Here are the wedding pictures from my camera for Rajat and Sarina’s wedding on August 23rd, 2008. I was able to use Picasa Web Album with my blog to easily setup this slideshow.
Top 5 essentials for our 1 year old baby
Here’s a quick list of things my wife and I discovered as must haves that were overlooked or weren’t considered as relevant for our 1 year old daughter:
5. Treehouse TV
Our PVR has been taken over with Treehouse shows such as Big Comfy Couch, The Backyardigans and This is Emily Yeung.
4. High Chair
The high chair is the only way to lock down an over active child and get them to eat.
3. Flip-Open Sofa with Slumber Bag
This portable slumber bag is quite useful during the day for naps. Also good for the child to sit in and watch Treehouse (refer to point 5).
2. Footed sleepers with rubber soles
For everyday wear, we found that the zippered sleepers with elasticized ankles and gripper bottoms for traction as the best wear. Easy to change in and out of as well as the gripper bottoms help for traction on hardwood and tiled floors. Available at Childrens Place.
1. Soother
Like the credit card commercial goes:
Never leave home without it
Why didn’t I get an iPhone?
My path to get an iPhone was rudily interrupted and after a cloud of smoke, I ended up with the HTC Touch Diamond. Here is what happened:
- Telus’ rentention department called me in April. Told them I wasn’t interested and ready to switch to Rogers for the iPhone. They offered me a free smartphone. I politely turned it down.
- Found out about Telus’ EPP voice plan for $17.30. Jumped all over it. Got 200 minutes, evenings starting at 6pm, Telus to Telus, free caller id, free call forwarding.
- Noise of the “iPhone Killa” Samsung Instinct hit the internet. Cool, some competition.
- HTC Touch Diamond will be available in late August to Telus customers. Whoa, what’s this?
- 2nd call from Telus’ rentention centre. Offering a free HTC Touch Diamond on a 3 yr plan.
Can I keep my EPP Plan? – … Yes.
Can I switch my Spark 15 for the $15 data plan? – … Yes.
In the end, it was about dollars and sense while comprising a bit on cutting edge technology. Rogers need for $30 data plans, and leveraging customer loyality with Telus all played a part.
What will it take Mats Sundin?
The Province newspaper in Vancouver is running an article to help lure Mats Sundin to Vancouver. One notable entry was from Aman Brah which states:
Aman Brah of Keller Willams Results Realty is putting up a pretty nice package: He’ll help Mats find a place to live in Vancouver and donate his commission to the charity of Sundin’s choice.
If that’s not generous enough, he’s also offering free meals at Nando’s Coquitlam for as long as he’s a Canuck — and forever if he brings the Cup to town.
Travelling to Las Vegas?
It’s been a few years since our last trip to Vegas but here is a small list of things we noticed that has changed since:
Free Wifi is still a mystery to the main hotels on the strip. Luxor charges $14.99 a day for using internet in the hotel room. A lesser known hotel called Fairfield Inn gives you free internet.
We were exposed to a lot of timeshare requests in Mexico but experienced this for the first time in Vegas this past trip. Expect all hotels to have a booth near the reception area to intercept you when you go to check-in to your hotel.
There is at least one Starbucks in every major hotel on the strip.
Lots of construction for new buildings on the strip. Interesting to see considering there is a recession going on in the U.S.
When is the iPhone officially launching to Canada?
After reading an article in Wired Magazine, I quickly realized the battles Rogers is having with Apple are the same ones that AT&T had. Data plans are a cash cow for Rogers and they are having a hard time lowering data plans to accomodate the iPhone community and their data hungry cell phones. For those that have imported their unlocked iPhone from the U.S., how is life with your GSM carrier (Rogers)?
Save on utility bills
Here are some ways to minimize your bills for 2008. As I wrote this post I realized I was summarizing my findings on RedFlagDeals. Either way, its something for you to look in short summary.
Television
If you have Bell ExpressVu, I’d advise going through their retention line and asking for a discount. You will be happy to see they are very accommodating and appreciate your loyalty.
Here is a link for Shaw Customers.
And here is one for Rogers.
Home Phone
Look into switching to VOIP phone especially if you make long distance calls across North America.
Cell Phone
With growing competition due to number portability, you can call any provider’s retention hotline to get the discounts you are looking for. You have more leverage if you’re contract is about to expire (< 3 months left on your contract)
Fido Retention Plan
Telus plans
I think I wanna go for this deal from Bell
Looking for Free Anti-Virus Software?
Seems like no one is willing to pay for anti-virus software (including myself) and are looking for alternatives to buying the name brand software like Norton or McAfee. Most of the name brand software comes with huge mail-in rebates that require you to wait 2 months for you to cash in on a deal. I recommend looking for alternative solutions. I’ve personally been using Avast Home Edition for the last 6 months and have little to worry about. Most companies selling anti-virus products are beginning to give away home editions for free.
Here are some recommended programs:
Avast Home Edition
AVG from Grisoft
Are you ready for HDTV?
I get a lot of friends and family asking me what high definition tv they should be getting. LCD or Plasma? 1080p? 42″, 50″ or 70″? Projector or the flatscreen TV you can hang on the wall? Your options are endless.
720p vs. 1080i
Prices are dropping on earlier generations of HDTVs. With 1080p on the market, some of the older models are dropping in price. Although its a good idea to get a 1080p TV, most cable companies are still too far behind to even show HiDef in 720p or 1080i. Unless you own a PS3, you will not benefit from 1080p anytime soon. This article breaks down further information on 720p vs. 1080i.
Cables
This is where most electronic stores can take you to school. Cables are marked up 100%-1000%. If you are spending more than $10 for an HDMI cable, you’ve been had. Say no to cables from these shops and go online to shop for a generic version:
Shop at Monoprice
Reviews on Monoprice
Or you can try Meritline
Accessories, accessories
Finally, you got your shiny new HDTV at home. Did you upgrade your DVD player? You forget to buy the HD Upconvert or HD-DVD player? How about the receiver from your cable provider? Tell me, at the very least, you got the HiDef receiver from your cable company? Suprisingly, this is where a lot of people don’t prepare themselves in terms of budget for a new TV. The HD receiver is critical to getting HiDef running in your home. Budget around $200 for one. I highly recommend getting your hands on the best HD-PVR your cable provider can supply you with (which can cost upwards of $600). Nothing beats playing, pausing, and recording live high definition as you explain your setup to your friends and family. Some people call that “flossing” 🙂
Over 200 friends on Crackbook!
Facebook has taken over the lives of people who were once outgoing, social, and went out to meet people. Those same people are now updating their status on Facebook, poking people and sending messages instead of using the phone or regular email. I’ve added over 200 friends on Facebook without even noticing the hours wasted on the site. I guess the first step is admitting you have a problem. Next step? I will be admitting myself to a Crackbook rehab facility in the near future.
Here is some links to the affects of Facebook in recent news:
Facebook banned for Ontario staffers
Beware employer snooping
FaceBookAddiction.com