morning making comments on the yesterday's assignments. Then, I had to hastily get ready to get to the campus. I was annoyed because I couldn't find my cell phone! As a last attempt, when running out the door, I called it on from the land line. Unfortunately, I had shut it off.
As I no longer wear a watch and use it to check the time, I missed it a lot during the class. I didn't know if I'd left it at school or if it was in the truck. Or perhaps I'd left it somewhere else.
After getting home, I found it hiding right on the kitchen table.
Labels: telephone
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Spare Time
I've recently given up wearing a wristwatch. That's really quite a change in 
behaviour. I've been wearing watches since I first learned how to tell time and was given my first Timex. That was forty years ago.
Back in that era, there were no digital timepieces, so one had to be able to differentiate between the big hand and the little hand. I don't believe the advent of digital clocks has improved people's punctuality, but they have made telling time a bit more clinical. Stating that it's 12:13 may be clear and accurate; but it lacks the traditional warmth of saying, "It's almost quarter past twelve."
I can choose either method even though I no longer wear a watch at all. Because I always carry my cell phone, I figured that I could drop the one I used to have on my wrist. Maybe the hair will grow back there and it'll get a suntan this summer.
behaviour. I've been wearing watches since I first learned how to tell time and was given my first Timex. That was forty years ago.Back in that era, there were no digital timepieces, so one had to be able to differentiate between the big hand and the little hand. I don't believe the advent of digital clocks has improved people's punctuality, but they have made telling time a bit more clinical. Stating that it's 12:13 may be clear and accurate; but it lacks the traditional warmth of saying, "It's almost quarter past twelve."
I can choose either method even though I no longer wear a watch at all. Because I always carry my cell phone, I figured that I could drop the one I used to have on my wrist. Maybe the hair will grow back there and it'll get a suntan this summer.
Labels: technology, telephone
Monday, October 17, 2005
i cant txt msg 2 fast
My phone was pretty old and bulky. In fact, if you try an image search on Google for old cell phone you'll come up with a picture of my Nokia (and a company site which copied the photo without permission).
Back when I got it, Fido was a cool phone company. All these years later, Virgin Mobile is the cool phone company.
Cell phones surely have become sexier. My new number should be in the sidebar to the right.
Back when I got it, Fido was a cool phone company. All these years later, Virgin Mobile is the cool phone company.
Cell phones surely have become sexier. My new number should be in the sidebar to the right.
Labels: technology, telephone
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Messaging About Messaging
Can you send text messages internationally on your mobile phone, and if you can, are they cheap or expensive?
My cell is not a full featured service. I have a 'pay as you go' and only use it for emergency (to have in truck in winter) and for student contact. I don't really know.
No matter.
Many of my students have photo phones that play mp3 files and can practically mow the lawn. It all seems silly to me.
Yeh, my students and friends have mobiles that do everything except make toast. I'd like to have a photo phone and one so that I could text message.
Too cumbersome for me.
I used to ba able to text message from my computer and it was free but now they charge. I would pay but it's only available to ------- Mobile Plus service and most of my friends don't have Mobile Plus.
You need something like a Blackberry.
I've heard about the Blackberry, but too expensive and technology more than I need or could handle. Text messaging is possible from even the cheapest phones.
Okay, but keying in is way too slow.
The Philipinos here are real adept at it. Most of the world except North America do lots of it. In Thailand even, everybody is always text messaging.
Why not just talk?
The Philipinos I used to work with text messaged all the time to the Philipines, back and forth all day long. Each texted message only costs 50 fils - 12 cents from here. My friend is in Dubai. If I call his mobile, it is a long distance call for him to receive it.
Still seems like a stop gap measure, til we use messenger on wireless net devices.
Or if some one is away from the mobile or can't answer it, instead of just seeing a number of someone who called they can read a message when they get a chance. It's actually real handy.
Yeah, all right. I will take your word for it.
i thnk U wll B 2 bsy 2 gt bck 2 me so i snd u a txt mssg. This is the way my students are starting to write.
I think how most people use cell phones is also stupid and they are always chatting and never saying anything. Too bad more people don't know where the off switch is.
But like when I'm at work or out in the cinema, somebody can send me a txt mssg and I can read it in the cinema without the phone ringing or when I get back to my office. It would be great if they put answering machines in mobiles, but it seems txt mssging has precluded that.
Voice messaging is available on my cell. If I switch it .. it informs me .. but I turn that off too. If I can't answer then, I don't want to have to 'catch up' later.
I agree. Most mobile calls are useless, but then on the other hand, i was a the gym yesrterday and then went to the car wash and supernarket. By the time I got home and checked my message machine, it was too late to go to the cinemas with my friend Richard. If I had had a mobile with me, I would have not gone to the car wash and supermarket and met him at the cinema.
Very few businesses require such immediate, in-one's-face connections ... almost no ordinary people should.
Most don't but the example I just gave was one of those times when a mobile would have been handy.
No wonder half the world is on medication. People complain about stress .. then think of all sorts of ways to invite it into their lives! Good conversation ... dinner is ready now though.
Bye.
My cell is not a full featured service. I have a 'pay as you go' and only use it for emergency (to have in truck in winter) and for student contact. I don't really know.
No matter.
Many of my students have photo phones that play mp3 files and can practically mow the lawn. It all seems silly to me.
Yeh, my students and friends have mobiles that do everything except make toast. I'd like to have a photo phone and one so that I could text message.
Too cumbersome for me.
I used to ba able to text message from my computer and it was free but now they charge. I would pay but it's only available to ------- Mobile Plus service and most of my friends don't have Mobile Plus.
You need something like a Blackberry.
I've heard about the Blackberry, but too expensive and technology more than I need or could handle. Text messaging is possible from even the cheapest phones.
Okay, but keying in is way too slow.
The Philipinos here are real adept at it. Most of the world except North America do lots of it. In Thailand even, everybody is always text messaging.
Why not just talk?
The Philipinos I used to work with text messaged all the time to the Philipines, back and forth all day long. Each texted message only costs 50 fils - 12 cents from here. My friend is in Dubai. If I call his mobile, it is a long distance call for him to receive it.
Still seems like a stop gap measure, til we use messenger on wireless net devices.
Or if some one is away from the mobile or can't answer it, instead of just seeing a number of someone who called they can read a message when they get a chance. It's actually real handy.
Yeah, all right. I will take your word for it.
i thnk U wll B 2 bsy 2 gt bck 2 me so i snd u a txt mssg. This is the way my students are starting to write.
I think how most people use cell phones is also stupid and they are always chatting and never saying anything. Too bad more people don't know where the off switch is.
But like when I'm at work or out in the cinema, somebody can send me a txt mssg and I can read it in the cinema without the phone ringing or when I get back to my office. It would be great if they put answering machines in mobiles, but it seems txt mssging has precluded that.
Voice messaging is available on my cell. If I switch it .. it informs me .. but I turn that off too. If I can't answer then, I don't want to have to 'catch up' later.
I agree. Most mobile calls are useless, but then on the other hand, i was a the gym yesrterday and then went to the car wash and supernarket. By the time I got home and checked my message machine, it was too late to go to the cinemas with my friend Richard. If I had had a mobile with me, I would have not gone to the car wash and supermarket and met him at the cinema.
Very few businesses require such immediate, in-one's-face connections ... almost no ordinary people should.
Most don't but the example I just gave was one of those times when a mobile would have been handy.
No wonder half the world is on medication. People complain about stress .. then think of all sorts of ways to invite it into their lives! Good conversation ... dinner is ready now though.
Bye.
Labels: Don, technology, telephone
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Bigger IS Better
I bought a monthly air-time voucher for my cell phone yesterday. I use a 'pay-as-you-go' service that doesn't have a monthly bill, but requires the purchase of time. While there, I was looking over things at the London Drugs electronics counter.
Do people really need to play games on the tiny, colour screen of a telephone? And is there REALLY a need to take and send mini-photos with one's phone? I've never even bothered to download ring tones for my present phone. Maybe, I'm just more involved in other things; but honestly, trying to 'keep up with the Jones' phone' seems somewhat frivolous.
I was a bit shocked by the size of the new sets nowadays. My Nokia is a few years old and if I were to replace it, I'd have to go to something roughly half its size. Then if I sneezed during a conversation, I might end up either snorting or swallowing the thing ...
Do people really need to play games on the tiny, colour screen of a telephone? And is there REALLY a need to take and send mini-photos with one's phone? I've never even bothered to download ring tones for my present phone. Maybe, I'm just more involved in other things; but honestly, trying to 'keep up with the Jones' phone' seems somewhat frivolous.
I was a bit shocked by the size of the new sets nowadays. My Nokia is a few years old and if I were to replace it, I'd have to go to something roughly half its size. Then if I sneezed during a conversation, I might end up either snorting or swallowing the thing ...
Wednesday, September 03, 2003
Phone Call to Sri Lanka
At one point, we had intended to fly to Europe today for a long vacation. Those plans were put on hold when Jay returned to Sri Lanka to help take care of his dieing mother. I telephoned there this morning for an update and the woman's condition is slightly worse. She has no chance of recovery, but of course, they wish to keep her as comfortable as possible. His mother is not conscious but her heart keeps beating. It's good that Jay had the chance to go to help his dad, sisters, and brother.Jay has scheduled his ticket to come back on September 15th. Of course the situation could change at any moment.
Labels: telephone
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