Oh my heart is going pitter-patter as I type. The masterful Geeklawyer, who is currently in the land of the rising sun (aka Japan), has deigned to go shopping for Hello Kitty schtuff for his Hareem.

Be still my beating heart. Whatever shall I receive from His Geekiness?

The Toronto Star had an article yesterday about an immigrant from Jamaica who, while sitting ready to take his oath of citizenship, noticed that the welcome package from the Ministry of Citizenship had some spelling errors.

The comments to the article have been interesting to read. Seems that I am not the only nit-picker out there who is saddened by today’s lazy computer users who cannot be bothered to use a neuron or two and figure out how to spell “colour” or “defence”, but instead insist on using the MS Word spellchecker (the default is American English, though this can be changed to either Canadian or British English).

I still blame the current state of the educational system in which it is still considered psychologically scarring to point out errors like this to students; and to actually have the audacity to deduct marks for spelling errors, when it’s the content which matters not the spelling.

I believe I have found an alternative to Rogers and Fido for GSM service - CityFone.  They have a partnership deal with CGA for CGA members and CGA students. I believe I shall flip over to them when my Fido contract ends this coming October.

They are a small cellular company, but they are on a GSM network, and since my accounting association is promoting them as a “members’ benefit” why not.

Seems Rogers has caved, a wee bit. Please view this press release or just continue reading:

 
Select Rogers Plus stores to open early coast-to-coast on July 11
Launch promotions to include limited time 6GB data offer

TORONTO, July 9 /CNW/ - In anticipation of iPhone 3G launch on July 11,
Rogers Wireless today announced plans to open the doors of select Rogers Plus
retail stores across Canada in advance of regular hours. Starting at 8:00 am
July 11, Canadians will be able to purchase the new iPhone 3G at special
launch day events to be held at six Rogers Plus stores across the country. Be
among the first in Canada to get the next generation iPhone 3G and have the
choice of a 6GB data plan through a limited time promotional price offer.
“As Canada’s leading wireless carrier, Rogers is excited to bring iPhone
3G to Canadians even sooner, allowing our customers to be amongst the first in
the world to experience this amazing mobile innovation,” says John Boynton,
Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Rogers Wireless. “To
celebrate its launch on Canada’s fastest wireless network, we’re rolling out
the red carpet with special events at six Rogers Plus stores and a limited
time price promotional data offer from coast-to-coast.”
iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G
networking that is twice as fast(*) as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS
for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which
includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of
third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.

Rogers Launch Promotions
————————
The following Rogers Plus stores in these cities will open their doors at
8:00 a.m. (all times local) on Friday, July 11 for advance purchases of the
Apple iPhone 3G:
Toronto: 112-10 Dundas Street East
Montreal: 1015 rue St. Catherine Ouest
Ottawa: 690 Bank Street
Halifax: Unit 265, 7001 Mumford Road
Calgary: 5244 Falsbridge Gate, NE
Vancouver: 2097 West Broadway

Customers attending launch day events at these Rogers Plus stores will be
treated to a free early bird breakfast and have a chance to win Rogers
Wireless prizes.
Effective July 11, and as a limited time promotional offer for customers
who activate by August 31 on a three year contract, a data-only offering of
6GB of data for $30 per month is being made available that can be added to any
in-market voice plan. For example, with 6GB of data, iPhone 3G users can visit
35,952 web pages, or send and receive 157,286 emails, or watch 6,292 minutes
of YouTube videos each and every month.(xx)
New Canadian iPhone 3G customers will also have the choice to select from
Rogers Wireless’ existing voice and smartphone data plans and/or additional
features to best suit their needs, or from Rogers Wireless’ value bundled
plans specifically for iPhone 3G. Existing Rogers Wireless customers can keep
their current voice service plan and select a separate data plan to meet their
needs or choose from other plans after checking their individual upgrade
eligibility.
Starting July 11, iPhone 3G will be available at participating locations
across Canada, including select Rogers Plus, Rogers Video, and Rogers Wireless
retail locations and at the following specially selected authorized Rogers
Wireless dealers: WirelessWave, TBooth and Wireless etc. iPhone 3G can also be
purchased online at www.rogers.com and through Rogers’ customer service at
1-888-764-3771. For a complete store listing, visit
http://your.rogers.com/mq/mqlocator.asp. Due to anticipated high demand, there
is a maximum purchase of two iPhone 3G per customer.

(*) Based on 3G and EDGE testing. Actual speeds may vary due to a variety
of factors.
(xx) Based on live trials of iPhone 3G on Rogers HSPA network, July 2008

About Rogers Wireless

Rogers Wireless provides wireless voice and data communications services
across Canada to more than 7.4 million customers under both the Rogers
Wireless and Fido brands. Proven to operate Canada’s most reliable wireless
voice and data communications network, Rogers Wireless is Canada’s largest
wireless provider and the only carrier operating on the global standard GSM
and highly advanced HSPA technology platforms. In addition to providing
seamless roaming in more than 200 countries/areas with its GSM based services,
Rogers Wireless also provides wireless broadband services across Canada,
utilizing its 2.5GHz fixed wireless spectrum. Rogers Wireless is a subsidiary
of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), a diversified Canadian
communications and media company. For further information, please visit
www.rogers.com.

<<
Backgrounder

Average Data Usage on iPhone 3G for Top 25 Internet Properties in Canada

————————————————————————-
Top 25 Total Unique Avg. Data Usage
Properties(*) Visitors (000)(*) (first page)(xx)
————————————————————————-
Total Internet:
Total Audience 23,947
————————————————————————-
(P) Google Sites 23,141 53 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Microsoft Sites 23,053 360 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Yahoo! Sites 16,361 397 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) FACEBOOK.COM 16,154 51 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) eBay 13,972 385 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Wikipedia Sites 11,528 175 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Yellow Pages Group 10,162 35 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) AOL LLC 10,012 134 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Amazon Sites 8,568 38 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Apple Inc. 8,506 650 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Canoe Network 7,894 235 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) CTVglobemedia 7,835 630 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Fox Interactive Media 7,611 194 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) The Weather Network Meteomedia 7,261 811 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) CNET Networks 7,042 36 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Ask Network 6,966 97 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) New York Times Digital 6,943 654 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Viacom Digital 6,258 671 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) CBC-Radio Canada Sites 5,908 468 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Adobe Sites 5,110 678 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Time Warner - Excluding AOL 5,039 143 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Canwest Digital 4,916 236 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) WhitePages 4,910 30 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) Gorilla Nation 4,826 194 Kb
————————————————————————-
(P) ROGERS 4,657 593 Kb
————————————————————————-
Weighted avg = 175 Kb
Simple avg = 318 Kb

(*) Top 25 visited Properties, April 2008, All Locations, comScore, Inc.
(C)
(xx)Rogers Internal iPhone 3G test results, July 2008

————————————————————————-
Select Usage Chart of Data Buckets in iPhone 3G Plans
————————————————————————-

————————– ————- ————- ————
Email OR Websites OR Photos OR YouTube
kb used 40 175 300 1000
————————– ————- ————- ————

Bucket Size No. of No. No.
(in MB) text emails of pages of photos (in min)

400 10,240 2,341 1,365 410
————————– ————- ————- ————
750 19,200 4,389 2,560 768
————————– ————- ————- ————
1024 26,214 5,992 3,495 1,049
————————– ————- ————- ————
2048 52,429 11,984 6,991 2,097
————————– ————- ————- ————
6144 157,286 35,952 20,972 6,292
————————– ————- ————- ————
>>

About Rogers Wireless
———————

Rogers Wireless provides wireless voice and data communications services
across Canada to more than 7.4 million customers under both the Rogers
Wireless and Fido brands. Operating Canada’s fastest data and most reliable
voice network with the clearest reception and fewest dropped calls, Rogers
Wireless is Canada’s only carrier operating on the global standard GSM and
highly advanced HSPA technology platforms. In addition to providing seamless
roaming in more than 200 countries/areas with its GSM based services, Rogers
Wireless also provides wireless broadband services across Canada utilizing its
2.5GHz fixed wireless spectrum. The company is a subsidiary of Rogers
Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI; NYSE: RCI), a diversified Canadian
communications and media company. For further information, please visit
www.rogers.com.

Contact:
Liz Hamilton
Rogers Wireless
elizabeth.hamilton@rci.rogers.com
(416) 935-8710

For further information: Liz Hamilton, Rogers Wireless,
elizabeth.hamilton@rci.rogers.com, (416) 935-8710; Paul Keable, MS&L PR,
paul.keable@mslpr.ca, (416) 847-1307

When I first heard that the iphone would be carried by my mobile provider (Fido, which is a subsidiary of Rogers) I was quite delighted with the prospect of having my own little iphone. Lo and behold the data rates have come out and they are disgusting.  Apple is not selling the iphone in Canada, it can only be had at Rogers or Fido outlets. Theoretically this is a sign of Apple’s unhappiness with Rogers’ attempt to gouge customers with high fees and low data plans, and insisting that users subscribe to a minimum of 3 years with stiff penalties for trying to get out of the contract.

These are the prices at Rogers, which owns Fido and therefore Fido has the same pricing scheme:

While the iPhone 3G Voice and Data Packages allow you to use this device to its fullest and offer savings over separate voice and data plans, they are not the only options available to you. Other pricing options are available. For example, you may choose to combine one of our new data plans ranging from $30 per month (for 300MB) to $100 per month (for 6GB) with a voice plan. Learn More. They are available by calling 1 888 ROGERS1 or by visiting your nearest Rogers retail location.

Already an existing customer?
If you are an existing customer, you may keep your existing voice service plan and add a separate data plan. To check your upgrade eligibility, please call 1 888 ROGERS1 or visit your nearest Rogers retail location.

iPhone Voice & Data Packages are available on a 36-month term service agreement.

*A $6.95 monthly System Access Fee (non-government fee), a monthly 50¢ 911 Emergency Access Fee (non-government fee) and a one-time $35 Activation Fee apply in addition to the monthly service fee. Local airtime over the allotted monthly minutes in the plan, long distance and roaming charges, any additional service options selected and applicable taxes are extra and are also billed monthly.

Data Usage - Your iPhone will be enabled for data usage. If you subscribe to a plan with no data included, data charges at a pay-per-use rate of 5¢/KB for data sent and/or received over the Rogers network will apply, unless you subscribe to a data plan, which we highly recommend. Roaming charges apply while using your iPhone outside Canada. U.S. data roaming on iPhone Packages is $3/MB. The standard international data roaming rate applies. Visit rogers.com/roaming for our roaming rates and destinations. Data usage is measured in KB rounded to the next full KB.

• Important Information for Apple iPhone 3G Pricing

Value Packs for iPhone 3G

Add a Value Pack to your package and save up to 53% off the regular price of Wireless Essentials.

While my nurse was doing my daily dressing this past Saturday she mentioned my hole may not be completely closed before I scamper off to thesunny climes of England in September. This means, according to her, that I may have to get my friends to help me with the silver nitrate gauze (to stuff into my hole). I promptly emailed Geeklawyer, Ruthie and Cantrell. Ruthie is willing to help out, haven’t heard from Cantrell and Geeklaywer - I swear he screamed like a little girl, wagging her pigtails saying “no no no no”.

I have found, and yes I am making a generalisation, that it is men who are the weaker sex. Since my surgery it has been women who have said “okay, let’s take a look” –other than Ms Butternuts who gets quite squeamish. The men, on the other hand, hide like little pansies. My father doesn’t even want to discuss my stoma or the hole. My brother turns green at the mention of my stoma. Diresquirrel wimpers and asks for a bunny to cuddle. Mr Brian is fine, but he works in a hospital setting as a chaplain and is generally quite strong with regards to surgical scars.

It has been my experience that it is the men who breakdown and wimper more readily than women when it comes to healthcare issues. My mother, sweetest dumpling in the world, with an extremely soft voice, can turn into a valykerie when one of us is sick. My father, who tends to take on the typical eastern european macho role, breaks down and cries.

I’m fine, by the way. The hole is down to 1.8cm deep with a diameter of 3mm. If the hole gets to under 1cm before I leave for England than Geeklawyer need not worry, I won’t need to stuff the hole. I can do the topical dressing myself.

wimp

I have brought in my macbook for servicing, last Friday. I need a new logic board (aka motherboard) and the CrackStore rang to say I also need a new fan. I have AppleCare so this isn’t costing me a dime. But in the meanwhile I am without a computer. Oh how shall I handle my WOW withdrawals?

For the past little while there has been a fraud case underway with regards to the “fishy” shennigans of Livent co-owners Garth Drabinsky & Myron Gottlieb. The CFO, Maria Messina, joined the company back in 1996; she was “pilfered” from a public accounting firm and is a chartered accountant. She is one of the star witnesses for the Crown, arguing that she had no control over the external financial reporting. She has argued that she was told what results Livent owners wanted to project to investors and the general public. She plead guilty to a criminal charge of providing false financial information to the SEC.

I could witter on and on about the case. But what strikes me is that she got herself into this situation. Yes, she did end up being a whistleblower and exposing the questionable accounting practices of Livent.  But she has a criminal charge against her, because she went along with providing false statements.

The woman is a Chartered Accountant, as a CA she must uphold certain ethical and professional standards. Granted I don’t know what they are for a CA, but for being a CGA I am required to never put myself into a situation in which my duty of care to the public is every compromised. My first responsibility, when confronted by questionable practices while employed is to express my concerns to my employer. If said employer still insists on following these questionable (and possible criminal) processes then I have to distance myself and explain why. If for no other reason being that I could be sanctioned by my Professional Association and stripped of my designation.

And let me make this clear - I worked damn hard to get it and I refuse to jeapordise losing it.

This woman, Messina, I have to question her ethical and professional standards and her attitude towards her obligations to the general public and investors. I certainly hope that any potential employers would think twice before considering doing business or even hiring her.

I’m not a great lover of dogs and wish that all dogs, when out and about, be on leashes. But I would never poison a dog, as has recently happened here in Toronto. Seems someone put anti-freeze into a doggie drinking trough in High Park. One dog, it seems, will not make it and the other dogs are very ill but stable.

There has been an ongoing issue between dog lovers and those who wish the dogs be on leashes. Most recently in the park across the street from my apartment a “dog park” was constructed so that all the nippy four-legged demons could have a place to scamper about and be dogs without impinging on other people’s ability to enjoy the rest of the park. It’s a fairly large dog park and the expectation is that the dogs play there. The park is relatively small so letting one’s dog off the leash means that any one of us could be pounced upon quite easily. The park, Allan Gardens, is not a leash-free zone, never has been. And yet the dog owners in my neighbourhood seem to view it as their right to let Rover, Tiger, Killer, Boxer etc loose.

Though it is horrific that someone would stoop to poisoning dogs (it’s not their fault they are off their leashes, it’s their owners’ fault) I can understand the sentiment behind it. Frustration that the rights of dogs and dog owners seem to be superceding that of others who just want to sit on a bench peacefully or have a picnic without a great big creature crashing into the food or biting a pedestrian.

What I would love to see is stiffer penalties laid against dog owners who let their dogs off the leash in areas where there are signs everywhere saying to keep the dogs on a leash. Make it $500 and hopefully the human caretakers of these beasts will pay closer attention to signs.

Pride week has started in Toronto, sort of. Next weekend is to be the culmination of a week’s worth of festivities celebrating and rejoicing in the many facets of being gay/lesbian/bi/tran/etc in today’s modern Canadian Society.

I was traipsing about the Village today, mostly to get a prescription filled (my pharmacy is in the Village) and everything was eerily quiet. Mayhaps with the threat of thunderstorms all weekend peeps were not in the mood to go galivanting about, and sit on patios. I saw one pair of tourists though, today.. I could tell because they were tentatively holding hands and looking at “straights” like myself to see our reactions.. I couldn’t care less, as long as there wasn’t any tonsil inspections by tongue going on.

Will there be more tourists showing up? I think so, mostly because gay marriage is still not legal in the USA and I believe many couples will come up here to get hitched. They may not be legal in the USA, but atleast somewhere in the world they will be married.