Month: July 2019

Ghost of the Mountains

By Alex Robert On In Fun Stuff, Misc

Since you can look up my favorite bird on our website, I’ll take this opportunity to talk about my favorite member of the animal kingdom: the Snow Leopard. I became aware of this extremely rare big cat on a visit to Brookfield Zoo when I was a wee lad. I always thought big cats were cool but had never even heard of a Snow Leopard. Walking up to the enclosure at first, I didn’t spot them among the rocky terrain. Then out of nowhere, two of the cats burst from their hiding places sprinting directly towards the glass then launched themselves a good 15 feet into the air and off the top of the viewing glass to land easily in the rocks at the back of the enclosure. It appeared to me these things had just defied the laws of physics, and I was stunned. Here are some fun facts about these amazing creatures.

It’s HOTTTT Out Therrr

By Sean Christopher On In Fun Stuff, Misc

Hello everybody, it’s me again, your local heat expert. If you remember last year, I wrote about the effects heat can have on your laptop. If you need a refresher, I’ll wait ….

Now that you’re caught up I want to provide another Public Service Announcement. This summer, it’s time to talk about how heat affects our furry friends. If you haven’t noticed by now, I’m the proud owner of a pup named Wesley (yes I know I’ve mentioned him in every blog I’ve written, but who’s counting 😊). It’s ridiculously hot outside, and extreme heat can be dangerous for dogs. I’d like to share some info and tips to help navigate these conditions so little Bethesda, Lucy, Riley, Wesley, etc. won’t get cooked like the last scene in Total Recall. (Nope, not going to link it, google at your own discretion.)

The Future of Passwords (or Lack Thereof)

By Laura Jean On In Application Spotlight, Tech Tips

 

Windows very recently announced their plan to completely do away with password logins for Windows 10 computers, deciding to go the way of cell phone and other mobile gadgets by pushing users to rely on biometrics or PIN numbers. It seems as though the “desktop” has finally caught up with the mobile, albeit with one BIG difference: Microsoft won’t even allow the option of a password.

Zero Day: Why it’s More Important than Ever to Update!

By Michael Gregory On In Tech Tips

It’s likely that if you follow tech news, you’ve heard the term “Zero Day.” It’s a vulnerability or flaw in software which isn’t known to the software’s maker or public at large. Basically, it’s the bumper of the Ford Pinto before the first one exploded. Because of how quickly software is produced and updated, most software has bugs. Often those bugs can be used by skilled attackers to create exploitable vulnerabilities which can then be leveraged to encrypt your files, send out spam, or get access to private information.

It’s Plastic-Free July!

By Kristin Imperio On In Misc

Happy July 3RD! It’s not too late to join in on Plastic Free July. Maybe you’ve read my other posts, “Slowly Approaching Zero Waste, Part I + II“… and if you have, this is another great way to keep yourself accountable (and to learn new methods on how to adopt a plastic-free lifestyle).

I know that it may seem a bit daunting. For me, even with my lifestyle changes in approaching zero waste, I already feel like I’m setup to fail. But that shouldn’t stop me from challenging myself to be even more mindful about what I’m buying and how I can continue to change things up, since we are literally surrounded by plastic. It’s like sugar – it’s everywhere and really hard to avoid. I signed up for this campaign online, it gave me some options that allowed me to breathe a little:

The Plastic Free July campaign website also has resources and ideas on how to conquer the challenge, as well as a quiz (once you sign up) to understand your current use of plastics.

Going completely plastic-free doesn’t have to be done perfectly. To have 100,000 people do this imperfectly is better than 100 people doing it perfectly. Consider the changes you can make to better the place we live!