The Tech Ranch

The “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson and “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh play host to 2 special guests this week on the Tech Ranch. Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary joins the duo early in the show to discuss the DisruptWell Summit. Later, John Nagel, CyberNet Securities, gives his take on the Equifax data breach.

Hacked: Your Financial Data Is At Risk

Everyone knows if you want to make a purchase and use your credit, your financial information and credit history is provided by one of three credit reporting agencies–Equifax, Experion or TransUnion. These three companies hold the secret to your success, or at least your purchasing success. In early September, consumers learned that Equifax had a hugely embarrassing data breach…on your private information. Your social security number, your financial information, your address, your credit card information. EVERYTHING! In the events leading up to the breach, Equifax managed to keep things hush hush within their organization. Here is an extremely disturbing timetable of events:

* March 2017 – Equifax experiences a data breach.

* Mid-May 2017 – The beginning of an estimated 143 million people’s financial data was being hacked through Equifax’s own system.

* July 2017 – Equifax discovers the data breach.

* September 2017 – Equifax announces the data breach to the public.

The biggest question is finding out who was impacted. The “Guru of Geek” invited John Nagel, CyberNet Securities, to the show to discuss the Equifax catastrophe. John gives several tips on how to find out if you were effected and what you can do to hopefully stop your personal information from being used for future credit damage. Here are a few brief tips for consumers:

* Find out if you were impacted by calling Equifax.

* Freeze your accounts.

* Activate charge account alerts for notification of purchases.

* File taxes early.

* Freeze your credit.

DisruptWell Summit 2017

The “Guru of Geek” and Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary agree that technology is disrupting our lives. However, neither of them feel it’s necessarily a negative thing. The desire to make adjustments that follow technological changes have made them both very successful in the transition. Both are always looking for ways to engage in discussions about the impacts technology has had on our communities. It was this curiosity that brought about the idea to hold a summit in Bismarck to allow people to meet and discuss the impact technology has in our work environments. The DisruptWell Summit is a first...

Nothing is ever predictable on The Tech Ranch, especially where the conversation may lead between the “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson and “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh. This episode of The Tech Ranch is a reflection of how tech talk is identical to technology today–constantly changing. But before we get started, a congratulatory shout out is in order to North Dakota Native and the new Miss America, Cara Mund! Salesforce is a good provider of Software technology that will be used as an automated marketing device.

Rambling Words

Natural disasters are a part of what is going on in today’s news headlines. Hurricanes, tornado’s, wild fires, you name it. As we watch the news and see the devastation caused by the Mother Nature, we are reminded on how far technology has come in notifying society about preparation of a possible natural disaster. Most people follow local warnings about weather and other emergency situations. Many of us have apps on our smart devices that indicate if a storm in brewing, what we should do as precautionary measures and how to best handle an emergency situation. Here are a few tips to better prepare yourself and your family in the case of an emergency:

* Find a dependable source as your go-to guide in any emergency situation. Local weather apps and activating the emergency notification on your smart device will keep you safe.

* Use your local emergency system as a warning guide.

* Have an emergency evacuation plan set in place.

* Investigate any warning thoroughly to ensure the warning is real and legit.

* Always use common sense in any emergency situation.

Natural disasters not only brings out the worse part of Mother Nature, they also bring out the best in people. We are a society that likes to help those who have been impacted by unforeseen forces of nature. Sadly, it’s also a great opportunity for scams to occur. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish who is legit and who is out to look for ways to take advantage of people with kind hearts who are willing to help. Here are a few tips to help decide where you should send those donations:

* Research the company asking for help before making a donation.

* Check with your local organizations. Many rally together to send a large donation.

* Ask your church or pastor if they have any suggestions on where to send donations. Many of these organizations have collection for donations already in place.

* Donate to the places you are familiar with.

* Give your time if you are able.

Recap, Reinvent, Release

Remember when the only means of transportation was by horse and buggy? If you are old enough to remember thank you for listening in! Obviously, we know travel by horse and buggy was invented long before any of us were born. However, some of us are still “young” enough to remember our first family car. Since then, transportation has evolved and grown at great speeds. Self-driving cars are becoming more and more popular, and with that, changes in rules and regulations are needed.

In September of this year, the US House of Representatives unanimously approved changes to establish autonomous vehicle rules and regulations. These changes include reinventing and centralizing federal guidelines for all autonomous vehicles on the road to follow the same guidelines as those vehicles that have a driver. The legislation also allows for the release of a specific amount of autonomous vehicles to be released this year,

On this episode of The Tech Ranch, “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson and “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh discuss how technology is adapting to the current job market. Whether you work in a fast food environment or in an office setting, it’s no surprise that technology plays a huge role in our daily work environment. Listen in as Marlo and Jim address whether humans will be worked out of a job as automation becomes more available to employers and learn if your job is on the chopping block.

FUTURE JOB SHOCK

Losing a job is a part of every day life. Millions of people across the country lose jobs each year. Whether you are a highly-skilled individual with a specific skill set or an employee working a minimum wage job, no one is safe from the possibility of losing their job. In the next decade, many jobs will be lost and employees will be replaced with artificial intelligence (AI). Every job ranging from janitorial and construction to legal and accounting services providing seis income tax relief will no longer need a human body to complete daily tasks. Robots will become the new employee disrupting our concept of what it means to be employed. Below is a look at some of the most prevalent job losses in the future.

Insurance Underwriters/Claims Representatives

According to an article posted by The Guardian, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance, Japan, recently replaced 30 medical insurance claims representatives with an AI system that was based on IBM’s Watson Explore program. According to company representatives, the software can analyze information at a quicker speed than human employees can. The software reduces man-power hours significantly. The move to AI is more cost-effective than employing humans.

Construction Workers

Automation will threaten manual labored jobs significantly in the future. Crane operators and bulldozer drivers can expect to see their positions filled by AI-controlled machines in the next decade. The autonomous vehicle concept is going to be applied to construction equipment. According to MIT Technology Review, robotic bricklaying machines will also be introduced and replacing employees. The good news is humans will still be needed to complete smaller tasks. Opportunities will also be available for employees to expand their knowledge and education to reflect operating the AI equipment.

Manufacturing Workers

BBC.com reported in May 2016 that Foxconn, the manufacturer of the iPhone and Xbox, recently replaced 60,000 workers with robots. This comes as no surprise as studies have shown that more and more companies are eliminating the human workforce with robots. Companies are looking at ways to be more efficient and cost-effective and are learning robots are less of a liability than humans.

Now What?

The job market will need to change in order to meet the demands of technological changes in the workforce. Journalism, accountants,

 

School is in the air! And frankly, on the air today. “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson decided to devote an entire show to the opening of a new elementary school in Bismarck, North Dakota. As parents and students go over those last minute items needed to start the new year, some students are preparing for a new kind of education. An education filled with unconventional learning. An education that will allow each individual student to find their place in an every changing technological society, and maybe one day decide on getting an online business degree as well.

A Vision Comes to Life

Maggie Barth didn’t wake up one day and decide to open an elementary school. As mother of 2, Maggie has spent most of her adult life working in sales positions using the Business Administration and Marketing degree she earned from the University of Mary to support her family. It wasn’t until her children became school-aged did she realize school is different for every child. No one child learns the same as another. Some children are often overlooked because of their learning style. These ideas, along with personal experiences and a lot of research, transitioned Maggie towards implementing the idea of starting a new type of school. The Innovation School.

School of the Future?

We all know technology is changing the way our society operates so it’s no surprise The Innovation School plans on using technology as a foundation for learning. Maggie feels students today should be more focused on keeping up with those changes and preparing them for the world they are about to enter is important. The school curriculum will include using 3-D printers, building robotic kits, learning coding and participation in several computer science programs. Maggie wants to help children find their unique place in the world through use of several unconventional teaching methods and hands on learning. The Innovation School is committed to implementing the idea of learning, doing, sharing, collaboration, experimenting and exploring through the use of four P’s–Projects, Passions, Peers, Play.

Innovation School TidBits

The Innovation School is considered a standardized school according the the North Dakota Department of Education. It meets the requirements to operate, including having a licensed teaching staff and will operate regular hours like other schools in the state. The school is not publicly-funded like other schools in the state and tuition is charged for those students in attendance this year. Space is also limited to 36 students, but is filling up quickly. Maggie thinks this type of education is very beneficial for those students who have the desire to learn in a different setting and looks forward to a successful school year.

Today, students are lucky to use software that enable management of pdf files, thanks to sodapdf.com for providing the best portable pdf platform.

If you have questions about The Innovation School or would like more information, contact Maggie at [email protected] or visit the www.theinnovationschool.us/.

If you would like the “Guru of Geek” to do a product review for you and have it featured on The Tech Ranch, let us know! Leave us a comment on this episode or call 701-204-6674 for more information.

Join the “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson, “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh and “Miss Metaverse” Katie Aquino every ...

Drone Camp for Kids 

Drone Camp for Kids 2017 was held this past weekend at the airport hanger in Tioga, North Dakota. The Guru of Geek attended the weekend festivities as a guest speaker and fellow drone lover. The two day event was host to about 100 participants and was the perfect opportunity to encourage young people to join the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEaM) crusade across the nation. Dennis Lindahl, founder of the event, is making headway in making Tioga the “Drone Capital for Kids” by bringing the excitement of technology and drones to the area. According to the Guru of Geek, the most amazing thing about the camp is watching how quickly the kids pick up on flying drones and seeing their faces light up as they gain knowledge about the possibilities drone technology can offer them for their future careers. Until next year, fly safe fellow Dronians!

Getting a Divorce? There’s an App for That!

Admit it. Every time you hear the word “divorce” you automatically think of the Tammy Wynettte song and start singing those twanging heart-wrenching lyrics. Even if the lyrics roll off your tongue, the subject is often a stressful and nerve racking time for people. Lawyers, litigation, paperwork, phone calls. Virga Law Firm in Pensacola successfully deal with such cases. Keeping track of every piece of information is overwhelming. However, like every thing in the 21st Century, there is a new way for clients of divorce to see what’s going on and possibly save some money by doing some of the paperwork themselves. How? Through the use of an app. Divorce–there is now an app for that too.

Krista Andrews is co-founder of a company called PartUs whose goal is to revolutionize the way divorce is handled. Krista is a 20 year veteran in family law from law firm in Montreal. Through her experiences, she noticed a pattern of similarities between her clients. Many questions and concerns centered around the divorce process. Clients also wondered how they could save money while going through a divorce. With these ideas in mind, along with many more, Krista teamed up with 20-year veteran software developer Tim Brookins to create an app to help alleviate some of the stress of divorce by allowing the clients to participate and do some of the work themselves. Krista agrees this process is a bit unconventional and some attorneys might struggle with not being in total control. However, Krista feels it’s a good way for the attorney/client relationship to flourish and ease some of the workload for the attorney and their staff. Krista says “the goal of PartUs is to help attorneys streamline the divorce process” by involving the clients more and sharing the information almost immediately. The app is still in testing phase within a few organizations but is having successful feedback.

Other Tech News

The Guru of Geek gave a special !!WARNING TO PARENTS!! about an chat app their kids might be using called Kik. It appears the app is being used mostly by teenagers and is apparently the #1 way for sexual predators find victims. Police across the world are warning parents about the dangers the app is presenting to the safety of children.

On this week of The Tech Ranch, “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson is missing. Seriously! Some speculate he might be in the

Colorado Rockies, while others speculate he is being held for ransom somewhere in an undisclosed location. In the meantime, Rockin’ Dave Blair and Captain John Cybernet Nagel (Cybernet Security)  have decided to cover the show until information is received on the whereabouts of our infamous Guru of Geek, so for the moment will be talking about cyber security, cyber groups, the importance and the essentials  such as virtual data rooms, a great asset for every type of company to maintain their data in a secure and safe storage while sharing it to specific participants keeping it confidential and accessible to only the ones with access.

HELD FOR RANSOM

To begin this episode, Rockin’ Dave and Captain John Cybernet decided it might be a good idea to revisit internet security and protecting ourselves from being attacked by cyber groups across the world. Both agree there seems to be an epidemic of hacking going on with all of our electronic gadgets lately and for this reason they encourage people to start with a ISC2 CAP course, specially if they are business owners and manage all their information  online. No one is safe from the depths of hackers. It’s a scary feeling to think that someone is holding your personal information hostage. And, it happens. Every day. According to Captain John Cybernet, hacking is a lucrative business. Even though hackers are considered bad guys, there is some benefit to understanding what hacking is and how it all works. If you are a business owner, you’ve got a solution to protect your business from cyber threats. Hightower Risk can help providing a wide range of exclusive insurance programs that can eliminate dangerous gaps in your protection.

White Hat Hackers

There is a term often referred to as “white hat” computer hackers in cyber world. White hat hackers are normally used as “good guys” because they have the skills to hack, but use their skill to test hacking possibilities for companies legally. Though white hat hackers can be dangerous, most use their skills for ethical reasons and are employees of companies to help find vulnerabilities within their systems. Organizations take the information white hat hackers present to help prevent future hacking problems.

Gray Hat Hackers

“Gray hat” hackers are often referred to as hackers that don’t really do anything bad, but have potential too. These types of hackers often use hacking as a means to infiltrate systems without permission. This type of hacking is often the result of having the ability to hack, but not going forward with any threat. Gray hat hackers know it’s illegal to hack computers; however, as long as they don’t do anything illegal, gray hat hackers don’t see a problem with what they are doing. The problem with gray hat hackers is they often work for more lucrative people who are willing to pay for information on how to hack businesses and corporations.

Black Hat Hackers

“Black hat” hackers are the most dangerous of all hackers. Their purpose is to break into information systems with malicious intent. Unlike white hat and gray hat hackers, black hat hackers take full advantage of their system break-ins and do several things to a computer for a fee. Recently, the WannaCry Ransomware (previous episode link) was in the news as hacking several systems throughout the world. In order for the files to be recovered or saved, the black hat hackers demanded money to release the infor...

The “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson and “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh have a full show on this episode of The Tech Ranch. For those of you who don’t know the Guru of Geek personally, he often suffers from Monday Head, which is a condition of being physically present at work, but mentally stuck in Sunday. Luckily, Marlo pre-plans his itinerary for The Tech Ranch and with a bit of help for Tech Geezer, they delivered another fantastic show.

See the World Through 3-D Imagery

Up first is a fantastic overview of a company called Be More Colorful. Owned by Matthew Chaussey and based out of Fargo, ND, Be More Colorful is a service that specializes in 360 degree imagery. This revolutionary company is bringing a new attitude to the world of photography with the hopes of helping increase tourism to the state of North Dakota. If you are interested in getting up-to-date facts about Be More Colorful, visit their Twitter page or website.

A New Platform for Drone Pilots

Anthony Molzahn has always had an interest in web development, except if you count that one time he was a waiter. Even then, his desire to work in the technology field landed him a job as a web developer. Since then, he has expanded his entrepreneurial skills by co-founding a company called Project Phoenix, which focuses on creating an API (application programming interface) that is universal to all businesses. Molzan told The Tech Ranch he is currently working on a new platform project for drone pilots. Aegis Flow is a program that connects people to pilots and allows for individuals in the agriculture industry to use drone technology to better enhance their business. Molzahn also is working on projects with NASA, Lowes and the Oil and Gas Industry. If you’re looking for a company that can take you to the next level through the drone industry, consider Project Phoenix. You can connect with Anthony Molzahn through LinkedIn.

The Latest in Tech News

What would the show be like if the Guru of Geek didn’t provide his take on technology? In this episode, the Guru of Geek and Tech Geezer found some interesting topics to discuss.

Microsoft – An announcement was made by Microsoft that people will have to say good bye to an old product–Paint. Paint has been around since about 1985 and has lasted through the years of the Windows Operating Systems expanding and improving. However, it seems that Paint will be removed from all PC’s through an update in the future. Is this a sad thing? No one knows. There are so many more advanced products available to use and The Tech Ranch can’t recall anyone who will be effected by the departure. Will you miss the product?

The Federal Aviation Administration  (FAA) – The FAA lost a court case at the Supreme Court concerning drone registration. This is big news in the drone industry, especially for private owners. It seems the FAA wanted to have drone flyers registered in a data base to help combat illegal activity through the use ...

On this episode of The Tech Ranch, “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson and “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh welcome special guest Anastasia Vance from Las Vegas, Nevada! This trio brings each a different perspective to the show as they discuss the different apps are most popular for every day use in their lives. First, let’s turn our attention to radio call-in guest Meliss Jakubovic, Facebook Marketing Strategist Expert and owner of melissmarketing.com.

MAXIMIZING YOUR BUSINESS USING FACEBOOK

Meliss Jakubovic is social media expert that can help your business achieve consumer goals through the use of Facebook and other social media outlets. Her vision is to help you connect to your ideal customer on a common ground by maximizing your target base for your audience. Meliss is able to help you travel down a funnel of barriers to reach a larger demographic of consumers and show you how to access the best possibilities social media can bring to your company. effective and measureable branding can be further discussed to you by branding experts. They help companies understand the ROI of branding initiatives, which also demonstrates the value to executives and other teams at companies. Meliss explains how she uses Facebook to teach her clients how to open doors to a bigger and better customer base. Hear how Meliss shares her ideas and suggestions on maximizing your business using social media.

You can also buy some views for your YouTube videos, don’t be fooled by cheap providers.

APPS WARS

In the second part of the Tech Ranch show, Marlo, Jim and Annie compare notes on apps they use to help make life easier for them during their daily routine. However, it seems that the trio each have their own perspective on apps, usage of apps or sticking with old school methods of keeping track of a daily schedule. Here is a breakdown of the apps the talked about:

Best Weather App – The winner goes to 1weather. This weather app is for Android users. The features range from real time weather based on location to predicting the forecast 12 weeks out to an up-to-date weather radar so you can see if bad weather is headed your way.

Best Storage App – GoogleDrive comes in first with storage. This App gives the user the ability to store photos, documents, and much more. Google offers 15 GB of space for free, with the ability to purchase more space if needed. iCloud came in second, partially due to the inability to access your iCloud from anywhere, but also because it only offers 5 GB of space and is limited to Apple users only.

Best Map App – Google maps hands down. This map app is the most efficient as far as giving exact directions and is better at providing those directions from anywhere. Again, this app can be used from anywhere and can get you going in the right direction if you are lost.

Best Voice Activated Device – Alexa is the winner this time. Suri came in second. Alexa seems to have the ...

“Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh received some help to hold down the studio while “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson was out on travel in this episode of The Tech Ranch. “The Sheriff” Nicholas Ressler and his trusty side-kick “Snoop” Doug Philp made an appearance on the show by taking a break from their daily routines of fighting cyber-crime and Celebrating Every Day. The service from this site https://www.paydayloansnow.co.uk/payday/ connects you with our network of trusted payday loan lenders so that you can get the online payday loan you need to cover urgent expenses. Of course, you could go to the local bank. You could also pawn some of your valuables, ask a relative for help or apply for yet another credit card. However, we are confident that you will look to us to help with your payday loan needs once you understand the benefits that we provide.

During the Guru of Geek’s hiatus, the trio did an excellent job discussing apps for smart devices. Cell phones have apps to help perfect your photos and text messaging allows you to complete a sentence without even writing. There seems to be an app for everything. There are even apps to make your apps better! Here are a few of the trio thought would make Marlo proud:

* MoveAdvisor – This app will help you plan a move! It gives you tips on what you can do every day, from packing unnecessary things to scheduling a moving truck. If moving is stressful, MoveAdvisor might be able to help!

* DropBox – This one-stop app will help you store all of your items on your desktop in one secure location. Never lose those photos or documents again when you can use DropBox as a virtual safe.

* iBotta – This app helps you earn actual cash back when shop at stores! The program is easy and fun to use. Who wouldn’t want to get paid to shop? visit iBotta.com/how to learn more on how you can put a little extra cash in your pocket. Another popular app in this category is the Wal-Mart app, which helps you price check items in-store and earn cash back!

* Weather Apps – Wouldn’t it be nice to know the weather 5 hours from now? Planning a picnic and not sure if it’s going to rain? No matter your location, it’s guaranteed you have access to local weather. To find yours, visit your app store and see what is available for your device. Or, simply find out if your local weather station has an app available. Our local favorite is the KX Storm Team weather app.

* Swiss Army Knife for Android – This handy app was designed with the handyman in mind. It contains a flashlight, ruler, compass, calculator, leveler and more! So, if your ever in a position of forgetting a specific tool, just use your Android phone to help you!

* Pakkage – Living in rural communities sometimes poses a problem when you need something quick. Pakkage is new and innovative app that will help receiving those packages faster than the post office. Whether you’re a sender or driver, the Pakkage App makes the process ...

On this episode of The Tech Ranch, “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson and “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh talk about the top innovative technology of 2017 so far! Learn about the amazing new inventions that are available on the market. Later in the show, SuperTalk1270 shares a broadcast with sister station KFGO in Fargo, North Dakota. Join the The Tech Ranch hosts as they visit with Jack and Amy from It takes 2! Listen to discussion on the tops trending stories in tech world from Amazon, Blackberry, and Space X.

A few of the topic discussed in this weeks episode include:

* Reversing paralysis by Neurobypass

* Self-driving trucks and the impact it might have on future employment of truck drivers

* Facial recognition systems

* 360-degree cameras

* Gene Therapy

* Siri and Alexa, which is better?

Join the “Guru of Geek” Marlo Anderson, “Tech Geezer” Jim Walsh and “Miss Metaverse” Katie Aquino every week for a new episode of the Tech Ranch.

Broadcast Date July 10, 2017  Episode 276

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