Skype to it!

Okay, yeah - the title could have been better - sorry for that.
Skype - have you heard? Repeat with me, no charge calling to any landline or cell phone until the end of the year, throughout North America. No Charge! Not a penny. No, you don't need to call another computer, call anyone, anywhere.

Now the normal excuses why you are not using it - believe me, I tried them all. #1 I do not have high-speed. Got me there, sorry you need high-speed. #2 The quality of the call sucks. No, in fact the quality is far superior to our crappy copper landlines and always on and always with service, which my cell phone is not. #3 There is always an echo or delay. No, not at all. The clarity of the call though is alarming, which I believe throws folks off. #4 I will have to pay something. Nope, not until the end of the year. #5 My calls will be listened to. No again. Security is actually higher over fiber then over the airwaves of wireless. So unless you are using wireless internet, chances are very good, you are very secure.

No need to listen to me on this one. Check them out for yourself. I can tell you that I am now making my long distant calls using this service and loving it.

Once the price packaging comes into effect in January I may be looking for an alternative. Currently I'm checking out Vonage. Yet another VoIP (voice over internet protocol - aka voice phone service using the internet) product available to consumers. I can't say I've used Vonage, but I do know folks who do and they really like it.

Vonage is working to make it easy to use their service anywhere, any time. They have just released the 'Vonage V-phone'. This is basically a phone that fits on a key chain. A pre-loaded memory stick which turns any computer into your own personal Vonage phone. The 'stick' even comes with head phones... yep, all in this tiny little gizmo. The unlimited Vonage package will run you $39.95 CND per month, with no extra charges - calls to Europe, US and across Canada. The V-phone has a one time charge of $29.95. With all internet phone services, the call quality is superior to most phone lines and the cost is well below that of standard phone companies.

Why am I on to alternatives to our current phone services. Simple. What we use today is a poor excuse on all fronts. Service is horrendous - if I have to listen to 'Emily' give me the run around and stall one more time when I call Bell Canada for a simply query, I'm gonna reach out and touch her. Cost, cost, cost. I run two phone lines, one is a seldom used fax line. We don't 'get high-speed internet out in these parts - so I can't take advantage of their 'cost saving bundles' either. Cell service... what cell service. If you stand in the exact perfect position in my office, your phone will ring, otherwise, no such luck. If you drive by and see my wandering around the yard or in the horse pasture looking like I'm going to be calling the aliens, don't worry, that's just me trying to find signal. Did I mention cost..... in the vicinity of $80 per month, with under $5 in long distance.

Oh and on the topic of quality of service. Hahahahaha! We were told a year ago, 'that's it'. Apparently we used up the last pair of lines on our road. This after my neighbor was being charged for my calls and me his, oh and the return to the party line. On a wet day the crackle and pop is so bad you cannot carry on a conversation. (thank goodness for Skype which I now use instead of the landline on bad days) Did I mention the internet. High speed... heck, there were days we were luck to hit 14,4 very sad. So we switched over to wireless high-speed with Storm internet. It costs a bit more per month, but hey, I get VoIP now too.

Yes, I am sick and tired of getting the run around and paying huge dollars for poor service. As consumers in Canada we have always been 'stuck' having to go with our one regional phone company. There has never been competition. Now, with high-speed and wireless internet the phone company is not even close to being a good deal.

You would have thought that this would have prompted them to upgrade services and standards. No, wrong again.

You owe it to yourself to check out the alternatives. Including VoIP phones and wireless high-speed.

I have one or two other observations/questions maybe you all can help me understand (nothing to do with this entry) - Why do the trashiest brides wear white and celebrate it not giving it a second though, while far more decent and reserved brides fret that they 'are not good enough' to wear it?

Is Jim Cuddy better on his own, or with Blue Rodeo, or do we care?

Have a wonderful Cherry week! Not sure what we will be on about tomorrow - tune in to find out.

Fakes, Flakes and Fridays

Ah, the life of the 'Friday' - relaxed, optimistic, energized and spontaneous.

I wonder, how many women spend there hard earned shopping and self pampering dollars on Fridays? Personally, though I always seem to need to, I'd rather shop any other day of the week.

Have you ever noticed how down right nasty people in grocery stores get on Fridays? (not as bad as Thursday around 4pm - stay away at all costs!) They scowl, guide their carts around the store as though they were running on high octane. The drivers huffing and puffing as they go. If you ever want to get under someone's skin on Friday - lally your way through the grocery store.... it ticks all of the racing freaks right off.

Are you one of those freaks? Stop and think about it next time - life is too short to get too upset.

Today I'm headed out to find myself a couple of things. I need a headset so I can use Skype for some of my long distance calls. I'm not really sure what makes a good headset and I'm not sure where I'm going to find it - such is the challenge.

After I secure that little piece of necessary hardware, its off to Shoppers for a pick up of a quick list. Now I like Shoppers. The staff is usually friendly, informative and willing to help you out. The one thing I don't like about the drug mart gone general grocery is the need to constantly check their pricing. I often find that their prices are as much as $3 more than the product aisles in the grocery store - same items, same products.

Speaking of which, what do you think about the new 'Loblaws brand' Supper Stores? I really do not have an opinion yet, even though I've been into the new monstrosity near my home. There is just so much - everything.

I understand that it is the Loblaws agenda to beat Wal-Mart to the punch in Canada. In our region alone, there is talk of several of these super stores. Wal-Mart - the evil American converging on us Northern is in expansion mode. They are slated to bring a huge number of their own 'Super Stores' to Ontario within the next couple of years. The little town I live outside is even getting one.... life used to be simple.

That's it for my Friday goings on. Oh, for those who are not from Canada that read this - thank you and no, still no snow here.

Have a Hot Cherry Day and weekend. I'll be reporting back about this weekend's Vintage Sale in Ottawa.