Food Inc.’s Official site

For the past few years, I’ve always tried looking out for healthier alternatives to what we’re use to. Picking out the organic fruits and vegetables, free range eggs… After watching this story we’re boosting up our attention to where our food comes from, before scanning it at our local grocery store’s the cash register ;) It certainly takes more time and heavier for the pockets — but… alternatives? Just need to find a good local butcher shop now.

Simple rules, by following where your cards have been played forward you can then read-up on the story behind the exchange and see where your card might end up, it’d be fun to see it reach someone on the other side of the globe :)

Karma Points?!? was one of my first questions… here’s the 101 on it from their site:

Each time you play a mission (card) you earn “karma points”. Earn enough karma and you’ll be able to “level-up” to the next level. (You can think of karma points as experience points from other role playing games). You can also earn karma for helping others play their missions forward.

Adding videos, photos and stories to your missions earns you extra karma points. Your missions continue to earn points for you as long as they keep traveling (that way you’ll be earning karma in your sleep!)

If you’re feeling creative, you can also create your own missions at Mission HQ and track their progress as others play them around the world.

Levels

There are 15 levels in all and you’ll need to earn a increasing level of karma to reach the next higher level. As you reach higher levels you’ll also need confirmations from others before you’ll be able to level-up.

Now what you get as you level up? Not sure yet! Check it out for yourself and “Play it Forward with Us” by getting your own deck!

“The power of play can make the world a better place.” – Akoha

“The act of playing music with people of different cultures, religions, economics and politics is a powerful statement. It shows that we can find ways of working together and sharing our experiences with one another in a positive way. Music has the power to break down the walls between cultures, to raise the level of human understanding.” — Mark Johnson, Playing for Change

An amazing example of the simplest and yet powerful music, understanding how it came together and listening to it, brings the best feelings of hope and happiness in each of us. Utilizing innovative mobile audio/video techniques, Playing for Change (PFC) records musicians outdoors in cities and townships worldwide. Their performances are subsequently combined in allowing them to collaborate even when separated by hundreds, or even thousands, of miles.

A great CD/DVD gift for my dad. Just plain revolutionary!

Playing for Change’s official site

Little over a year ago this clever video was produced by/for Craig from Devshop by some of the guys in town: Scott from ThinkSM, Tobi and Cody from JadedPixel, Mark from Axionic, Sonny from Ramius.

The initial idea of “Free Hugs” came about from the controversial story of Juan Mann, a man who’s sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives. Make sure to watch his video. In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal. As this symbol of human hope spread across the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring. Join the Ottawa Chapter Facebook Group or the Global Free Hug Facebook Group.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, if you can reach just one person.

Kudos on the video guys! It’s been re-posted on YouTube by a number of users with a total today of little over 100,000 views :)

MAXED OUT’s official site

Make sure you stop by and challenge someone to a foosball game on the table we (digitalOttawa and The Other Studios) have donated to The Code Factory.

In the Media

• CBC’s News Coverage
• Mark Blevis’ Podcast

I’ve had my iPhone for almost a year now. There’s no way I would consider using any other mobile device today. I’ve been playing around with iPhone Apps and making iPhone friendly sites for a while now and I must concur that Apple has just delivered us the beginning of the “Mobile Age Revolution”.

Here’s my top iPhone Apps list:

Updated 2008-08-15

My Top Productive iPhone Apps:

My Top Useful iPhone Apps:

My Top Social Media iPhone Apps:

My Top iPhone Show off & Play Apps:

The Resort: The NH Krystal, the old “El Senador”. It used to be owned by Canadians but it is now owned by a Spanish company. We booked a room on the Emperador side of the resort. I guess we got lucky with our assigned room (building 47) the location was perfect, placed between the main lobby and the beach. Our suite had a front sitting area, a large bedroom, a large split bathroom. We received a complimentary rum and coffee as advertised in our travel package, a bottle of water everyday and the fridge was filled with beer and jus. The safe is easy to use; we placed our passports, money and valuables as suggested. The room temperature was very pleasurable overnight and for our afternoon naps ;)

The Beach: Quite fine white soft sand :) do I need to say more? The water stays shallow a good while, great for walks during sunsets. Never had an issue finding free chairs and room to settle down to catch some sun. Not much for parties, beach bars are simple (in a hut) and no music, there’s a stage but no entertainment was hosted during our stay.

The Food: We found the food to be great! The breakfast, lunch and even dinner buffets were filled with a large variety of foods. We are both healthy eaters and didn’t have any trouble filling up each of our plates. Very friendly staff, we found that if you get in early you’d avoid all line-ups but even then they’re not usually too long. We had booked “A la carte” dinners for each night of our stay, we tried all but the Cuban restaurant which we skipped our reservation to relax and hit the buffet at a later time instead. I must say that overall the food was certainly better than what we had expected.

Service: It seemed understaffed but not in any anyway bothersome, particularly in the restaurants. Overall staff was very friendly and do their best to make your stay as comfortable as possible. There is an obvious sense of tips are expected, but wasn’t an issue. We left our maid toiletries and other things with a couple pesos everyday. We tipped bartenders every other drink and waiters/buffet cooks every other meal. I’d estimate an average of 10 pesos each day in tips.

Activities: On the first day we registered for the following 3 excursions:

Full day on the Catamaran included the equipment for snorkelling to explore two coral reefs; a delicious lobster, shrimp, fish or chicken lunch on board; an open bar on board throughout the excursion; and swimming at a pristine beach. We both had a wonderful time! (75 CUC / each)

Cuba in Full Color Excursion started by jumping on an air-conditioned bus to a sugar mill; then ride in a train pulled by a 1927 steam locomotive through fields of sugarcane; stopping for a typical Cuban lunch; explore the cities of Morón and the provincial capital of Ciego de Ávila in a bicycle carriage; visit a cigar factory; and finished with a speedboat ride through the mangroves. Great quick tour, only 45 min was provided for free walk time around the cities, I’d wish for more. (75 CUC / each)

The Acuavida Spa was perfect to have booked the next morning after the full day tour, this 3 hour pampering included a 30 min body massage, body mud treatment and free access to the hot massage baths where a bar is available to get your favourite drink (not included). We returned to the resort completely relaxed, worth it! (45 CUC / each)

Walking the beach you can see catamarans, windsurf boards, peddling boats and canoes for rent. We didn’t go for those; we walked up the beach to find the paragliding guys. They were friendly and the operation is government owned so you won’t be able to negotiate down the 40 CUC each, it’s a little expensive but if money is not an issue, I’d certainly recommend it the 15 min bird’s view of the resort is quite nice! Wish I had kept my camera with me. (40 CUC / each)

Shopping: I waited to shop in the cities for souvenirs and cigars, but we didn’t have time to browse long enough, so we ended up shopping in the resorts shops and merchant market, it’s a little more expensive (give or take 5 CUC), I was looking for drums and saw some nice ones at the speedboat souvenir shop on the tour of the cities, it was nicer then the ones at the resort and about 5 CUC cheaper. My point is, if you find something nice outside the resort on your tours make sure to grab it! I was also in the lookout for cigars; I ended up buy some from the resort government shop, Canadians are allowed to bring back 50 cigars each they must be approved (seals on). To be safe I bought boxes of the popular brands “Montecristo” and “Romeo Y Julietta”.

Things to bring:

• Beach bag
• Sunscreen
• Tissue packets
• Thermal mugs
• Power adapter
• Bug Spray (We didn’t need to use it)

Tips:

• As you arrive to the airport have one person go to exchange some money then go to the tour bus while the other waits for the bags, sit at the front of the bus, arriving at the resort one person go to straight to the registration desk while the other grabs the bags, this avoids a couple hours waiting in the registration line-up.
• Book all of your a la carte restaurants at arrival with concierge, they book fast!
• Book all of your excursions at arrival with the travel representative.
• If you have a problem with bugs, take a towel spray with bug spray and place it at the bottom of the door.
• Return beach towels before 5pm on the day before your departure or you may be forced to pay 25 CUC each.
• Try to check-out 2 hours prior to check-out time and enjoy a relaxing drink in the lobby.
• Tip maid a min of 2 CUC / day.

Who Killed the Electric Car? is Chris Paine’s first feature documentary as director. We’re a long way to 0 emission main stream vehicles and closing down on traditional motor oil bucket factories, but we finally are made some awareness and industry changes in the right direction. Sony Pictures’ official site

Every time I watch this movie (or stumble upon a clip of it), I ask myself if we’re ever going to have time to leave this planet before we kill it. Let’s change our ways to sustainable living.

An Inconvenient Truth’s official site
Also check out: WeCanSolveIt.org