By Angela Szcezar, Web Editor ave you ever wanted to watch H: movie but didn’t want to be bothered by going all the way to the video store to pick one out? I felt that way last month, so I searched the Internet to find out if there was a Canadian version of Netflix, which is the popular DVD-by-mail service offered to U.S. residents. From what I could find, it turns out that Canada has three alternatives: Zip.ca, Canflix.com and Cinemail.ca. All of these companies offer a free 14-week trial period and offer similar services: you sign up to a subscription service (packages and pricing varies by company), you create a list of DVDs that you'd like to see, the DVDs are mailed to you along with a postage-paid return envelope, and you pop the DVDs into the mailbox when you’re done watching them. No due dates, no late fees! Each of the three above companies vary in terms of selection, but Zip.ca has the highest selection to choose from, offering over 72,000 DVD titles. You can do your own individual research to find out which company you'd like to try out, but since I chose Zip.ca the rest of this article will review that particular company. I’ve been a Zip subscriber for a month now and I’ve had a really good experience. Every time Zip has mailed out a DVD to me, I have always received it the very next day. Zip also gives you the ability to alert them when you return your DVD. They then mail you out a new disc within the next 24-hour period, which reduces the time you have to wait for your next disc. And if you enjoy rating movies and writing reviews, Zip has a loyalty program where you can accumulate points by doing just that (amongst other things). Out of the seven DVDs that I’ve rented thus far, one of them came to me scratched and unable to play. I was initially annoyed, Byars but Zip has a feature on the website to report problems such as this. I reported the problem and Zip mailed out a replacement copy of the disc as well as an additional complimentary rental. Another part of Zip (and any other DVD-by-mail service) is that there are no late fees. While Blockbuster did lower their rates to $3.99 for a two-day new release, they also brought back their late fees. My boyfriend and I used to take advantage of their “three new releases for $10” offerings, but with only two days to watch three movies, we found it difficult to return them by 12:00 p.m. Yeah, they’re now due by noon—not 11 p.m., and the late charges are $2 a day per movie! My subscription at Zip costs $10.95 a month, so even if I only rented three movies a month and returned them all on time, I still come out ahead by having a subscription with Zip. And since I have all the seasons of Heroes and Dexter to catch up on, I won’t have any trouble at all renting at least three DVD’s a month. To top it all off, I bought my boyfriend a PlayStation 3 for his birthday, and Blu- Ray discs are available at Zip.ca at no extra charge! Students aud money 7— Transportation on a budget By Trevor Dore, Opinions Editor raveling from one destination to "Tinste is part of almost everyone’s everyday life. Whether going to school, work, grocery shopping or out on a date, it is important to find an efficient and effective means of transportation. Transportation can be costly and consume a large chunk of a starving students’ income. Fortunately, there are multiple forms of transportation and it just a matter of finding the one that’s right for you. ¢ Pedestrian power: the next time you have to go somewhere that is relatively close by, implement the oldest, most basic form of transportation and walk. Walking is friendly for the environment and great your health—it won’t hurt your wallet either. In a nation that has a population with rising weight problems, it might do us all a little good to get out and walk. Keep in mind walking does take a little extra time. This time can be used to enjoy the fresh air of the surrounding environment and interact a little with your community. * Bicycle bonus: nothing beats flying by gridlocked traffic on two wheels. While cycling is a little bit more expensive then walking, as you have to buy a bike and some equipment, the overall costs of maintaining a bike are quite low. No insurance, no gas. Cities are increasingly incorporating bike lanes into their infrastructure plans and developments, which makes it easier to get on and go from one location to the next. The new SkyTrain cars provide more spaces for passengers with bikes, making it easier to travel further on two wheels. If you are planning to ride your bike, remember to load up on the safety gear and brush up on the rules of the road. * Terrific transit: public transit can be coupled with bicycling and walking to provide the ultimate low cost transportation. With a FastTrax sticker on your student card you can travel anywhere on a one zone adult fare. The stickers are available in the library at the New West Campus and in room 3100 at David Lam. Purchase the monthly fare for $73, it pays for itself in 10 uses and then you are good to go for the entire month. While taking transit does add to your commute time, it provides a good opportunity to catch up on homework, read a book or sleep. Now, if you’re still thinking $73 is a lot, let’s take a quick look at the imminent alternative... ¢ The callous car: offering freedom, convenience, comfort, and prestige, the car is often a very popular first choice; however, all is not good. If you are on a budget, a car is definitely not going to be your best option. Continually increasing gas prices are going to hit you on a regular basis. Insurance will cost you in the $200 a month range. You must also consider the initial cost; finding a reliable vehicle under $1000 is like finding a needle ina hay stack and you can be assured that inherent repairs will ensue. Cars also pose a serious risk to human health: accidents, road rage and a sedentary lifestyle are all factors, and don’t even get me started on environmental impacts. * Pool party: If you can’t avoid the single occupancy commute, try to carpool with someone who lives close to you. Sharing vehicle and fuel costs can drastically reduce the impact on your wallet and the environment. If can not find someone that lives close to you, take advantage of the many car pool services offered by groups like zipcar.com and ride-share. com. In the end, there are many ways to get around and keep some money in the bank. An ever-increasing population is going to result in increased single occupancy vehicle commute times. So, instead of investing in a car and supporting ICBC, buy a transit pass and invest in an efficient and effective transit system for the future.