February 13/2012 - Toronto, Canada - You can clearly see by the video, that Bell FibeTV offers many new features, how wonderful. They tell you this, but they don't tell you everything, they leave out the part where it will cost you extra money. Yes, by the end of the month if you have your twitter, or facebook feed on the TV constantly, that go towards your allowed bandwidth for the month.
BANDWIDTH ISSUES - ALLOWANCE PER MONTH
This is something that is held very close to the vest, and it is unlikely you will be told anything about this if/when you sign up for Bell FibeTV. The minimum allowed with any package, appears to be 25 GB and what that means is the amount of uploads/downloads you make on your computers in the house. An example would be if you downloaded a movie from Netflix, that would be almost 1 GB of data for your total computer usage for the month. Once you go over that 25GB you get charged extra. And that counts towards anything you watch online from YouTube videos or any ads that pop up on your screen while you are surfing, it all counts towards your bandwidth. But does Bell FibeTV tell you all about that? NO.
Are the big guys ripping us off, if we allow this, it will continue unless people step up and say, NO ...
An article in The Toronto Star recently explains what the big guys are doing to our internet access.
"Net Neutrality is the governing principle of the Internet that requires that Internet service providers not discriminate including speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination. Net neutrality protects our ability to direct our own online activities. With net neutrality in place, a network's job is to move data in a non-discriminatory manner, based on what people want." If we allow this to continue, we will be sitting in the slow lane, and only those that pay extra, will be allowed in the passing/fast lane. That's what they call bandwidth throttling.
These apps that Bell FibeTV is pushing, increase their income without explaining it to us, although they do mention it very briefly when you activate, but who reads that stuff.
The deceptions started the first day when they were in our lobby, showing their Bell FibeTV, was a channel they were promoting. It was HD Net and one of my favourite shows, Prison Break, I was ready to sign up immediately. But no, HD Net was not available, on Bell FibeTV. After I asked some tough questions, which they hesitated to answer, they told me, "Yes, you can record four (4) shows at once," not mentioning that I can ONLY record 2 High Definition (HD) and 2 Standard (SD) at once, however after complaints, they have upped that to 3 HD and 1 SD. (Although that may not be available everywhere, and there could be an embargo on the extra recording channel.
I just watched a Bell FibeTV advertisement last week, and they are still continuing the "sham" they still say on the ad, "you can record 4 programs at once." Why are the hiding this information? Why not tell us everything?
The ads Bell FibeTV are running also say the packages start at around $30, I'm not sure what 'PACKAGE' that gives you, but we pay $150 per month, even with all our problems.
They did the same thing at the sales pitch, "You can pause live TV" but failed to mention, only on one receiver. But now, they do allow 'pause live TV' on all receivers, after consumer complaints.
You must decide for yourself, but do the research, and when you call, be sure to get the name of the person you talked to, and write it down. Because Bell is famous for saying, "who told you that?" and we always get so many different answers.
But when Bell FibeTV is working properly, it is one of the best systems in the market, but be cautious when you call because they are famous for giving, "stock answers."
To read more about our experiences since November 2010, CLICK HERE,we are still waiting for our credits for poor service, which we have not received.
It was announced today by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that the next outdoor Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will be held in Michigan Stadium with over 100,000 seats. It will be hosted by Detroit Red Wings against Toronto Maple Leafs (both original six) on New Years day 2013, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
You may well need binoculars to see any of the action, but this (if full) will be the largest hockey attendance in North America. The largest crowd so far, was back in 2010 at the Michigan Stadium, when 104,000 attended a match between University of Michigan and Michigan State University.
This will be the sixth running of Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® and probably one of the riches rivalries in the NHL. There's no doubt many of the Toronto Maple Leaf fans will make their way to Ann Arbor for the event and the festivities prior to the regular schedule league game. Previously the largest crowd for The Winter Classic was back in 2008 (the first game in The Winter Classic) when Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins played before 71,000 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY.
It may well be that Detroit will be playing the Stanley Cup winners, but that may be a bit of a stretch, but Toronto is having one of their best seasons in many years. We can always hope since it has been since the 60's when Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup.
New York City, NY - As you can see by the video, a man enters his Bronx home as NYPD police are in pursuit and forcibly enter his home without a warrant. Police account of the incident is very different and since the officers involved have been reassigned since shooting and killing the victim Ramarley Graham, 18, in his own home without a warrant or probable cause to enter his home. Graham by all means was no saint, and does have a criminal background, but the police chasing him like this and entering his house, is clearly wrong, by any standard.
Police claim they thought he had a gun, but no gun was found in the house. He was chased into the house and ran upstairs and his only crime appears to be, he was flushing his marijuana down the toilet before he was shot dead. It also appears that the fact he was a black man had nothing to do with it, although New York City does have an ordnance which allows them to "stop and frisk" anyone for any reason, and the communities have said a large amount of the blacks and Hispanics are the ones being targeted unfairly.
"The shooting is drawing the kind of close scrutiny reminiscent of the killing of Sean Bell, who died in a hail of 50 police bullets in Queens in November 2006." As stated in Frontlines, and caused a huge uproar from the black community at the time.
New York City - New York City may have the answer to concealed weapons as they announce a new infrared device that can find guns from 13 feet away. It is hoped with more research and improvements they can extend it to 60 feet.
For many years in New York City they have had a ‘stop-and-frisk’ policy where anyone can be stopped without cause and checked for any handguns, and civil rights groups like New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) have been up in arms about the practice.
In all the searches very few guns have been found (500,000 searches a year) and the civil rights groups say that the NYPD have been targeting blacks and Hispanics in most cases.
The new infrared device scanner which uses new technology and working with the Pentagon the device will be able to scan individuals from a distance and determine if they have a gun or suicide vest on their body.
It works in conjunction with the heat from the body and will leave an outline of the object, vest, thus requiring a more intense search.
(Near) – Giglio Island, Italy -UPDATE: Many updates today of Costa Concordia ship ran around last Friday and now there is a fear it may fall off the rock it is sitting on 200 feet above the sea bead. If it comes loose with a pending storm approaching, it could fall to the bottom with the 500,000 gallons of fuel, and they can only withstand the pressure of 60 feet below the surface. It appears an environmental disaster is within sight and the government has placed oil/fuel booms around the shoreline, but will that help.
Rescue efforts have currently been suspended with the onslaught of a heavy storm and the fact that the ship has been moving the last few days, putting the rescue teams in peril.
If the ship falls off the rock and falls 200 feet to sea bottom, there is a fear that the 17 gas tanks could implode, causing an even worse situation.
For all of my reports on the Costa Concordia disaster/tragedy CLICK HERE
Toronto, Canada - Isn't it strange how the sports media keep showing us the stats for our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs, and tell us how many points they have until playoffs? But for some reason they never tell us how many games are still remaining in the NHL regular season. Yes, it's 82 games, and that means there are over 20 games still remaining before playoffs, but why the emphasis on standings, when so many games still remain? The sports media have been reporting these standings for a couple of weeks since the All-Star break.
So the Leafs are currently in eighth place with 62 points and have played 55 games (out of 82) and I think it could change drastically before the end of the regular season. The cut-off for playoffs is the eight top teams in each of the four divisions and since the Leafs are somewhere around the cut-off mark, they want to keep us still interested. The Eastern Conference where the Leafs play, is only separated from first place by New York Rangers, by 11 points, but Rangers have played three less games than the Leafs.
The playoffs are where everything changes, players grow beards, games become more intense, and the crowds increase in places where they have stadiums unfilled during regular season. The does not happen in Toronto as nearly every game at Air Canada Centre is completely sold out. And what's going to happen with Nazem Kadri, he has been sent back down to the American Hockey League Marlies, and we are all hoping he will be back for the playoffs.
It was just announced this week the Leafs will play in the next Bridgestone Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Michigan against the Detroit Red Wings on January 1/2013. But the Leafs are already selling tickets for the event on their website. Is this event for the fans or is it pure greed by the NHL as you will undoubtedly need binoculars to see anything with over 100,000 attending.
I'm sure we will soon see the Maple Leaf flags on cars as it is very possible the Leafs will make the playoffs, but remember, they have over 20 games to go. Go Leafs go.
On screen 'scrolling tickers' started around 911 and they have continued to this day. It appears now that CNN is taking it to the next level, as seen here, they are taking up 25% of the actual screen view and distracting from watching the TV.
It's not such a big deal to me, since I never really look at them, but now that CNN has chosen to increase the size during this Presidential Election it is just taking too much space. When something you want to see the original picture, it is obstructed by the stupid 'scrolling ticker' which is now taking up almost half the screen. They don't even remove it when they show a picture or video, when you need to see the bottom of a photo.
Am I the only one getting annoyed by these 'tickers' and if so, maybe I should just read online, but it's even worse there. You now have to scroll down about three times to get past all the advertising, well online that is part of life, but on my home TV, please let me see the show. And why don't they just use it for 'BREAKING NEWS' instead of having it 24/7, all the time?
What's next, 'tickers' at the top of the screen too, and then we get a five inch screen to watch, no thanks, I'll go elsewhere.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - David Carter, 44, (but about 40 when he committed suicide) was found in his home alone last week when an agent came to his house to serve foreclosure papers. He had no immediate family, but he had told his friends (some friends?) that he was moving to New Mexico in 2007, but his almost skeletonized remains were found with a handgun laying on his chest. He was identified by dental records.
He went four years without paying any bills, but I guess in his case, he had no need for hydro, water or cable. How sad, that no-one would have dropped by his house, for anything.
His mother had died of cancer in 1997 and he became very depressed and started drinking heavily, but it appears he does have a daughter who is reported as being 14 now, and she may be entitled to his assets, if he has any. Since he has not been around for the last four years, the city had cleared his snow and mowed his lawn to the tune of $37,000, which was added to his tax roles, and still outstanding.
He was a college graduate and worked for the city of Milwaukee as a nuisance control officer, whatever that could entail.
Indianapolis, Indiana - Yes, indeed, it happened again, a "malfunction" of sorts, but it wasn't Madonna at the XLIV (46) Super Bowl in Indianapolis last night as M.I.A. a British rapper (I didn't know who she was either) "flipped the bird."
It's not as if this has never happened before, eight years ago a similar infraction occurred when Janet Jackson had a mysterious "wardrobe malfunction" and sent everyone into an uproar.
Have these TV networks heard of a time delay, where they can watch for this kind of incident so that families can shield their children from such actions. The NFL tout the game as a family affair, and allow such action from the performers, as over 100 million are watching from all over the world.
NBC is owned by Comcast, may have some other solutions, where heads may roll.
Oh yes, by the way, New York Giants won 21-17 and beat the new England Patriots, but not many are talking about that. Was the 'malfunction,' planned by M.I.A. or was it spontaneous, you decide.
Many people are not trustful of the 'main stream media' and often tell me "you only print lies" well hopefully I can make that a lie.
I request anyone with a story which seems to be slanted or not covered by the 'lame stream media' to let me know and I will do my best to make sure your story gets told.
I don't charge anything, (for the story) and I will only state your side of the story, without opinions. If you have pictures, (and I take pictures as well,)let me know, I can include those as well.
You can leave a comment here at the bottom of the BLOG or CLICK HERE and leave your comment, I anxiously await. Or you can email me at - dandmb50toronto@gmail.com.
Toronto, Canada - It's hard to believe, but the Government of Canada called Sun News Network (Quebecor) to ask them to hold a (fake Citizenship Ceremony) at the Sun News channel in downtown Toronto last October, but wasn't revealed until yesterday.
It definitely crosses the line of journalism that a sitting Government would contact a news outlet to get them to do a story. The media are suppose to be the one who watches the Government, and yet in this case it seems the Sun News Network are acting as the puppet of the Conservative Party of Canada.
The 'Fake citizens' were in fact civil servants of the federal government. The Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, who was under fire yesterday during the House of Commons question period, said “logistical problems,” and even though there were 13 other scheduled ceremonies, he still wanted to go ahead with the 'fake' one.
A Sun News staff member even wrote “Let’s do it. We can fake the oath,” but the name on the email was not disclosed.
It is truly such a wonderful ceremony when it is REAL and although I have never been to one, I have seen people coming out from receiving their Canadian Citizenship. It was emotional for me as I experienced the joy they felt, as becoming free, and REALLY Canadian.
Highly publicized and promoted new Fox TV series, Alcatraz hit the TV screen a few weeks ago, and the main point of the show has not been revealed yet. The story is about prisoners from the year 1963 who disappear/escape from the prison and show up in present day life (2012) but have not aged a day in 50 years. The first four shows did not reveal why they are in present day with their same appearance and it is somewhat of a mystery with secret plot lines, which don't disclose why they have not aged.
Many scenarios are circulating on the blogosphere/internets, suggesting that it may be a time travel revelation, but it seems more to me that the prisoners went into some kind of illegal medical experimental treatment to retain their 1963 looks. I believe there have been four episodes so far and there is still no indication as to why these men have not aged in 50 years.
It does have a lot of merit and I do like the concept, but keeping info from the viewers is not the route to take. People will follow for a few weeks but if you do not give them some reasons soon, you will lose any viewers you already have.
After the first two episodes some people started to think it wasn't fiction, and started to take the guided tour of the real-life Alcatraz in San Francisco, and went on the tour, only to go off the tour route and try to find the secret control room laboratory beneath the actual Alcatraz, which is not there. It's a TV series, it's not real people. Read more about Alcatraz CLICK HERE But they better hurry up and tell us why these prisoners, have not aged in 50 years.
I couldn't believe this is the first time since I have read a review about this new show "Early Start" on CNN.They do stay away from the 98% news about the Presidential election, but this Ashleigh Banfield is just plain "GOOFY"as she has been, everywhere else.
What happened to American Morning? I don't think the other reporter, Zoraida Sambolin, is quite as bad, but I'll be surprised if CNN keeps this pair in the morning slot. The morning shows are usually one of the most important shows on TV or radio, but then maybe CNN doesn't care.
But that's what I don't understand, isn't it their job to get people to watch a show instead of not watching. If you have Ashleigh on any show, people are going to stop watching, like we did when she was on CourtTV, she was just terrible.
Checkout whatNYPOSThad to say about the pair, it wasn't quite as nice. She drives people away, she doesn't bring viewers in.
This morning she was interviewing a guest, and he said "Did you just say CRAP?" And she said, "Yes."
Just plain GOOFY, but then with CNN, you never know. Just watch one morning and you can decide.
Toronto,Canada - The National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) is having another look at the mandatory use of visors for all players in the league. The majority of players in the NHL are currently wearing visors (70%) but many are dead against it, and want it to be a personal decision. Nearly 100% of rookies are wearing the visors, for protection of their eyes.
In an article today in The Toronto Star it was revealed that the NHLPA is reconsidering their position on mandatory visors for all players in the NHL.
There has always been a stigma attached to players who wear visors, as if they're "not men, suck cages" but that is not true. In 1978 the NHL made it mandatory for all new players to wear helmets and it was grandfathered in, so any players already in the league had the option. Many chose to wear the protective helmets, but it's still optional to wear a visor today.
“I wear a visor because I’ve been hit close to the eye a few times,” said Leafs centre David Steckel, who works on the penalty-killing unit. “I like my eyes and I’d like to keep them. Whether (the NHL and NHLPA) grandfather it in is up to them. But I like my eyes, so I wear a visor.”
Steckel has it right and the bottom line is your eyes, and no one can dispute that, no matter what they say. Nazem Kadri currently playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, says "he doesn't see himself taking it off" since he wore the visor when he came to the NHL last year. He is just happy he doesn't have to continue to wear the 'cage' he was required to wear in minor hockey.
The most recent injury to newcomer Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers, when he received an accidental skate to the head during a warm up skate, while he was without a helmet, and required several stitches, says it all.
NHL players are now more inclined to wear their helmets during warm ups, however it is not mandatory by the league.
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins is still not playing this year (except for a few games) from a concussion he received last season and his return is still in doubt, but when he is playing he wears a helmet with visor and ear protection.
Any changes to the rules will not be enforced until the NHLPA gets the blessing from the players, and since over 70% already wear visors, a new rule is within sight.
American Express mailed out a brochure for a Meditteranean cruise on the Costa Concordia which just arrived in many homes today. Sound familiar, you bet, that’s the one still sinking off the coast of Italy, near Giglio Island, where 17 have been confirmed dead. Amex has announced “Obviously that offer is not valid,” and that is believable.
View full mailer brochure BELOW
Amex has reported that they prepare these mailers many weeks in advance (6 weeks) and of course they didn’t know what would happen in Italy. But I think In the mailer they say to ‘Immerse yourself’ but I think I will immerse myself in something completely different, like taking a bus or a train.
Full text of the mailer received today
Immerse Yourself In A Truly European Experience:
'When you choose Costa Cruises, you don’t just see Europe — you live it. From authentic cuisine and beverages to dazzling decor and exhilarating celebrations, it’s easy to fall in love with the rich cultural heritage that inspires “Cruising Italian Style.” On an Eastern or Western Mediterranean vacation, you cruise through thousands of years of history, pampered with posh resort amenities in a floating environment of art and beauty. You’ll visit picturesque harbours, ancient ruins, busy markets and bustling boutiques — destinations that won Costa Cruises the Porthole Cruise Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for 'Best Mediterranean Itineraries.'
On board you can relax in the dazzling casino, romantic piano bar, internet cafe or on a dance floor. Dine amidst Roman pillars and Italian marble in the main restaurant, savour a gourmet spa menu, or visit a cosy bistro for authentic pizza, gelato and cappuccino. Take time for a state of the art Technogym workout, a private golf lesson, pick-up water polo or bocce ball. Indulge in a Turkish or Roman steam bath. Or just linger on a spacious teak sun deck and savour la dolce vita.
You can meet fascinating global travellers and dedicated staff with distinctively Continental perspectives. Barriers can dissolve in the high jinks of theme nights on board — tarantella dancing, ice carving or a Roman Toga party. As a member of the World’s Leading Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises offers a luxury cruise experience to cherish.'
My Opera
On screen 'scrolling tickers' started around 911 and they have continued to this day. It appears now that CNN is taking it to the next level, as seen here, they are taking up 25% of the actual screen view and distracting from watching the TV.
Am I the only one getting annoyed by these 'tickers' and if so, maybe I should just read online, but it's even worse there. You now have to scroll down about three times to get past all the advertising, well online that is part of life, but on my home TV, please let me see the show. And why don't they just use it for 'BREAKING NEWS' instead of having it 24/7, all the time?
![](http://dandmb50.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/ash-lrg.jpg "Just plain "GOOFY"")
