BITS AND BYTES

It’s a new year, and with all the resolutions flying around, now is a great time to make another. Specifically, getting your online security in order. This is a good time to go through your important accounts: bank, email, apple, amazon, social media, etc. and create new passwords. Each account should have its own password. Record them all in an application such as Lastpass or 1Password. Ensure that a trusted person has access to that application.

I can’t over emphasize the importance of having unique passwords. Websites, especially ones run by smaller organizations, are hacked regularly. When their password databases are hacked, hackers download the emails and password, and then try those combinations everywhere. They want access to your email, which they will scour for all the emails you’ve sent or received that contain passwords for other sites and other people. (Sent your mom the email for Netflix? Now they have that password.)

It happens in minutes. They use those passwords to access Apple and buy gift cards, which are the currency of the dark web. Bitcoin may get all the attention, but if you’re buying stuff on the dark web, the coin of the realm is gift cards. Gift cards purchased on other people’s accounts.

Now is a good time too to setup 2 Factor Authorization (2FA) everywhere you can. Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc. all have 2FA now. I’ve written about 2FA before, but briefly this is when you log in then you’re asked for a code provided to you via text, email, or an authentication app such as Google Authenticator before you can log in. It is valuable, as even if someone gets your email and password they still cannot log into your account without this second level. Facebook and Google will soon start forcing you to use 2FA. So, get ready.

There is a browser extension called Authenticator Extension available for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. Add it and it’ll be available whenever you’re logging in somewhere that needs 2FA.

Some of you in the past may have setup the Facebook backup friend in case you lost access to your account. Note that this no longer works. Use 2FA.

The other thing to get done this year is ensuring someone has access to your accounts in the event of a tragedy. I have several friends who struggled for a long time to get access to their parent’s accounts and despite having all the legal necessities for doing so they still ran into the impenetrable wall of giant tech bureaucracy. Storing your passwords in an application and ensuring that your executor, or child, or someone you trust can get access if needed will save them a world of trouble. Remember, you cannot set this up after...

Finally, delete old accounts. These are just opportunities for spam and for hackers to get some of your credentials. Signed up for a newsletter years ago? Unsubscribe. Have old sites you no longer use? Log on and delete your accounts.

Eliminating digital detritus make online cleaner and safer for you.

Happy New Year and Happy Computing.

Password Reset

by KEVIN MCISAAC

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January 2023

by ASHLEY KRISTINA

Happy New Year and may you all have a blessed 2023! By the third week of this month, all planets and asteroids will be in direct motion, rare these last few years putting 2023 to a great start of forward motion. By the hermetic law of “as above, so below” it should be mirrored in our daily life.

January begins with the sun travelling in conjunct Pholus, the asteroid that “blows up” energy it is in relation to, resulting in Capricorn being pronounced the first two weeks of the month. Capricorn energy is all about responsibility, tradition, work and doing a complete job. Mercury continues its retrograde until January 18, also in Capricorn, and moving in the sky with Venus and Pluto meaning there is deep and intense communication with our loved ones this month. For the first half of the month, Saturn continues to remain conjunct to Valentine, the asteroid of true love, and then moves into a conjunction with Venus. I suspect this will be a time for the Lovers of the Zodiac to communicate and some karma with true love might be hashed out. The Sun also travels in close conjunction to Pluto by the end of the month, and with Venus also in the sign of Aquarius, the major theme is communication of knowledge. Full Moon: January 6 at Cancer 16°

New Moon: January 21

Mars direct in Gemini: January 12

Mercury direct in Capricorn: January 18

Uranus direct in Taurus (still tightly conjunct the North Node): January 22

The sun moves into Aquarius this year on January 22.

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Both Jupiter and Chiron travel in your sign, with Chiron now being direct after many months retrograde. It’s both a time of expansion and healing. The folklore of astrology states that the light comes through the wound (Chiron) so learning to show up in your authenticity is very important.

Taurus

Uranus going direct in your sign may give you some surprising shifts. Lots should be shifting since the Scorpio-Taurus eclipse of October/November so allow these fluxes of change to pervade your life. Change is good!

Gemini

Both what you do and what you say may be bipolar this month, and that’s because Mars is retrograde in your sign for half the month, and then direct for half the month and Mercury, your ruling planet is following this same pattern but in Capricorn. Careful

Cancer

A time to start afresh, which is always exciting. The Capricorn energy of the month balances your energy to direct your awareness more into the work environment from the home environment. Shifts occur by the end of the month.

Leo

The third week will be a huge shift in energy for you as the Sun, Saturn and Venus sit in Aquarius, your opposing energy.This can bring innovations, ideas and community connections as well as it being an important time to pay attention to your dreams.

Virgo

A theme of fate as Uranus goes direct this month, and in tight conjunction to the North Node. Don’t be surprised if major shifts occur over the next few months. This is meant to align you to your highest calling.

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A major month where everything seems to finally start flowing and aligning for you. It’s also a major time for communication in relationships. Shifts happen quickly at this time so it’s best to be flexible.

Scorpio

The Phoenix rises! It’s taken years to get here, you have officially resurrected from the ashes. Scorpios go through major forms of soul-death and transformation over and over in a lifetime. Enjoy the resurrection and the power that came by walking through the fire.

Sagittarius

A month of good fortune where monetary investments can make a payback or a new investment comes up! With all the energy in Capricorn, it’s a month of diligent work. Invest wisely.

Capricorn

Your guide to success for this year begins this month, keep your focus on what is important to you and do good work. The sun is shining in your sign, supporting you with extra energy. Happy birthday!

Aquarius

Happy birthday to the early Aquarians. It’s a month of love for you as Venus travels through your sign. Saturn is also travelling in your sign, providing a grounded and structured feeling to these times. It might even be a month to propose to your special person as Saturn also rules dedication in love.

Pisces

It’s a new year and this feels refreshing especially as the planets all turn direct. The energy that manifests from this is forward motion, clarity, excitement and plans for the future. Additionally, you might find that what you have been working towards comes into fruition over the next few months.

Year of the Rabbit, Through Your Lens

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in the midst the sense of serene accompanies the beginning of a new year

Photo by Emily Park Photography @emilyparkphotographyfernie

A Rabbit is a tame and tender animal, and swift in move, much like the toddlers of Fernie.

Trying to capture the innocent sharp eyes of a toddler through the lens for a photographer, could be compared to trying to catch a rabbit in a field with just your hands!

Out in the Community:

What does a new year mean to you, and what if any rituals do you participate in to set it off on the right foot?

Kirsten Madsen

To me, a new year represents a reset and a time to reflect. December is very busy at work and after the hustle and bustle of Christmas, a new year brings a bit of calm where time is spent cozied up home, skiing, and enjoying all the beauty wintertime in Fernie provides.

Kerri McCrady

I love a new year! It always feels like a refresh after a busy and fun Christmas. Taking down the tree and decorations makes the house feel so good. After a countdown with friends on NYE playing street hockey and a bonfire, I really look forward to the Fernie Streak challenge to get my mind and body back into routine. And best of all, a few more days off having fun with the family before school, work, and activities start back up. These adventures and activities always seem to set us all up for success for the year ahead. January kicks off in style throughout the entire Elk Valley with the Elk Valley Streak! Four years ago, #FernieStreak began encouraging people to get out and be active for 30 minutes a day for the month of January. It was extremely popular, with a fun group on Facebook where members would share their activities – often times hilarious (shoveling snow with ankle weights, anyone?). Soon after, Sparwood came on board with their own. This year, the communities of the Elk Valley decided to come together and encourage all residents in Elkford, Sparwood and Fernie to participate. Find the calendar in this issue, and join the group on Facebook (Elk Valley Streak) for encouragement, ideas and likely a lot of laughs. There will be a social to celebrate everyone’s achievement! Registration available at raceroster.com.

This time of year, many residents in the valley are playing in the backcountry. One of the best and easiest to access tools is avalanche.ca. This website has a flexible forecast system, that allows users to quickly search the homepage map to find their riding areas quickly and easily. Each region is coloured to reflect its highest danger rating, and also change in response to conditions. Forecasters determine boundaries every day, allowing it to more accurately reflect backcountry conditions as the regions are determined by avalanche conditions. This site, in addition to your backcountry training and preparation, is a fantastic resource to stay informed.

The Reel Canadian Film Festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, as they bring the best of Canada’s filmmaking from across the country to Fernie! Featuring drama, documentary, Frenchlanguage work and new this year Local Reels by local filmmakers. Feature films this year include Stay the Night, Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, Niagara, Ashgrove and Riceboy Sleeps. There will be an opening and closing reception as well as opportunity for Q&A. Visit fernielovesfilm.ca for the most recent details and to purchase your weekend passes.

#FernieArtStreak

official word prompts

Everyone is welcome to join in the Fernie Art Streak 2023 everyday in January! Draw, paint or create the word of the day then post your creations and tag @fernieartsstation and hashtag #fernieartsstreak Join the Fernie Art Streak 2023 facebook group to post your creations and see how others interpret the prompt!

1. Magenta 2. Comfort 3. Snow 4. Messy 5. Fame 6. Citrus 7. Night 8. Bear 9. Rainbow 10. Balance 11. Vintage 12. Heart 13. Fibre 14. Cute 15. Space 16. Rhythm 17. Crown 18. Alien 19. Outside 20. Pattern 21. Heavy 22. Organic 23. Fancy 24. Spiral 25. Value 26. Horizon 27. Quiet 28. Metal 29. Tree 30. Fortune 31. Home