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News From CALL February 2023
Photo by Frankie Thornhill, member of the CALL Digital Photography Group.
This Interest Group is open to new members. If you are interested in developing your photography skills and would enjoy conversations with others, check out their webpage for more information.
CALL Café, January 16 2023: Arctic Security
-Mary Ndlovu, CALL Communications Committee
If you have always thought that Arctic Security is an obscure matter you don’t need to think much about, you might want to think again. At the last CALL Café, held on Zoom, two Canadian academics, Rob Huebert of the University of Calgary and Will Greaves of the University of Victoria, treated us to a lively discussion which showed us why it matters.
With global warming causing the permafrost to melt and the sea passages to open, a host of geopolitical questions arises, all of them impinging on Canada’s role in the world. Already China is sniffing around our once frozen north – what are their future ambitions? And how can they claim to be an Arctic nation? Will Russia emerge from the current Ukrainian war with renewed energy or seriously weakened? How will Canadians and our government respond if there are new and unexpected threats to our sovereignty and our resources? The two academics did not always agree on their answers to these questions, making for a most thought-provoking discussion.
If you missed it, you will have a second chance, because the whole evening was recorded and is now available for viewing.
The recording of the January 16th CALL Café, Arctic Security: What Comes Next? is now available to all CALL members on the CALL website whether you registered for the event or not.
To access the recording:
- from the CALL website log in to your account on the Login Icon
- click on the Resources tab
- on the dropdown menu, scroll to the bottom and click on CALL Event Recordings
Click on the Recording link for the event.
How are recorded CALL events made accessible to members?
When CALL began to provide some events on Zoom, many people asked about the possibility of recording these events and making the recordings accessible to members who weren’t able to attend or who wished to review the information later. We are fortunate to have members who understand the legal aspects of putting recordings online and have the technological skills to do this.
How does this work?
Prior to the event the speakers must agree to be recorded and posted to the CALL website and attest that materials used to support the presentation meet Alberta copyright regulations. The event is recorded by the CALL Zoom host. The video is then reviewed and edited by our Communications team and stored in a location that allows the video to be played on all types of devices. The Webteam then posts a link to the video on the CALL website so it can be accessed by CALL members.
Is it magic? Yes, but like all magic it takes the time and expertise of our CALL volunteer magicians!
February Events
Science and Environment
Fighting in Tyrannosaurs: Evidence from scars on bones
Tuesday, February 7, 7:30pm–9:30pm Online via Zoom
Speaker: Dr Caleb Brown, Curator of Dinosaur Systematics and Evolution at the Tyrell museum in Drumheller
Embedded teeth in bones and scars caused by tooth marks on skulls of Tyrannosaurs intriguingly suggest that bites were inflicted by other tyrannosaurs, probably members of the same species. The preserved behavioural evidence helps to reconstruct aspects of intraspecific aggressive behaviour in tyrannosaurs, and across a broader sample of theropod dinosaurs.
For more details and to register go to the Science and Environment page.
Treks and Travels
In Search of the Exotic
Wednesday, February 15, 7:30–9:00pm Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Reg Brehaut will explore the ethical dilemma of tourism and photography in his presentation on travel and photography in China and other locations.
CALL Café Online
Cyberthugs: Yes, They Are Out to Get You!
Monday, February 27, 7:00pm to 8:30pm Online with Zoom
The speaker at the next CALL Café will be the well-known cybersecurity expert Tom Keenan. Tom taught Canada’s first computer security course in 1977, was involved in the creation of the country’s first computer crime laws and continues to share his digital security expertise in a variety of media. In his presentation, he will explain how the bad guys try to target you and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
You must be a CALL member to register but the registration process allows you to bring 1 to 4 guests.
To register and for more information, go to the CALL Café page.
March Events
Science and Environment
Greenhouse Gases from Ruminant Livestock
Tuesday, March 7, 7:30-9:30pm Online with Zoom
Registration opens February 8.
Speaker: Dr. Karen Beauchemin
It is estimated that approximately 3.6% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions are due to enteric fermentation in domestic livestock. Dr. Beauchemin and her colleagues at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have established methods to measure these emissions from cattle, with a goal to develop strategies to reduce enteric methane produced as a by-product of digesting fibre. Reduced methane produced during feed digestion improves the efficiency by which dairy cows and beef cattle convert plant material into food for people.
Dr. Beauchemin was honoured as 2022’s Woman of Impact in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, by the Government of Canada.
CALL Open House
Based on the success of our December Open House we are planning another. It will be held on March 17, between 1 and 3 pm at Scott Hall, Varsity Presbyterian Church. It will be open to members and guests. Stay tuned for further details in the next few weeks!
From the CALL Zoom Team
Broken link amended…
-Michael Taylor, CALL Zoom Help Team and the Web Team
We all know that sinking feeling; My CALL event is in two minutes, and I can’t log on! What, Why, and How do I fix it? My CALL cohort is waiting!
So here are a few things all CALL members can do to limit these frustrating last minute panics.
- Update your Operating Systems (OS) for computers, tablets and/or phones monthly. With new versions, come new features and fixes for those frustrating glitches which live in the darkest corners of OS’s. THEN…
- Ensure virus protection is turned on and update it weekly. Then run a quick scan weekly and a deep scan monthly, or when you fear your computer was not physically distanced from viruses, AND…
- Update your Zoom app at least monthly for each device you love to use to join CALL online events. Like OS’s, with new Zoom versions come new features and fixes for glitches. Your CALL Event Organiser may want to use these new features!
- If you don't receive a reminder email containing the Zoom link 24 hours before an event, first check your junk mail and then double-check you actually registered for the event. CALL can't send you the correct Zoom link if you meant to register, but got distracted and never followed through.
- When you attended a CALL Zoom event online, delete the Zoom link after the event ends, so you can find the latest link for future events when the CALL Web Team sends them out. If you are in a group activity, the organizer will probably use the same Zoom link for a meeting series hold on to these…
- Last, and by no means least, ensure that your Zoom account is current in the event of changes of phone numbers and of e-mail addresses, AND please upload your real names into Zoom so that we know who you are: “Yes, I’m talking to you, iPad2!"
We have to admit it; as we transition from Shakespeare’s fifth stage of human into our sixth, we want our cars and devices to last for ever. Sadly, your computer devices and the software they run have built-in obsolescence, so running a computer past the fifth stage of computing usually results in a rapid decline into the seventh stage - we’ve got to stay current to enable lifelong learning!
For more Zoom tips and tricks, please check out the CALL Zoom Team Help
Interest Groups Welcoming New Members
CALL has several Interest Groups which meet to discuss current events – local, national and global. Explore the different possibilities in these groups:
Alberta Views and Beyond
This current events group meets monthly in person at the Crescent Heights Community Centre. Topics covered in the latest ALBERTAVIEWS issue as well as topics relevant to Alberta from other current publications form the basis of the discussion. Join this friendly group for a lively discussion about our cities, province and country.
albertaviews is an award-winning magazine that covers political, economic, social and cultural issues of Alberta.
For more information and to sign up, consult the Alberta Views and Beyond page.
How Can You Think That? A Political Book Club
Our political book club members are interested in bridging political divides and having intelligent, civilized conversations about why conservatives and liberals often find it hard to meet on common ground. We are a diverse group of people from a variety of backgrounds and ways of thinking.
We meet on Zoom every month for a discussion of a new book.
To see the current reading list and to register go to the How Can You Think That? page.
World Events Discussion Group 1
Meets online with Zoom
World Events Discussion Group 1 focuses exclusively on international current events and related background issues. Members seek to broaden our knowledge and understanding about all regions of the world in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
No one is expected to be an expert on her/his chosen topic! The aim is for the group to share knowledge and thoughts.
For more information and to register, go to the World Events Discussion Group 1 page.
World Events Discussion Group 2
Meets at Marda Loop Community Centre, 3130 - 16th Street S.W.
World Events Discussion Group 2 focuses exclusively on current world events and related background issues of a global nature. Members seek to broaden their knowledge and understanding about events and trends in all regions of the world. This takes place in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
For more information and to register, go to the World Events Discussion Group 2 page.
World Events Discussion Group 3
Meets online with Zoom
World Events 3 focuses on current world events and international issues. Members seek to broaden their knowledge and understanding of events and trends happening in all regions of the world. Meetings and discussions are held in a friendly, informal atmosphere.
For more information and to register, go to the World Events Discussion Group 3 page.
Your CALL Newsletter
The CALL Newsletter is our way to communicate what is going on in our community. It's a way to highlight events of interest, ‘peek behind the curtain of CALL’ and to give some general information about CALL groups and members.
You are invited to send your ideas and suggestions for future issues to newsletter@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. We reserve the right to edit submissions and to determine when submissions will be published.
CALL Newsletter dates for posting:
- February 10, 24
- Mar 17, 31
- April 14, 28
- May 12, 26
- June 16, 30
Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.