Category: Blog Articles

Blog Articles

U.S. Golf Started on a Cow Pasture

Tor Hanson

Originally published on September 4, 2013 This month, one hundred years ago, a game of golf changed the sport forever. Taking on two of the topseeded players in the world, an unassuming 20-year-old beat all odds to win the 1913 U.S. Open. But who was Francis Ouimet — and why isn’t he as well-known as Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan or Tiger Woods? It has a lot to do with the man, who was humble to a fault. Award-winning Golf Channel writer Mercer Baggs took a closer look at one of the most influential players in the history of … Continue reading U.S. Golf Started on a Cow Pasture

Blog Articles

A Great Game of Golf a Century Later

Tor Hanson

Originally published on August 5, 2013 A hundred years ago, American golf changed dramatically. Long an elite sport played mainly by rich men, it became the sport we know today, a game that anybody can play. The game-changer was an 18-hole playoff among two Brits and a 21-year-old American born to immigrant parents. The competition that played out on Sept. 20, 1913, has been called “the greatest game ever played.” Francis Ouimet came from a modest upbringing in Brookline, Mass. In high school the self-taught Ouimet became the best student player in the state. To learn more about his early … Continue reading A Great Game of Golf a Century Later

Blog Articles

Game Day with Mike Ficher and Andy Satterfield

Tor Hanson

Originally published on November 3, 2014 COTV commentators Mike Ficher and Andy Satterfield are visibly excited. Mountain View’s quarterback snags the football and rushes down the field from the 40-yard line. “And… it’s a touchdown,” says Ficher. The crowd comes to its feet in front of the announcer booth. As in any small town in America, Friday night high school football is a big event. The bleachers at Mountain View high school in Bend are packed with students, parents and grandparents that have braved the chilly evening to root for the home team. And when it comes to local high school … Continue reading Game Day with Mike Ficher and Andy Satterfield

Blog Articles

Protect Your Digital Booty

Tor Hanson

Originally published April 26, 2013 Landlubbers, beware! Hackers from all over the world have raised their pirate flags at every port on the Internet. With cannons ablaze, they’re looking for ways to steal your email account, get into your computer and access your phone. Most modern pirates don’t sail the seven seas looking for ships to plunder. They sit in front of a computer and steal all the loot they can get their hands on. Often the only thing that keeps them from stealing your stuff is a strong password. “The most important part when it comes to password safety … Continue reading Protect Your Digital Booty

Blog Articles

Smoke, Mirrors & the Internet

Tor Hanson

Originally published May 30, 2013 “Ladies and gentlemen, step right up to the booth! Winning is easy! All you have to do is to hit this button and claim the cute teddy bear as your prize.” The carney in the midway isn’t the only slick talker out to separate people from their money. Tricksters and con men are holding shop on the Internet. There are 644 million active websites on the Net, according to Internet analysis and security firm Netcraft.  No one knows for sure how many of those sites are legitimate and how many are malicious. “Malicious websites don’t … Continue reading Smoke, Mirrors & the Internet

Blog Articles

Password Safety Tips

Tor Hanson

Originally published January 17, 2013 We live in a digitized world. Paying bills, checking your bank account, and socializing used to be done in safe, private settings. Today we hop onto the Internet to manage social networking, apply for jobs or pay bills. To be safe, you need to protect your personal information with secure passwords. BendBroadband’s Information Security Officer, Matt Shaffer, explains: “The length of the password is currently more important than the complexity. The majority of password-cracking software can break an eight-character passwords within minutes.” In recent attacks on the professional networking site LinkedIn and dating site eHarmony, … Continue reading Password Safety Tips

Blog Articles

Practice Makes Perfect

Tor Hanson

Originally published December 22, 2014 Ever wondered what it takes to be a broadband installer? It’s a yearlong process to master the ins and outs of the job. Only practice makes perfect. At the entrance to a crawl space, Eric Thompson puts on his blue crawl suit. His mission: to replace a faulty cable splitter somewhere under the house. He pulls a protective mask over his mouth and nose. Thompson has been an installer for BendBroadband for almost a year. The old adage “practice makes perfect” guides BendBroadband’s installation department. We want to be sure everything is perfect when our installers … Continue reading Practice Makes Perfect