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Toronto-Age |OT2|

P

-Pyromaniac-

Member
Blackface said:
TekSavvy can only have the cable speed Rogers tells them they can have. Which was one of the major aspects of the CRTC hearing.

If TekSavvy jumps over to 24, I will probably switch. Cut my Internet bill in half.

Bell offers a 7mb upload on their Fibe Internet for an additional $7 month. It's more then enough to allow me to stream in 1080p. The problem is it's very much like DLS. They try to trick you into thinking it's Fiber Optic, but it isn't. They have the ability to use Cat5e/Cat6 and cable instead of your phone line, but the installer has to agree. (They never do)

I don't know why Rogers does not bite the bullet and offer an unlimited package. Right now Bell is getting all the bad press over the CRTC stuff. If Rogers swooped in and offered an unlimited package. They would pick up tons of customers from Bell. Making them look like the "good" guys. You could also price the package so if people are switching from much lower tier, the cost of the newpackage would be their current package + their max overcharge ($50). Then knock extreme down in price slightly. And turn extreme plus into this package.

They would make MORE money this way. I have a hard time understanding why all the MBA suits at Rogers don't get this.
Click to expand...
indeed, well Bell is already being forced to offer their speeds to teksavvy. We can only hope Rogers is next. But yeah I expect all tek customers will get the bump, just like we did the 10 to 15 one a while back. If it does go through, it will be amazing value, hopefully lots of others jump ship.

I actually listened live to all 6 days of the hearing. Enjoyed hearing Bell get torn a new one on the final 2 days.
 
S

StevieP

Banned
-Pyromaniac- said:
It actually hasn't happened yet. Here you go: http://redboard.rogers.com/2011/rog...tomer-needs-with-new-hi-speed-internet-tiers/

So when this happens I'll have a 300gb cap (at least), 24/1 speed, all at 42 bucks plus tax. That's why teksavvy is the best.
Click to expand...

Oh look, you need to buy a Docsis 3 modem. *facepalm*

Service cuts yes, but just about everything Ford&Co wanted and still want to eff up will be concentrated in the core.
Click to expand...

I live in Scarborough and I don't think any of the proposed cuts sound good for anyone.
 
Oppo

Oppo

Member
StevieP said:
Oh look, you need to buy a Docsis 3 modem. *facepalm*
Click to expand...
I actually appreciated this. it'll be good for years, no inflated monthly rental charge, and no crappy foisted Rogers modem/router garbage. Plus no one had to show up at my house. I received the modem delivery, plugged it in the first day of service and it just worked.
 
R

RS4-

Member
I'm on TS Express, so it's 10Mbps but there are times when I hover around 20-30. The upload is kind of bad at 512 so it's a pain uploading youtube videos.

I'll change speeds again if/when TS offers a faster service at a price that isn't Rogers-like.
 
M

Mario

Sidhe / PikPok
Just driveby posting to say I was up in Toronto last week for 4 days. Great city, lots of fun, and somewhere I hope to visit again one day.
 
Oppo

Oppo

Member
Mario said:
Just driveby posting to say I was up in Toronto last week for 4 days. Great city, lots of fun, and somewhere I hope to visit again one day.
Click to expand...
Sorry about the heat. ;)

Did you go up the tower?
 
M

Mario

Sidhe / PikPok
PortTwo said:
Sorry about the heat. ;)
Click to expand...

Was all good. Winter in NZ right now (though I'm currently in San Diego for ComicCon).

Went out to Toronto Island on Saturday for a birthday picnic, so got to lie around in the sun a little.


Did you go up the tower?
Click to expand...

Tried on the Sunday, but there was an 80 minute wait and I didn't have enough time before I had to head out to the airport.

I failed to experience poutine too.
 
A

AlphaTwo00

Member
Spl1nter said:
What is this nightmare you speak of? I look at the list of service cuts and they affect both people living in the downtown core and outside of it.
Click to expand...
For me, as someone who lives right at the edge away from the city, I would still agree that most of the cuts are going to hurt the downtown core more than uptown. Of the people that I know that don't live downtown (above the Shepherd belt), they look at TTC as an annoyance, that their service isn't necessary, etc, and to them, they are right, because they can drive around, and everything is still within reach. However, for people in the core, who don't have a car and depend on transit, it's a kick in the pants.

I recall hearing complaints about people's taxes subsidizing cost for TTC, which ended up parking (I was affected while I was still working downtown), and I look at what's happening now and I gotta wonder if that's a good enough reason to basically deamalgamation. It's become increasing clear that the different regions in Toronto has different needs, and any sort of overwhelming backing from one side or an other is just going to piss the other side off.
 
S

soultron

Banned
I hate to do this in here, but I desperately need to pay for school and figured you dudes might want some of this stuff I have for sale.

I have a single-speed track (fixed gear) bike for sale. Fuji Track 2008. Asking $250. Great condition.

Picture of the bike.

20GB 360 Arcade (HDMI, built-in memory card) with a shit tonne of games.

PM me if this sounds interesting to you GTA GAFfers. Thanks!
 
R

Roto13

Member
Psst.

This Is That is CBC's version of The Onion.

The fact that it's not entirely unbelievable that this idiot would try something like this is the biggest joke of all, though.
 
F

Firestorm

Member
Roto13 said:
Psst.

This Is That is CBC's version of The Onion.

The fact that it's not entirely unbelievable that this idiot would try something like this is the biggest joke of all, though.
Click to expand...
Ah.

And yes.
 
S

Samyy

Member
Blackface said:
TekSavvty is great but their speeds are not. Especially upload. If TekSavvy offerdd a cable service with higher upload I would switch.


Also

Rogers just upp'd the cap and speed of all their packages without a cost increase. They are still scumbags, but I think it shows maybe caps will be going up in the next few years. The ISP's got destroyed during the hearings. They are afraid the CRTC will make a ruling that independent ISP's are allowed to do whatever they want with the block bandwidth they purchase from Bell or Rogers. This means a company like TekSavvy would be able to offer a 35 down and 35 up unlimited bandwidth connection.

Bell complained that this would take customers from them. The CRTC lawl'd and said OF COURSE. It's called competition. You have the ability to offer these services and refuse. That doesn't give you the right to tell other ISP's they can't offer them. (which is what is happening now).

Things may, possibly, be taken a turn for the better.
Click to expand...

Is there any link to that shows the increase in cap and speed of their packages? Couldn't find that info anywhere.

edit: nvm, found it... my plan wasn't bumped up but does this data assurance thing mean I can use another 20 gigs for just 5 dollars?
 
Oppo

Oppo

Member
AlphaTwo00 said:
For me, as someone who lives right at the edge away from the city, I would still agree that most of the cuts are going to hurt the downtown core more than uptown. Of the people that I know that don't live downtown (above the Shepherd belt), they look at TTC as an annoyance, that their service isn't necessary, etc, and to them, they are right, because they can drive around, and everything is still within reach. However, for people in the core, who don't have a car and depend on transit, it's a kick in the pants.

I recall hearing complaints about people's taxes subsidizing cost for TTC, which ended up parking (I was affected while I was still working downtown), and I look at what's happening now and I gotta wonder if that's a good enough reason to basically deamalgamation. It's become increasing clear that the different regions in Toronto has different needs, and any sort of overwhelming backing from one side or an other is just going to piss the other side off.
Click to expand...
Well said. Even though I think it's human nature to notice the annoyances around your proximity and ignore those away from you, in the case of the 905ers, they really don't seem to understand what's happening downtown. I do admit to becoming a bit infuriated with all the "oh I hate driving downtown, I hate driving around streetcars..." - they don't LIVE HERE. /rant

So I agree with you. This next election I plan on doing my part to make this message heard, that we have to address the very different needs of the folks who live in the outer GTA and the actual downtown city dwellers, and this fat ass of a mayor is severely canted towards the former.
 
K

Kabuki Quantum Lover

Member
PortTwo said:
So I agree with you. This next election I plan on doing my part to make this message heard, that we have to address the very different needs of the folks who live in the outer GTA and the actual downtown city dwellers, and this fat ass of a mayor is severely canted towards the former.
Click to expand...

I think that de-amalgamation would solve several problems, except for the big ones (TTC and police).
 
S

Spl1nter

Member
PortTwo said:
Well said. Even though I think it's human nature to notice the annoyances around your proximity and ignore those away from you, in the case of the 905ers, they really don't seem to understand what's happening downtown. I do admit to becoming a bit infuriated with all the "oh I hate driving downtown, I hate driving around streetcars..." - they don't LIVE HERE. /rant
Click to expand...

905ers did not elect Rob Ford. They dont live within the City of Toronto boundaries.
 
Oppo

Oppo

Member
Zzoram said:
What I hate is how the suburbs decided the mayor that will have the greatest impact on downtown Toronto, which voted overwhelmingly against him.

2010ElectionResults.gif


Election2010results_weighted2.gif
Click to expand...
Yeah I'd say 905ers elected that mayor.
 
Oppo

Oppo

Member
crimzonflame said:
Which of those areas have a 905 area code?
Click to expand...
I am speaking strictly in the popular old mode of 416 being downtown and 905 being GTA, yes I realise it's not accurate, we have 4 area codes now, but you know what I mean. Don't detract from the point above, which is that people who live a long long way from downtown elected a mayor that is busy fucking with the city's core, for his own constituency and to the detriment of the "416ers".
 
A

AlphaTwo00

Member
PortTwo said:
I am speaking strictly in the popular old mode of 416 being downtown and 905 being GTA, yes I realise it's not accurate, we have 4 area codes now, but you know what I mean. Don't detract from the point above, which is that people who live a long long way from downtown elected a mayor that is busy fucking with the city's core, for his own constituency and to the detriment of the "416ers".
Click to expand...
Still. 905ers are strictly outside of the City of Toronto limits. I'm 10 minutes walk away from Steeles, a 905er. I don't vote anything within Toronto, and can only watch as things crumble around there.

800px-Old_Toronto_locator.png


Even your map shows it pretty well. The divide is pretty much the Old Toronto vs York, North York, East York, Scarborough and Etobicoke.
 
S

StevieP

Banned
PortTwo said:
I actually appreciated this. it'll be good for years, no inflated monthly rental charge, and no crappy foisted Rogers modem/router garbage. Plus no one had to show up at my house. I received the modem delivery, plugged it in the first day of service and it just worked.
Click to expand...

What if I've already purchased a Docsis 2 modem years ago, one that's working perfectly fine? It's not like I could sell it on ebay or anything thanks to the "Rogers lock". Why spend the $200 (or whatever) to get another modem and then to have one laying around doing nothing?

Don't detract from the point above, which is that people who live a long long way from downtown elected a mayor that is busy fucking with the city's core, for his own constituency and to the detriment of the "416ers".
Click to expand...

I'm one of those people that lives far enough away, and uses a car to do pretty much everything. I even complain that "omg driving downtown friggin sucks" from time-to-time, if I'm stuck driving there during the day. And I can tell you that the overwhelming majority of the proposed cuts are a really bad idea. I live pretty much next to the zoo, and have loved visiting it since my childhood... making it a private corporation would ... well you all know where that leads. I don't mean to sound like some bleeding-heart socialist, but since when was privatizing everything a "good" idea? Look at the US health care system as an example.
 
L

lunarworks

Member
Roto13 said:
Psst.

This Is That is CBC's version of The Onion.

The fact that it's not entirely unbelievable that this idiot would try something like this is the biggest joke of all, though.
Click to expand...
That's why I thought it was true.

It wouldn't surprise me if he put a toll on parks before he put a toll on roads. After all, if you have a backyard, why would you need a park?

crimzonflame said:
Which of those areas have a 905 area code?
Click to expand...
Speaking of area codes, Toronto's new area code, 437, has been approved, ready for use in 2013.

http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1028932--toronto-s-two-new-area-codes-approved?bn=1

Suddenly 647 numbers aren't so ghetto. 387 has also been set aside for Toronto, for future use.

Lucky 905 gets the 365 area code, though. THAT would be an awesome code to have.
 
S

Spl1nter

Member
StevieP said:
I don't mean to sound like some bleeding-heart socialist, but since when was privatizing everything a "good" idea? Look at the US health care system as an example.
Click to expand...

Privatization of essential services is not good but there are many services that the government provides that could be instead performed by private organizations.

A private organization instituting a service has many benifits over one provided by the government. Privatization grants an individual more choice in how and if they want a service to be provided to them, compared to the the single blanket service provided by a government. Garbage collection is an often used and good example of a service that can be privatized effectively.

Defining essential services is were most of the difficulty arises. The US view of an individual's rights differ in comparision to other parts of the world; this influences what they define as an essential service.

Edit: Private Organization does not mean corporation. Political theoriest who support an anarchist state or minarchy will argue that the function of security could be maintianed by private organizations.
 
S

StevieP

Banned
Spl1nter said:
Privatization of essential services is not good but there are many services that the government provides that could be instead performed by private organizations.

A private organization instituting a service has many benifits over one provided by the government. Privatization grants an individual more choice in how and if they want a service to be provided to them, compared to the the single blanket service provided by a government. Garbage collection is an often used and good example of a service that can be privatized effectively.

Defining essential services is were most of the difficulty arises. The US view of an individual's rights differ in comparision to other parts of the world; this influences what they define as an essential service.
Click to expand...

The thing about any privatization is that private companies operate for-profit. Government does not. It affects the way a service is delivered in every possible way.
 
D

Derwind

Member
I'm going back to Toronto for the weekend, yay me!

Visit my friends, my family, go to all my favourite hangouts!

Vive le Toronto! Vive le Canada!!
 
Oppo

Oppo

Member
StevieP said:
What if I've already purchased a Docsis 2 modem years ago, one that's working perfectly fine? It's not like I could sell it on ebay or anything thanks to the "Rogers lock". Why spend the $200 (or whatever) to get another modem and then to have one laying around doing nothing?
Click to expand...
You can still use it, probably even up to 10Mb or so, on TekSavvy. Check their site, they have a compatibility listing.

At any rate I'm pretty sure the Moto Surfboard only cost me $100.
 
A

a176

Banned
typo said:
Too many self-centered tards in the GTA :(

RE: Hudak, it's pretty much a given. McGuinty was like teflon during the last election, but he's been the face of too many negatives. Sadly, I'd still vote for him to keep the cons out.
Click to expand...

i voted for ford for the city, i voted torie for parliament; i was considering hudak on the point of just ousting the liberal party but frankly, he just seems more nutty by the day.

i will be voting ndp for ontario.
 
A

AlphaTwo00

Member
I don't remember where I've read it before, but I recall that on 10% of all bus lines are actually profitable. That's sort of the problem with a city like ours, where the dependency isn't on transit: if you privatize it, you basically end up declaring transit a failure, and it only hurts any families who don't have cars and live within the city.
 
A

Azih

Member
What I don't understand is that congestion affects everybody in the city. Don't people want congestion to reduce? Transit is the only way to do that.
 
A

AlphaTwo00

Member
Azih said:
What I don't understand is that congestion affects everybody in the city. Don't people want congestion to reduce? Transit is the only way to do that.
Click to expand...
People who only live in the suburbs (and work in suburbs) aren't burned as badly, and are the ones fine with "more car lanes over bike lanes" ideology. To a lot of these people, transit is something they rather die instead of taking, which is why they don't want it.

It's a chicken/egg question. Low usage <-> reduce service ad infinitum.
 
S

StevieP

Banned
PortTwo said:
You can still use it, probably even up to 10Mb or so, on TekSavvy. Check their site, they have a compatibility listing.

At any rate I'm pretty sure the Moto Surfboard only cost me $100.
Click to expand...

I have a Docsis 3 modem/gateway at my house with Rogers Lite (i.e. useless to me, but I bought it because there would be no point in purchasing a new D2 modem)... and my parents have a Docsis 2 modem purchased long ago on Rogers Extreme. I wonder if Rogers wouldn't mind if I swapped them? :p

So how many cities have benefitted from privatizing garbage collection?
 
A

AlphaTwo00

Member
ConvenientBox said:
^ Not constantly fixing roads over and over again helps too...
Click to expand...
Well that, we can't do much about. Our geographical location basically deals us the worst hand on that. Not many other places in the world have to deal with the weather conditions like we do. Roads can't tolerate all the salt and sand in the winter AND the heat in the summer all at once.
 
K

Kinitari

Black Canada Mafia
What are peoples thoughts on this?

http://www.thestar.com/news/ttc/article/1028581--ttc-chief-s-job-on-the-block

snippet
Ford plotting to oust TTC chief over subway extension

Gary Webster, the TTC’s top executive, is caught in the crosshairs of Mayor Rob Ford’s administration, prompting fears that Toronto transit could be headed on a disastrous course if he’s fired.

A 30-year TTC veteran, the 60-year-old chief general manager has drawn the ire of the Fords over his refusal to support the Sheppard subway extension the mayor wants to build, say Toronto Star sources.

....

“(The Fords) are so committed to Sheppard they are actively contemplating getting rid of the entire streetcar system in Toronto,” he said, adding that the cost of the new streetcars could be applied to the subway.
Click to expand...
 
A

AlphaTwo00

Member
Kinitari said:
What are peoples thoughts on this?

http://www.thestar.com/news/ttc/article/1028581--ttc-chief-s-job-on-the-block

snippet
Click to expand...
I point to the completely underused Sheppard system as a problem with our subway planning, and I question why extending it is a good idea. The original intent of that line was to reduce traffic from DVP and the core, with people getting off at Fairview mall, and take the subway down. Result: Parking over there is $6-$12, which results in people saying fuck it, let's just drive all the way down, cause they don't save any more time with the subway, and it closes early and infrequent.

Chicken and Egg again.
 
S

StevieP

Banned
Crucified said:
Incredibly short sighted. I don't think I've heard a single expert report about the Sheppard extension that thinks it's a good idea.
Click to expand...

As someone who went to York U using transit back in my youth (which took nearly 2 hours from Scarborough) I would've appreciated a westward extension of the Sheppard line.
 
D

Dyno

Member
Getting rid of streetcars. Wow! I'm not really a fan of them but Toronto has spent untold millions over the last ten years replacing all the tracks. What could replace them? Looks like the whole TTC is going to be turned upside down with this clown show.

Anyway, NOW magazine has an article on all the burger joints in Toronto. Everyone likes burgers, right?

The paper itself has a bunch of spot listed and catagories. The web article just goes over some worthwhile places.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/food/story.cfm?content=173201
 
The Elite

The Elite

BOSS
Anyone take a ride on the new subway yet? I believe they started yesterday.

Also, I took my first Bixie bike ride at 3:00 am yesterday coming home from Captain America. I needed to get up to Bloor for the Drunk Bus and the Bixie seemed like a neat option. Also, I could do it in 30 minutes which meant it would only cost me $5.65.

The touch interface on that stupid payment system was a pain in the ass. It took forever for it to recognize that I was hitting number 1. I almost gave up but lucked out thankfully. After that, the touch panel on the bike release wasn't recognizing the pin they gave me. After trying a few bikes I got lucky.

The seats are comfortable as is the size of the bike. I had trouble figuring out the gears on though so it was a bit of a pain getting up hill.

When returning the bike to another station I wish there was some sort of confirmation slip that I could get saying that it wasn't going to charge me for any more time. Instead, you just lock the bike at the station, which wasn't working at first, and walk away.

They are great in a pinch, I just wish the functionality of the rental system was a little easier to use.
 
T

Takao

Banned
Where can I get some prepaid Visa, or Mastercards? I want to do some online shopping, and buy some stuff off the Nintendo eShop.
 
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