I stumbled upon reading a message board topic down at HowardForums.com and one thread that has caught to my attention that leads me to a news article.

According to an article posted on CBC.ca, a new report produced by a Montreal-based telecommunications consulting firm called Seaboard Group has stated that a new (if not, many) cell phone carrier(s) might be up and running by next summer as opposed to a 12 to 18-month timeframe as produced by other analysts. With the wireless auction about to take place in Canada starting on May 27th and lasting for a month, many customers are waiting for a moment like this.

A similar spectrum has recently wrapped up in the United States, in which Verizon won the piece of that pie. It’s currently moving forward on upgrading their network to LTE (Long Term Evolution) making future phones work around the world. I’m not sure if Verizon will have SIM (subscriber identity module) cards for their LTE phones, but it’s anyone’s guess.

Anyways, to view the list of bidders for the Canadian wireless auction, please click here. Many companies out there are trying to fight back against so-called System Access Fees, Activation fees and those lousy cancellation fees (penalties). One provider, Koodo Mobile has decided to take back the approach on marketing as “fat-free mobility”. I’ve created two posts about Koodo mobile. You can view them here or here.

Virgin Mobile on the other hand, now offers some monthly plans (known as the myPlan) that roughly follows on the same trail as Koodo. The only drawback is that you can only make long distance calls to the U.S., but still text message to other destinations (including the U.S.). As for U.S. roaming, you can do that with myPlan, but it’s the opposite of Virgin Mobile’s prepaid plans (for prepaid - a.k.a. Pay-as-you-go plans). You CANNOT roam your phone down to the states if you are prepaid customer. Maybe someday, Virgin Mobile Canada will work on this any day…..

There are many other providers out there that many people have never heard of. The list goes on (i’ve put some hyperlinks on those providers so you can do some research about them):

The providers that many people have not heard of are:

• Solo Mobile
• PC Mobile
• Petro Canada mobility
• 7-Eleven speak out (unofficial page *or official one)
• Primus
• SearsConnect
• SimplyConnect (only for Scotiabank VISA customers)
• uWho Wireless
• DCI Telecom
• Videotron (Quebec Only)
• CityFone

These providers either run on the big three’s (Rogers, Telus, Bell) networks or have it’s own dedicated network.

* = Editor’s note: at the time of blog posting, the 7-Eleven official website is undergoing maintenance. I couldn’t provide the official link at this time..

The providers that you people may (or might) know are:

• Rogers
• Telus
• Fido
• Bell Mobility
• Solo Mobile
• Virgin Mobile
• MTS
• Sasktel

Anyways, based on my original blog postings, I thought that the auction is taking place as of now, but I heard it’s going to start on May 27th, 2008 - not end on that date. I vaguely apologize for any misunderstandings that I have made to you, guys. I hope you understand it by now.

I can’t wait on who will get the piece of the 2GHz spectrum…..

References:

“New cellphone carriers by next summer: report.” CBC.ca. 9 May 2008. 12 May 2008 <http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/05/09/tech-cellphones.html>

“City man part of major wireless bid.” Peterborough Examiner. 10 May 2008. 12 May 2008 <http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1022558>

“Canada’s Wireless Crisis.” Geist, Michael. 7 May 2008. 12 May 2008 <http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/2907/135/>

I stumbled watching a news report yesterday when one lady who worked for Tim Hortons got fired for giving away a timbit to a customer - a baby-in-arms with a mother. Nicole Lilliman, a 27-year-old single mother of four children was working at a London, Ontario-area Tim Hortons the other day and she served a baby who was with her mother a timbit. Nicole did not realized that her actions was caught on video surveillance . It wasn’t a day after until the manager of the Tim Horton’s franchise ask her to see what she had done. As a result, she was fired.

It really saddens me that her ex-manager has gone her too far. She was crying and many bloggers - including myself looked into a second opinion of that (one user wrote one, while the other one wrote another in their own perspectives). The incident was spreading like wildfire, giving a broad media attention. The craze goes as far as Texas, New York State, California and so on….even China! As a result of the case, she was later rehired by the company.

Nicole Lilliman stated in an interview: “It was just out of my heart, she (the toddler) was pointing and going ‘ah, ah…’ I should have gone to my purse and got the change, but it was busy,”

For those foreigners out there who don’t know what a timbit is, they are tiny donut holes and they come in a wide range of flavours including chocolate, dutchie cream, strawberry filled and so on. A single lousy timbit cost about $0.16CDN (sixteen cents) and many customers opt in to buy in boxes of 10, 20 or even 40 timbits.

Tim Hortons later issued a statement and apologizes to Nicole Lilliman for her ordeal:

“Unfortunately the action of the manager of this location was not appropriate, nor grounds for dismissal,” a statement from Tim Hortons said Thursday. “With an apology from management, Ms. Lilliman has been rehired by the franchisee.”

As one song shows, “There’s a class for this” (in reference to a song by a band called Cute is What We Aim For).

Back to Nicole now and this is what she also state: “I just wasn’t happy with the whole thing, They said that I graciously took my job back, but I just took my job back. I need that paycheque in two weeks.”

With her ordreal over, she still works with Tim Hortons - but at another location in the London area - she took her duties working at the Drive Thru.

Good thing that Phreak615 wasn’t witnessing the action as it unfolded! To finish this blog off, I’m leaving you two music videos by my favourite band, Simple Plan. These music videos are “Your Love is a Lie” and “When I’m Gone”. The reason that I choosed “When I’m Gone” and this is especially dedicated to Nicole Lilliman and her ex-manager of the Tim Hortons (the place that where she formerly worked at) because the video is asking them, “You’re gonna miss me when i’m gone?” Enjoy the music videos.

Simple Plan - “When I’m Gone”:

Simple Plan - “Your Love is a Lie”:

References:

“Woman fired for giving 16-cent treat to toddler.” Thomson Reuters. 8 May 2008. 9 May 2008 <http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCAN0836799020080508>.

” Fast food woman fired, excused for giving free doghnut.” Xinhua News Agency. 9 May 2008. 9 May 2008 <http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/09/content_8134948.htm>

“Tim Hortons apologizes, rehires mom who gave away Timbit.” Canwest News Service. 8 May 2008. 9 May 2008 <http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=aaf9eba6-3bf3-4aff-a5af-2720d6c92dec>

“Woman fired, rehired for giving baby free Timbit.” Toronto Sun. 8 May 2008. 9 May 2008 <http://www.torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2008/05/08/5506961.html>

“Rehired Timbit mom needs the dough.” Toronto Star. 9 May 2008. 9 May 2008 <http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/423225>

“Mom gets job back.” London Free Press. 9 May 2008. 9 May 2008 <http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2008/05/09/5515571-sun.html>

Notice to all blog posters:

A user by the name of Phreak615 is currently on the loose. He masterminded an underground operation on hacking over MuchMusic using sophisticated equipment and manipulating video clips of people filming on their webcams. Earlier reports suggest that a guy named “Mark David” was behind phreak615. Mark David was also identified by the alias of “Matsuto77″ or “c v j”, but after an lengthly interview and disputes over who the real “phreak615″ is, Mark David has released from police custody and the search is on to track down the real “phreak615″.

Earlier reports suggest that “phreak615″ might catch a flight to London, Birmingham or Glasgow. He also might be seen driving a Porsche 911. Surveillance tapes show that “phreak615″ was at a local Timmy’s (Tim Hortons) on the Highway 401 in Wesleyville (just west of Port Hope). Indications believe that “phreak615″ is planning to go to Montreal. All police detachments are notified of the wanted criminal.

Suspect is described as the following:

• 6′1″
• Green cowboy hat
• Green goggles
• Blue mask with no mouth part
• Long-sleeve plaid sweatshirt
• Drives a Grey Porsche 911 similar to the video below with Ontario Licence plate of “3REAK615″

If you see this particular criminal, DO NOT APPROACH HIM! Contact the police immediately by dialing 9-1-1 or to be anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). With Crime Stoppers, you don’t have to give your personal information or testify in court, ever. As always, Crime Stoppers DOES NOT use Call Display (Caller ID).

Porsche 911 Chase (in Dutch):

“Grainy” video of phreak615:

Over 15 or 16 years ago, this particular TV show was aired on TVOntario. It has a cool and interesting introduction and it is well known for Science and Technology. The show is called “Acme School of Stuff”. I stumbled upon this particular TV show when I saw a video on how subways work. Before “How it’s made”, “How do they do it”, “How’d they do that?” and  one particular TV show that was aired on HGTV  (it follows the same paths as the latter three, but I couldn’t remember what it is), this particular TV show gives us a close understanding on how things work.

“Acme School of Stuff” is hosted by a person named David Stringer and he’s lucky enough to host an official website about him and his accomplishments he had contributed over the years. His official site can be founded here: http://www.davidstringer.ca/

Also, there’s a youtube channel dedicating to the Acme School of Stuff: http://www.youtube.com/user/acmeschool

I’m still trying to find on how electronic signs\displays work from this particular series, but over time it’ll be on that particular channel….lol Anyways, enjoy the videos that are my favourites, especially that phreak615 should know how a Vinyl record works (if you want to refer to my blog posting on that, click here)!

Acme School of Stuff (intro):

Electronics (from tube to transistor) - one of my favourites:

How a telephone works (with a humourous opening):

How Digital things work using ones and zeros:

Making of a Vinyl Record:

I was watching MOD on MuchMusic the other day until I saw a series of random commercials featuring people filiming on a webcam. But there’s one “obvious” person that has these characteristics: He’s wearing green goggles, a green cowboy hat and a blue partial mask that one has eyes and nose parts. He’s holding a sign that says, “THIS IS THE NEW REALITY - Phreak615.com”.

There was some speculation going on about this viral advertising. Phreak615 decided to hack and intercept every television show that was aired on MuchMusic. This reminded me when there was a series of Obay advertisments popping around in my neighbourhood and it wasn’t until later that these ads were produced by Ontario Colleges - showing awareness for parents who is considering post-secondary opportunities for their children. Earlier, it reminded me when YTV’s The Zone (and the entire YTV network) back in 2001 was hacked by some kind of odd enemy named the “Freaky Fowl” (or something like that). This is from a wikipedia article:

“At one point during their tenure, a bizarre plotline emerged involving electronic insects known as yokomites that were under the control of a mysterious chicken-man named Fiendly Fowl. They were created by Fowl to destroy the station, should his demand to be given the station was ignored. At the end, there was an animated comic where Pat and Jenny went into the yokomite’s lair to defeat them. The hand in the toilet was “killed” saving them.”

Many bloggers, including mine were circulating rumours about Obay. Even many message boards has their own point of view about the Obay ads.

Back to the Phreak615 craze, there is a blog by the alias of “Phreak615″ and he unravels his plot to hack this year’s MuchMusic Video Awards, which will take place on June 15th, 2008. This is what he explicitly states on his blog:

“It’s no secret that I am going to hack the MMVAs.
It’s no secret that if you send me a video I’ll put you into the MMVAs
It’s no secret that MuchMusic and Mad Mark have the same initials.
And it’s no secret that CDs have a better sound quality than cassette.
CDs Nuts!”

Is that guy is some kind of retro brainiac who thinks that cassette or vinyl produces better sound quality than CDs? Or is he some kind of terrorist leader? Anyways, I was extremely slow on trying to get all the details on Phreak615, but I was able to find some videos on how MuchMusic suffered the effects of Phreak615. I spent almost day and night trying to research some information and provided an APB on Phreak615 until I realized that Phreak615 is some kind of MMVA advertisement teaser (or something like that).

EDIT: This is phreak615’s full and detailed information about himself (to view the original post, please go here):

Anyways, I have some evidence that you may find (somewhat) disturbing - in the form of youtube videos! Right now, I’m in the process of trying to unravel and try to nick Phreak615’s operation once and for all! I wonder how loyal MuchMusic viewers will think about this…lol Who knows? Perhaps “Phreak615″ will appear on Road Wars!

The Phreak615 is here!:

MuchMusic got hacked - #1:

MuchMusic got hacked - #2:

MuchMusic got hacked - #3:

A Hole in the system:

Look what I can do with a computer:

Fly the coop:

References:

http://www.dabbler.ca/news/is-phreak615-hacking-muchmusic-me-thinks-not-20080413/

http://phreak615.blogspot.com/

http://www.dabbler.ca/news/phreak615-the-plot-thickens-20080418/

I was reading a news article today that Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iPod is finally heading to Canadian store shelves. The Zune, which was released back in the United States in the beginning of 2007 is finally to compete against the iPod. As an iPod owner, I personally haven’t tried the Zune out myself, but I saw a display at a Target store down in Erie, Pennsylvania on a snowy day back in February 2007. For some, it’s finally worth the wait after we left out in the cold for the Apple iPhone to come out. With the Zune and the iPhone finally hitting Canadian store shelves, people can decide which portable music player is best for them. There’s no word if the Zune will be “iTunes” friendly. Well, it’s anyone’s guess.

In other Microsoft related news, it seems that Microsoft has finally pulled out of the controversial bid to buy Yahoo which in turn cause a ripple effect on their stocks. Both shares of Yahoo and Microsoft were slightly dropped after the announcement. For my part, it seems that both companies have finally “Decided to break it” after they couldn’t agree on a certain deal. If Microsoft were to buy Yahoo today, it’ll be topsy-turvy in the information world and this could fuel the next dot-com bubble (like it was back in the late-1990s and heading towards the early-2000s).

In other news, the Virgin Festival in Vancouver (the music festival in which many big-ticket acts perform for two days) has cancelled after it had failed to secure many of the big-ticket and top acts. This is the second time that such a music festival has cancelled in the Vancouver (and B.C.) music scene. First, it was the Vans Warped Tour that pulled out of Vancouver. Now the Virgin Festival has finally fallen to it’s wrath.

Andrew Bridge, one of the organizers has quote in an interview: “It wasn’t from a lack of trying, but we just couldn’t make it come together this year for Vancouver. We don’t want to do a sub-optimal festival in Vancouver, We want to make sure that we hold up extremely high standards.”

Rock festivals in Vancouver bring a lot of money to the city’s economy. Now with two tours being nixed, it leaves many music fans in a uncertain economic future. The V-Fest website for the Vancouver listing mentions that they will be back next year. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen to one businessman who bilked up thousands of dollars on the Walkerton Watershed Festival (which was cancelled not once, but twice - back in 2003 and 2004).

In other news, I was a reading an article at durhamregion.com about residents protesting against Rouge Valley Health System’s move on moving the mental beds from the Ajax-Pickering Hospital to Scarborough’s Centenary Health Centre. The hospital coroporation suffered a massive debt worth $78 million CDN. According to one MPP (Member of Parliament), the person who is planning to go for treatment in Scarborough is unrealistic.

Many protesters, from residents to members who work for the Ontario Public Services Employees Union (or OPSEU) took part in a rally against the hospital’s decision to move all mental health beds to Scarborough. Despite the rainy weather, many of them won’t give up a fight. When I was in Grade 9 and attended the now-defunct Exeter High School, we used to participate in the Terry Fox Run and I can see the hospital in the distance.

In other news, my first day in the Electronics course went very well. I’m striving to be very well in this particular course. 7 weeks is not bad for me. Anyways, I’m leaving you a few lyrics that will fit the scenarios.

Westlife - “If I let you go”:

But if I let you go
I will never know
What my life would be
Holding you close to me
Will I ever see
You smiling back at me
How will I know?
If I let you go …

Marianas Trench - “Push”:

Hey, don’t you feel it now?
My shiny side down
Hey, burning brighter still
And you’re getting sick
And you’re feeling it

It’ll wear you down and wear you down
You chase it, breathing in and out and in and out
They’ll push you up against the wall, against the wall
You didn’t think you’d feel it all but you were wrong about it
Push

References:

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/04/30/zune.for.canada.in.may/

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/06/zune-headed-for-canada-on-june-13th/

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjU4WijVVNa5XulswezGrDtj0Tsw

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/PCWorld/story?id=4785469

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/durham/article/98295

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/ajax/article/97948

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/412746

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/ajax/article/98389

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/421227

“Cancelled Virgin Fest leaves B.C. cold”, Calgary Sun, 04 May 2008

“Don’t make cuts to Ajax Hospital”, Newsdurhamregion.com, 15 April 2008

Over the past week or so, we may have told you that Simple Plan has recently announced a cross-Canada tour with opening acts The All-American Rejects and Faber Drive.

Well, i’ll give you the details. According to Simple Plan’s official website, they will embark on a cross-Canada tour starting on August 19th and ending on September 9th, 2008. The tour dates goes as follows:

• August 19th - St. Johns, NL @ Mile One Stadium
• August 21st - Halifax, NS @ Metro Centre
• August 22nd - Moncton, NB @ Coliseum
• August 23rd - Saint John, NB @ Harbour Station
• August 25th - Chicoutimi, QC @ Centre Geroge Vezina
• August 26th - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
• August 28th - Ottawa, ON @ Scotiabank Place
• August 29th - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre
• August 30th - London, ON @ John Labatt Centre
• September 3rd - Vancouver, BC @ Pacific Coliseum
• September 5th - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
• September 6th - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
• September 8th - Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
• September 9th - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre

At the time of this writing, ticket sales for all concert dates are taking place. There’s some speculation that all of the concerts might sell out, but it’s anyone’s guess. There was a presale that took place and MuchMusic has provided us a password for that presale, but due to some overwhelming demand at the time of this writing, the presale is somewhat “integrated” with the General onsales. I was able to take the opportunity of that presale, but I wasn’t able to get good enough seats (FYI, I’m going to the Toronto date of the concert). I would have got the one that is closest to the stage and/or allow me for easy exits (like the time I went to see Fall Out Boy/+44 down at the Molson Amphitheatre last year), but as long as I can see the bands on stage and hear the performance, it’s going to be a great concert - just in time to finish off the summer holidays. The only problem that concerns to me for the Toronto date that I’m attending is how to enter to Ontario Place without going through the Exhibition grounds, since that date straddles during the CNE period (August 15th to September 1st) that time. I’m still finding ways on how to get to the Molson Amp without going through the CNE grounds.

EDIT (May 12th, 2008): The Montreal show for August 26th is now sold out, but due to overwhelming demand, another block of tickets has been issued for Saturday, September 13th, 2008. Tickets for that date will go sale this Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 12:00p.m. (Eastern Time)

With a concert like this, you may never know if you may run something unexpectedly and the worse ways that you are ruining it for everyone. That’s why a recent blog posting on MuchMusic.com has posted “10 worse ways to behave at a concert and how/why are you ruining it for everyone”. In a relatively same topic, I’ve decided to post my own tips on how to plan that great outing. It’s a bit detailed, but it does the trick.

Anyways, when I went to eBay.ca (an auction website) and went to search for the same tickets, some of the tickets were opening to bid as little as $1.00, but because of provincial legislation governing ticket resales, the opportunities on getting them with the highest bid possible are limited.

This is going to be the greatest concert in my lifetime and I don’t want anyone to stop me. I constantly saved up a considerable amount of money to go to this concert (along with the Warped Tour in Toronto on July 19th). I do not want to risk a budget overrun for sure! If you people are from the Toronto area (and surrounding area) and planning to go to the Toronto leg of the Simple Plan tour, I’ve created a Facebook group and event listing dedicating to the concert. A Facebook account is required to join. Anyways, here are the links:

Group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35727395161

Event Listing:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=36779355172

I hope that I’ll see you guys there!

Wow. It’s been six months since I made the move to WordPress and I can’t believe I really got much more traffic over time unlike my old LiveJournal blog, where barely anyone checks out my blog and the lack of the “viewer count” (or dashboard) feature..

Anyways, if you are listening to a Faber Drive tune just now, I just want to say that today’s the first anniversary that the band has released their debut album “Seven Second Surgery”. During that time, I checked out this particular band when I was in my first year in college. It was almost the peak of exam time and by the time I listened to them, it makes me wonder, “Will listening to them change my life?”. Well it had, by the time I bought their CD, I started to listen to it and I literally listened to the entire CD. I even took this particular CD when I went down to Pennsylvania with mom for a chartered group’s outing to do some shopping down in Erie. I could have got my camera to take pictures during my trip because the weather was very nice and sunny. It would have been fun if I should checked out Presque Isle State Park, but I have to move along with the group. I’ve checked many shops along the way and the popular Millcreek Shopping mall. The trip was fun.

Let me see, oh yeah - the songs that I like off “Seven Second Surgery” are, “Second Chance”, “Tongue Tied”, “Sleepless Nights (Never Let Her Go)”, “When I’m with you”, “Summer fades to fall” and “Obvious”. In the past, I have to suffer all the crazy pop influences such as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, N’Sync and my once favourites “Wave”. Faber Drive all changed that. They have become my cure to solve all my personal problems that I had encountered during the past. I’ve met and seen the band for a total of 4 times. The most recent is that I was able to meet them at the Dungeon (a place in Oshawa, Ontario) two weeks ago, just before my exam week period. They were originally scheduled to perform back in March, but due to unforeseen circumstances and the weather that we had with a record snowfall, they have to cancel this in such short notice. The band by the way, hails from a community called Mission, a community situated east of Vancouver, British Columbia.

I’m trying to beat my record against Wave, which I met and saw for 6 times. I’m slowly but surely reaching that target. In a recent announcement, Faber Drive along with The All-American Rejects (an American band hailing from Stillwater Oklahoma) will be the opening acts for Simple Plan’s upcoming cross-Canada tour. This particular news was recently announced this week. Here are the confirmed concert dates (subject to change):

• August 19th - St. Johns, NL @ Mile One Stadium
• August 21st - Halifax, NS @ Metro Centre
• August 22nd - Moncton, NB @ Coliseum
• August 23rd - Saint John, NB @ Harbour Station
• August 25th - Chicoutimi, QC @ Centre Geroge Vezina
• August 26th - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
• August 28th - Ottawa, ON @ Scotiabank Place
• August 29th - Toronto, ON @ Molson Amphitheatre
• August 30th - London, ON @ John Labatt Centre
• September 3rd - Vancouver, BC @ Pacific Coliseum
• September 5th - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
• September 6th - Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
• September 8th - Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
• September 9th - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre

Faber Drive’s official website along with the All-American Rejects have all of their information converged after Simple Plan’s announcement. I intend to attend the Toronto date on August 29th, 2008. The only problem is since that date straddles during the CNE Period (from August 15th to September 1st), getting in there could be a challenge. I’m trying to analyze my plans on how to avoid going through the EX grounds to my concert. This will be my 3rd time on seeing the All-American Rejects and my 5th time on seeing Faber Drive. It’s also my 3rd time on seeing Simple Plan live!

There was a presale that took place today via a blog on Muchmusic.com, in which a password was provided. I was able to go for that presale before it closes. That presale has since been called off until the public onsales are taking place this Friday. If you were the lucky ones who have a Rogers Wireless phone, you can buy concert tickets all straight to your mobile (cellular) phone through a service dubbed “Wireless Box Office” and known as “URticket”. All you have to do is select the concert, choose how many tickets, confirm the payment and presto! Your tickets are delivered straight to your phone. The only drawback is that you will easily lose the ticket information off your inbox as your erase your messages without noticing it. For more information, you can view the information at www.rogers.com/urticket

To finish off the blog, I’m leaving you a few music videos of Faber Drive and a tour announcement of Simple Plan.

Faber Drive - “Tongue Tied”:

Faber Drive - “Second Chance”:

Faber Drive - “When I’m with you”:

The origin of the band name “Faber Drive”:

Simple Plan’s tour announcement (with French subtitles!):

I hope that you commuters got to your destination as planned today because the TTC Strike is finally over. It was a hectic weekend for all of us, including myself. Everyone has got little notice that a strike was imminent. Most people have to find other ways to navigate around the City of Toronto. The good thing is that the traffic wasn’t that too busy. If I strike were to drag on towards the weekday, it could have been fatal. The provincial government had introduced back-to-work legislation (known as the Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act) and it only took at least half an hour to get it passed into law. You can just thank Dalton McGunity (and all the members of provincial parliament (MPPs for short) ) for their heroic actions. Every MPP has their own voice.

As for the deal, it’s now dead. The deal now goes into “arbitration” as far as I know. I want to thank all of you people for keeping up to date on what I had posted during the hectic weekend. I decided to compile all blog postings of the TTC strike so you can view it for your own pleasure. They can be viewed on these respected links:

• TTC Strike announced
• Coping with the TTC Stirke: Part 1
• Coping with the TTC Strike: Part 2
• Coping with the TTC Strike: Part 3
• Coping with the TTC Strike: Part 4

I might plan to do my own chronicles on coping with the TTC strike soon. To finish the blog off, I’m leaving you a few TTC strike videos and two music videos by Paramore. The first one is “That’s what you get” (where this music video really fits into the TTC Strike’s scenario) and “Hallelujah” (where this music video is selected as the riders’ big sigh of relief that the strike is finally over). I hope you enjoy the music videos. Also, to give you the humour, I also included a commercial of Worlds of Warcraft featuring “Mr. T.”! Note to Bob Kinnear: “Shut up, fool!” As for Dalton Mcgunity who passed the legislation, just like Hannibal and Mr. T said, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

To top it all off, I’m leaving you a funny video from the TV show called “The IT Crowd”. This video is about the new emergency number….lol If only my friend Bobby Foley has his say about these two music videos by Paramore and that new emergency number of course….

Paramore - “That’s what you get”:

Paramore - “Hallelujah”:

TTC Strike - Video #1:

TTC Strike - Video #2:

TTC Strike - Video #3:

TTC Strike - Video #4 (a commentary by a TTC worker):

TTC Strike - Video #5 (a frustrated passenger):

TTC Strike - Video #6: The day the strike came:

TTC Strike - Video #7: Mayor David Miller responds to the strike:

TTC Strike - Video #7: The province ordered the TTC back-to-work:

Worlds of Warcraft featuring Mr. T:

The IT Crowd: New Emergency Number:

References:

http://www.ctvtoronto.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080428/ttc_aftermath_080428/20080428/?hub=TorontoNewHome

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_22102.aspx

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_22104.aspx

http://www.thestar.com/GTA/Transportation/article/419144

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=476199

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/04/28/ttcstrike.html

continued from part 3 of “Coping with the TTC Strike”:

GO, Dalton McGuinty!

After an intense debate for half-an-hour on a rare Sunday afternoon session at Queen’s Park, the provincial government has passed a piece of legislation that made the TTC strike illegal. All MPPs (Members of Provincial Parliament) were dispatched to Queen’s Park on a historic moment. The new legislation, known as the “Toronto Public Transit Service Resumption Act” has received royal assent and tonight, all TTC operators are ordered back to work as early as tonight. This is from the TTC’s website:

“With the passage of back-to-work legislation today at Queen’s Park, the Toronto Transit Commission is pleased to announce that service will resume later on Sunday April 27, with full rush-hour service running Monday morning, April 28.

The TTC has contacted all of its employees. Those who were scheduled for a shift this afternoon are being asked to report to work. It will take the TTC approximately three to four hours to bring the service up to safe, normal operating standards. The TTC has every faith that the women and men who move this city will do so with professionalism.

Some customers may experience delays early in the process of restoring service. The TTC acknowledges the frustration and inconvenience everyone has faced since Friday evening, and is working hard to restore service as quickly as possible. The TTC also requests the public to please remember that TTC employees have a right to be treated with dignity. The TTC’s chief concern is safety – both for its customers and its workers.”

This is what Premier Dalton Mcguinty quote:

“I ask that upon restoration of TTC services, users extend their usual courtesy to workers there for the invaluable they provide, Courtesy and goodwill are the foundations upon which we should all seek to build.”

Provincial labour minister Brad Duguid has his say about the lifeblood and the “Heart” of the TTC:

“We encourage the TTC and its unions to continue bargaining and to reach mutually acceptable agreements, At the same time, we cannot stand by while the dispute shuts down the vital transportation system in Toronto, affecting millions of people and businesses.”

Riders in the big city can breathe a big sigh of relief as the strike is almost fading away. If you are visiting or living in Toronto and realize that the strike is going on for long, but right now the riders have to worry about is - their patience. So i’m asking you this, “where were you and what you (or your friends) were doing before the transit strike hits Toronto?”

To finish this blog off, I’m leaving you two music video sby Simple Plan and their song is called “Your Love is a Lie”. I also include “I’d do anything”. Dalton McGuinty will do anything to resolve the situation….Enjoy the music videos to cure your post-strike symptoms:

Simple Plan - “Your Love is a Lie”:

Simple Plan - “I’d do anything”:

References:

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5isXAGF69R6qQ3YYVdEkA3j8c-R2w

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/27/c9968.html

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=30c30109-3a3b-4781-80e2-b108f444d84c&k=76576

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/04/25/how-to-get-around-if-the-ttc-goes-on-strike.aspx

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=476142

http://www.ctvtoronto.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080427/ttc_strike_080427/20080427/?hub=TorontoNewHome

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_22090.aspx