The Canadian Radio-television Commission has launched a public consultation on the loudness of TV commercials.
"Loud ads on television can disrupt an otherwise enjoyable program and are a source of significant annoyance for Canadians," CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said in a news release.
Finckenstein said the CRTC will work with the broadcasting industry to find an acceptable solution.
With a full switch to digital television on the horizon, the regulator is looking for ways to force broadcasters to adhere to a standard of loudness for their signals.
The Advanced Television Systems Committee, an international non-profit group trying to set standards for digital broadcasting, has made recommendations on loudness levels for digital TV.
The CRTC is seeking the public's input on the issue, saying it is looking for a way to effectively control the volume of commercials by cable and satellite providers and broadcasters.
The U.S. has already taken a position on this. Last December, Congress passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, which will require lower volumes for commercials that are usually louder, the New York Times reported.
Read more.
Will you participate in the CRTC's public consultation? Do you find commercials too loud? Let us know in the comments below.
Related P.O.V.: TV commercial volume: Does it need regulation?
The Canadian Radio-television Commission has launched a public consultation on the loudness of TV commercials.
"Loud ads on television can disrupt an otherwise enjoyable program and are a source of significant annoyance for Canadians," CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said in a news release.
Finckenstein said the CRTC will work with the broadcasting industry to find an acceptable solution.
With a full switch to digital television on the horizon, the regulator is looking for ways to force broadcasters to adhere to a standard of loudness for their signals.
The Advanced Television Systems Committee, an international non-profit group trying to set standards for digital broadcasting, has made recommendations on loudness levels for digital TV.
The CRTC is seeking the public's input on the issue, saying it is looking for a way to effectively control the volume of commercials by cable and satellite providers and broadcasters.
The U.S. has already taken a position on this. Last December, Congress passed the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act, which will require lower volumes for commercials that are usually louder, the New York Times reported.
Read more.
Will you participate in the CRTC's public consultation? Do you find commercials too loud? Let us know in the comments below.
Related P.O.V.: TV commercial volume: Does it need regulation?
Bev Oda rises to answer a question directed her way during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Thursday. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)By CBC News
Opposition MPs attempted to link the Prime Minister's Office to controversy over an altered foreign aid document, as they wrapped up a week of attacks against the government.
MPs took up most of question period Friday to focus on the decision to alter a document signed by International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda that denied funding for Canadian foreign aid agency Kairos.
The word "not" was added to a signed agreement that would have provided $7 million to the organization.
Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of forcing Oda to make the change.
"His [Harper's] DNA is all over this crime scene," Cuzner said.
"The big hand of PMO comes down and it's got a pen in it, and that pen writes across this application 'not'.... Does he put up with this minister because it was he who put her up to it in the first place?"
NDP MP Libby Davies asked whether accountability is meaningless to the government.
Government House leader John Baird took most of the questions directed to Oda, who wasn't in the Commons. He continued to argue Oda's decision was the right one, sidestepping the question of whether she should step down.
"This minister made the right decision to support the most vulnerable people in the world," Baird said.
Read more.
Bev Oda: Are you satisfied with her apology?
]]>
Bev Oda rises to answer a question directed her way during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill on Thursday. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)By CBC News
Opposition MPs attempted to link the Prime Minister's Office to controversy over an altered foreign aid document, as they wrapped up a week of attacks against the government.
MPs took up most of question period Friday to focus on the decision to alter a document signed by International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda that denied funding for Canadian foreign aid agency Kairos.
The word "not" was added to a signed agreement that would have provided $7 million to the organization.
Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of forcing Oda to make the change.
"His [Harper's] DNA is all over this crime scene," Cuzner said.
"The big hand of PMO comes down and it's got a pen in it, and that pen writes across this application 'not'.... Does he put up with this minister because it was he who put her up to it in the first place?"
NDP MP Libby Davies asked whether accountability is meaningless to the government.
Government House leader John Baird took most of the questions directed to Oda, who wasn't in the Commons. He continued to argue Oda's decision was the right one, sidestepping the question of whether she should step down.
"This minister made the right decision to support the most vulnerable people in the world," Baird said.
Read more.
Bev Oda: Are you satisfied with her apology?
]]>
One Winnipeg girl is becoming a YouTube sensation thanks to an endorsement by Lady Gaga.
Maria Aragon, 10, posted a video of herself playing a keyboard and singing the pop superstar's newest song, Born This Way. The video was posted on Feb. 16 and had 3,100 hits prior to being noticed by Gaga.
It saw a massive increase in views when Gaga went to her Twitter page on Thursday to compliment Aragon's rendition.
"Can't stop crying watching this. This is why I make music. She is the future," Gaga's posting stated.
The video had been viewed more than 1.4 million times as of 10 a.m. ET on Friday.
"Gaga sent me here," one person commented, while the majority of those who left posted remarks lauding Maria's voice as "amazing."
The number of viewings could continue to soar, as Lady Gaga has 8.2 million Twitter followers.
Read more.
Do you think 10-years-old is too young to be in the spotlight? What do you think will happen to Aragon now that Lady Gaga has noticed her? Let us know in the comments below.
One Winnipeg girl is becoming a YouTube sensation thanks to an endorsement by Lady Gaga.
Maria Aragon, 10, posted a video of herself playing a keyboard and singing the pop superstar's newest song, Born This Way. The video was posted on Feb. 16 and had 3,100 hits prior to being noticed by Gaga.
It saw a massive increase in views when Gaga went to her Twitter page on Thursday to compliment Aragon's rendition.
"Can't stop crying watching this. This is why I make music. She is the future," Gaga's posting stated.
The video had been viewed more than 1.4 million times as of 10 a.m. ET on Friday.
"Gaga sent me here," one person commented, while the majority of those who left posted remarks lauding Maria's voice as "amazing."
The number of viewings could continue to soar, as Lady Gaga has 8.2 million Twitter followers.
Read more.
Do you think 10-years-old is too young to be in the spotlight? What do you think will happen to Aragon now that Lady Gaga has noticed her? Let us know in the comments below.
By CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced legislation Thursday intended to expand legal protection for people making citizen's arrests or trying to defend themselves or their property against a criminal act.
Harper announced the new legislation -- which has been expected since late last year -- at a downtown Toronto press conference along with Vaughan, Ont., MP Julian Fantino.
The legislation comes in response to the case of Toronto shopkeeper David Chen, who was charged with assault and forcible confinement after chasing, restraining and tying up a man who had stolen plants from his Lucky Moose Food Mart in May 2009.
As written now, the Criminal Code requires a thief to be caught in the act for a citizen's arrest to be justified. Chen captured the shoplifter one hour after he stole plants from his store.
Bill C-60 would allow citizens to detain a suspect without a warrant not only when the suspect is caught in the act, but also within a reasonable amount of time after the offence if they believe it's not feasible for the police to make an arrest.
The bill would also clarify the law regarding acts of self-defense and defense of property, Harper said.
Myer Siemiatyki, a politics professor at Ryerson University, questions whether the law even needs changing, given that the courts actually upheld the arrest made by Chen.
"Is this the most compelling issue Canada faces today?" Siemiatyki asked. "That a prime minister and two cabinet ministers should come to Toronto, should leave Parliament, to unveil a new sentence to be added to the Criminal Code that is really redundant given court rulings? So I think this is very much about optics."
Nathalie Des Rosiers, general counsel with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, told the Winnipeg Free Press that the legislation could encourage vigilantism.
"The potential for abuse here is great," Des Rosiers said.
Read more.
Do you agree with the proposed new rules on citizen's arrests? Let us know in the comments below.
(This poll is not scientific. It is based on readers' votes.)]]> Toronto shopkeeper David Chen (right) was charged with assault and forcible confinement after tying up a man who had stolen plants from his store in May 2009. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
By CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced legislation Thursday intended to expand legal protection for people making citizen's arrests or trying to defend themselves or their property against a criminal act.
Harper announced the new legislation -- which has been expected since late last year -- at a downtown Toronto press conference along with Vaughan, Ont., MP Julian Fantino.
The legislation comes in response to the case of Toronto shopkeeper David Chen, who was charged with assault and forcible confinement after chasing, restraining and tying up a man who had stolen plants from his Lucky Moose Food Mart in May 2009.
As written now, the Criminal Code requires a thief to be caught in the act for a citizen's arrest to be justified. Chen captured the shoplifter one hour after he stole plants from his store.
Bill C-60 would allow citizens to detain a suspect without a warrant not only when the suspect is caught in the act, but also within a reasonable amount of time after the offence if they believe it's not feasible for the police to make an arrest.
The bill would also clarify the law regarding acts of self-defense and defense of property, Harper said.
Myer Siemiatyki, a politics professor at Ryerson University, questions whether the law even needs changing, given that the courts actually upheld the arrest made by Chen.
"Is this the most compelling issue Canada faces today?" Siemiatyki asked. "That a prime minister and two cabinet ministers should come to Toronto, should leave Parliament, to unveil a new sentence to be added to the Criminal Code that is really redundant given court rulings? So I think this is very much about optics."
Nathalie Des Rosiers, general counsel with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, told the Winnipeg Free Press that the legislation could encourage vigilantism.
"The potential for abuse here is great," Des Rosiers said.
Read more.
Do you agree with the proposed new rules on citizen's arrests? Let us know in the comments below.
(This poll is not scientific. It is based on readers' votes.)]]>
By CBC News
A judge at the Montreal municipal courthouse decided Thursday that the taxi bylaw forbidding personal items does not infringe on a cabbie's rights.
The judge found Arieh Perecowicz guilty of violating the municipal regulation because his dashboard is covered with family pictures, religious items and a Canadian flag.
Perecowicz said he plans to appeal and won't remove the personal decorations from his cab.
The items, including a Remembrance Day poppy and small Jewish prayer scrolls should be allowed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Perecowicz said.
Section 98 of the city's taxi regulations says drivers may not have any objects in the car that aren't related to driving their cab.
Read more.
Do you agree with the judge's decision to uphold the fine against the cabbie? Take our survey and share your thoughts below.
(This poll is not scientific. It is based on readers' votes.)
Related:
- Cluttered cab: Would you have a problem riding in a cab full of the driver's personal belongings?
- Taxis: Do you feel drivers have the right to decorate the inside of their vehicles?
By CBC News
A judge at the Montreal municipal courthouse decided Thursday that the taxi bylaw forbidding personal items does not infringe on a cabbie's rights.
The judge found Arieh Perecowicz guilty of violating the municipal regulation because his dashboard is covered with family pictures, religious items and a Canadian flag.
Perecowicz said he plans to appeal and won't remove the personal decorations from his cab.
The items, including a Remembrance Day poppy and small Jewish prayer scrolls should be allowed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Perecowicz said.
Section 98 of the city's taxi regulations says drivers may not have any objects in the car that aren't related to driving their cab.
Read more.
Do you agree with the judge's decision to uphold the fine against the cabbie? Take our survey and share your thoughts below.
(This poll is not scientific. It is based on readers' votes.)
Related:
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William Shatner, posing for photographers in Cannes, France, in April, will host the Genie Awards in March. (Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press)
By CBC News
William Shatner is returning to Canada in March to host the Genie Awards ceremony, which celebrates the best in Canadian film. It will take place in Ottawa this year.
Shatner said he looked forward to coming to Canada and seeing "old friends."
"Unfortunately, most of them are dead of old age," quipped the Montreal-born stage, television and film actor, who has starred in Boston Legal, T.J. Hooker and the original Star Trek. Shatner himself is 79.
He currently stars in the Twitter-inspired CBS sitcom S#*! My Dad Says.
Rachelle Lefevre, known for her roles in the Twilight films and Barney's Version, will also participate in the ceremony as the voice announcer.
Barney's Version, based on Mordecai Richler's final novel, leads the nominations with 11. Denis Villeneuve's family drama Incendies follows with ten nominations. Other titles that earned multiple Genie nominations include Vincenzo Natali's sci-fi thriller Splice, Xavier Dolan's contemporary love story Heartbeats (Les amours imaginaires) and Jacob Tierney's teen comedy The Trotsky.
CBC will broadcast the 31st annual Genie Awards live from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on March 10.
Read more.
Do you think William Shatner is a good choice to host the Genie Awards? Will you watch? Let us know in the comments below.
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)
]]>
William Shatner, posing for photographers in Cannes, France, in April, will host the Genie Awards in March. (Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press)
By CBC News
William Shatner is returning to Canada in March to host the Genie Awards ceremony, which celebrates the best in Canadian film. It will take place in Ottawa this year.
Shatner said he looked forward to coming to Canada and seeing "old friends."
"Unfortunately, most of them are dead of old age," quipped the Montreal-born stage, television and film actor, who has starred in Boston Legal, T.J. Hooker and the original Star Trek. Shatner himself is 79.
He currently stars in the Twitter-inspired CBS sitcom S#*! My Dad Says.
Rachelle Lefevre, known for her roles in the Twilight films and Barney's Version, will also participate in the ceremony as the voice announcer.
Barney's Version, based on Mordecai Richler's final novel, leads the nominations with 11. Denis Villeneuve's family drama Incendies follows with ten nominations. Other titles that earned multiple Genie nominations include Vincenzo Natali's sci-fi thriller Splice, Xavier Dolan's contemporary love story Heartbeats (Les amours imaginaires) and Jacob Tierney's teen comedy The Trotsky.
CBC will broadcast the 31st annual Genie Awards live from the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on March 10.
Read more.
Do you think William Shatner is a good choice to host the Genie Awards? Will you watch? Let us know in the comments below.
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)
]]>
Helmets are currently banned in women's lacrosse and many players want to keep it that way, despite calls from safety advocates for head protection, the New York Times reported.
"It's hard to absolutely prove, but what we've seen is that behavior can change when athletes feel more protected, especially when it comes to the head and helmets," said Dr. Margot Putukian, Princeton's director of athletic medicine services and chairwoman of the U.S. Lacrosse safety committee.
"They tend to put their bodies and heads in danger that they wouldn't without the protection. And they aren't as protected as they might think," she told the Times.
Women's lacrosse has many other differences in rules from men's lacrosse, so much so that they're practically different sports, said Amy Bokker, the coach of the Stanford women's lacrosse team.
Among the differences:
- No body checking, and minimal collisions.
- No head contact, or even accidental intrusion with the stick or body into an imaginary sphere around the head, called the halo.
- No shooting at the net when a defender is in line with the goal.
In December, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association voted 9-2 to keep the ban on hard helmets in the women's game. U.S. Lacrosse also supports the ban.
Safety advocates, however, call the ban outdated.
"Somebody's got to stand up and say, What are you doing? This to me is like, come on, you're not serious. This is 2011," said Dr. Jack Ryan of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at a recent meeting of the National Organizing Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.
Do you think more protective equipment leads to more risky or violent behaviour in sports? Do you play a sport such as soccer, rugby or women's lacrosse that requires less protective gear? Let us know what you think.
Helmets are currently banned in women's lacrosse and many players want to keep it that way, despite calls from safety advocates for head protection, the New York Times reported.
"It's hard to absolutely prove, but what we've seen is that behavior can change when athletes feel more protected, especially when it comes to the head and helmets," said Dr. Margot Putukian, Princeton's director of athletic medicine services and chairwoman of the U.S. Lacrosse safety committee.
"They tend to put their bodies and heads in danger that they wouldn't without the protection. And they aren't as protected as they might think," she told the Times.
Women's lacrosse has many other differences in rules from men's lacrosse, so much so that they're practically different sports, said Amy Bokker, the coach of the Stanford women's lacrosse team.
Among the differences:
- No body checking, and minimal collisions.
- No head contact, or even accidental intrusion with the stick or body into an imaginary sphere around the head, called the halo.
- No shooting at the net when a defender is in line with the goal.
In December, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association voted 9-2 to keep the ban on hard helmets in the women's game. U.S. Lacrosse also supports the ban.
Safety advocates, however, call the ban outdated.
"Somebody's got to stand up and say, What are you doing? This to me is like, come on, you're not serious. This is 2011," said Dr. Jack Ryan of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at a recent meeting of the National Organizing Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.
Do you think more protective equipment leads to more risky or violent behaviour in sports? Do you play a sport such as soccer, rugby or women's lacrosse that requires less protective gear? Let us know what you think.
The WWF has launched a campaign encouraging people to wear sweaters instead of turning up the heat in winter. (iStock) People across Canada may see a surge in Mister Rogers and Bill Cosby look-alikes on Thursday because of National Sweater Day.
The national campaign, promoted by the World Wildlife Federation, encourages people to lower their thermostats by three degrees and put on a sweater if they get chilly.
If every Canadian turned down their thermostats by that much in the winter, it would save 2.2 megatonnes of carbon dioxide each year -- the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road, according to the WWF.
On Twitter, people paid homage to their favourite sweater-wearing celebrities.
"Happy National Sweater Day everyone," tweeted @kevinfortorcent. "Please pause to give thanks to the patron saint of sweaters, Bill Cosby."
"I will be wearing one--and listening to Weezer," tweeted Industry Minister Tony Clement, who is apparently a fan of the alternative rock band's classic hit Undone (The Sweater Song).
Twitter users also discussed what kind of sweaters they'd be sporting for the event.
"In the spirit of National Sweater Day, I will be wearing a wildlife scene sweater," tweeted @kurstmckelv. "The animals include elk, geese, and bobcat."
"I'm going with a heavy magenta cardigan ... how about you?" tweeted jeanninestamand.
Will you be suiting up for National Sweater Day? Send us pics of you in your favourite (or least favourite) sweater. You can upload them here, share them with our Flickr group, or email them to yournews@cbc.ca. You can also tweet us @cbccommunity.
The WWF has launched a campaign encouraging people to wear sweaters instead of turning up the heat in winter. (iStock) People across Canada may see a surge in Mister Rogers and Bill Cosby look-alikes on Thursday because of National Sweater Day.
The national campaign, promoted by the World Wildlife Federation, encourages people to lower their thermostats by three degrees and put on a sweater if they get chilly.
If every Canadian turned down their thermostats by that much in the winter, it would save 2.2 megatonnes of carbon dioxide each year -- the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road, according to the WWF.
On Twitter, people paid homage to their favourite sweater-wearing celebrities.
"Happy National Sweater Day everyone," tweeted @kevinfortorcent. "Please pause to give thanks to the patron saint of sweaters, Bill Cosby."
"I will be wearing one--and listening to Weezer," tweeted Industry Minister Tony Clement, who is apparently a fan of the alternative rock band's classic hit Undone (The Sweater Song).
Twitter users also discussed what kind of sweaters they'd be sporting for the event.
"In the spirit of National Sweater Day, I will be wearing a wildlife scene sweater," tweeted @kurstmckelv. "The animals include elk, geese, and bobcat."
"I'm going with a heavy magenta cardigan ... how about you?" tweeted jeanninestamand.
Will you be suiting up for National Sweater Day? Send us pics of you in your favourite (or least favourite) sweater. You can upload them here, share them with our Flickr group, or email them to yournews@cbc.ca. You can also tweet us @cbccommunity.
A U.S. border officer stands near a security booth. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)
By CBC News
The budget U.S. President Barack Obama submitted to Congress on Monday proposes to slap a $5.50 fee on every visitor from Canada who travels to the U.S. by air or by sea.
The fee would not apply to visitors arriving in private vehicles, thus exonerating typical cross-border shoppers.
Currently, visitors from Canada, Mexico and a number of Caribbean countries are exempt from "passenger inspection fees." It's an exemption these countries have enjoyed since 1997.
But Obama's 2012 draft budget includes a legislative proposal to lift those exemptions -- a move that a supporting document from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates would bring in an extra $110 million a year.
Revenue from the charges would be used to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection's inspection functions, the document says.
Read more.
Do you think this border fee is reasonable?
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)]]>
A U.S. border officer stands near a security booth. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)
By CBC News
The budget U.S. President Barack Obama submitted to Congress on Monday proposes to slap a $5.50 fee on every visitor from Canada who travels to the U.S. by air or by sea.
The fee would not apply to visitors arriving in private vehicles, thus exonerating typical cross-border shoppers.
Currently, visitors from Canada, Mexico and a number of Caribbean countries are exempt from "passenger inspection fees." It's an exemption these countries have enjoyed since 1997.
But Obama's 2012 draft budget includes a legislative proposal to lift those exemptions -- a move that a supporting document from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimates would bring in an extra $110 million a year.
Revenue from the charges would be used to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection's inspection functions, the document says.
Read more.
Do you think this border fee is reasonable?
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)]]>
Scottish deerhound Hickory won the best in show award at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Tuesday. (Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)The Westminster Kennel Club awarded its best in show title to a five-year-old Scottish deerhound named Hickory on Tuesday night.
She became the first of her breed to capture the purple-and-gold ribbon and shiny silver bowl.
"I think Hickory could feel my lead that I was excited and went with it," handler Angela Lloyd said.
Judge Paolo Dondina of Italy thanked everyone at New York's Madison Square Garden, then picked Hickory from a best-of-seven final show ring that truly sounded international -- there was a Pekingese, Portuguese water dog, Chinese shar-pei, smooth fox terrier, bearded collie and black cocker spaniel.
A couple of those pooches on the green carpet ring with Hickory were among the country's top-rated show dogs. The 85-pound Hickory wasn't on that list, though she wagged her long tail the most at the end after beating out a total of nearly 2,600 entries.
"The quality of all of the dogs were outstanding," Dondina said. "This animal is like in the heavens. It's not of this world."
-With files from The Associated Press
Read more.
Which dog do you think should have won the Westminster Kennel Club best in show award? What's your favourite breed of dog? Let us know in the comments below.
Scottish deerhound Hickory won the best in show award at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York on Tuesday. (Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)The Westminster Kennel Club awarded its best in show title to a five-year-old Scottish deerhound named Hickory on Tuesday night.
She became the first of her breed to capture the purple-and-gold ribbon and shiny silver bowl.
"I think Hickory could feel my lead that I was excited and went with it," handler Angela Lloyd said.
Judge Paolo Dondina of Italy thanked everyone at New York's Madison Square Garden, then picked Hickory from a best-of-seven final show ring that truly sounded international -- there was a Pekingese, Portuguese water dog, Chinese shar-pei, smooth fox terrier, bearded collie and black cocker spaniel.
A couple of those pooches on the green carpet ring with Hickory were among the country's top-rated show dogs. The 85-pound Hickory wasn't on that list, though she wagged her long tail the most at the end after beating out a total of nearly 2,600 entries.
"The quality of all of the dogs were outstanding," Dondina said. "This animal is like in the heavens. It's not of this world."
-With files from The Associated Press
Read more.
Which dog do you think should have won the Westminster Kennel Club best in show award? What's your favourite breed of dog? Let us know in the comments below.
Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh returns to Toronto to face his former team Wednesday. (Michael Conroy/Associated Press)Miami Heat all-star Chris Bosh returns to face his former team in Toronto for the first time Wednesday.
The Toronto Raptors drafted Bosh in 2003 and fans watched him blossom from a talented rookie to becoming one of the league's most highly skilled big men. But after seven seasons in Toronto, and only two playoff appearances, Bosh left the NBA's lone Canadian franchise to join superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in Miami during free-agency last summer.
In a city that celebrated the return of Vince Carter by donning No. 15 baby bibs, the Raptors know Chris Bosh's visit to Toronto could get ugly.
"I think it will be real crazy, I think it will be a lot of excitement, I think it will be, phew. . . like The Rock coming back to WWE," Raptors forward Reggie Evans said, laughing.
Toronto fans have been spurned before, watching the likes of Damon Stoudamire, Tracy McGrady and Carter hightail it to other teams.
But the manner of Bosh's departure left fans stinging. He toyed with their hearts, tweeting: "Should I stay or should I go?" He complained that Raptors games weren't on T.V. in the U.S., he griped about Canada's inferior cable T.V. lineup.
Bosh is prepared for the worst, but the 26-year-old said he has no regrets on how his handled things in Toronto.
"Sometimes there's no good way to separate or move on. You have to put the past behind," Bosh told reporters in Indianapolis on Tuesday before Miami's game versus the Pacers. "At no time did I feel I said anything degrading or bad or acted uncivilized. I'm pretty happy with the way things went."
-With files from The Associated Press
Read more.
Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh returns to Toronto to face his former team Wednesday. (Michael Conroy/Associated Press)Miami Heat all-star Chris Bosh returns to face his former team in Toronto for the first time Wednesday.
The Toronto Raptors drafted Bosh in 2003 and fans watched him blossom from a talented rookie to becoming one of the league's most highly skilled big men. But after seven seasons in Toronto, and only two playoff appearances, Bosh left the NBA's lone Canadian franchise to join superstars Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in Miami during free-agency last summer.
In a city that celebrated the return of Vince Carter by donning No. 15 baby bibs, the Raptors know Chris Bosh's visit to Toronto could get ugly.
"I think it will be real crazy, I think it will be a lot of excitement, I think it will be, phew. . . like The Rock coming back to WWE," Raptors forward Reggie Evans said, laughing.
Toronto fans have been spurned before, watching the likes of Damon Stoudamire, Tracy McGrady and Carter hightail it to other teams.
But the manner of Bosh's departure left fans stinging. He toyed with their hearts, tweeting: "Should I stay or should I go?" He complained that Raptors games weren't on T.V. in the U.S., he griped about Canada's inferior cable T.V. lineup.
Bosh is prepared for the worst, but the 26-year-old said he has no regrets on how his handled things in Toronto.
"Sometimes there's no good way to separate or move on. You have to put the past behind," Bosh told reporters in Indianapolis on Tuesday before Miami's game versus the Pacers. "At no time did I feel I said anything degrading or bad or acted uncivilized. I'm pretty happy with the way things went."
-With files from The Associated Press
Read more.
Canadians' consumer debt increased in the final quarter of last year, but there was a surprising drop in the amount borrowed on credit cards, a credit analysis firm says.
TransUnion said average total debt per Canadian consumer, excluding mortgages, was $25,709 in the fourth quarter of 2010 -- up 5.6 per cent from $24,346 in the comparable period of 2009.
Only a small portion of the total in either year was drawn on credit cards, which usually charge among the highest rates of interest.
The surprise, according to TransUnion, was that the average credit card debt in the fourth quarter of 2010 dropped by 2.7 per cent from a year earlier to $3,688.
Lines of credit were the biggest form of consumer debt tracked, and increased to nearly $34,000 -- up 8.8 per cent over the year.
Auto loans were the second-biggest form of non-mortgage debt tracked by the report, and TransUnion found the Canadian average rose to nearly $16,200 per borrower in the fourth quarter, up 11 per cent from a year earlier.
How much debt are you carrying on credit cards? Do you move debt from credit cards to lines of credit to avoid the high interest rates? Let us know in the comments.
With files from the Canadian Press
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)
Related P.O.V.s
- Mortgages: How much do you still have to pay off?
- Credit card fraud: has your account been compromised?
- Credit card surcharges: Should merchants implement them?
- Debit, Credit or Cash: Which do you use most?
Canadians' consumer debt increased in the final quarter of last year, but there was a surprising drop in the amount borrowed on credit cards, a credit analysis firm says.
TransUnion said average total debt per Canadian consumer, excluding mortgages, was $25,709 in the fourth quarter of 2010 -- up 5.6 per cent from $24,346 in the comparable period of 2009.
Only a small portion of the total in either year was drawn on credit cards, which usually charge among the highest rates of interest.
The surprise, according to TransUnion, was that the average credit card debt in the fourth quarter of 2010 dropped by 2.7 per cent from a year earlier to $3,688.
Lines of credit were the biggest form of consumer debt tracked, and increased to nearly $34,000 -- up 8.8 per cent over the year.
Auto loans were the second-biggest form of non-mortgage debt tracked by the report, and TransUnion found the Canadian average rose to nearly $16,200 per borrower in the fourth quarter, up 11 per cent from a year earlier.
How much debt are you carrying on credit cards? Do you move debt from credit cards to lines of credit to avoid the high interest rates? Let us know in the comments.
With files from the Canadian Press
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)
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Prince William and Kate Middleton, shown at St. James Palace in central London on Nov. 16 when they announced their engagement, are marrying April 29 at Westminster Abbey. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
CBC News has learned Prince William and Kate Middleton will make their first official trip as a married couple to Canada from the end of June to mid-July.
The tour will run from June 30 to July 8 and will include stops in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
William and Kate will spend Canada Day the way the prince's grandmother, the Queen, did last year, in Ottawa.
But what about the rest of the trip?
Give us your pitch. Why should William and Kate come to your town during their first trip abroad? Would you go see the royal couple if they visit your part of the country? Let us know in the comments below.
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.) ]]>
Prince William and Kate Middleton, shown at St. James Palace in central London on Nov. 16 when they announced their engagement, are marrying April 29 at Westminster Abbey. (Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters)
CBC News has learned Prince William and Kate Middleton will make their first official trip as a married couple to Canada from the end of June to mid-July.
The tour will run from June 30 to July 8 and will include stops in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.
William and Kate will spend Canada Day the way the prince's grandmother, the Queen, did last year, in Ottawa.
But what about the rest of the trip?
Give us your pitch. Why should William and Kate come to your town during their first trip abroad? Would you go see the royal couple if they visit your part of the country? Let us know in the comments below.
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.) ]]>
China is ordering Chinese filmmakers and television producers to limit the amount of smoking depicted on-screen in an effort to curb tobacco use.
Plot lines and scenes involving smoking should only be used when necessary for artistic purposes or character development, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said on its website Tuesday.
Under the new rules, minors under age 18 cannot be shown smoking or buying cigarettes, and characters may not smoke in public buildings or other places where smoking is banned.
China has been tightening up restrictions on smoking over the past decade, banning tobacco advertising and sponsorships of major sporting events.
That's part of a slow realization of the massive toll heavy tobacco use is taking on an aging, increasingly urbanized population. Tobacco use is linked to the deaths of at least 1 million people every year in China, where 300 million people (or nearly 30 per cent of adults) smoke.
Last August, a group of Canadian doctors called on federal and provincial governments to stop subsidizing movie productions that depict smoking in films aimed at children and teens.
Studies worldwide show smoking in movies is a powerful way to recruit young people to the addiction, said Neil Collishaw, research director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
With files from The Associated Press
Read more.
Do you want Canadian film and television producers to limit depictions of smoking on-screen? Do you think it would discourage young people from smoking? Let us know.
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)]]>
China is ordering Chinese filmmakers and television producers to limit the amount of smoking depicted on-screen in an effort to curb tobacco use.
Plot lines and scenes involving smoking should only be used when necessary for artistic purposes or character development, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said on its website Tuesday.
Under the new rules, minors under age 18 cannot be shown smoking or buying cigarettes, and characters may not smoke in public buildings or other places where smoking is banned.
China has been tightening up restrictions on smoking over the past decade, banning tobacco advertising and sponsorships of major sporting events.
That's part of a slow realization of the massive toll heavy tobacco use is taking on an aging, increasingly urbanized population. Tobacco use is linked to the deaths of at least 1 million people every year in China, where 300 million people (or nearly 30 per cent of adults) smoke.
Last August, a group of Canadian doctors called on federal and provincial governments to stop subsidizing movie productions that depict smoking in films aimed at children and teens.
Studies worldwide show smoking in movies is a powerful way to recruit young people to the addiction, said Neil Collishaw, research director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
With files from The Associated Press
Read more.
Do you want Canadian film and television producers to limit depictions of smoking on-screen? Do you think it would discourage young people from smoking? Let us know.
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)]]>
By CBC News
A CBC investigation has found that reusable plastic food trays in some Vancouver-area shopping malls have as much bacteria on them as toilet seats have.
Swabs taken from trays in food courts at three malls were sent to University of British Columbia microbiologist Bob Hancock, who analyzed the samples. The malls involved were Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, Park Royal in West Vancouver and Metrotown in Burnaby
"We saw as many bacteria on some food trays as we saw on a toilet," said Hancock.
The Pacific Centre mall's general manager, Ultan Kampff, said cleaning staff wipe the trays after every use and disinfect them every night.
"Our service provider has very high standards that are in line with acute care facilities," Kampff said. "Having said that, there's always an opportunity to revisit our procedures and our processes to see if we can do it better."
Park Royal and Metrotown both offered statements in response to the CBC test results, saying they had rigorous cleaning methods.
Despite the presence of some serious pathogens, they are not a major concern for healthy people, Hancock said.
Read more.
CBCNews.ca readers engaged in a discussion about our society's concerns about cleanliness. Many commenters believe people have become too anxious about bacteria.
"How do you think we become immune to certain types of bacteria? It is by being exposed to them," wrote jkeating. "The kids growing up today will be sicker than the previous generation, all because of the fear mongering and people's need to have a sterile world."
Bobby65 agreed. "Certainly we don't want really harmful bugs hovering around everywhere but some exposure to bacteria and things is not going to kill anybody if they are living a decent healthy lifestyle."
However, bette102 was glad the issue of bacteria on food trays was brought up. She said she contacted the health department in Winnipeg after finding the food trays at malls greasy. "They told me that the system won't change, that it's OK to just wipe down the tray. I suggested soap and hot water but they thought it wasn't necessary. Do these people just spray their dirty dishes and wipe them with a rag and put them back in the cupboard?
I never use a tray now, I carry my food to the table. If any food hits the table I throw that away."
Do you think people have become too worried about bacteria? What kinds of public places are you most concerned about when it comes to cleanliness? Let us know in the comments below.
By CBC News
A CBC investigation has found that reusable plastic food trays in some Vancouver-area shopping malls have as much bacteria on them as toilet seats have.
Swabs taken from trays in food courts at three malls were sent to University of British Columbia microbiologist Bob Hancock, who analyzed the samples. The malls involved were Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, Park Royal in West Vancouver and Metrotown in Burnaby
"We saw as many bacteria on some food trays as we saw on a toilet," said Hancock.
The Pacific Centre mall's general manager, Ultan Kampff, said cleaning staff wipe the trays after every use and disinfect them every night.
"Our service provider has very high standards that are in line with acute care facilities," Kampff said. "Having said that, there's always an opportunity to revisit our procedures and our processes to see if we can do it better."
Park Royal and Metrotown both offered statements in response to the CBC test results, saying they had rigorous cleaning methods.
Despite the presence of some serious pathogens, they are not a major concern for healthy people, Hancock said.
Read more.
CBCNews.ca readers engaged in a discussion about our society's concerns about cleanliness. Many commenters believe people have become too anxious about bacteria.
"How do you think we become immune to certain types of bacteria? It is by being exposed to them," wrote jkeating. "The kids growing up today will be sicker than the previous generation, all because of the fear mongering and people's need to have a sterile world."
Bobby65 agreed. "Certainly we don't want really harmful bugs hovering around everywhere but some exposure to bacteria and things is not going to kill anybody if they are living a decent healthy lifestyle."
However, bette102 was glad the issue of bacteria on food trays was brought up. She said she contacted the health department in Winnipeg after finding the food trays at malls greasy. "They told me that the system won't change, that it's OK to just wipe down the tray. I suggested soap and hot water but they thought it wasn't necessary. Do these people just spray their dirty dishes and wipe them with a rag and put them back in the cupboard?
I never use a tray now, I carry my food to the table. If any food hits the table I throw that away."
Do you think people have become too worried about bacteria? What kinds of public places are you most concerned about when it comes to cleanliness? Let us know in the comments below.
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