Getting gouged by cellphone providers is such a routine part of life in Canada that it barely seems worth complaining about. Yet we complain all the time. We trade tales of shocking bills and awful customer service at every opportunity. We complain to friends and we complain to strangers. I complain professionally. To be a technology journalist in Canada is to constantly feed the nation’s seething consumer outrage.
Yes, Canadians pay higher monthly wireless bills than citizens of any other country, according to a report by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Yes, our data roaming fees are higher than those in any other country, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Yes, a cartel of three carriers—Bell, Rogers and Telus—still controls 95 per cent of our market, despite the emergence of budget providers Wind, Public and Mobilicity. And yes, text message fees in Canada are ridiculously marked up, by as much as 4,900 per cent, according to academic estimates. Each story solidifies our right to kvetch. We truly are the most screwed-over cellphone users in the world.
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• What is the best way to get rid of unwanted Halloween candy? Serious Eats recommends burying it in a shallow grave—a pie shell—and making candy pie. The dessert is exactly what it sounds like: simply melt the candy in the crust for 30 to 40 minutes at 350 degrees, let cool, then serve. The site advocates a chocolate-heavy filling (Tootsie Rolls, Snickers, M&Ms, Kit Kats and candy corn) that reduces in size when it melts. The final product is sure to make guests frightened and dentists wealthy. [
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