Technology: Wrapped in Wicked Wires

Our connected world heavily relies on Internet access, but with the weighty costs of connectivity, Canadians might want to switch out the leather and tighten their belts with an Ethernet cable.

According to studies by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the cost of Canadian Internet access is substantially higher than other developed nations (see sidebar). With the tight data caps imposed by major internet service providers, costs to Canadians are becoming constricting.

Through Bell, for example, data caps range from 2 gigabytes (GB) of downloading for $28.90/month, up to 75 GB for $62.90/month. A standard 25 GB package goes for $38.90/month. Varying download speeds aside, you’re paying roughly $14.45/gig on the bottom and $0.87 on the top end. Read more

Plastic Money Makes perfect Sense

This November marks a historic first for Canadian currency, as the Bank of Canada (BoC) begins rolling out the latest $100 banknotes, the Polymer Series, acquainting Canadians to plastic money.

If money is power, these polymer banknotes are king. Lasting 2.5 times longer than cotton-based bills, these plastic notes utilize a biaxial-oriented polypropylene substrate developed by Australian manufacturer Securency International.

This innovative substrate, known as Guardian®, has already shown its face in 32 countries since the Reserve Bank of Australia embraced it in 1988, and will denote the first time anything other than paper is fully used for Canadian notes. Read more

People for Good: Be Nice

Canada is known around the world for having some of the nicest people. However, we too can forget to be kind, bogged down by busy schedules and stressful situations. Now there’s a group of Canadians embarking on a social movement – all as a reminder to be friendly.

Who are they you ask? They are you and me, and it’s as easy as flashing a smile to a stranger before you’re hooked on paying it forward with positive deeds. People for Good, an organization diligently thinking up pain-free ways of making someone’s day, is getting fellow Canadians rallied up about creating opportunity to do some good.

Be prepared to witness them pick up paper towels off the floor of public restrooms and offer their seat on the subway. Pass them on the street and they’ll wish you a good afternoon Read more

Under Rowling’s Spell: The Power of Potter

Love it or hate it, there is no denying the massive worldwide phenomenon that is Harry Potter. It’s more than just a children’s book, it’s an international juggernaut that made J.K. Rowling the first author to earn a billion dollars; one of only five self-made female billionaires in the world. It’s a book series that reintroduced a generation to literature, a collective that shamelessly aligns itself under the “Generation Hex” banner; spawned a mountain of spinoff products, including films, toys, video games and an amusement park attraction at Universal Orlando Resort; and its guaranteed Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. a financial monster every year it released a new Potter film. But how did this first-time author living on government welfare mange to enchant a global audience with the tale of a simple orphan-turned-wizard? Read more

In Case of Emergency

As much as we might not like to admit it, disasters happen. And much like the provinces mentioned above, Ontario isn’t immune to perils – need I remind you of the tornado that struck Vaughan in 2009? In response to these recent calamities, John Saunders, the Canadian Red Cross’s provincial director of disaster management for Ontario, provides advice on how to best prepare for Canadian disasters and emergencies.

“What we encourage people to do, first of all, is identify what the greatest risk that they are facing is,” says Saunders, who explains that in Ontario, this includes severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding, snow and ice storms. Next, plan to meet in the safest place in your home. If a hurricane, tornado or severe blizzard hits, Saunders notes, “That would usually be as low as you can go, against the strongest wall, and away from any windows.” Read more

App Yourself: Helpful smartphone apps

Since the launch of the iPhone, “app” has become a buzzword all-to-familiar with today’s wired generation. To complement your connected life in the city, we’ve compiled this handy list of essential apps to keep your thumbs busy.

Bump
Kiss those piles of business cards goodbye and say hello to Bump. A quick means of trading information, Bump allows users to swap everything from phone numbers, emails and photos, or even become Facebook friends. Bumpers simply select what info they wish exchanged and gently “bump” phones together. Presto! Information exchanged. This free digital Rolodex also allows free texting between users. Read more

Life in Our City — Vaughan

Sweet and stylish summer offerings from across the municipality

We LOVE Cappuccino
Warm your heart with the rich blends of Ionia … il Caffè and fall in love with coffee all over again.  www.alfacappuccino.ca

We Scream for Ice Cream
Renowned for its cakes, pastries and breads, St. Phillips Bakery also scoops out soft and creamy ice cream for a refreshing mouthful. www.stphillipsbakery.com

Hitting the Jackpot
Light and breezy, this flowing white top is a soft contrast to the vivid pink of these casual shorts from Jackpot. Read more

Summer Books & Music

Summer inspiration is at your fingertips, with pages that bring out your creativity and lyrics that bring you around the world.

1. Preserves and Pickles There’s nothing like homemade jam in the summertime. Turn to Gloria Nicol’s cookbook for 25 mouth-watering spreads. Read more

Happy We Go!

While toys and family adventures into the unknown may seem beneficial to those significant years of human development called childhood, experts agree that the only souvenir kids need on their journey to a happy adulthood is time with mom and dad.

“Kids don’t need expensive holidays,” says Linda Cameron, a mother and associate professor in curriculum teaching and learning at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. “It’s quality time, where you are attentive and fully present and mindful of the child – the actual interaction and close one-on-one attention that you pay to an infant – that is far more important than all the toys that you might buy or all the entertainment that you might provide. That gives them a sense of security, connectedness, and an emotional bond.” Read more

Digital Technology Trends

As we plunge into the unknown expanses of the future, we must navigate the always-changing waters of the digital sea. Growing and multiplying at an ever-accelerating rate, technology is constantly evolving in both looks and functionality. There was a time when technology changed infrequently – a time when typewriters were used for typing, cameras took pictures and calculators calculated. But ever since the introduction of the consumer computer, technology has increased its pace, leaving consumers adrift in the wake of obsolete devices, software and formats.

It’s no secret that technology is always on the move. Devices and hardware we once thought to be ideal, important and perhaps even “cool” eventually become obsolete. We’ve recently seen this through pagers, fax machines, physical maps, VCRs and more recently, DVDs. With the popularity of Facebook, who even Read more

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