Kevin’s Stories and Columns

Posted By admin on July 7, 2009

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Tags: antivirus, bitdefender, tech, windows

Posted By admin on July 7, 2009

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Posted By admin on July 7, 2009

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Posted By admin on May 6, 2009

NOTE: I am aware that today is May 6 and this event happened on May 5. The story was printed in the Lethbridge Herald in advance of the event, I am simply posting it to my site as an example of my work.

18 singers, drummers, and dancers from Soweto, South Africa are bringing their unique performance, titled ‘Memeza Africa’ to Lethbridge. The show features African and Canadian music combined with traditional African rhythms and dance.

They will perform at the Immanuel Lutheran Church (on the westside) on Tuesday, May 5.

The group was put together by Alberta singer and songwriter Holly Wright, and provides a wonderful cultural experience with fascinating stories.

Memeza Africa was created by Wright’s determination to re-record her song “The World Shall Love Again” while she was living in South Africa.  She collaborated with Jimmy Mulovhedzi and together, through their mutual passion for the song, decided to bring their cultures together through music. This ultimately led to the Memeza Africa, according to www.memezaafrica.org.

Memeza Africa has toured Western Canada before with sold-out shows, and has had a terrific response from audiences, including thunderous applause and people weeping with emotion.

The ensemble features singing and incredible dancing with traditional African drums and acoustic guitar in a very unique blend of style and sound.

The resilience and spirit of the people helped them overcome difficulties in their lives, and brought them together, making Soweto the home of South African freedom music, the website says.

They have shared stages with Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela, KD Lang, Quincy Jones, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and performed at the FIFA confederation Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The performances are not simply for entertainment sake, as they convey important messages on what life is like in Soweto, such as post-apartheid experiences, and the huge impact of HIV-AIDS in South Africa.

By supporting and enjoying the show, audiences are providing income to the performers, and as a result, their families back home in South Africa. The website also makes a point to mention that the the income that the show provides for each performer directly is shared among all family and extended family members.

For more information, call Carlene Shaw at 780-940-9043.

Category: Lethbridge Herald, Stories | No Comments »
Tags: lethbridge, Lethbridge Herald, memeza africa, news

Posted By admin on May 6, 2009

Most people use Internet Explorer, which is built into the Windows operating system, to surf the internet, but there is a better and more secure choice, Mozilla Firefox, and it’s gaining in popularity, and the best part is that Firefox, like many web browsers, is completely free.

Computers have come down in price, and as more computers enter our homes, users are becoming more aware of the different and potentially better software they can use, instead of always sticking who what they’re used to.

“Firefox will block many websites from trying to install spyware and other mal-ware from getting onto your computer. It is not prone to the ActiveX security flaws that Internet Explorer (IE) and other IE based browser are subject to,” says Dwayne Harapnuik, manager of educational technology at Lethbridge College, in a blog post.

Many malicious websites are built to take advantage of security problems with Internet Explorer, and although Microsoft releases security fixes for the browser each almost every month, hackers are always working on new ways to use Internet Explorer to access users’ computer for personal gain.

Mozilla Firefox releases security fixes almost as soon as vulnerabilities are discovered, because the browser is produced by trusted developers across the world, not within a single company like Microsoft.

Other features in Firefox include tabbed browsing, which admittedly is also in every other web browser these days. Firefox also has a very effective pop-up blocker.

“I just think that it’s easier to navigate, and I find that Internet Explorer freezes a lot. I use it on my laptop, and I have a lot of problems with it, it’s always not responding,” said Lisa Mitchell, a second-year nursing student at Lethbridge College.

Firefox is also available for Apple’s Mac OS X operating system, as an alternative to its built-in browser, Safari.

“I never use [Safari],” explained Vanessa Wall, a second-year nursing student at Lethbridge College, who says she only uses Mozilla Firefox.

Most people use the default settings in the programs they use, and don’t bother installing add-ons, and although they might not improve your productivity, they can be incredibly convenient to have.

“There are thousands of add-ons to choose from and with over 30 add-ons on my system. This is perhaps one the most important personal reason to use Firefox-you can make it do exactly what you want or need it to do,” says Dwayne Harapnuik, manager of educational technology at Lethbridge College, on the website http://easierway.ca.

Two such add-ons are Greasemonkey, which Harapnuik does a wonderful job of explaining.
“This user script manager allow me to use a variety of Greasemonkey scripts that help me enhance the functionality of Google Gmail and Google Calendar and so much more,” explains Harapnuik in a blog post. Download Helper “makes it possible to download youtube videos and many other formats of video from the web–I only do this when I will be presenting in a location where there is no guarantee of  broad band internet access.”

Another plug-in Harapnuik is enthusiastic about is Integrated Gmail.

“Gmail and Google apps are fundamental to the way that I work, so being able to view my Google Calendar (Reader, Notebook, Groups etc.) in a collapsible view directly below my gmail (rather than in a tabbed window) make Google apps even more efficient,” says Harapnuik.

“If you have never used anything but IE than you really need to give Firefox a try. Once you have used it and customized it to do what you need or want, you will find it really can make your life a bit easier.”

Originally posted 2009-03-06 19:37:03. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Tags: firefox, internet explorer, Lethbridge College, mozilla, safari, tech

Posted By admin on May 6, 2009

Since there isn’t an edition of the Endeavour coming out this week, due to Remembrance Day, I won’t be posting any new stories this week. There wasn’t school on Monday or Tuesday. Next week, I will post two stories, a column, and a news feature (which may or may not appear in the Endeavour at some point). I’m gonna be a busy guy.

Originally posted 2008-11-12 02:03:17. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Tags: Lethbridge College, Stories

Posted By admin on May 6, 2009

With more people, especially the younger crowd, turning to the internet for most of their education and information needs, some may wonder if choosing to listen online is hurting local radio.

It seems local stations providing online audio streams isn’t hurting local listenership at all, in fact, it’s helped boost it to unprecedented levels.

“Ratings are showing listeners are near historic levels,” said Rod Schween, general manager at Country 95 and B93 in Lethbridge. “[internet-based radio] can’t provide what we provide locally…news, sports, weather.”

Radio stations have been streaming their music online for years, but not without controversy. Royalties and copyright are a big hurdle many local stations are struggling with, but new laws are making it easier.

“Initially, streaming [brought] lots of questions about copyright in Canada, so we stopped for three to four years. [There were] concerns about advertising and revenue. We started streaming again last summer,” said Schween.

Potential new laws might force local radio stations to pay to stream music in addition to paying revenues from traditional radio, something the radio industry in Canada is concerned about, as the royalties might be backdated, potentially costing a lot of money.

With more people using the internet at work and at home, streaming online has become a necessity. Though local stations don’t seem too worried about competing with internet-based streaming music sites.

Schween explains that his stations (Country 95 and B93) aren’t trying to compete with internet radio, but simply provide another way for listeners to tune into the stations, and that the website’s internet stream has been very well received, and they have also gained listeners from around the world.

“An internet stream is a must. It’s giving the audience the option to listen to what they want in the workplace (and at home),” says Bruce Andrei, program director at The Lounge radio station in Lethbridge. “We want to pull in younger audiences, but we’re still going after [adults].”

A big challenge for local radio stations across North America (and potentially the world) has been providing listeners with the ability to easily start their web browser, go to a radio station’s website, and easily tune in. In recent years, as technologies mature for streaming audio, providing users with a common player that just works is becoming invaluable.
“[We] need to have an easy-to-use player (which local stations do). Make sure you’re using Internet Explorer and have the Flash plug-in installed on your computer,” says Rod Schween, general manager at County 95 and B93.

Most households and workplaces use Microsoft Windows, which has Internet Explorer built in. It’s very easy to download the Adobe Flash player, though some workplaces won’t allow Flash to run due for security reasons (some websites use it for malicious purposes; some games use it, too).

For those in the rural areas, or in workplaces that have poor radio reception, internet radio is a wonderful thing. For those outside of the signal range, or for those living in other parts of the world, providing the streaming audio allows stations to expand their audience worldwide.

“People all around the world are listening to our hockey games. [People living in] Mexico, we even have listeners in the United States,” Andrei says. “People care about what’s happening locally, the combination of music and [local] topical information.”

Originally posted 2009-02-28 20:06:53. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Tags: internet radio, lethbridge, Lethbridge College, radio, tech, the endeavour

Posted By admin on May 6, 2009

Major viruses seem to be contained to a select few hospitals across Canada, but Mary Coles, Lethbridge College’s head nurse, says that doesn’t mean people aren’t getting sick.

The latest bug affected the Vancouver area earlier this year, including hospitals, prisons, daycares, and in other parts of the country in some cases. The bug, called MRSA, has different strains, and some cases are resistant to antibiotics.

“The [staphylococcus] infection, which usually causes skin infections that may look like pimples or boils, can lead to pneumonia, bloodstream infections or surgical wound infections,” according to a National Post story.

But, in the United States, the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated last fall that severe infections from the bacteria killed about 19,000 people in 2005, taking more lives than AIDS.”

Staff in Lethbridge College’s health clinic insist that a flu shot is necessary to prevent the spread of some of the most common influenza strains, but nurses aren’t seeing the response they’d like.

“I don’t think we (at the college) saw a huge number of people last year, says Coles, “but [this year], prior to the flu shot, we had a lot of students who were really sick with upper respiratory problems, more than in years past.”

“The flu shot is not 100% effective, but it prevents the complications that could cause death.”

“The college buys it for the staff, [but] only 150 out of 1500 [staff] have taken advantage.

Of the three strains going around this year, two have been brought over from Australia, and the other is from Florida.

“The two “A” viruses are severe, both are from Brisbane,” explained Coles.

How do you prevent from getting sick? Boost your immune system by eating healthier and taking better care of yourself. You can also take vitamins or nasal sprays to help get rid of cold symptoms.”

“You’ll be sick for a week, recover for a week, return to work or school for a week, then comes the relapse, which [will be] another week off school, can you afford to miss three weeks?”

Originally posted 2008-11-07 01:14:46. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Tags: cold, flu, flu shot, Lethbridge College, MRSA

Posted By admin on May 6, 2009

You may receive a new credit card in the mail to replace the one you have. It will require an extra layer of authentication, and it will be more secure and help prevent fraud, thanks to the technology built into them.

The same technology has been in use in Europe, specifically France, for nearly two decades, further encouraging Canada to follow suit.

For the last several years, credit cards have only required you to swipe, show identification, and sign in order to purchase something, and most places don’t even check for ID.

“I work in retail, and when I ask to see ID with the card, [people] thank me,” said Jenna Turner, a nursing student at Lethbridge College.

The new cards eliminate the need to swipe, and for a signature, replacing it with a computer chip that communicates securely with credit card company servers. The process verifies the card belongs to you, all you have to do is enter a PIN.

“You swipe it first, then you place the card in the [slot] under the keypad, it reads the [computer] chip at that point,” said Tyson Wiebe, a general studies student who has noticed people using them for the past six months or so.

The cards are not in wide circulation yet, as none of the 20 or so random students asked had one, but nearly everyone has heard of them, and are happy about the improved security.

“It’s a little harder to find out someone’s PIN then to sign [for them],” said Katelyn Perry, a General Studies student at the college.

Some of the newer cards still have the magnetic strip, though they will be phased out. According to an article on the on the website for the Vancouver Times-Colonist, the new cards act in much the same way debit cards do, at least for the PIN.

Not everyone sees the benefit, and some are quite happy with the way things work right now.

“Anyone can see that PIN. I’d prefer to keep the signature,” said Catherine Dessert, a student at Lethbridge College.

The entire reason for the change in how the cards work is to help reduce the $300 million incurred annually in fraud across Canada.

All merchant terminals must be upgraded by 2015, making it a multi-year rollout, which should give customers ample time to get the new cards.

Originally posted 2008-11-07 01:16:24. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Category: Stories | No Comments »
Tags: computer chip, credit cards, Lethbridge College, security, tech

Posted By admin on May 6, 2009

[polldaddy poll=1061578]

Originally posted 2008-10-31 09:14:42. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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