Tag Archives: technology

Career talk

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Careers in science, technology, engineering and math are needed for the U.S. to remain competitive in the global marketplace. But many college students fail or become bored with such courses, studies say.

Hear about this and the differences in educational systems across the world from Jim Riehl, dean of the Swenson College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota Duluth, at a Royal D. Alworth Jr. International Lecture at 7 p.m. today in the UMD Library fourth-floor rotunda.

The lecture, “A World View of STEM in Higher Education,” will describe Riehl’s study of 10 countries and include the impacts of national demographics, faculty attitudes and parental pressure on student career choice.

TXT SPD

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People now can send anonymous tips to the Superior Police Department using iPhone and Android apps.

Community members with Android phones can visit the Google Play Store from their phones and search for “SPDTip.” iPhone users are encouraged to visit the Apple App Store from their phones and search for “SPDTip.”

This program works along with the department’s existing text-messaging service known as “tip411,” which is provided by a St. Paul-based company named Citizen Observer. With “tip411” the community has been able to make anonymous tips to the police by texting the word “SPDTIP,” followed by the tip, to the number 847411 (TIP411).

The department’s land-line-based tip line, (715) 395-7468, is available, too. All tips are received anonymously, but the number isn’t monitored 24/7, so emergencies should be reported to 911.

Scam text

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An alert caller wanted to give readers a heads-up about a scam that’s hitting people via text message. The warning rang a bell with the Eh? desk because we received the same message.

On Sunday night, a generic text message came in from an unfamiliar number. It said something to the effect of “problem with account” and provided a call-back number. This Eh? desker just ignored the text by deleting it. Our curious caller dialed the call-back number and got a recording, which said there was a problem with his debit card and asked for the card’s 16-digit number. Knowing it was an obvious scam, the man hung up. He later checked with his bank, which assured him that nothing was wrong with his account.

So promise Mr. Eh? you won’t fall for these hokey problem-with-account text messages and e-mails, capiche?

Dude, where’s my keyboard?

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Here’s another one of those events for people who recently received high-tech digital devices they don’t know how to use.

This one is called, “Did you get an iPad for Christmas and it’s still in a box?” You bring your iPad, smartphone, e-reader or wristwatch (ha!) to Benedictine Health Center and a technologically savvy instructor will help you figure out how to use it. No need to be embarrassed.

The session is 6-8 p.m. Thursday in the Westwood Terrace Community Room at BHC. It’s a free event, and they’re even serving treats, but you should call (218) 723-6405 to reserve a seat.

A similar recent event you might have missed was the library’s training session on how to check out books for your e-reader. You can always get a librarian to advise you on that, no appointment necessary.

How to spot a fake

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The Commerce Department provided some good advice on how to spot a fake e-mail or Web link:

  • Look for suspicious typos and grammatical errors.
  • Hover your mouse over the sender’s address to see if the real address is different.
  • Copy and paste the text into Notepad (not Word). Notepad does not support HTML, so if a link is fake, the real link will show up.
  • Avoid filling out forms in e-mail messages that ask for personal information.
  • Look up and log on to the official website instead of “linking” to it from an unsolicited e-mail.
  • Contact the actual business or agency that supposedly sent the e-mail to find out if it’s genuine. Look up phone numbers or e-mail addresses rather than using contact info provided in an e-mail.

E-reader assistance at Mount Royal library

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Still a little confused about what to do with that Kindle or Nook you got for Christmas?

The Mount Royal branch of the Duluth Public Library is offering help from 10 a.m. to noon today. Bring your e-reader and your questions, and library staff will help you download free library books.

The Mount Royal branch is in the Mount Royal Shopping Center off Woodland Avenue.

Wanted: Weather spotters in Superior

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When a roundup of rain or snowfall totals is listed after a Northland storm, it’s rare to see a number from Superior.

Why’s that?

It’s because we hate Superior, right? No. We love our sister by the unsalted sea.

The National Weather Service relies on volunteer weather spotters for most of its snowfall reports from around the Northland. There are some spotters in Superior, but they happen not to be available to send reports for the early morning rain and snow roundups.

If you live in Superior or any other town and want to be a volunteer weather spotter, go to CoCoRaHS to sign up.

All things Morgan Park

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Billy Sabin likes Morgan Park. And he wants you to like it, too. That’s why he created a Facebook page devoted to all things pertaining to the western Duluth neighborhood.

Like the Morgan Park Community page for information and updates about the cheery, wooded home of Blackmer Park, the Good Fellowship Club and “SA” (SuperAmerica).

The page is for everyone — not just residents of Morgan Park.

21st century calls for federal benefits

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Man, getting those federal benefits is great. Now make sure they keep on coming.

Don’t delay and risk missing the March 1 deadline to switch snail mail benefits payments to direct deposit or Direct Express debit cards.

Each month, 5 million checks are mailed to federal beneficiaries, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. And in Minnesota, nearly 51,000 Social Security and Supplemental Income checks arrive monthly.

That’s a lot of paper.

Sign up by calling (800) 333-1795, going to godirect.org or talking to a local federal paying agency office. The process is free, and they promise it’s quick and easy (and presumably painless).

Make Duluth a cooler kind of nerdy

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What if Duluth was a major destination for gamers?

That’s the idea behind a Kickstarter campaign that could be the start of an annual convention in Duluth much like Gen Con in Indianapolis and Dragon Con in Atlanta.

“Berserkon” would include role-playing games, tactical combat gaming, wargaming, a LAN room, costume contests, board games like Settlers of Catan and celebrity guests.

The crew behind Berserkon is looking to raise $42,000 in the next 22 days. Search for Berserkon at Kickstarter for more info.