GeekSpeak – Internet! Does it support freedom or tyranny? Join the discussion on Saturday, December 17th at 12pm slt

 

Come and join us at GeekSpeak on Saturday at noon SLT.  Let’s ask if the internet is good or bad for our world and for democracy. We now have a splintered internet (a splinternet) where dictators can censor parts of it and even shut it down at will.  Will we ever have a free, universal internet again or will it break into more than the 36(!) versions we have now?  What is needed to make it free again?  Are dictators able to use the internet to increase their power and control?

On the other hand, maybe the existence of the internet, even when it is not completely free, helps us to be free.  People in countries where it is banned know about it and will find ways to get at it.  While it exists, even in 36 versions, no one can be completely cut off from the rest of the world.  Join us to discuss freedom and the internet.  Bring your friends!

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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High Speed Internet world wide - GeekSpeak subject for Saturday 17th October at noon SLT

 

In two years the whole planet will have high speed access to the internet and the World Wide Web will finally live up to its name.  What will happen?

Will we see live footage from the middle of the Sahara, from Antarctica, from ocean going ships, from North Korea?  How will that affect Earth’s society as a whole?  Will it lead to greater understanding or will everyone go crazy when they learn about all the conspiracy theories that are out there?

Will everyone on the planet have an equal chance to have a better life?  Or will the evil regimes drag us all down to their level?  Will some countries block the internet and remain isolated?  Will there be a big market in black market satellite dishes in China?

Will the world become a global village?  Or will there be digital borders?  Come and discuss the near future.  Bring your online friends from weird countries (if you do not have them, you might soon😊

IM Vulcan Viper, who teaches a meditation class every Wednesday at 1pm in the GeekSpeak auditorium, if you have ideas for new subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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GeekSpeak – is there life after Google?

This week we will discuss the upcoming changes in the structure and culture of the internet.  The internet is only about 35 years old and it is not as solid as you might think.  The geeks who built the net began to feel about 20 years ago that it was taking a wrong turn. The internet we have now is controlled by just two companies.  That was not the original dream.

Changes are coming though, and the internet may be a free place again, an internet ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’. How will this work out?  Will we really see the end of Google?

What changes do you hope for?  Are there any changes that you are afraid of?  What will the internet be like in 10 years?  Come to GeekSpeak to find out.

IM Vulcan Viper if you have any suggestions for future subjects.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danmu/143/127/51

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The Ways People with Disabilities Are Gaining a Better Quality of Life

image borrowed from morguefile.com

Living with a disability can be difficult at the best of times. Disabilities come in all different variations, whether they cause pain, immobility, or even affect mental health. For many sufferers, invisible disabilities mean that they may not look unwell, but actually feel far from fit and healthy. As society becomes more aware and more accommodating of those with disabilities, it’s becoming easier for less abled people to experience a good quality of life. With more and more treatments becoming available and an increasing number of people learning more about, and understanding, a whole range of disabilities, those suffering from various conditions are able to take control of their lives and do more and more of the things that they enjoy.

Medical Marijuana

Since the legalization of marijuana use for medical purposes in a number of states in the U.S.A., many people affected by disabilities, chronic pain or even mental health problems have found a both legal and natural method of dealing with their symptoms and being able to cope with day to day life. With painkilling, relaxing and even sleep-inducing properties, those who previously suffered every day have been given a new lease of life with the legalization of this drug allowing them to use it to target various symptoms. If you have a disability or other condition which you think medical marijuana may be able to help you with, visit this marijuana finder to discover more.

Improved Homes

Gone are the days when disabled people had to struggle to get around in conventional homes or even make do by sleeping downstairs on the sofa or using a commode, for example. Today, government grants and aid have made it possible for home renovations to take place in order to make a property more accessible for a disabled person, whether this involves making a home more wheelchair-friendly or adding extra features which make it less of a painful experience for somebody with a disability to go about their day to day lives. Thanks to this, an increasing number of people suffering from a range of disabilities and conditions are able to live comfortably and with minimal struggles in their own home.

Using the Internet

In many cases, the internet has been an absolute godsend for those suffering with disabilities and other painful, debilitating conditions. Whereas just a few years ago disabled people would have had to struggle doing things such as going to the store for groceries, for example, the internet has made it possible for them to order their groceries online to be delivered to their home without even having to get out of their chair or bed. The internet has also made it easier for disabled people to communicate with health professionals, using services such as video call therapy or even online pharmacies to order prescription refills. The internet is also home to vast support networks for people suffering from all kinds of disabilities, providing support and friendship.

In 2016, living with a disability does not have to ruin your life. Thanks to technology, increased awareness and legislation, those with disabilities can experience a good quality of life.

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What Tech-Savvy UK Teens Are Doing This Summer 2016

image borrowed from morguefile.com

Summer is quickly approaching and teens are getting set to have a bit of fun and adventure. However, some are looking to move forward with their lives in order to prepare for university which also means learning to drive. From hi-tech apps and gaming systems to online learner driving tests, many teens throughout the UK will be just as busy as they are entertained. Here is what is expected of tech-savvy UK teens for the summer of 2016.

Top Trending Apps for Social Media

Teens are the most social demographic of any age group. From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram, you will usually find your teen glued to his or her mobile phone messaging away the hours of the day. Well, move over top three apps as there’s a new kid in town, Snapchat. Last year this cool little app came in fourth to the expected top three but this year tells another story. In the US as well as in the UK, Snapchat beat out the previous top apps by at least one percentage point in a survey by banker Piper Jaffray. This summer expect UK teens to be snapping and chatting the hours away.

Studying for Their Driver Tests

Some teens are in their last year of school before going off to university and are studying for their driving test. Since they have to pass the theory first before they can take the practical, this is where they will be found a good bit of the summer. There are even online sites like Toptests where learner drivers can practice taking the theory part of the test to see what’s in store for them when they are ready to take the real thing. If you have a home PC or laptop and internet access, you might want to show your son or daughter where they can get the extra practice they need so they can ace the theory test when they take the official one.

Gaming the Hours Away

Gaming is no longer what it was when most parents were teens. Now it is all about an online community and all the leading gaming systems require internet access to reach the higher levels of the games. Kids are no longer solitary individuals gaming from a console in their living rooms cut off from the rest of the world. Whilst they are physically in the same location, they are also connected to a global group of kids playing the same games either as team members or in competition with one another. Worrying about your teen spending too much time alone? Maybe you needn’t worry as they may just be connected with hundreds of others their same age!

So what are tech savvy kids doing this summer in the UK? You will probably see them attached to their mobile phones or iPads but you probably shouldn’t worry if they are getting the proper socialisation skills. They aren’t alone in their digital world and many will actually be learning something. If you are concerned, check out what they are doing and what sites they are frequenting, but when all is said and done, you’ll see they’re probably just having a bit of summer fun.

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Things You Should Know About Using Social Media and How It Can Affect You -Lanai Jarrico Reporting…

Technology has made it easy for people from all over the world to communicate and express themselves in real time with family, friends, co- workers and other sources that you cannot otherwise connect with in local settings. 

 Users pick up new friends fast and easy by common interests, through mutual friends or an association with jobs and other resources.  The important thing in maintaining a successful social media network is by monitoring it for unwanted content and removing those that create negative energy for you and others that can read all the feeds and posts available in your network.  The most important thing to know is, you are in control of your social media and should practice common sense when allowing others into your space because if something goes wrong, you are responsible for it.

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Real Life: Is your Health in Danger? Lanai Jarrico Reporting...

Long term sitting in front of a computer screen playing Second Life can kill you!

If this headline didn’t grab your attention, perhaps you could care less that something inside your body could be slowly building up a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) leading to a blood clot in your lungs, heart or brain also known as a pulmonary embolism.

Most people that are aware of these dangers usually associate this threat with travellers on airplanes and even office workers. The risks to Second Life © residents that spend hours upon hours sitting in the same position, are very real and dangerous.

Recently, I interviewed a Second Life © residents that wished to remain anonymous but wanted to share her story in hopes she can save a life and spread awareness to the dangerous many may not be aware of. “Jane’s” ordeal began when she thought she had bumped her leg. Her symptoms were redness, swelling and immense pain. Jane saw her doctor and was immediately rushed by ambulance to the hospital where she was saved from what could have been a very tragic situation.


Interview with Jane Doe

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PAICE NEWS- CyberCrime: A Pandoric Pandemic... Baeric Constantine Reporting...

 http://www.paice.org

Cyber-Security has been of the essence, and too few people understand the necessity for protecting our data, and our machines from the ever escalating cyber-threat.

CyberSecurity... just how secure are we, as a nation and as individuals? This is a question that is discussion with the top ranks of those in security.  The Internet is a hotbed for transnational crime, and according to Iain Lobban of GCHQ, the Government’s listening centre, "a significant change has taken place in the modern world where our adversaries employ similar technologies as used by the citizens going about their daily business, so reassuring people that they are being appropriately defended against threats without encroachments on their privacy is very important."

Lobban went on to give some context, "that there are deliberate (malicious) attacks and accidental, cyber techniques have been used to bring pressure on other states, there is theft of intellectual property (such as the theft of Japanese Military Secrets), Cyberspace lowers the bar for entry to the espionage game, both for states and for criminal actors, and that the risks are growing with the Internet, about 60% a year."

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