Q&A Presents: Maui Online!: Recent Episodes
Q and A, Inc.
We’re finally going to tackle the very thorny A.I. subject this week.
A.I. – Part 1
A.I. has become a buzzy catchall term for applications that perform complex tasks that once required human input. From communicating to end users, to playing chess, to making movies, A.I. has been a tech that’s been with us longer than most people know.
A.I. media headlines are dominated by news about A.I. art, but there’s also unprecedented progress in many widely disparate fields. Everything from videos to biology, programming, writing, translation, and more is seeing A.I. progress at the same incredible pace. The breakthroughs are all underpinned by a new class of A.I. models that are more flexible and powerful than anything that has come before. Because they were first used for language tasks like answering questions and writing essays, they’re often known as Large Language Models, or LLMs.
There’s a holy trinity in machine learning: models, data, and compute. Models are algorithms that take inputs and produce outputs. Data refers to the examples the algorithms are trained on. To learn something, there must be enough data with enough richness that the algorithms can produce useful output. Models must be flexible enough to capture the complexity in the data. And finally, there has to be enough computing power to run the algorithms.
Well, Graphic Card power brought computing power up to speed. Data, well, there’s plenty of that when you look at the Internet as a whole. The last part, Modelling, advanced due to a surprising source: attempting to translate between human languages. And from that set of translating models came ChatGPT, and a whole host of other LLM and A.I. programs.
Does that mean the computers are ‘thinking?’ Is it merely the number of connections that separates thinking from non-thinking? Is the I in A.I. really I? Certainly not yet. But Moore’s Law and further rapid advances certainly suggest such a thing may happen sooner that we think — or IT thinks. We’ll try touching on all this during our two hour show Saturday at Noon. You can also tune into the rebroadcast on Weds. on 1110AM, 96.7FM, KAOI. Podcasts are always available at our blog.
Photo by One Idea LLC on StockSnap
We continue our AI show!
A.I. – Part 2
We talk about ethics, concerns, impact, and more!
Want more reading? Well then, here we go!
- https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/02/dont-worry-about-ai-breaking-out-of-its-box-worry-about-us-breaking-in/
- https://www.neowin.net/editorials/microsoft-just-cant-seem-to-get-ai-chatbots-right/
- https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-reveals-more-about-prometheus-and-how-it-powers-the-new-bing/
- https://theweek.com/feature/briefing/1020909/how-ai-brought-back-the-internet-search-wars
- https://www.karencommins.com/2023/02/revoked-findaways-license-to-apple-for-machine-learning.html
- https://www.laurahorowitz.com/post/stop-spotify-from-stealing-your-intellectual-property
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/01/07/why-computer-assisted-humans-are-the-best-chess-players-and-what-that-means-for-technology-operations/?sh=67bda7d514e0
- https://www.tomshardware.com/news/ai-chip-layout-tool-has-helped-design-over-100-chips
- https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-announced-new-bing-search-and-edge-browser-with-openai-tech/
- https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/01/the-generative-ai-revolution-has-begun-how-did-we-get-here/
- https://www.coursera.org/articles/types-of-aihttps://www.oracle.com/artificial-intelligence/what-is-ai/
- https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/sci-fi-becomes-real-as-renowned-magazine-closes-submissions-due-to-ai-writers/
Superhero Vectors by Vecteezy
Meteors and asteroids and meteorites, oh my! We’re joined by Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute for Astronomy as well Tracey, our favorite librarian!
Rocks From Space!
For further reading?
- https://www.kplctv.com/2023/02/17/nasa-fireball-seen-south-texas-meteorites-hit-ground/
- https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/residents-asked-to-be-on-lookout-for-fallen-meteor-that-landed-in-ontario-1.6163932
- https://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/for-families/
Science!
Local Kids Make Good Science!
It’s not just for old people in lab coats and plans of world domination. Our local keiki are getting involved and doing well! Dr. Armstrong talks about the projects seen at the science & engineering fair! Let’s celebrate their work!
- https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2023/02/kamehameha-maui-baldwin-students-advance-to-international-science-fair/
- https://dailyastronomy.vercel.app/blog/two-supermassive-black-holes-are-expected-to-collide-within-next-3-years-and-we-will-watch-it-in-real-time
Email was one of the killer apps for the internet.
Email 101
Today, it’s still widely used for shopping, social media, checking in on the kids’ progress at school, registering for services, and even sending letters to friends or family. We go over some of the basics of this day-to-day tool!
- https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/
- https://www.techradar.com/news/best-email-provider
- https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/02/mozilla-plans-ground-up-ui-redesign-for-thunderbird-email-client-this-july/
Photo by Candace McDaniel on StockSnap
Internet Explorer is officially done and over with. However, its bones are still lingering in Windows.
IE11 Removal and Unintended Consequences
Microsoft is removing some of the remnants from the OS with patch coming on February 14th to take out a chunk. Programs that rely on those parts of Internet Explorer within Windows will start running into problems when they suddenly can’t find what they’re looking for.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_debt
- https://qz.com/2011408/some-companies-will-still-use-internet-explorer-after-its-retired
- https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/internet-explorer-11-desktop-app-retirement-faq/ba-p/2366549
- https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/security-risk/use-built-browser-quickbooks-desktop/
- https://www.diversifiedcomputer.net/blog/critical-alert-pop-up-quickbooks-end-support-for-quickbooks-browser/
- https://magazine.promomarketing.com/post/quickbooks-built-in-browser-replaces-internet-explorer/
And a quick story on the Chinese laser lightshow we got…
- https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvm9y5/green-lasers-sky-hawaii-chinese-satellite
Trap Vectors by Vecteezy
Be careful what you look for.
Search TRAPS
The bad guys know you want games, productivity software and other apps for your computer or phone. Well, guess what? They’ll put them online but make them into traps for you! But now? The way they’ll do it is by placing fake ads! On-no!
We talk about that and how to stay safe!
- https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/02/until-further-notice-think-twice-before-using-google-to-download-software/
Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on StockSnap
Got a new cable modem for home or work? Got it hooked up? Got it set up? Is it working yet? No? Did you get activated? Yes? What’s going on?
Connectivity 101
Sam found out the hard way. He did everything he was supposed to by the instructions (he even read them!), but to no avail. One quick call to Q&A he got directed in the right direction. So, what did he have to do? Well, we’ll talk about it!
Photo by Binyamin Mellish on StockSnap
Microsoft 2013 will be coming to end-of-support. It’s about 10 years old!
Office 2013’s expiration, what it may portend…
No more patches or updates. That’s a big deal! Are you going to update 2016 or Office 365? Or maybe move to something else? What’s right for you?
Have a debate!
- https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsofts-silent-update-checks-your-windows-pc-for-old-versions-of-office
- https://www.windowscentral.com/why-use-libre-office-over-microsoft-office
- https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/microsoft-word-versus-google-docs/
- https://www.neowin.net/editorials/microsoft-365-is-my-favorite-microsoft-product/
Looking for alternatives to buying full-lead Office? We have lists and alternatives!
- https://www.techradar.com/news/best-microsoft-office-alternative
- https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/dont-pay-word-5-reasons-use-office-online/
- https://alternativeto.net/software/microsoft-office-suite/
- https://www.makeuseof.com/reasons-apple-pages-better-word/
- https://www.libreoffice.org/
- https://www.openoffice.org/
- https://www.google.com/docs/about/
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365
Photo by Michal Kulesza from StockSnap
Batteries. It’s hard to imagine modern life without them. Our phones, cars, flashlights, and more rely on them. But what do you do when they give up the ghost and die?
Battery Disposal on Maui
Is throwing them away really the best option? We talk about that! And remember that Maui County and the state of Hawai’i has a lot of new officials you should contact!
- https://www.epa.gov/recycle
- https://www.mauicounty.gov/2529/Metals-Appliances-Tires-Batteries-Etc-Re
- https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-properly-dispose-of-batteries-4767171
- https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/how-to-dispose-of-batteries/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90124a115f1
- https://www.call2recycle.org/safety/faqs-resources/
Want better recycling options? Contact your reps!
- https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/legislature/legislators.aspx?chamber=H
- http://mauicounty.us/councilmembers/
Photo by Free Nature Stock on StockSnap
As we eagerly await a visit from our favorite astronomer we got started with appetizers!
Space Tidbits!
Snippets from the news of cool stuff happening in the worlds of space and astronomy!
- https://www.space.com/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-40th-flight
- https://www.space.com/venus-saturn-free-livestream-jan-22-2023
- https://www.space.com/international-space-station-3-astronauts-stay-full-year
- https://www.inverse.com/innovation/spacex-starship-orbital-flight-dates
Holiday Vectors by Vecteezy
Yay! It’s the Year of the Rabbit and we’re going all over the astronomical bunny trail with Dr. Armstrong!
Dr. Armstrong and Astronomical Happenings!
What’s going on? Do comets come in mint green or faded spinach? Old toothpaste? We talk about this and more!
- https://phys.org/news/2023-01-dimorphos.html
- https://phys.org/news/2023-01-visibility-stars-night-sky-declines.html
- https://www.space.com/ancient-guest-star-supernova-remnant-confirmed
If you have used a Windows desktop or laptop since 2009 you’ve probably have used Windows 7.
Windows 7, we hardly knew ye…
Some of you might have even used Windows 8 (one or two of you might even have liked it). But, alas, all things come to an end. Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we discuss this!
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-of-support?r=1
- https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-expands-its-microsoft-365-subscription-with-a-new-199-plan/
- https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/feature-preferences/quickbooks-desktop-service-discontinuation-policy/L17cXxlie_US_en_US
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/business-software/how-much-does-quickbooks-cost
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on StockSnap
Why buy when you can lease? Or why lease when you can buy?
Subscription Software
Why are there so many subscriptions now? Well, there is a reason whether you like it or not. And we talk about that! From Adobe to Microsoft to Quicken…
Photo by Jason Rosewell on StockSnap
We’ve been off for two weeks thanks to the holidays!
Catching up with 2023!
Well, nothing happened, right? Nope! The world keeps on turning despite Christmas and New Year’s. We talk about stuff that’s popped up in the news over the past two weeks and CES! Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we kick off (belatedly) the new year!
Photo by Retro 56 on StockSnap
It’s a New Year (hopefully not refurbished), and we’re bringing it in playing catchup with what we missed the past two weeks.
Catching up, CES 2023, and more
Gadgets and gizmos and things we can’t believe that were invented yet make sense.
Additionally, Sam contacted his local representatives about Right to Repair in Hawai’i. Did he get a reply? Yes he did! We read that on-air too.
- https://www.cnet.com/tech/the-weirdest-tech-of-ces-2023-car-companions-pee-readers-and-more/
- https://www.techradar.com/news/ces-2023
Once again we look to see if we can predict the future!
Our 2022 Predictions
Our track record is spotty but the Magic 8-ball doesn’t really help with tech questions. Sam and Jonathan have 6 predictions apiece with LD having 5. How did we do? Well, tune in!
Photo by Daniel McCullough on StockSnap
Listener mail? Viewer mail? We never agree on that…
Viewer Mail – December 2022!
Anyhow, we go through your emails to us and answer your questions! We read your atta-boys! We embarrass LD with your well-wishes! It’s great!
Also, we find out who wins the fantastic Altec-Lansing Bluetooth speaker from our friends at the Kahului OfficeMax!
Photo by Osman Rana on StockSnap
Emergencies happen. Life throws curveballs. Murphy’s Law goes into effect at the worst possible moment.
Planning For the Rough Spots
What do you do when you or a loved one has a medical emergency (or worse)? Life doesn’t stop for anyone, so we talk about keeping things going while trying to navigate a tough situation.
aufnahmeger‰t 70 jahre grundig deluxe / seventies recorder Grundig deluxe
LD Reynolds has long been a fixture in the Maui radio scene.
Welcome Back, L.D!
DJ, engineer, show host, HAM operator, and more! We talk to him about his illustrious past, his history, and how we all met! He’s a beloved part of the show and we wanted to share his awesomeness with you.
Do you like shopping? Sure you do. And it’s shopping season. Which means shopping frauds and scams! Season of Scams The bad guys are hard at work trying to separate you from your hard-earned money. Oh, and we have a big tangent on Twitter (sorry). https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/ https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/heres-how-to-avoid-online-holiday-shopping-scams/ https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/mystery-shopping-scams https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Scams-and-Fraud/Online-Shopping-Scams
How old is your computer? Is it time to get a new one? Is It New Computer Time? Many of us have computers that are getting close to their end of life and the holiday shopping season is looking very good this year! But are you going to get the newest, cutting edge stuff? Or are there better deals to be had?
Normally Dr. Armstrong comes every third Saturday of the month. However, we were able to get him AND Tracey onto the show. Five people? At once! Talking space stuff? Yes! Rockets? Yes! Artimis? YES! Reaching for the Stars We’re overly excited about all this so join us!
Dr. Armstrong and Tracey joined us for this show! Moar SPACE! We talk comets, black holes, ask if LD fell asleep, and more!
When the holidays hit folks will take photos. Photos and your Computer! Lots of them. Maybe you want to adjust the lighting, perhaps get rid of red-eye, or just sharpen it a little. Getting those photos ready for printing and framing, making cards or calendars and just sharing around is a great thing but doesn’t require Photoshop! So we’re talking about alternatives to Photoshop that are better suited to normal folks like us! Photoshop Elements is the Diet Coke of Photoshop meant for consumers. https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html Windows Photos and MacOS Preview are included with your operating system and can do many basic tasks. Even your smart phone has built-in tools in its photos apps. GIMP is a free, open-source program but has a bit of a learning curve. https://www.gimp.org/ Paintshop Pro is a longtime alternative. https://www.paintshoppro.com/ Corel offers a whole suite of graphics tools, including a photoshop alternative! https://www.coreldraw.com/en/ Affinity Photo is a professionally aimed program with a budget friendly price. https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/ And do you want better photos? Starting with how you take them will help! https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/10-quick-tips-to-fix-your-bad-photos https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-take-good-photos-with-your-phone/ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/10-easy-tips-and-tricks-for-better-smartphone-photos
We’re getting into the holidays but it’s also Cyber Security Month! Phishing Scams Are you akamai about phishing? When the baddies try tricking you into giving you all your information? Be it through email or text message or anything you need to be vigilant. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-avoid-phishing-scams https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-two-factor-authentication-app/ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-password-managers/
Are you burned out on social media? The constant negativity, drama, insane conspiracy theories and multi-level marketing invitations from friends? Perhaps you need a break or need to make an escape. We talk about doing that on Facebook and Twitter! Escaping Social Media Facebook How to temporarily deactivate your Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/help/214376678584711?helpref=faq_content How to delete your Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/help/224562897555674/ How to download your Facebook information: https://www.lifewire.com/back-up-your-facebook-data-2655254 Twitter How to backup and deactivate your Twitter account: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/10/how-to-download-a-backup-copy-of-your-twitter-data-or-deactivate-your-account/ The official how to deactivate, delete, and download your Twitter account: https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/how-to-deactivate-twitter-account Effects of Social Media and Mental Health https://www.cnet.com/health/mental/heres-how-social-media-might-be-hurting-your-mental-health/ https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-health https://www.unicef.org/stories/social-media-bad-teens-mental-health https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/becoming-resilient/202108/how-social-media-affects-mental-health-in-adolescents
At some point of your computing life, professional or personal, you’ll need to migrate from one computer to another. Migration Woes Guess what? It’s not necessarily fun or easy. So Jonathan will fill us in on troubles, pitfalls, and more that can come up in the process!
Have you ever had a story stuck in your head? Something you wanted to get out but never got around to? Or you wanted to write your memoirs for your family. Well, next month might be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for! National Novel Writing Month has been helping folks write their first novel since 1999! Some Words… And what do you want to use for this endeavor? Well, a word processor! Microsoft Word: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/word Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview Google Docs: https://docs.google.com LibreOffice: https://www.libreoffice.org/ And links for writing! Hawaiian diacritical marks: https://www.hawaii.edu/askus/1767 https://www.nanowrimo.org https://blog.nanowrimo.org/post/33839278502/hidden-nanowrimo-resources-at-your-local-library https://www.dictionary.com/ https://www.merriam-webster.com/
Ready for some brand-new chips? New Processors for 2022! Intel and AMD have offerings for the upcoming holiday season. And who is the value leader this time? Who is driving the lower prices? And why does this matter? Well, join us as we talk about that! For further reading you can go to these sites! www.tomshardware.com www.anandtech.com www.arstechnica.com
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight… October Astronomy It’s time for our favorite local astronomer, Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute for Astronomy, to visit us on the show! We yakked about a local event, stuff going on in the world of astronomy, telescopes, and more! https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/10/black-hole-burps-up-shredded-star-years-after-consuming-it/ https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-neptune-rings-moons?utm_campaign=socialflow https://astronomy.com/news/2022/03/astronomys-exoplanet-boom-crests-5000-confirmed-worlds
Bull’s eye! DART Results It’s time for more astronomy with Dr. Armstrong with the UH Institute for Astronomy! We’re talking about DART, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test! https://mauinow.com/2022/10/02/astronomers-on-maui-work-every-night-to-protect-earth-from-asteroids-big-and-small/ https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-dart-mission-hits-asteroid-in-first-ever-planetary-defense-test/ https://dart.jhuapl.edu/Mission/index.php https://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-63053138
Desktop computers, laptops, tablets and phones all have something in common: YOU! Ergonomics! The way you use them and the way you hold your body while using them matters! That’s why ergonomics matters. Tired of that pain in your neck or crick in your back? It might be how you’re using your technology. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/office-ergonomics/art-20046169 https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-set-up-an-ergonomic-workstation https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/standing-workstation/art-20088544 https://rmi.colostate.edu/ergonomics/officecomputer-ergonomics/laptop-tablet-and-smartphone-ergonomics/ https://www.uhs.umich.edu/computerergonomics https://www.thoughtco.com/setting-up-ergonomic-computer-station-1206666 https://ergo-plus.com/office-ergonomics-position-computer-monitor/
The Supreme Court has a big case coming up. Section 230, and Why it Matters And geez, we have to talk about it. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/10/scotus-weighs-first-case-testing-big-tech-liability-for-recommending-content/ https://www.eff.org/issues/cda230 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/06/section-230-the-internet-law-politicians-love-to-hate-explained/ https://theweek.com/supreme-court/1017215/the-supreme-court-and-the-internets-future-explained https://news.yahoo.com/how-the-supreme-court-could-break-the-internet-as-we-know-it-161539011.html https://publicknowledge.org/two-years-later-broadband-providers-are-still-taking-advantage-of-an-internet-without-net-neutrality-protections/
As the years go by your family’s old memories become increasingly important. Tips on Archiving Preserving them is something you might want to learn but where do you start? We talked about saving your old photos and recordings today!
There you are, minding your own business, and the weather decides make things personal. Weather and the Internet Doesn’t matter if its hurricane season here or tornado season on the mainland, there are tools that can be used to help. Listen as Jonathan tells how he helped a friend who was Hurricane Ian! https://www.windy.com/ https://www.waze.com/live-map/ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
It’s a buffet of news! We’re catching up on all the things happening in tech news in the past week because there’s been a lot! News Buffet – Part 1 Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we discuss various and assorted things. https://www.neowin.net/news/apple-google-and-microsoft-limit-browser-choice-alleges-mozilla/ https://www.howtogeek.com/702485/how-to-opt-out-of-amazon-sidewalk/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/09/google-and-youtube-to-take-on-dolby-with-free-hdr-and-audio-standards/ https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/21/tech/microsoft-windows-11-update/index.html
It’s a buffet of news! We’re catching up on all the things happening in tech news in the past week because there’s been a lot! News Buffet – Part 1 Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we discuss various and assorted things. https://www.neowin.net/news/apple-google-and-microsoft-limit-browser-choice-alleges-mozilla/ https://www.howtogeek.com/702485/how-to-opt-out-of-amazon-sidewalk/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/09/google-and-youtube-to-take-on-dolby-with-free-hdr-and-audio-standards/ https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/21/tech/microsoft-windows-11-update/index.html
More news! Once again, we’re having our news show buffet where we share all the news that fits! News Buffet – Part 2 None of these are quite a full hour or show on their own, so let’s hit the highlights, shall we? https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/21/tech/microsoft-windows-11-update/index.html https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/09/morgan-stanley-pays-35m-penalty-for-extensive-failure-to-safeguard-customer-data/ https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-completely-erase-a-hard-drive-2626173 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/09/florida-to-supreme-court-let-us-regulate-social-networks-as-common-carriers/
More news! Once again, we’re having our news show buffet where we share all the news that fits! News Buffet – Part 2 None of these are quite a full hour or show on their own, so let’s hit the highlights, shall we? https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/21/tech/microsoft-windows-11-update/index.html https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/09/morgan-stanley-pays-35m-penalty-for-extensive-failure-to-safeguard-customer-data/ https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-completely-erase-a-hard-drive-2626173 https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/09/florida-to-supreme-court-let-us-regulate-social-networks-as-common-carriers/
Dr. Armstrong is back for his monthly visit, so let’s talk star stuff 😀 Astronomy Day in October! There’s a Star Party on October 1st, and we’ll get you info on that in the newsletter! We talk about that, the solar telescope, adaptive optics in telescopes, and more!
Dr. Armstrong is back for his monthly visit, so let’s talk star stuff 😀 Astronomy Day in October! There’s a Star Party on October 1st, and we’ll get you info on that in the newsletter! We talk about that, the solar telescope, adaptive optics in telescopes, and more!
More good stuff! Join us as Jonathan, LD, and Sam chat up with Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute for Astronomy! NASA plays DARTs And don’t forget, there’s going to be a Star Party next month! About DART – https://gizmodo.com/nasa-dart-liciacube-camera-probe-asteroid-1849545126 The DART mission! https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/16/world/nasa-dart-mission-preview-scn/index.html
More good stuff! Join us as Jonathan, LD, and Sam chat up with Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute for Astronomy! NASA plays DARTs And don’t forget, there’s going to be a Star Party next month! About DART – https://gizmodo.com/nasa-dart-liciacube-camera-probe-asteroid-1849545126 The DART mission! https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/16/world/nasa-dart-mission-preview-scn/index.html
New stuff from Apple! Apple’s New Line Whether you’re wanting the best and newest thing OR want to see last year’s stuff go down in price? Well, this is for you! New iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods and more! Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we chime in on our thoughts.
New stuff from Apple! Apple’s New Line Whether you’re wanting the best and newest thing OR want to see last year’s stuff go down in price? Well, this is for you! New iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods and more! Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we chime in on our thoughts.
Are you ready for unexpected disasters? Fast Disasters! Kihei had a big rainstorm with flooding. So, what happened? Well, Jonathan rushed home and began his emergency protocols! What are yours? Did you back up? Are you backing up the right stuff? Do you have UPS’ for your electronics? Do you have a bug-out kit? Let’s talk about it! Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we discuss being ready for bad stuff happening!
Are you ready for unexpected disasters? Fast Disasters! Kihei had a big rainstorm with flooding. So, what happened? Well, Jonathan rushed home and began his emergency protocols! What are yours? Did you back up? Are you backing up the right stuff? Do you have UPS’ for your electronics? Do you have a bug-out kit? Let’s talk about it! Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we discuss being ready for bad stuff happening!
It’s that time again! Viewer Mail August 2022 – Part 1 We go through your emails and talk about them on the air! From Alert Internet Surfer “John Smith”: https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/am_deadlink.html And Jonathan found a fun list of link checkers: https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/broken-link-checker/ Cool stuff in your car! https://www.aamcocolorado.com/computers-in-your-car/ How to back up your Gmail! https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-backup-your-gmail-2378049
It’s that time again! Viewer Mail August 2022 – Part 1 We go through your emails and talk about them on the air! From Alert Internet Surfer “John Smith”: https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/am_deadlink.html And Jonathan found a fun list of link checkers: https://www.softwaretestinghelp.com/broken-link-checker/ Cool stuff in your car! https://www.aamcocolorado.com/computers-in-your-car/ How to back up your Gmail! https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-backup-your-gmail-2378049
Our friends at OfficeMax/OfficeDepot have given us an amazing Sandisk 2tb external drive which one of you won! Viewer Mail August 2022 – Part 2 More reading from the show: https://earthsky.org/space/galaxies-spiral-arm https://www.interviewbit.com/linux-interview-questions/ https://www.linux.com/what-is-linux/ https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/
Our friends at OfficeMax/OfficeDepot have given us an amazing Sandisk 2tb external drive which one of you won! Viewer Mail August 2022 – Part 2 More reading from the show: https://earthsky.org/space/galaxies-spiral-arm https://www.interviewbit.com/linux-interview-questions/ https://www.linux.com/what-is-linux/ https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-metaverse/
Ghost with the most? Nope! It’s pronounced the same way though. Space Grab Bag – Part 1 Remember when it dimmed a bit? We do! And we’ve got Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute of Astronomy to chat about it! Plus fusion? Like Mr. Fusion from Back to the Future? Well, not yet… https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2022/08/13/betelgeuse-blew-its-top-hubble-sees-red-supergiant-star-bouncing-after-catastrophic-upheaval/?sh=2c42d928500f https://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-fusion-energy-milestone-ignition-confirmed-california-1733238
Ghost with the most? Nope! It’s pronounced the same way though. Space Grab Bag – Part 1 Remember when it dimmed a bit? We do! And we’ve got Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute of Astronomy to chat about it! Plus fusion? Like Mr. Fusion from Back to the Future? Well, not yet… https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2022/08/13/betelgeuse-blew-its-top-hubble-sees-red-supergiant-star-bouncing-after-catastrophic-upheaval/?sh=2c42d928500f https://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-fusion-energy-milestone-ignition-confirmed-california-1733238
Time for more SPAAAAACE! Space Grab Bag – Part 2 Fun stuff that’s happening? https://ksltv.com/503099/meteorite-hunters-find-what-is-believed-to-be-pieces-of-meteorite-boom/ https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/nasa-roll-out-giant-us-moon-rocket-debut-launch-2022-08-16/ https://www.npr.org/2022/08/09/1116455607/nasa-scientists-need-your-help-finding-clouds-on-mars https://mars.nasa.gov/news/9215/help-nasa-scientists-find-clouds-on-mars/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-potential-lunar-landing-sites-for-artemis-3/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_trojan Quick reminder: if you get a “free” copy of Microsoft Office in the mail? It’s probably a scam! https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/protect-yourself-from-tech-support-scams-2ebf91bd-f94c-2a8a-e541-f5c800d18435
Time for more SPAAAAACE! Space Grab Bag – Part 2 Fun stuff that’s happening? https://ksltv.com/503099/meteorite-hunters-find-what-is-believed-to-be-pieces-of-meteorite-boom/ https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/nasa-roll-out-giant-us-moon-rocket-debut-launch-2022-08-16/ https://www.npr.org/2022/08/09/1116455607/nasa-scientists-need-your-help-finding-clouds-on-mars https://mars.nasa.gov/news/9215/help-nasa-scientists-find-clouds-on-mars/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-potential-lunar-landing-sites-for-artemis-3/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_trojan Quick reminder: if you get a “free” copy of Microsoft Office in the mail? It’s probably a scam! https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/protect-yourself-from-tech-support-scams-2ebf91bd-f94c-2a8a-e541-f5c800d18435
It is time for school! Back to School 2022! And thus time for school supplies. These days that also means a laptop or computer of some sort. Chromebook, Windows, or Mac? What else do you need? What to look for? We hit some of the questions! If you need to get stuff, be sure to check out our friends at Officemax/Office Depot!
Search Like a Pro! Your search engine is a vital tool for finding things you want to know about. But how much time do you spend trying to sift through the results? Fear not! We’ll talk about how to optimize your search so you can get to the good stuff faster! Better searching in Google: https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?visit_id=637954240335182907-821392750&p=adv_operators&hl=en&rd=1 Better searching in Bing: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/advanced-search-keywords-ea595928-5d63-4a0b-9c6b-0b769865e78a Better searching in DuckDuckGo: https://help.duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/results/syntax/
James Webb is up and taking pictures! Webb and Other Stellar Stuff! And who is excited? WE ARE! https://www.newsweek.com/james-webb-space-telescope-trappist-1-planets-life-1729236 https://blog.sci-nature.com/2022/07/its-official-astronomers-have.html
Internet access is particularly important for most people. Never mind the fun stuff; online learning, bill paying and financial access, medical services and more are part of our daily lives. The Important ACP Program Not being able to get online makes life hard, especially if a business decides they don’t want to bother with phone support or local representatives. Guess what? There’s help for that. https://www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivity-program-consumer-faq
We have a special guest, Danno! Dan Visits about VPNs You might remember him as our security and privacy guy. Well he’s back! We’ll be talking about VPNs, Encryption, and Quantum computing!
Our security and privacy guy is back! More with Dan! We’ve been talking about VPNs, Encryption, and Quantum computing!
Windows 7 was a great operating system. Windows 8? It depends on who you ask. Most PC users have two upgrade options: Windows 10 and Windows 11. Is it Time? – Part 1 So let’s talk about that! Windows Health Check app: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11#pchealthcheck Windows 10 system requirements: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifications Windows 11 system requirements: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/windows-11-vs-windows-10/ https://www.tomsguide.com/features/should-i-upgrade-to-windows-11-what-you-need-to-know https://www.pcmag.com/news/reasons-to-upgrade-to-windows-11-now
Is it Time? Part 2 Still not ready? Do you need to stay with your older version of Windows? Well, we continue talking about this subject with an eye on business! Be sure to check out our first out hour!
It’s Hurricane season! Prep 2022 No, not like Hurricane fries or popcorn. The less tasty variety: tropical depressions, tropical storms, and full-blown hurricanes with category ratings and everything! As we discussed: What is your level of risk and kind of risk? What is your response plan? What are your disaster supplies? Food and water for 14 days? Medicine? Do you have cash? Cash doesn’t need the internet unlike a credit or debit card. Check your insurance! Homeowners, Renter’s Insurance, Auto, etc. What do they have to say about natural disasters? Ready for those links? https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/storm-center https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep https://www.weather.gov/hfo/HPW2022 https://dod.hawaii.gov/hiema/public-resources/preparedness-information/
Do you have a device with a rechargeable battery? A phone or laptop? Guess what: it can go bad and swell up. And if it swells up? It becomes a hazard! So, what should you do? Well, we talk about that. Don’t Let your Laptop Go Kaboom! Why does it happen? Well, it’s a bit of a read: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/heres-why-your-old-rechargeable-batteries-ballooned-in-size/ar-AAWkuyC
A listener emailed us and asked us to talk about Thunderbird! Reintroducing Thunderbird! Thunderbird is an email program that you can use instead of Windows Mail, Microsoft Outlook, or Mac Mail! Its on Windows, Mac, Linux, and many other operating systems. Even Android! https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/ https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/ https://blog.thunderbird.net/2022/06/revealed-thunderbird-on-android-plans-k9/
Firefox! For the longest time it was the only alternative to Internet Explorer. Reintroducing Firefox! Is it still around? Is it still useable? Heck yeah it is! It’s changed over the years, so its time to reintroduce you to an alternative to Google Chrome! https://blog.mozilla.org/en/mozilla/introducing-firefox-quantum/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browsers/ https://wiki.mozilla.org/Security/Fusion
We welcome our monthly visit from Dr. Armstrong! June Visit from Dr. Armstrong – Part 1 Ready for astronomy and science? Hey, it’s that kind of show! We talk about Starlink, cool pictures local astronomers and students have taken, and more! https://mauinow.com/2022/06/03/maui-teenagers-research-asteroids-and-black-holes-during-uh-astronomy-program/ https://www.newsweek.com/rogue-isolated-black-hole-kick-planets-deep-space-nasa-hubble-1715641 https://astronomy.com/news/2022/03/starlink-satellite-streaks-how-big-a-problem-are-they https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-oft-2-landing-success https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6b_XwLh8VQ
We continue our talk with Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute for Astronomy! June Visit from Dr. Armstrong – Part 2 https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/ https://spacetourismguide.com/june-night-sky/ https://www.instructables.com/Viking-Stargazing-Chairs/ If you make a Viking stargazing chair, send us a picture!
Are you in the market for something? Looking online? Going to look at the reviews? Who Reviews the Reviewers? – Part 1 You might want to take those with grain of salt. Also, as promised! Here’s the link to PC Magazine’s article on securing your account: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/12-simple-things-you-can-do-to-be-more-secure-online
We’re continuing our discussion about reviews! Who Reviews the Reviewers? – Part 2 There are individuals and companies gaming reviews, so what to do about it? And what can you do about it?
Some folks don’t like to be tied down. Wires and cables get in the way, get chewed on by pets and more! Bluetooth Devices! We use it for keyboards, computer mice, printers, speakers, and… cars? Well, yeah, actually. Android Auto – https://www.android.com/auto/ Apple CarPlay – https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/
Your computer is going to get cluttered up. Spring, er, Summer Cleaning! Tons of random junk will accumulate, programs will end up not being used but run in the background, and other things will make your nice computer run like a lethargic turtle. How do you clean up? Well, glad you asked!
Are you into black holes? Hey! So are we! How cool is that? Black Holes and Other Astronomical Stuff Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute for Astronomy is joining us and we do love it. We talk about black holes, events hosted by the UH Institute, and more! https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-a-black-hole-k4.html https://astronomy.com/news/2022/05/say-hello-to-sagittarius-a-the-black-hole-at-the-center-of-the-milky-way https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/04/23/ask-ethan-why-doesnt-every-galaxy-have-a-supermassive-black-hole/ https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2022/04/26/mysterious-swirl-maunakea-telescope/
Jargon! Don’t you love it when people talk about stuff but might as well be speaking another language? Astronomical Jargon That’s Sam and Astronomy. Some of the stuff is very technical. Some of it defies common sense. Some of it has driven people insane. Thankfully, Dr. Armstrong is here to help! We talk about gravity, black holes, lensing, and more!
USB! USB! What is the state of USB? What is it? All Things USB We’re going to try and keep to the most current, relevant stuff, so no history lesson here. There’s enough stuff currently and more coming to keep us busy anyhow! If you take one piece of advice from Sam this show, then it should be “label things!” What do all these plugs look like? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#Connectors Need a chart? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Connector_type_quick_reference Current as of last year: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/09/usb-if-is-once-again-trying-to-logo-its-way-out-of-usb-c-confusion/
You get a new computer and it wants you to make a Microsoft Account. Yay? Do I HAVE to use an MS Account with Windows 11? Why would you want one? Why wouldn’t you? How can you NOT have one? Well, we answer that and more! Join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as we talk about that! https://www.extremetech.com/computing/324134-i-will-never-use-a-microsoft-account-to-log-into-my-own-pc https://www.extremetech.com/computing/299341-microsoft-needs-to-stop-screwing-with-local-accounts-in-windows-10
Video cards and GPUs (graphics processing units) are an essential part of your computer! All About That Video! Doesn’t matter if you’ve got a desktop or laptop*, you’ve got one in there. So we talk about that! And if this gets you asking more questions, you can shoot us an email to ask them at mauionline@q-a.net! Helpful links: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-buying-guide,5844.html https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-hierarchy,4388.html https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/gpu-acceleration-and-hardware-encoding.html
Don’t have a website? Don’t want a website? Then why would you want a domain? Glad you asked! All About Domains Whether it’s to get folks an easy way to your social media presence or to have the custom email address your business deserves, domains have something to offer you. And at a reasonable price! Want to know more? Fear not and tune in!
It is time to read your emails! Yay! Viewer Mail April 2022 – Part 1 We go over your emails, talk about our prize, and chat chat chat! We might even have gotten a show topic from it! Looking forward to our winner? That’s coming up!
Our friends at OfficeMax/OfficeDepot have given us an AMAZING Monster Quest RGB PC gaming keyboard. Normally retailing for $99 this mechanical keyboard has sold out twice since we started this contest. Viewer Mail April 2022 – Part 2 And today? Someone wins it!
The Word processor is one of those programs that most everyone will use at some point. So, we found a few tips for you to make the experience better, including not using Word! Word Processing 101 Find a keyboard shortcut cheat-sheet Windows keyboard shortcuts: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec#WindowsVersion=Windows_10 Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts: Windows keyboard shortcuts: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec#WindowsVersion=Windows_10 W10/11: go to Settings, System, Clipboard, you can enable “Clipboard History.” Win + V for Clipboard History Win + . for emoji ❤️ Word has a Focus feature so you can simply write with minimal distractions. Go to View then click Focus. Press Escape to get out of it. Add words to the dictionary! https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-or-edit-words-in-a-spell-check-dictionary-56e5c373-29f8-4d11-baf6-87151725c0dc You don’t need Acrobat to make a PDF of your document! https://www.howtogeek.com/352668/how-to-convert-a-microsoft-word-document-to-a-pdf/ Classes are available via Maui Computer Learning! https://www.q-a.net/maui-computer-learning/ You don’t have to buy Word! https://www.office.com/ for the free online version. Its more limited but more than enough for many folks. Also available on phones! Wordpad comes with Windows and is usable for basic use. Google Docs is pretty good, more robust than the free online Word, and free. Libre Office and Open Office are available for free! Macs come with iWork which comes with Pages, a nice little word processor.
Got “old stuff”? You know what we’re talking about: old desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones and more? Well, time to talk eCycling here on Maui! E-cycling on Maui! Why Recycle? from Alert Internet Surfer Kimi: https://tcrwusa.com/pages/recycling-services ECycling Maui’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ecyclingmaui County of Maui Environmental Protection & Sustainability website – https://www.mauicounty.gov/742/Environmental-Protection-Sustainability Residential Recycling Guide (also in the April 2022 issue of the Maui Times!) https://www.mauicounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/120794/ Got batteries? https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-household-batteries Got Lithium-Ion batteries? https://www.epa.gov/recycle/used-lithium-ion-batteries Reading on Lithium-Ion recycling: https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/04/lithium-costs-a-lot-of-money-so-why-arent-we-recycling-lithium-batteries/ Want to contact your State representatives about recycling those batteries? https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=H How about your County reps? http://mauicounty.us/councilmembers/
Its our monthly visit from Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute of Astronomy. April Talk with Dr. Armstrong! – Part 1 And its raining. Booo. But will it clear up tonight? No telling! So, while we’re warm and dry, Dr. Armstrong talks to us about astronomy! Fun reading for you: https://www.universetoday.com/155453/brrr-webbs-miri-has-reached-6-4-kelvin-just-a-few-degrees-above-absolute-zero/ https://www.cnet.com/science/a-dead-rocket-crashed-into-the-moon-and-scientists-are-excited/ https://www.iflscience.com/space/look-up-lyrids-meteor-shower-will-start-lighting-up-the-skies-from-tonight/ https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/13/world/interstellar-meteor-discovery-scn/index.html
As the dreary afternoon continues to look wet and overcast we talk astronomy with Dr. Armstrong! April Talk with Dr. Armstrong – Part 2 It’s his monthly visit and we’re happy to have him!
Sam went shopping. He knew what he wanted. He knew what he needed. Aaaand when he got to our friends at Officemax he saw a deal he wasn’t expecting. Which is exactly when his brain froze up. What to do? Which was the better value? Sam’s Brain Breeze Also, he got a GREAT scam thrown his way. The type that got him to pause and think and wonder. What did he do? We talk about that so you can learn from his brain freeze!
Did you know March 31st is World Backup Day? And they do it at the end of March so you’re not an April’s Fool? World Backup Day 2022 We did. And we forgot. D’oh! So, we talked about it! Things to do, to look into, and to think about! And don’t forget our show archives have TONS on backups too!
Photo by Mike Moloney on StockSnap
Astroturf is fake grass. Folks might argue whether it feels the real thing or not, looks the same, things like that. But when you get down to it, its fake grass. Who does it and why?
Astroturfing
Well, we’ll take a look at two major companies doing it and why they do it!
- https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/30/how-google-and-amazon-bankrolled-a-grassroots-activist-group-of-small-business-owners-to-lobby-against-big-tech-oversight.html
- https://www.axios.com/app-store-crackdown-senate-apple-google-3b1a7028-0037-42e1-a116-f9e653ded82c.html
- https://www.natlawreview.com/article/senate-zeros-big-tech-latest-antitrust-reform-bill
- https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/
Photo by Bob Richards on StockSnap
Is it time to move computers?
Setting Up a Mac
Jonathan got to help his dad set up a brand new 2022 iMac. Guess what? It wasn’t as easy as long timers might remember.
- https://support.apple.com/guide/imac/set-up-your-mac-apd831707cb3/mac
- https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/01/12/how-to-switch-from-pc-to-mac-and-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-set-up-your-new-mac-4687333
Photo by Eneida Nieves from StockSnap
Kids go online. For school, for fun, for everything. But are they ready for it?
Teaching Kids Internet Safety
And are you ready to talk to them about how to keep safe online?
- https://resources.uknowkids.com/blog/bid/159129/10-Things-to-Teach-Your-Kids-About-Internet-Safety
- https://www.dhs.gov/employee-resources/news/2022/02/22/internet-safety-kids
- https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/keeping-children-safe-online
Photo by One Idea LLC on StockSnap
There’s an active war going on in the world (there usually is). But now we’re getting to see something two modern countries going at it.
CyberWarfare
How does that look? And is it nearly as cool as it is in the movies?
- https://riskandinsurance.com/cyber-warfare-how-the-russia-ukraine-conflict-changes-the-global-cyber-risk-approach/
- https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/599816-experts-seek-cyberwarfare-definition-following-recent-cyber-warnings
- https://spacenews.com/cyber-warfare-gets-real-for-satellite-operators/
- https://www.f-secure.com/us-en/consulting/our-thinking/state-sponsored-cyber-attacks
Photo by Ian Livesey on StockSnap
Star Wars is a lot of fun. Its commonly referred to as one of the most popular bits of science fiction that ever came up in popular culture. But is it really science fiction? Or is it science fantasy? What’s the difference?
Science vs Science Fiction – Part 1
Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute from Astronomy joins us and takes us into this fun topic!
Science fiction has many tropes, “almost got it,” and totally wrong ideas. But that’s half the fun!
Science vs Science Fiction – Part 2
As such, we asked Dr. Armstrong to join us! We talk about science fiction, science fantasy, and what the science really is for some of our favorite things in sci-fi!
Also, be sure to check out 3 Minute Astronomy!
Nikola Tesla from OpenClipArt.org
Jonathan got a Tesla, and has been putting it through its paces for the past few months.
A Tesla Experience
What is it like? What are his thoughts? Are there any things that are really cool or weird about it?
Tune in as Jonathan and LD get into this cool new car!
Unfortunately, the world is an interesting place right now. Over the years we’ve seen governments and bad actors spreading misinformation, trying to raise a fuss, and make online life a bit more misleading than it should be. Well, turn that up to 11!
Disinformation in 2022
So, what can you do?
- https://www.brookings.edu/techstream/how-disinformation-evolved-in-2020/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fix-internet-roger-mcnamee-christopher-wylie-maria-ressa/
- https://www.state.gov/disarming-disinformation/
- https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2cf5f9_077de61b35f1453295903e378e80948e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_600,h_800,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/How_to_Spot_Fake_News.webp
- https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/01/03/baloney-detection-kit-carl-sagan/
- https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/
Photo by Andri from StockSnap
Malware and Badware. Oh no!
Digital Defenses 101 – Malware, Part 1
What are they?
Well, join Jonathan, LD, and Sam as they discuss some of the various flavors of bad-ware out there trying to do bad to you.
Photo by Trinity Kubassek on StockSnap
We’ve been talking about malware and badware. What can you do about it?
Digital Defenses 101 – Malware, Part 2
Well, its time to talk about defenses! Anti-virus, anti-malware, and more!
- https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-malware-removal-and-protection-software
- https://www.techradar.com/best/best-malware-removal
- https://support.apple.com/guide/security/protecting-against-malware-sec469d47bd8/web
- https://www.malwarebytes.com/pricing
Photo by SpaceX on StockSnap
It’s that time of month! We’ve got Dr. Armstrong from the UH Institute for Astronomy with us.
Space Saturday with Dr. Armstrong – Part 1
We’re talking about the James Webb telescope, DART, advances brought about by Hawai’i astronomers, and more!
Photo by Stephen Rahn from StockSnap
Did you know that local Maui students are doing awesome stuff? Sure you did! But how awesome?
Space Saturday with Dr. Armstrong – Part 2
Well, time for Dr. Armstrong to brag on them a little.
Interested in HI STAR? Check out the website at https://outreach.ifa.hawaii.edu/histar-2/
More fun reading:
- https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2120/
- https://www.suryaa.com/113029-astronomers-uncover-largest-group-of-rogue-planets-yet.html
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What is a firewall? Is it hardware? Software? What does it do? Is it in your computer or somewhere else?
Digital Defenses 101 – Firewalls
We talk about it!
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/what-is-a-firewall-6870c88d-69b6-4db4-9cb1-0e4afa7a8603
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(computing)
- https://its.ny.gov/sites/default/files/documents/beginners-guide-to-firewalls-2012.pdf
- https://lifehacker.com/how-to-turn-your-computers-firewall-on-and-off-for-begi-5805326
- https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/do-you-need-a-personal-firewall
- https://www.howtogeek.com/205299/how-to-ensure-your-home-router-has-the-latest-security-updates/
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Nobody likes eating their vegetables. Nobody likes doing laundry. Nobody likes emptying out the cat’s litterbox.
Nobody likes backing up.
Digital Defenses 101 – Backing Up
It’s a dull, ordinary, boring task that nobody really likes doing, everyone should do, and often doesn’t get done.
- https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-beginners-guide-to-pc-backup
- https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-cloud-backup-services-for-business
- https://www.acronis.com/en-us/articles/backup-rule/
- https://www.crashplan.com/en-us/business/resources/3-2-1-backup-method/
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Your computer is your castle! And the trick with castles is sometimes they come under siege.
Digital Defense Overview – Part 1
We’re beginning a series on Digital Defenses!
For more reading, PC Magazine has a great article!
Photo by Lukasz Kowalewski from StockSnap
We continue our introduction of Digital Defenses.
Digital Defense Overview – Part 2
In this overview we’ll go over what we’ll be talking about the next few shows. If you’ve got questions? Email us at mauionline@q-a.net!
As always, there are online attacks, scams, and badness running amok.
Online Scams – 2022
Are things the same as before? Or has it changed a bit?
- https://blog.malwarebytes.com/malwarebytes-news/2022/01/new-dazzlespy-malware-attacks-macos/
- https://www.zdnet.com/article/ransomware-in-2022-were-all-screwed/
- https://www.techrepublic.com/article/cybersecurity-best-practices-an-open-letter-to-end-users/
Also, our friends at the Dairy Road OfficeMax/Office Depot have given us a FANTASTIC prize! It’s Monster Quest RGB Corded Mechanical PC. What’s great about a mechanical keyboard? Well, Tom’s Hardware has an article about that. If you touch type (or game) its great!
Is it time to upgrade to Windows 11?
Windows 11 – Is it time?
Its been out for a while, they’ve been working on it, and maybe it’s okay now? Well, depending on YOU? Yeah, it might be! We talk about it and how things have come plus why you might not.
- https://www.pcmag.com/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-windows-11
- https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/26/22902477/microsoft-windows-11-update-android-apps-preview-taskbar-notepad-media-player
- https://www.windowscentral.com/people-are-adopting-windows-11-twice-rate-10-os-upgrade-offer-ahead-schedule
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Do you like grab bags? A little bag of different goodies? Well, guess what? Dr. Armstrong is back with a whole bag of astronomy goodness!
Astronomy Tidbits
Black Holes being nurses? Stuff found by local students? And more!
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The James Webb telescope is up in space. And who is excited?
The Webb Telescope!
Well, space-fans, that’s who! Dr. JD, LD, and Jonathan go over it and how amazing this is so far!
See for yourself what’s up with the ‘scope!
One of our favorite guests is back!
Digital Art w/Ben – Part 1
Mr. Ben, popular teacher at UH Maui EdVenture and Maui Computer Learning talks to us about beginning digital art for people new to the medium. Just started? Curious? Getting back into it? This is a show for you!
Many artists are so busy with being artists that the whole creative professional side of things is scary. There’s a lot out there! Ranging from art thieves to NFTs and more, it enough to make you want to hide your brushes and sculpting tools.
Digital Art w/Ben – Part 2
We touch on these subjects with Mr. Ben, our resident artist, teacher, and all around smooth talkin’ favorite guest!
Photo by Candace McDaniel from StockSnap
Well, it’s time to revisit our predictions from the beginning of 2021. How did we do?
Our 2021 Prediction Scorecard!
Are we the next Nostradamus? Who outscored who? Let’s find out!
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It’s time to try again! What will 2022 hold for us in the wacky world of computers and technology! Be it new products, policy, screwups and breakthroughs, there’s a whole year in front of us.
Predictions 2022!