For instance, let’s say that you’re sitting at your computer when you hear a knock at your door. You get up, open the door and see a politician running in a local election. Now let’s say you’re sitting at your computer and you see that the same politician is following your twitter account, or has added you as a friend on Facebook; or maybe they made a comment on your blog. To which are you more receptive?

 Consider how great the influence of social media on the global political scale. There are several countries around the world that have placed grave restrictions on freedom of speech, the freedom of dissent, and on independent media and engaged citizens. Places that are currently in a state of social upheaval, but where people face restrictions in speaking out, are using social media as a way to get their voices heard. This is happening in China, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Palestine, Russia … even in Mongolia to a certain extent.

 In locations where government seeks to commit repugnant acts against its residents without impunity, social media is facilitating the circumvention of restrictions, once again giving rise to the voice of the populace – whose views are neither valued not wanted by oppressive regimes that seek to silence them.

 However, is this access to the world (through the internet) changing the ways in which governments act and create policy? To be continued…

Moreover, the Frozen Show is very important in the broader sense to Saskatchewan. As the article in this month’s issue aptly points out, Saskatchewan is traditionally thought of as a resource economy. That, “conventional wisdom suggests that our province lives or dies by agriculture, mining, and the petroleum industry. However, this… ignores a very strong (and rapidly growing) technology sector”. (RSM, June 2009)

We’re seeing changes everywhere! From the large scale (remember a time without cell phones? Or computers? It’s too funny.), to the small scale, such as the dramatic rise in the use of social media. This last point is the key, because the Frozen Show is an example of the showcase that needs to happen regarding new technology and issues related to the field. Saskatchewan cannot fall behind on this, and awesome utilization of new mediums like producing local television shows on the internet is one way to keep current. But when they’re as entertaining and intelligent as the Frozen Show, you know you’ve got a surefire hit!

Check it out for yourself at www.thefrozenshow.com!

Every time you make a purchase online and enter your credit card information, at the initial point when you click ‘submit’, you information is not protected; once it gets there it’s protected, but not on the way. I have friends that have had breaches in their finances, and it’s damned expensive!! Plus, to be totally blunt, I don’t like giving my credit card number to anybody, LOL! At a store you simply swipe it, which is the best case scenario in my mind… and that’s exactly what a Smartswipe does! You go to a site, and when you buy something, instead of typing your credit card number into a website, you just swipe your card right at your computer and the Smartswipe technology takes care of the rest.

It’s the first totally secure way to use your credit card online. I tried it myself and couldn’t believe how easy it was. I just plugged it into my computer, took a minute to download the software, and away I went. Did I mention that it was developed right here in Regina, SK? This product rocks my world… and soon enough it’ll rock everyone else’s. Check it out at www.smarswipe.ca, where the price of security is remarkably low.