Movember

I think by now we all know what Movember is about. Every year hundreds of thousands of men across the globe attempt to grow the manliest moustache for a good cause. For the month of November, these guys must shave their face while leaving their moustache in tact until the end of the month. This month long event helps raise awareness and funds for a variety of men's health issues, including prostate cancer and depression. Every year the event brings in more and more participants. So, will you grow out your moustache this year? Let us know in the comments below!

hot spots to travel

Everyone needs a little bit of travel in their lives, why not now while its hot? Check out some of the hot spots of 2011 and why they made the list!

Rome, Italy - a great city to visit at any time of year as it has a warm climate but for travel in 2011, Rome comes highly recommended. When visiting Rome you quickly find that it is the kind of city that keeps surprising you at every corner as there are so many iconic buildings and images throughout the city. It’s a great city to walk around and the public transport is also easy to use.

Melbourne, Australia - This Australian city had long been associated with arts, culture and great entertainment. Those reasons alone make it a great choice for you holidays for 2011. Melbourne also prides itself on its great restaurants and it is often hailed as a ‘foodie’s paradise’. There is also lots of great sightseeing in Melbourne making it the perfect choice for your travel 2011.

Madrid, Spain - Many visitors choosing Spain for a weekend break tend to overlook Madrid and opt for Barcelona instead. However Madrid is well worth a visit and is a great choice for travel in 2011. Madrid is a beautiful city to walk around and it also has some great shops, parks and squares to sit out in. Madrid is probably the best place to experience tapas too. When you go to eat out, this is the way to do it – lots of small dishes and great if there is a group of you. So keep an eye out for some travel offers to Madrid for your holidays for 2011


Galway, Ireland - The west of Ireland has so much to offer and is a great choice for couples or families for travel in 2011. If you base yourself in Galway with a few days to spare you really can make the most of the city. Galway city is beautiful to walk around and also has some great shopping. If you get a nice day then you really can enjoy Eyre Square and the Spanish Arch, or even make the short trip out to Salthill and enjoy the beach and this coastal town.


The Philippines and Thailand - the Philippines is being tipped as a travel hotspot for 2011. This would be a great stop off if you are one of the lucky ones planning a round the world trip or even if you want to try something different and have a couple of weeks to do so.

Thailand has always been a popular choice for those looking to experience another culture while relaxing and enjoying some of the world’s best beaches but this year really could see The Philippines give Thailand a run for its money.

The Philippines is very cheap, just like Thailand, and once you are there, you can get by easily on about 20 euro a day. And there are some beautiful beaches along the Zambales Coast and there are also a lot of islands along the coast so you can do some island hopping as there are plenty of ferry companies offering this service, and again it’s very cheap to do so.

Tallinn, Estonia - Tallinn was up to recently known for its party image and destination as a stag party haven. However, travel in 2011 sees this changing as the city has been selected as a 2011 European Capital of Culture. The bar is being raised on tourism in Tallinn for 2011 to embrace this role, making it an ideal holiday for 2011. Tallinn has a lot to see including some great museums, a waterfront promenade and a great arts venue.

Please comment below on any hot spots you have travelled this year or recommend!

katy&jack

blackberry downfall

In 2002 Blackberry was introduced by Canadian Manufacture: Research in Motion (known as RIM). When the Blackberry was first introduced it was quite successful and was very profitable. It attracted more of the business consumer who was intrigued by its capabilities to connect to the Internet and be able to send emails from anywhere in the world. BBM (blackberry messenger), which is an instant messaging system free between Blackberry users, was its number one favourable feature for consumers. Problems first began in the Eastern part of the world with security issues which lead to countries losing trust in RIM and Blackberries privacy and encrypted traffic. This was only the beginning of the problems that Blackberry was soon to face. Growth started to decline when other smart phone companies and manufacturers started to penetrate the consumer world. Competitors like the Google (Android) operating system and the Apple (iPhone) are crushing RIM’s profits.

RIM has made attempts to win back its consumes by introducing the latest Blackberry Touch but many industry insiders don’t think it will blow away the competition.

The statistics in the decline and a recent poll showing that 29% of Blackberry users have considered switching to the iPhone is not good news for RIM in future. Nor is the latest crash on October 11, 2011 that left many Blackberry consumers frustrated, annoyed, and dissatisfied.

Are you a loyal Blackberry customer or have you, like many others, switch to a different smart phone manufacturer? Please comment below...

thanks,

katy&jack

tis the season for pumpkins

Fall brings many festivities to many different cultures around the world. The PUMPKIN is a national fruit that is appreciated more during the fall than any other season. it is cultivated in North America, continental Europe, India and some other countries. A pumpkin which is normally one of the latest of the fruits to grow, arrives just in time for some of our greatest desires. Its large, round, orange coloured body creates a perfect canvas for carving art into. the tradition use of carving comes at Halloween time when people carve graphics relating to the holiday into the body of the pumpkin. Carvings range from faces, to witches, to zombies, and celebrities. Once the carvings are completed you place a candle inside to light it up at night! Fun for the kids and adults of any age! What are you carving this year? With or without carvings, pumpkins serve as a decorative accent to all of our homes during the fall season.



Well I could ramble off a list like Bubba does on Forest Gump about shrimp but here are a few tasty pumpkin meals we eat during the fall season:

Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin Spice teas and coffees
Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin Donuts and Muffins
Pumpkin Squash
Pumpkin Seeds



What are some of your favourite uses for a pumpkin? Please comment below!


katy&jack

Wing Suit Skydiving

Have you seen any of those recently trending youtube videos of base jumpers and skydivers in strange suits? As it turns out, these are called wing suits, and are the latest sport to hit the skies! These suits allow sky divers to control their movement through the air, and increase free fall time. Base jumpers even use these suits to glide along cliffs and mountain sides. The videos speak for themselves!

But what about the difficulty? Turns out these suits are much more difficult to use than they appear. Because of their restrictive design, only seasoned base jumpers and sky divers should attempt this sport. There is much more skill involved in controlling these suits, and can pose quite a risk to the unseasoned adrenaline junky. Regardless, you can't help but to be captivated by the footage these enthusiasts have recorded, the scenery is breath-taking and the sport itself looks very intense!

So, what do you think? would you be interested in soaring through the sky at record speeds? have you sky dove before? let us know in the comments below!

jack&katy