Hooray for Fredericton:
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/01/18/ezone-award.html
However, Fredericton's downtown isn't exactly huge, so I am wondering if the area they provide wireless to in their "Fred-eZone" is smaller, larger or the same size as the wireless access area in downtown Toronto. Of course, I have heard that Toronto's kind of sucks - especially when you're inside. Which brings up another point, though, since downtown Fredericton isn't exactly full of skyscrapers and new, "thick-walled" office buildings.
Something for me to investigate further at a later date if I remember to do so, I guess...
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I think this is fair
I think this makes a lot of sense. I do wonder how they will decide if an obese person is disabled before the obese person gets on the plane to try the "lower the armrest" test, but they've got 1 year to figure all that out for themselves.
Ruling lets severely disabled off hook for cost of extra seats
Last Updated: Thursday, January 10, 2008 | 4:03 PM CT
CBC News
Canadian airlines have a year to stop charging those with severe disabilities for extra seats they need after a landmark decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency on Thursday.
The agency ruled that the country's major air carriers must offer a single fare to those with disabilities, including the severely obese, who require two seats to accommodate them.
Also under the "one-person, one-fare" policy, they don't have to pay extra for medical attendants that must be seated with them on flights.
"The airlines failed to demonstrate to the agency that implementation of a one-person-one-fare policy will impose undue hardship on them," the agency wrote in its news release.
The agency estimates the new policy will cost Air Canada about $7 million a year and WestJet about $1.5 million a year. That's a fraction of the cost estimated by airlines in their submissions to the agency.
The transportation agency said the current practice effectively limits travel opportunities for the disabled.
During the one-year grace period, airlines will have to develop a way to determine which passengers are eligible.
As to how airlines should determine whether obesity warrants a disability, the agency pointed to Southwest Airlines, which bases the decision on whether a person can lower the seat's armrests.
'Canadians with disabilities are celebrating today'
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities, who lodged a formal complaint in 2002 along with two individuals, Joanne Neubauer and Eric Norman, applauded the decision.
"Canadians with disabilities are celebrating today," Pat Danforth, chairperson of the council's transportation committee, said in a news release.
"We hope that this decision sends a strong message to all transportation carriers," Neubauer agreed. "Access is the rule."
The agency specified that the ruling does not apply to those with disabilities who travel with a companion for non-medical reasons and those who are obese, but not disabled as a result of it.
Charter carriers not included
The ruling does not specifically apply to charter carriers, but the agency said it hopes the adoption of common rules by the major airlines will be implemented across the industry.
Currently, people with disabilities who travel by train, bus or ferry can bring an attendant with them at no extra cost — but to board a plane, they must pay extra for the attendant's seat.
"For mobility, I need somebody to assist me and with luggage, that kind of thing. These are services that are not provided by the transportation provider, so I would need that kind of assistance," said Council of Canadians with Disabilities spokesman Ron Ross, who uses a wheelchair.
"I actually live in Thunder Bay, so to travel from Thunder Bay to Toronto, I would pay two fares: one for myself, one for my attendant," he said. "You have to make that kind of decision, whether you can travel or not, because of income."
Air Canada offers some disabled travellers a 50 per cent discount for an attendant's seat — but that only applies if they buy a full-fare ticket, Ross said.
Ruling lets severely disabled off hook for cost of extra seats
Last Updated: Thursday, January 10, 2008 | 4:03 PM CT
CBC News
Canadian airlines have a year to stop charging those with severe disabilities for extra seats they need after a landmark decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency on Thursday.
The agency ruled that the country's major air carriers must offer a single fare to those with disabilities, including the severely obese, who require two seats to accommodate them.
Also under the "one-person, one-fare" policy, they don't have to pay extra for medical attendants that must be seated with them on flights.
"The airlines failed to demonstrate to the agency that implementation of a one-person-one-fare policy will impose undue hardship on them," the agency wrote in its news release.
The agency estimates the new policy will cost Air Canada about $7 million a year and WestJet about $1.5 million a year. That's a fraction of the cost estimated by airlines in their submissions to the agency.
The transportation agency said the current practice effectively limits travel opportunities for the disabled.
During the one-year grace period, airlines will have to develop a way to determine which passengers are eligible.
As to how airlines should determine whether obesity warrants a disability, the agency pointed to Southwest Airlines, which bases the decision on whether a person can lower the seat's armrests.
'Canadians with disabilities are celebrating today'
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities, who lodged a formal complaint in 2002 along with two individuals, Joanne Neubauer and Eric Norman, applauded the decision.
"Canadians with disabilities are celebrating today," Pat Danforth, chairperson of the council's transportation committee, said in a news release.
"We hope that this decision sends a strong message to all transportation carriers," Neubauer agreed. "Access is the rule."
The agency specified that the ruling does not apply to those with disabilities who travel with a companion for non-medical reasons and those who are obese, but not disabled as a result of it.
Charter carriers not included
The ruling does not specifically apply to charter carriers, but the agency said it hopes the adoption of common rules by the major airlines will be implemented across the industry.
Currently, people with disabilities who travel by train, bus or ferry can bring an attendant with them at no extra cost — but to board a plane, they must pay extra for the attendant's seat.
"For mobility, I need somebody to assist me and with luggage, that kind of thing. These are services that are not provided by the transportation provider, so I would need that kind of assistance," said Council of Canadians with Disabilities spokesman Ron Ross, who uses a wheelchair.
"I actually live in Thunder Bay, so to travel from Thunder Bay to Toronto, I would pay two fares: one for myself, one for my attendant," he said. "You have to make that kind of decision, whether you can travel or not, because of income."
Air Canada offers some disabled travellers a 50 per cent discount for an attendant's seat — but that only applies if they buy a full-fare ticket, Ross said.
With files from the Canadian Press
Saturday, January 5, 2008
People are strange
For no particular reason, this story made me reminisce about stories of a guy in Glassville, New Brunswick, who used to break into the liquor store quite frequently. He often got caught, though, perhaps because he would break in and then call his buddies from the store to see what they wanted... This same guy always has a few computer monitors by the side of the road in front of his (rented) house. My uncle calls them Dave's security system... Ah, Glassville.
Man accused of stealing $20 from sleeping toddler's piggy bank
Published: Friday, January 4, 2008 | 4:08 PM ET
Canadian Press: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - A Wisconsin man has been charged with sneaking into a toddler's bedroom and stealing $20 from a piggy bank while the two-year-old girl slept.
Authorities say DNA evidence linked Ryan Mueller, 30, of Sheboygan Falls to the crime that occurred Aug. 10.
Authorities say the girl's mother was in another room with another child when she saw a light turn on in her two-year-old daughter's room.
She walked into the girl's bedroom and saw a man shaking the piggy bank as the girl slept.
The man fled before police arrived, stealing the money but leaving the piggy bank.
Mueller was charged Thursday with felony burglary, which carries a penalty of up to nine 1/2 years in prison.
Man accused of stealing $20 from sleeping toddler's piggy bank
Published: Friday, January 4, 2008 | 4:08 PM ET
Canadian Press: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - A Wisconsin man has been charged with sneaking into a toddler's bedroom and stealing $20 from a piggy bank while the two-year-old girl slept.
Authorities say DNA evidence linked Ryan Mueller, 30, of Sheboygan Falls to the crime that occurred Aug. 10.
Authorities say the girl's mother was in another room with another child when she saw a light turn on in her two-year-old daughter's room.
She walked into the girl's bedroom and saw a man shaking the piggy bank as the girl slept.
The man fled before police arrived, stealing the money but leaving the piggy bank.
Mueller was charged Thursday with felony burglary, which carries a penalty of up to nine 1/2 years in prison.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
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