FutureHeartsJunkie

Many banks (and to a lesser extent, Credit Unions) in Canada have started to phase out the "Interac Online" Debit service.

In case you folks don't know, Interac Online is a service that allows you to pay for online purchases - direct from your bank account (but it involves logging into your online banking credentials at the time of purchase when checking out at an online store in Canada).

With the advent of many banks/credit unions now offering VISA Debit and Debit MasterCard (the only exception is that RBC (Royal Bank) does offer a "Virtual" VISA Debit option) along with the growing popularity of (reloadable and) prepaid credit cards, this had made Interac Online - obsolete.

Changing Gears, Samsung has recently testing out a new feature that allows people to screen calls - in a similar nature to the Google Assistant found exclusively on Pixel Devices.

That feature (powered by Bixby) is only available in Korean (sadly) but it's expected to roll out in English in the near future.

This is something that I had been lobbying for for years - having the ability to screen calls with the help of an assistant (without requiring me to intervene). It also helps deter scammers too!

Source: https://www.sammobile.com/news/samsung-introduces-bixby-text-call-feature-to-enhance-your-calling-experience/

On 3/4/2023 at 4:23 PM, MRD10 said:

Is the Bus or Train is faster to Newmarket?

I am trying to commute between Hamilton Centre to Newmarket GO Station in shortest time possible.

I was thinking of taking GO bus from Hamilton Centre area to 407 Station. Then I would TTC down to Downsview and catch the Barrie Train.

Or I take the Lakeshore train from West Harbour to Union, then take the Barrie train up.

Which would be the fastest? Thanks!!

Are you traveling on a weekday or on a weekend?

Porter Airlines has recently announced plans to offer flights at (an unlikely but positive) new destination, Montreal Saint-Hubert Airport (YHU) in Montreal's South Shore. This is in addition to Montreal Trudeau Airport (YUL) However, it won't be until 2024 for the service to start at the Saint-Hubert airport.

Source: https://www.mtlblog.com/montreal/montreal-could-get-a-de-facto-second-airport-for-domestic-flights

This may be considered a WTF moment, but take this as fantasy:

Who is likely at fault in this scenario:

I was waiting for a Uber (or Lyft) ride from the mall back to the train station and when I was about to get onboard the vehicle, someone that I knew (i.e. teacher from my elementary or high school) from nowhere tried to call me but I was already in the vehicle. 

That teacher tried to stop me from "making my getaway" and then stopped the Ridesharing driver for a simple ask: that teacher wanted to see me but the driver doesn't have time (as he/she had to make some runs). Then in a twist, that driver (almost) ran over that teacher that I knew.

In that situation, will that teacher who almost got hit either: 

Put me at fault just for ignoring her orders while on a ridesharing vehicle (and take me and driver to court), or will the liability be shifted towards the driver (and I count as a witness)?

 Hazel McCallion, the former mayor of Mississauga, ON, Canada - has passed away at the age of 101.

It's been over a year that Pooja Handa and Gurdeep Ahluwalia took on the role of being the morning hosts on 98.1 CHFI - sometimes that they can be entertaining! 

There's one particular call-in game show on that radio station called "Can't Beat Gurdeep" in which the caller has to guess a series of 5 questions and Gurdeep has to answer those 5 questions.

If the caller has more answers right, they win a prize. If Gurdeep has more answers, the caller won't win anything. If, both Gurdeep and the caller ends with a tie - then no win. 

Reminds me of the old radio game show called "Stump the Chump" - back in the radio station's heydays.

I can't understand why Gurdeep keeps on winning while the caller keeps losing....

On 1/14/2023 at 1:45 PM, J. S. Bach said:

I use an app called "Should I Answer", it works for me on a ZTE Android pnone.

I thought that ZTE devices (and equipment) are banned in the USA (along with Huawei).

Changing tones (pun intended), I really wished that the USA should enable "CHIP and PIN" transactions for their credit and debit cards.

We've been using them in Canada for many years and while the USA is catching up for secured payments, they still rely on the "CHIP and Sign" (aka "CHIP and Signature) for credit cards. Nowadays, they have recently jumped into the contactless bandwagon.

David Onley, the former journalist for CityTV in Toronto, Canada (and the former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario until 2014) had passed away at the age of 72.

23 minutes ago, G.A said:

To not be confused, the system is called Niagara Region Transit or Niagara Transit Commission?

To my understanding, Niagara Region Transit is the official name.

Aside from that, I wonder what will happen to Niagara Falls Transit's (a transit system on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls) in-house smartcard system? Will it be replaced with something different?

17 hours ago, Gamer Studios said:

They used to have a branch off the 401 that went to Oshawa Station. Became the 422 Simcoe-Bloor. Not sure why they couldn't keep it.

There's also GO route 56 as well. It bridges OTU and Oshawa GO. Not sure how much GO currently charges for 3-4 stops? Their fare always keep on changing.

To my understanding, GO charges a fare-by-distance method. The longer you travel, the more you have to pay.

On 12/29/2022 at 10:44 PM, Gamer Studios said:

I'm pretty sure 920 will eventually become PULSE. 902 is slated to become one.

The old 401/B/C for the most part was 10-15 mins between buses (most of the time, average) out of Ontario Tech but this was during the rush hour. Midday was still 20 mins and weekends was 30. Also the 901C's idea only really intended so they don't have that many buses going to Windsfield Farm area apparently (what I heard).

Suburb agencies by themselves don't really have the same criteria as say the TTC. Since different areas have different needs.

In terms of the artics, two made appearances on PULSE 901 around Thanksgiving back in 2020/2021. So they aren't necessarily tied to the 900/900B PULSE Hwy 2.

Speaking of which as well the 401C actually became (a rather short-lived) route 422 Simcoe-Bloor.

and there was also the 401S branch.

I really wished that there should be a branch of the 901 Pulse - running from Windfields Park via OnTechU/DC to the DCOG Station (ICYW, DCOG = Durham College Oshawa GO).

While my idea (though it has been years since I had attended Durham College) would sound weird and silly, it would give students coming in from Toronto and Scarborough from the GO Train/Bus - another option that is convenient and easy.

Only problem is - it depends on the demand.

I really wished that Apple should offer a feature that allows callers to screen calls with the form of an Siri-like assistant.

This feature has been available for Google Pixel devices for a while now. I have the Pixel 6 Pro and I've been using that feature very well - when someone called me from a phone number that I'm not familiar with.

Whenever someone tries to call me, I summon the Call Screening feature on my Pixel phone. Sometimes, people can often get "peeved" by the feature because it's wasting their valuable time trying to get the caller directly - however I dispute that. It gives the caller more control on screening the calls.

I really also wished that the Call Screening feature found on the Pixel - should be available to all phones running Android.

There's a recent commercial from Subway (in Canada) that features Scottie Barnes - something about Bowlway. Bowlway? Really?

Jean Paré, author and founder of the popular "Company's Coming" cookbook series had passed away at the age of 95. I remembered seeing her on TV back in the early to mid-1990s (the show was aired on CHCH - though it was produced by CITV in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) - but sadly, I had never cooked anything from the cookbook series in my life.

https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/self-published-canadian-cookbook-star-jean-pare-dies-at-95-in-edmonton-1.6209209

I stumbled upon watching a story on CTV News earlier today - about one person who won the jackpot at a local casino in Toronto, Canada. Only problem is - he doesn't have valid photo ID (a requirement that is standard at all casinos - not just in Ontario) to claim his winnings. To make matters worse - he doesn't drive nor have a passport.  He ended up applying for the Ontario Photo Card (a purple identity card that looks like a driver's license - but it is not (the only evidence of that it has the statement "Not a Driver's License" at the back).
 

The familiar green photo health cards - isn't a valid form of ID at all.  As for the non-drivers photo ID that the man had applied for - it could take months until he receives that purple I.D. card. 

My thoughts about the Ontario Photo Card - brought me memories in which I had came to a point to write a letter to the editor back in May 2012 (which eventually got published in my community newspaper). I also once had a blog (which was dubbed "The Fox News of Blogging" - since shuttered) in the past discussing about the Ontario Photo Card (yes, I often got crticized negatively because of my Fox News-esque opinions).

Further Reading:
"Ontario man denied jackpot because he doesn't have photo ID." CTV Toronto, 19 December 2022. 8:35pm <https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-man-denied-jackpot-because-he-doesn-t-have-photo-id-1.6201378>

"ID issue for non-drivers resolved." DurhamRegion.com. 28 May 2012. Accessed on 19 December 2022, 8:39p.m. <https://www.durhamregion.com/opinion-story/3505103-id-issue-for-non-drivers-resolved/>

I really wished that Apple should introduce a new "call screening" feature - similar to what the Google Assistant offers for it's Pixel smartphones.

I have a Pixel 6 Pro and I took advantage of that feature. Whenever someone tried to scam me (or someone calls me from an unfamiliar number), I took action on screening that call. The good thing is that the assistant talks to the caller and advise them that "the caller is using a screening service from Google and may get a transcript of this call. Go ahead and why you're calling." (Or something like that).

It has options whether to take the call or even advised them to remove the number off the list.

While it may be useful, some people (and even businesses) have a "pet peeve" with that feature and why they have to go into this type of prompt.

This is what I had earlier - the picture was taken inside a flea market where a new restaurant had recently opened there.

This is called a "beef brisket slider".

2 hours ago, blue.bird.fan said:

Does anyone know if DRT still operates the on-demand service between Orillia and Beaverton? I was planning on making a large loop through there, by taking GO to Barrie, LINX to Orillia, and then GO back from Beaverton.

Hmmmm, not completely sure. I haven't personally tried this service myself (as I'm not from North Durham Region but live in the southern part) - however, such a service had quietly discontinued likely due to the pandemic.

If anyone who knows any insight about the service and to verify if my  facts are correct, please advise.

Another random (but more financial-related) thought just now: Many banks (and credit unions) in Canada have started to phase out support for a service by  Interac (one of Canada's nationwide debit card network) called "Interac Online".

I remembered when Interac Online made it's debut back in early 2004 (although a few banks and credit unions in Canada had taken part in the service during its inception back then).

With the popularity of PayPal along with many banks/credit unions now offering VISA Debit and/or Debit MasterCard (the most recent addition is Simplii Financial now offering Debit MasterCard) coupled with those so called "Prepaid Credit Cards, the way we use our bank accounts to buy stuff online - has changed.

This hasn't been brought up recently, but by now some of you are familiar with the vending machines at the GO and UP Express that allow you to buy and reload your PRESTO Card. In an episode of the Metrolinx "Between the Lines" podcast dated June 9, 2022, they are going to roll out new ticket vending machines that will not only allow you to buy and/or reload PRESTO Cards, but they will also be capable of accepting higher demoninations of bills (i.e. $50CDN or $100CDN) - a barrier that is preventing on what the current ticket vending machines offer.

As for the new ticket vending machines, they will be manufacturered by an Italian company called "Sigma S.p.A." 

Works Cited:
Llewellyn, M. (Host), 2022, June 9, "Episode 21 - Top 5 reasons customers get in touch with GO Transit customer service". In Between The Lines. Metrolinx.

"Sigma TVMs will also arrive in Canada." Sigma S.p.A., https://www.sigmaspa.com/en/news-en/le-tvms-sigma-arriveranno-anche-in-canada/. Accessed 6 Dec 2022.

1 hour ago, GTAmissions1 said:

Westjet has been investing a lot of new planes into their fleet so they can reach further destinations. At the same time, banking on passengers taking advantage. 

Hopefully they market it well to build the clientele. 

Reminds me when Air Canada has recently launched it's service from YVR to BKK (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi). 

Airlines like Air Canada and WestJet - need to find ways to appeal to the leisure travel market.

I'm surprised that no one hasn't posted this but - Air Canada has recently launched their flight from YVR (Vancouver) to BKK (Bangkok Suvarnabhumi).

Here's a video (in Thai) about the welcoming of the inaugural flight:

Breaking News:

WestJet has recently announced that it will start service from Calgary to these new destinations: Edinburgh, Scotland; Barcelona, Spain and Tokyo (Narita), Japan.

The latter (Tokyo Narita) is WestJet's first-ever destination to Asia.

I've been waiting all my life for WestJet to fly to Asia. Only problem is - will it appeal as an alternative to the other player?

Source:  https://globalnews.ca/news/9325853/westjet-new-flights-tokyo-barcelona-edinburgh/

Bob McGrath, a very well know fixture in the popular kids TV show "Sesame Street" - has passed away at the age of 90.

Source: https://amp.tmz.com/2022/12/04/sesame-street-actor-bob-mcgrath-dead-dies/

On 11/17/2022 at 11:19 PM, Tom1122 said:

I heard from my mom that my aunt was trying to phone one of her friends. She first called and got the message the number was a long-distance number. She then called like a long-distant call and got a message that the number was local.

Was she using a traditional landline, internet phone line (not Skype) or a mobile phone?

Anyhoo, I remembered when ten digit dialing was new in Canada back in the 2000s, the media had educated people to dial ten digits. While some still dial seven digits back in the day,  others decided to do a headstart and dial 10 digits anyways (despite an educational campaign).