Self-defense isn’t just a physical thing: it relates to your mind as well. While you can’t judo-chop lies and flim-flamery, you CAN go through your due diligence. Fake News – Part 2 Fact checking! Axios as a nice list of some of the initiatives out there to help sift the wheat from the chaff. https://www.axios.com/fake-news-initiatives-fact-checking-dfa6ab56-3295-4f1a-9b38-e61ca47e849f.html If you have library near by, you might be able to get a groovy bookmark to help you with this! What’s on there? A short little list to help you karate-kick fake news! Want to buy the bookmark for friends, your classroom, work place, or group? You can get it online at https://www.alastore.ala.org/content/fact-or-fiction-bookmark You can also download and print or buy ready-made posters with logical fallacies, cards with critical thinking skills, and more! https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/shop
Q&A Second Story is OPEN! (11/3/18 Part 1)
Your skill are one of your biggest assets! And, thanks to the wonders of your brain, you can learn new things, new skills, update things and more! Some people can learn great on their own, but some folks really benefit from time with a teacher. Welcome to Maui Computer Learning with Ben! Q&A now has Q&A Second Story! Its a classroom where you can learn more about a variety of subjects with one of the best teachers on Maui! Got a business or a non-profit? You can invest in your greatest asset: your people! https://www.inc.com/chad-halvorson/5-reasons-you-should-be-investing-in-employee-development.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2013/01/29/why-development-planning-is-important-neglected-and-can-cost-you-young-talent/#5c9bf9d56f63 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-reasons-keep-learning-all-time-deb-calvert https://www.inc.com/aj-agrawal/4-reasons-why-we-should-never-stop-learning.html
Stingrays! Security! Phones! YOU! (10/27/18 Part 1)
What is a Stingray? Its a fake cellphone tower that law enforcement can deploy to intercept cell phone signals. And frankly, if the bad guys have it, then the spies probably do. And we’re sure the organized crime bad guys do too in some places! Why Encryption? Maybe you don’t feel you’re important enough to worry about this sort of thing, but our elected officials do. And some of the things they could/should be doing you can do too! What to learn more about Virtual Private Networks? Go to https://thatoneprivacysite.net/ Want to encrypt your phone? Best check with your smartphone’s manufacturer!
You got to fight! For your right! To fiiiiiiiiix thangs! (10/27/18 Part 2)
You buy something, its yours, right? Common sense? Well, not quite. “Says who” you ask? Well, Apple and John Deer come to mind. Right to Repair gets a boost! First off, you’ll want to visit https://hawaii.repair.org/ So, there’s a movement fighting for your Right to Repair. There was a big win via the Library of Congress approving an exemption the the Digital Millennium Copyright Act allowing you to circumvent (“break”) the digital rights management of certain types of devices. https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/10/26/us-copyright-office-says-circumventing-drm-repair-certain-electronics-including-phones-smart-speakers-now-legal/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/10/feds-say-its-ok-to-jailbreak-alexa/ https://gizmodo.com/its-now-legal-to-hack-drm-to-repair-your-own-devices-1830002757 On a side note: there’s even an exemption that’s been made for online games that have shut down. Its really interesting, and quite relevant when you consider how many games are online only now! US Library of Congress grants DMCA exception for preserving online games You might remember Sam was a fan of City of Heroes, so this is pretty cool for him.
“I am a red-blooded [insert country] just like you!” (10/20/18 Part 1)
So, Eastern European trolls are keeping busy. How busy? Very. And they’re possibly expanding! Trolls are a-Trollin’ So, elections 2018 and movie season… what fun for the trolls!
Security? It has us on PINs and needles! (10/20/18 Part 2)
Personal Identification Numbers (or PINs) are a part of modern life. Using an ATM, a debit card at the store, and unlocking your phone all use PINs. So, do you need a good one? Heck yeah you do! Not just for protecting your stuff, but legally as well! Passwords! – Part 2 https://www.thebalance.com/pin-number-definition-and-explanation-315344 https://www.inc.com/will-yakowicz/why-biometrics-are-bad-for-your-constitutional-rights.html https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/12/16298192/apple-iphone-face-id-legal-security-fifth-amendment https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/01/court-rules-against-man-who-was-forced-to-fingerprint-unlock-his-phone/
Super Spy or Super False Alarm? (10/6/18 Part 1)
According to a story from Bloomberg, Amazon and Apple have bad computer parts with super-duper spy bits in them. The motherboard maker, Super Micro, denied it. Likewise, Amazon and Apple denied it as well. In the meantime Bloomberg stands by its story. Bloomberg and the Chip So, what’s the scoop? What’s our take? Is this feasible? We discuss and opine in this hour!
LD cut the cable TV cord! (9/22/18 Part 1)
Our beloved LD Reynolds has cut his cable TV cord! Whaaaaaat? Cutting Cable TV We talk about what his bill was, what it is now, and what he’s doing instead of cable TV. Is it streaming all the time? Any broadcast TV? Is he just at the library day in and day out?
Cord cutting is great, but don’t forget your NETWORK! (9/22/18 Part 2)
So, you cut the cord, what else is there? Well, you need the internet obviously! Networks, and Updating Them You’re going to want to make sure your home network is up to snuff for streaming, gaming, downloading, uploading, and more! Going to have guests? Got kids? Trying to save data on your cellular plan? All these things matter!
Today is a palindrome! Oh, and we have a winner! (8/18/18 Part 2)
Our friends at the Kahului Officemax/OfficeDepot have given us a fantastic prize: a Linksys AC3150 wireless router! Its fast, its powerful, its perfect for high-traffic homes and businesses. August Viewer Mail! – Part 2 And today we’re giving it away! Did you win?