Kevin’s Stories and Columns

Originally posted 2009-07-07 00:34:00. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Raphaelle deGroot wants to give new meaning to the countless items people have stored in their closets, under their beds, and in their storage rooms. In her new exhibit, The Burden of Objects, deGroot wants the community to bring in such items to the Southern Alberta Arts Gallery in Lethbridge.

“They make it disappear, they don’t use it anymore. Somehow, they haven’t gotten around to throwing it out,” says deGroot.

The same people are invited to join workshops in which participants will collaborate and discover new uses for those everyday items.

“We [will] engage in unrehearsed games that lead us to seeing them in a different way, like sorting them, dismantling them, and looking at their parts, seeing them in association with others, [and] inventing new stories about these objects,” says deGroot.

“Eventually, I will leave Lethbridge with these objects; the community’s burden will become mine. Maybe I’ll do that in other cities, too; this really has started here, [an] idea born in Lethbridge.”

deGroot has been in countries throughout Europe, and across Canada doing similar projects, all of which require community participation, and that’s by design, it’s how she works as an artist.

“I’ve travelled a lot, because all of these projects bring me to lots of different places. I did a project in a textile factory in Italy. I exhibited in Italy, England, [and France], I speak all three languages,” explains deGroot.

deGroot has been a professional artist for more than 10 years. She finished her Bachelor of Arts and her Masters at the University of Quebec in 1997 in Montreal, where she’s from.

Since then, she’s gone where people and places have inspired her to create her exhibits.  She never knows exactly how each project will end, but in her research, she always knows how it will start.

“I never know how they’re going to end. It’s step by step, like how people are going to respond to what I’m asking them [during a project],” deGroot explains.

When asked what brings her to each community, deGroot says it’s all about networking and connecting with people and with places. It’s not a particular inspiration.

“It’s not the fact that they invite me and I come. It’s a matter of how do I live while I’m here,” says deGroot.
Each project costs money, and so does each plane ticket, not to mention the cost of living in each city.

To solve this, deGroot finds a job within the community to pay for the cost of each project, and in the case of her current Lethbridge project, she was able to obtain a grant to cover her costs of living.

“We’re arranged with the University, [which] is kind of a partner in this project. While I’d be here at the gallery, [I will] also be teaching a course. So, I’m more linked to the community, more grounded,” says deGroot.

“As you might know, the gallery here in closing and they’re renovating. They’re opening, in March, a temporary space. They have this year coming up on exhibitions and projects that deal with this idea of renovation, renewal, and transformation,” says deGroot about why she was invited to show her exhibit at the gallery.

deGroot’s exhibit, The Burden of Objects, will open in the Southern Alberta Art Gallery’s temporary downtown Lethbridge location in early March. The temporary gallery is located at 324-5th Street south (the 3rd Street location is under renovation).

Interested participants can bring their objects in a bag or box, where they will be given a questionnaire to fill out about each object, along with a short description about the item.

People can participate with their objects on March 18 and April 1st from 5pm to 7pm. Everyone in the community can join in. There are no fees to participate.

Originally posted 2009-02-28 20:14:45. Republished by Old Post Promoter

With the introduction of the Blu-Ray format a couple of years ago, consumers have been given the choice of whether they want to continue to watch regular DVDs, or pay the extra money for the better picture and sound that Blu-Ray offers.

It’s important to note that just buying a Blu-Ray player doesn’t give you the high-quality picture and sound, you need a TV that supports it, and audio equipment if you want the best sound.

“You need a TV with 1080p. [If you don’t have one], you won’t notice the difference. If you’re a stickler for sound, you can buy the speakers,” says Rob Horlacher, a supervisor at the southside Blockbuster video store in Lethbridge.

Those who want the full experience can talk to an expert at Future Shop or other electronics store to ensure they purchase the proper speaker setup.

Many argue that DVDs work just fine, and have a hard time justifying the purchase of a Blu-Ray player or the discs.

“I just get the regular DVDs, [they] work just fine, [and] I don’t have the player,” said Charlotte Etches, a student at Lethbridge College.

Blu-Ray players are not cheap, as those who choose to pay for them can look to hand over $200 or more. The good news is they do play regular DVDs as well. The bad news is consumers can’t enjoy the full experience without having a decent home theatre setup to enjoy the advanced technology.

It seems age might have something to do with whether people choose to invest in Blu-Ray movies or not.

“It depends on the age bracket. [Those between] 30 and 50 are more inclined to rent Blu-Ray movies. After 50, people don’t really care,” says Rob Horlacher, a supervisor at the southside Blockbuster video store in Lethbridge.

Horlacher also points out the obvious in saying poor college students aren’t likely to spend the money on Blu-Ray, and will likely stick with DVDs, since it’s ‘good enough’, which we confirmed after asking a few students on the Lethbridge College campus.

“I walk right by the Blu-Ray [discs] to the DVDs, because I don’t have the desire, nor the money,” said Chris Smith, a student at the college.

One argument that can be made is that just because the industry is moving forward with new formats and technology, that doesn’t mean all consumers are ready, or willing, to abandon what they have for the latest and greatest thing.

“I’m used to DVDs. I’m not really into the new technology. [I have] no desire to get [a Blu-Ray player],” says Hanna Graves, a college student in the Child and Youth Care program.

Another valid point is that consumers are often weary of how long a new technology will be around, since things in the industry move so quickly.

“[Some people] wait until [new technology] is around for a while; make sure it’s not just some trend,” says Stephanie Rush, a nursing student at the college. “If I had the money, I still don’t care about [high definition]. Eventually, everyone will have [it]; it’s not a necessity, you get it because everyone has it.”

Originally posted 2009-01-26 18:11:20. Republished by Old Post Promoter

I will be posting three stories on Friday and a column and an editorial by Monday.

Thank you for your patience, as the campus newspaper took two weeks off  (including this week, not next) due  to Reading Week and this week being dedicated to our annual campus magazine, Expressions, created entirely by students.

So, come on back later in the day on Friday!

Originally posted 2009-02-25 01:37:25. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Stress, crowds, public speaking, a job interview, or being overwhelmed by too many homework assignments can all trigger panic attacks in some people. Although they are physically harmless, they are very bothersome to those that experience them.

The health clinic located at Lethbridge College sees many students and even some staff members who come in complaining of anxiety or stress related symptoms.

“We most definitely people, students and staff that come in here,” says Mary Coles, head nurse at Lethbridge College. “A lot of times, they’re presenting with some chest pain, and they’re having trouble breathing and they’re hyperventilating, and they’re very panicked.”

Coles also says that the first thing the nurses and doctors at the clinic do is rule out anything organic, such as the possibility of a heart attack, and they will check for vital signs, putting patients on oxygen and check for a variety of different symptoms.

After ruling out things such as a heart attack, they focus on calming the affected person down.

“We have to then calm them down, and one of the very best [ways] to do that is to do a series of three deep breaths,” says Coles. “You take a breath in very, very deeply, but when you’re blowing it out, you have to have a lot of resistance in your lips, like you’re blowing up a balloon, so [it will take longer to exhale].”

Nurses will get the patients to imagine themselves in an environment that makes them happy in order to slow their breathing.

“Having them do visualisations [of] things that, in the past, have been a place of calm and content for them, Looking up at the sky, seeing a flock of geese, watching the clouds float,” says Coles.

Symptoms of a panic attack can include shortness of breath, sweating, shaking, chills or hot flashes, tightening of the chest, dizziness, tingling, and it may feel like a person’s heart is jumping out of their chest. They often come on suddenly and without much warning. Some people worry that they may be having a heart attack or a stroke, which is why panic attacks are so frightening.

If panic and anxiety symptoms keep reoccurring, people may need to try medications that can help stop or at least lessen the impact of anxiety and panic symptoms.

“One of the most common is Effexor, it’s [an] anti-anxiety, and a bit of an anti-depressant. [It] seems to be one of the better ones,” says Coles.” Ativan can make you feel quite sleepy, it’s [for crisis situations], it’s quick acting.”

A panic attack can last between 5-10 minutes.

According to AnxietyBC.com, “people with a phobia of dogs might have a panic attack whenever they are near a dog. But in this case, the panic attack is expected, and the person is afraid of the dog, not the panic attack.”

Everyone feels anxious from time to time, and often a sense of panic as well depending what kind of situation they are in, be it working last minute on a homework assignment, or rushing around town to get errands done. These feelings are normal, but it’s when they are too much for a person to bear that they become a problem.

“Panic disorder, in particular, will affect about 3.7% of Canadians in their lifetime (just under a million people) and affects 1 to 2% in a given year. On average, it appears in a person’s mid-20s, and like most other anxiety disorders, is treated more commonly in women than in men,” explains heretohelp.bc.ca.

Originally posted 2009-02-06 17:51:25. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Those looking to wish someone or a business a Happy Easter can send baby chicks to warm the hearts and put a smile on the faces of others, in an exchange for a donation.

It’s all in an effort to raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, which uses the money raised to support its programs. The campaign kicks off today.

“We go into the business and say ‘you’ve been sent an Easter greeting,” says Rick Austin, executive director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Lethbridge. “(The sender) wants to put a smile on your face, and for a donation, we will pass your greeting on to someone else. People can give any amount they feel comfortable with.”

Austin says once enough volunteer drivers are found, the promotion almost takes care of itself. Anyone with three hours to spare for the cause, or those looking to send a special Easter message, is asked to contact the office at 403-328-9355.

Although 50 baby chicks were purchased for the fundraiser, only 25 will be on the road at any given time. The chicks will be kept warm during their travels, and are kept fed and given water. The SPCA has given the promotion the thumbs-up and the chicks will be sent to a farm once it is concludes.

“This campaign is to help us market ourselves better so we can get more mentors for our children, that’s what it’s all about,” says Austin.

The Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization matches young people with responsible, caring adults who mentor and spend quality time with them. Currently, they have matched 75 young people, ranging from ages 6 to 16, with carefully selected, mature adults, and approximately 40 children remain on the waiting list.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters have three different programs available to volunteer mentors, which allows adults with different schedules to donate some of their time to spending time with kids who can use a friend.

“One is a traditional program, where they meet with the child two to three times a week after school,” says Austin. “We have the in-school mentoring program, where they meet for an hour a week at the school with the child, (and) we have an occasional meeting program.”

“If the mentor feels like they don’t have the time, we can meet with the child for once-a-month, at three to four hours. The child stays on the waiting list, but at the least the child does get contact.”

Currently, the wait time for a Big Brother or Big Sister is around 600 days, which they believe is too long of a wait.

Originally posted 2009-04-11 21:17:49. Republished by Old Post Promoter

The most desired phone on the market is the iPhone, even though it’s one of the most expensive. It started off as a toy for geeks, but with improvements, and third party applications now available, it is growing in popularity, and for good reason, it’s actually easy to use.

My parents bought me an iPhone for a graduation and early birthday present, which caught me completely by surprise. My parents are not tech-savvy, but they have seen the sleek and effective advertisements, and it seemed like a logical gift, considering I’ll use it every single day.

I have had a few cell phones since moving to Lethbridge. I started off with Virgin Mobile, than moved to Rogers. Two things I don’t like about most cell phones are the small screen, and the fact each model of cell phone seems to have its own operating system, most of which I’ve found to be a pain to use.

My favourite cell phone (non-Smart Phone) that I’ve used is the Nokia 6085. It’s easy to text with, the speakerphone works really well, the camera works well, and although it has a small screen, it’s very easy to navigate through menu options.

When I go to pick a cell phone, I find myself forced to research each phone beforehand, hoping to find a demo online of its operating system, or to see if keys make text messaging easy. The way I see it, this should be unnecessary. All cell phones should all be easy to use, and they’re not.

I’m not saying the iPhone is perfect. You can’t copy and paste, you can’t customize the phone to your liking very much, and if you’re using the regular cellular network, the signal strength isn’t the greatest, though it will default to the 3G network if it’s available.

Since the second-generation iPhone was released in June 2008, it added GPS, Wi-Fi, and the ability to use countless third party applications, and the design of the iPhone was made thinner and more appealing. These additions made it a must-have device, as it was no longer just a phone, but quite literally a handheld computer built into a phone.

One of the best factors about the iPhone, in my opinion, is that there is barely a learning-curve. Once you start playing with it, it becomes effortless to use.  It doesn’t come with a manual, because frankly, it doesn’t need one.

I have found the battery life to be superb. I also love the fact that no matter game I’m playing or application I’m using, when a phone call comes in, a screen pops up with a green ‘answer’ button, and when you hang up, you’re back to what you were doing.

One thing I did have to research online was how to delete applications that I’ve decided I don’t want. Turns out, you need only press and hold on one of the applications for all of the icons to stat shaking, then click the “X” on one, and press ‘delete’ to confirm.

I want to make it clear, I’m not an Apple or Microsoft fan boy, I just appreciate products that are easy to use and make life simpler, regardless of who makes them. If paying a little more to get a better experience makes my life easier, and I can afford it, it’s worth it to me.

Originally posted 2009-03-17 01:11:51. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Alex Gallagher is bent out of shape by Canadian Dream at Bully's Grandstands

(I actually did this story in September, but completely forgot to post it to this blog)

At the end of the final round, the crowd was yelling, and demanding that their favorite wrestler, Zero or Adrian Walls, make the finishing blow to win the coveted belt.

The room was abuzz with emotion and tension, and the energy was incredible. The fans were focused through the controlled chaos both on the stage and off.

One thing the fans made clear was how entertaining and addictive this sport really is. Every fan interviewed made it a habit to keep coming back every time there was a show.

“I’ve been into wrestling for about 20 years. I enjoy myself; one thing I like is the involvement with the fans, being part of the show. I enjoy every minute of it!” Said Jamie King.

Both the young and old are fans. One father brought his son to watch, and it was hard to tell who was more excited.

A grandmother even brought her grandson, “my grandson’s 10, and “He’s crazy about wrestling. I think it’s going to be a great show!” said Marlene Sterba.

One attendee, Ryan Stafford, explained it’s a great way to get people together and to have fun.

“I bring all my friends here. You have a good time, and get a little rowdy!”

A great advantage to having a local venue like this is that some of the fans know the wrestlers personally.

“I know most of the guys.” When asked how long he’s been coming, “since it started, haven’t missed one yet!” said Aaron Grobes.

“We come for the entertainment. My boy came here once before, and he loves it!” said Jim Logodin. When the son was asked what his favorite part was, he exclaimed, “Royal Rumble matches!”

Of course, some fans, if not most, have a favorite wrestler, and they have an interest in following their careers. In fact, one wrestler’s family was in attendance.

“We came to watch Deryk Cross, so entertaining. We’ll be coming back on [October] the 22^nd, as long as he’s here!” said Lynnette Sloan.

We talked to the guy that runs the show since it started 3 years ago, Tim Strom. He’s also the majority owner.

“It’s our first time here at Bullys South Grandstands. It’s kinda like a new beginning for us. We’re excited to be here. We’re trying to get our audience to follow us over, and hopefully create a new audience as well,” Strom said.

Strom is also a wrestler in the shows, his stage name is Stormbringer. In fact, his performance in the last match of the night was a memorable stunt of the night. Stormbringer was barred from ringside, and was duct taped to a chair as he watched Adrian Walls and Zero battle it out. He could do nothing to help, which was very difficult for him, especially when Walls knocked his chair over.

As one fan, Darren Lewry, noted, “I don’t like Adrian Walls, [He’s] very arrogant.” In fact, the people we talked to are hoping Stormbringer wins the battle in October. Though Walls is obviously popular with a lot of fans, since he’s on nearly every poster for PZW Wrestling.

If you’ve never been to a live event, particularly wrestling, be sure to attend the next Powe rZone Wrestling live event on October 22.

Originally posted 2008-10-31 04:54:43. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Smart phones are changing the cell phone market with their abundance of features and intuitive designs. They are handheld computers, and are designed for more than just making a phone call.

The most popular smart phone is Apple’s iPhone, originally released in 2006, and recently upgraded last June. Although expensive, at $199, the main issue consumers have is the price of the data plans that must be purchased to surf the net, or download files.

Rogers was the first to introduce the iPhone to Canada, but in the first month of its release, consumers made it clear that the data plans weren’t affordable, and the pressure forced Rogers to reduce its prices. To find out more, visit http://tinyurl.com/cbcrogers or http://tinyurl.com/canadaiphone.

Another issue with the iPhone is that Rogers forces buyers into a three-year contract in order to get one, though that is becoming more common with most carriers, according to many students.
Few students using iPhones, Blackberrys or Windows Mobile phones due to the cost, but they’re out there, and consumers seem to like them.

“When people ask to see my iPhone, I actually warn them that if they are not willing to spend the money, they should not look at it. They’re just so easy to use,” said Dwayne Harapnuik, manager of educational technology at the college.

Many college employees are using Blackberrys and iPhones to communicate, store their contacts information and email.

“The Blackberry is the smart phone of choice currently,” said Harapnuik. “With the release of the iPhone, we are starting to see more requests for it.”

The biggest benefit of smart phones is that they bundle the features of many devices into just one. Instead of carrying an mp3 player for music, a laptop for the web, and a PDA for GPS, smart phones consolidate it all into one device.

Another benefit to smart phones is that they can use Wi-Fi (public wireless internet access) networks, which means customers can avoid paying steep data charges to a cell phone provider, according to Harapnuik.

There are many options for consumers who want a smart phone, The iPhone is just one choice. Others are the Blackberry Bold, the Samsung Instinct, and the just-released T-Mobile G1, which has the Google phone operating system.

Before you get a smart phone, do some research, find out which phone is best for you. There’s no point paying for a phone with features you’ll never use.

To see this story or my column, visit www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca/endeavour/ or www.thedigitaldistraction.com.

Originally posted 2008-10-09 17:27:10. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Students applying to a number of colleges and universities in Alberta will soon be able to save time and effort by completing a single online form, instead of having to fill out a different form for every institution.

The new system, a partnership between Alberta’s post-secondary schools and the Government of Alberta, can be accessed by going to ApplyAlberta.ca. The online application is not available yet, but it will provide a secure online application and transcript transfer system by the fall school term.

The University of Lethbridge will join the University of Calgary and Grant MacEwan in the pilot project this spring. All 21 publicly funded institutions in Alberta will join the project this fall, allowing all students to use the system to apply for the Winter 2010 term.

The registrar at the U of L claims the new system will only take 20 minutes to complete, compared to the tedious and time-consuming task of completing multiple applications for different institutions, which take 10 to 15 minutes each.

There will be no cost to use the website, although each institution will still charge an application processing fee. The system will also provide the ability to transfer high school transcripts at no charge. At present, there is a one-time charge of $10 for that service.

According to Leslie Lavers, associate vice-president and registrar at the U of L , the system has been designed for ease of use and navigation and it will replace the existing online application system.

“One parent indicated that it was ’so slick’ he wanted to to apply, too! Another student indicated that the online process was very easy to follow, especially the U of L section,” said Debi Sandul, the U of L’s associate registrar and project leader for the ApplyAlberta system.

In the future, features will be added to the service, including information on financial assistance and transfer credit information.

Originally posted 2009-04-11 20:56:42. Republished by Old Post Promoter