What’s better than Facebook, Twitter and Skype?

“Better” is a relative term, depending on your feature preferences and priorities.   But the latest and greatest in features that will seriously save you some cash with some serious advantages, surprisingly comes from a small Canadian company.  That company is itiBiti Systems Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Intertainment Media Inc.  In Canada (TSX-V: INT), US (OTC:ITMTF). 

ItiBiti’s first major brand client is NBC, where they have released the first version of the product as the NBC Communicator. 

Not only can you stream tv shows, twit itiBiti style, and connect with people and log in using your Windows Live account and use all of its services from within the integrated itiBiti platform,  you can also make computer to cell phone long distance calls for free.  Yes, free long distance phone calls.   Beat that Skype, Facebook and Twitter. 

Some of the company’s previous news releases have hinted that they’re working on a smart phone application which would really make this system untouchable by the competition.

Are YOU ready for Halloween?

Are you ready for Halloween? Halloween is one of those holidays (if you can call it that) where you can easily make the most of it and fill it with several fun events or simply do nothing and watch it quickly pass.  Why not make the most of it and hit at least two halloween parties and plan some kind of an adventure!  If you’re going to be handing out candy… you can take the traditional route OR you can make a difference by providing more ethical and ecologically sound treats.  You’ll feel better about yourself for passively educating the kids and their parents by supplying these treats, and when gorging on the leftovers.  Even more, you can even take part in reverse trick-or-treating!

Want some last minute costume ideas? Try this alphabetized list here, and this list here but be SURE to check out these details here.  And you too can be David Suzuki !

Having a Halloween Party? For a killer environment (no pun intended) string up some spider webbing from your walls to your ceiling (as seen in picture below) and plug in a couple of blacklights.  Spider webbing can be attached to walls and ceiling easily, using poster tack.

If you’re in the Toronto area, you might want to check out this year’s “Halloween Haunt” at Canada’s Wonderland.  It’s sure to be a blast!

Enjoy!

Have a memorable date watching the Perseids Meteor Shower

Forget the fact that it’s romantic, watching a meteor shower is great for recalibrating your perspective on things… all things.   

There isn’t much that allows you to feel your place spatially on this planet more, than to look up at a clear night sky at the wonders of the universe.  Take the time to search out this experience and it may forever change your perception of life.   Again, a good meteor shower can also be quite a romantic experience to share with a partner or potential partner.   The next notable meteor shower will be presented to us from the star constellation of Perseus, peaking in intensity on August 12, 2009 and is known as “the Perseids meteor shower” which occurs annually.  Here’s a good introduction to what you can expect.   If you’re really keen and already own (or can borrow) a telescope, you can actually watch the meteors colliding with the moon.   This would probably be a less romantic and more frustrating venture as there would only be one eyepiece per telescope and you may or may not see anything happen, but it is still worth a mention.   It is also important to note that in the evening of Tuesday August 11th between 9-11pm EST will be the best display of “earthgrazers” which are the bright colourful fireballs that skim slowly across the atmosphere.   NASA has THIS excellent article explaining the phenomenon.

So, this is what you need to do….

Here’s looking at you, kid… (Part 2 of 2)

If you haven’t read Part 1, here it is and please read it first…

If you are interested in kicking it up a notch, here’s what you need to do…

1)  Google search ”yacht clubs”, “sailing clubs” and “sailing lessons” for your area/vicinity and bookmark each of the websites in a new folder, or write down all the website names/contact phone numbers…

2)  Find out when their next “Open House” is going to be for their sailing school then RSVP for you and a friend. 

3)  Learn a little bit about sailing on your spare time, it never hurts to acquire knowledge about anything.

What usually happens is there’s either a bbq or some snacks and pop for sale (very affordable, to cover costs), you mingle with the instructors and club members, and they take you on a FREE 20-30 minute boat ride on a 27-33 ft sailboat with a few other prospective students.   Great place to get trigger-happy with each others cameras again.  They’ll even get you to steer the boat if you want.  Now that’s a sweet photo-op.   And who knows, you might fall in love with it and when you’re not a starving student anymore…. You might just take up sailing.   There’s a lot to be said about the freedom of going wherever you want to go, not using fossil fuels to get around and having a 2 bedroom  mini-cottage (kitchen, bathroom, bar, etc.) below deck. 

NOTE:  Your “word-of-mouth advertising” afterwards of your experience (and your date’s experience) will only help the club in the future anyway, so you don’t need to feel guilty for the free ride.

Enjoy!!

Here’s looking at you, kid… (Part 1 of 2)

Want another idea for an affordable date? Then read on….

What you will need:

- 2 fully charged digital cameras… One for you, and your date can bring theirs.   Make sure you have lots of memory (empty cards preferrably, you will see why later)

- bottle of water

- pack some healthy snacks (granola bars, fruits, etc.)

- a nearby park, forest, mountain or beach!

Now, here’s what you do…

Planning on skiing or snowboarding this year?

If skiing or snowboarding is a passion for you, and you want to make the most of it this season, read on…

If you’ve never considered a season pass, or are looking to pick one up this year, early Fall is the best possible time of year to get the best “early bird” deals on them!!

This is what you do:

1. Figure out, realistically, how often and when you’d be able to go (and where).   Get a rough number of the amount of trips and write that down.
2. Visit the websites of your local hot ski spots that you are considering and check out the prices for their daily lift ticket.
3. Multiply the price of the daily lift ticket, by the number of days that you realistically believe you could make it out to the slopes.  Write that number down.
4. Go to the Season Pass tickets section of your local ski resort websites and review the options (for example, full 7 day/night pass vs. 5 weekday/7 weeknight pass vs  full evening pass, etc.) and find which you would most efficiently make the most of for the price.  IMPORTANT: “Early bird” pricing for 2010 Season Passes are available now! (Make note of when the price goes up for your choice resort/s).  This is why you’re doing this now!!
5. Compare the $ figure you calculated in step 3. with the favoured passes in step 4.
6. If the numbers are almost the same, you are probably better off holding on to your money an NOT getting a Season Pass.  If you find that you will accrue significant savings aquiring a Season Pass, then there’s your answer.  Now compare driving distances, prices and preferences between resorts before you narrow it down to your winner.